ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 : England readies itself for the cricket showpiece event

London: British capital London has its own unique vibe as a modern yet historic city. But for the past fortnight or so, the iconic city and the British Isles has been gripped by the excitement of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
The two odd dozen tabloids in the city, are not flashing Premier League football stars on their front pages or even the peripheral Prime Minister Theresa May is nowhere to be seen, despite the political drama unfolding around the ‘Brexit’.

Instead, the images of England cricketers with in-depth analytical pieces and interviews are doing the rounds in the British press.

The BBC 5 Sports Radio service (Channel 5), for instance, released a podcast related to the World Cup, which had more listeners than any other radio station across the shores. Supermarkets such as Tesco and Waitrose are running special discounts for cricket related goods, which has become the talk of the town!

The feel-good factor has come both on and off the pitch, and the British crowd senses the ‘Cup’s finally coming home’ after a long wait. And, when the immigration officer smiles at you and says we are nicking it this time, one senses the Brits indeed have a good feeling about it. The ICC Cricket World Cup Tournament director and former South African cricketer Steve Elworthy declared that England and Wales are “absolutely ready,” and said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has shown a ‘unique’ level of ‘commitment, dedication, and professionalism’ in their preparation.

Home comforts?
It is the fifth time that England is hosting the Cricket World Cup after having conducted the inaugural event in 1975 and then in 1979, 1983 and 1999. And the fact that the last two editions, India in 2011 and Australia in 2015 have been won by the hosts adds to the high expectations. 

Once again the country has been out to make memories of an extraordinary time, a magical six weeks only made more magical by England’s potential run to the latter stages. The 2019 Cricket World Cup gets underway on Thursday when hosts England face South Africa following an opening ceremony at London’s Oval Stadium.

Cricket’s showpiece event features 10 teams, including holders and five-time winners Australia, competing in 48 games over a month and a half.

The 12th edition will be played at 11 stadiums, across 10 cities, spread over 1,200 miles across the British highlands.

England, who have never won the coveted trophy, are firm favourites with bookies, pundits and ex-players alike backing them.

Around the times, when the Pound Sterling is tantalisingly placed and Great Britain faces humiliation surrounding the Brexit, it is the Cricket World Cup, that’s getting the Brits going. And, this time around too, the nation expects!