World Cup 2019, Eng vs SA Squad, Players List: England take on South Africa. (Reuters)World Cup 2019, England vs South Africa ODI Squad, Players List, Playing 11 Today Match LIVE Updates: The 12th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup gets underway today with hosts England locking horns with South Africa at The Oval in London. Both the teams have never won the tournament and would be looking forward to make a positive start at the quadrennial event. The Eoin Morgan-led English side are currently in supreme form and will go into the tournament after completing a 4-0 clean sweep over Pakistan in the recently-concluded ODI series.
South Africa, on the other hand, will miss the services of Dale Steyn, who has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury that he picked up in the recently concluded IPL season. In the absence of the 35-year-old, all-rounders Chris Morris and Dwaine Pretorius are in the frame to replace the pacer. However, South African skipper Faf du Plessis while addressing a press conference on Wednesday made it clear that the emphasis will be on picking wickets.
Eoin Morgan embraces pressure of being favourites
Captain Eoin Morgan Wednesday insisted England will not crumble under the pressure of being favourites ahead of their World Cup opener against South Africa. Ranked first in ODI cricket, England have won 15 of their 19 series since going out in the pool stages of the 2015 edition. [READ MORE]
England's current form in ODI
England’s resurgence under Morgan since the 2015 World Cup has been incredible. Thanks to Morgan’s example and determination, England believes it can smash any team into submission. No total seems out of reach. To England, a score of 300 is the bottom line. The English team hasn’t lost a series of two matches or more at home in four years. They haven’t lost any series anywhere in more than two years.
Google marks commencement of ICC event with doodle
Google on Thursday celebrated the commencement of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England by dedicating a doodle. [READ MORE]
Head-to-Head record in World Cups
England and South Africa have met six times in World Cups, with both teams having won thrice. England won the tie both the times the teams faced off in the 1992 World Cup. South Africa convincingly got the better of England the next three times they met in the tournament – by 78 runs in 1996, by 122 runs in 1999 and by 9 wickets in 2007. At the 2011 World Cup, the two sides were involved in a very low-scoring encounter in Chennai, with England winning by 6 runs after having put up a total of 171.
England vs South Africa: At Oval, a beginning
With recalibrated England taking on underachievers South Africa on Thursday, a highly-anticipated World Cup tees off. [MATCH PREVIEW]
Hello and Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the LIVE COVERAGE of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Today hosts England will be locking horns with South Africa in the opening fixture of the tournament. Both the teams have never won the tournament and would be looking forward to make a positive start at the quadrennial event. Stay tuned for updates related to the match and other World Cup news.