On 30 May, the 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup kicks off at The Oval when hosts England take on South Africa before Nottingham’s Trent Bridge sees Pakistan and West Indies open their campaigns the following day.
England head into the tournament as marginal favourites to claim a first World Cup in the One Day International (ODI) format (having lost in the final on three separate occasions in 1979, 1987 and 1992), ahead of usual suspects India and Australia. With the likes of Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Nottinghamshire County Cricket’s very own Alex Hales, all of us here at Best Western Nottingham Derby hotel are very excited ahead of the Cricket World Cup!
Can England win the World Cup?
The short answer is yes! History is on the host nation’s side with each of the last two Cricket World Cups having been won by host nations (India in 2011 and Australia in 2015). England are top of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI rankings and have been since May 2018.
Trevor Bayliss’ team have not lost an ODI series since India got the better of England in January 2017, although the English team did suffer an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Scotland in a one-off match in Edinburgh in June 2018. To say that England are in terrific form in the ODI format of the game would be an understatement, which is very much why they are seen as the favourites to lift the trophy on 14 July at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Who Stands in the Way of England and World Cup Glory?
Nine other countries will also be vying to lift the trophy. Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and West Indies will all be competing alongside England.
On paper, the main threats to England are certainly India and the old enemy Australia, who claimed a record 5th title at the last Cricket World Cup to be held in 2015. India will be relying on the prowess of Virat Kohli to see the Indian team to what would be a third World Cup victory.
Following the retirement of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, India could have easily been lost for a new icon of their national sport – that might have been the case had Kohli not have been a ready-made replacement. India’s captain has already secured himself legendary status, but leading his country to the World Cup would further solidify his place in history. Kohli is widely recognised as the greatest player in the world right now and achieved a record-breaking ODI batting average of 59.7 runs.
Australia, although not as strong as they were four years ago, will relish the opportunity of denying England in their bitter rival’s backyard. If the Aussies are to retain the trophy they will need the likes of Mitchell Starc, Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins all playing at their very best. Any cricket fan will tell you that you can never write off Australia as they have a habit of producing on the big stage.
A Legend Says Goodbye
A look ahead to this year’s tournament would not be completed without a mention of West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who announced in February that he will be retiring from ODIs following the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Gayle, credited with revolutionising the art of batting on the international stage, scored his 10,000th ODI run against England in 2019, becoming only the 14th player in the history of the sport to achieve the feat.
Although Tendulkar’s record 18,426 runs are out of distance for Gayle, he may well have one eye on fellow West Indies legend Brian Lara’s 10,405 runs. It certainly makes for an interesting side story at this year’s Cricket World Cup.
It won’t be the last we see of the charismatic batsmen, who will continue to make himself available in the Twenty20 (T20) format of the game.
What Cricket World Cup Matches will be Played in Nottingham?
For those coming staying at our Nottingham hotel during the course of the Cricket World Cup, they will be pleased to learn that Trent Bridge will host no less than five matches in the round robin group stage, including England vs. Pakistan on 3 June.
The complete list of matches played at Trent Bridge:
31 May – Pakistan vs. West Indies
3 June – England vs. Pakistan
6 June – Australia vs. West Indies
13 June – India vs. New Zealand
20 June – Australia vs Bangladesh
That means that Nottingham will play host to six of the top seven ranked ODI nations as of the time of writing, making for a feast of world class cricket. Located just over a 20-minute drive away from Trent Bridge, Best Western Nottingham Derby is one of the most conveniently located hotels in Nottingham for anyone attending any of the above tests.
As well as comfortable accommodation and plenty of parking, our onsite restaurant, The Grill at Twenty Five, offers a fantastic menu that will more than satisfy your appetite. Fish and chips, mixed grills and incredible burgers, as well as a host of tantalising dessert options, you won’t find anywhere that comes close to the level of hospitality offered onsite at Best Western Nottingham Derby.
You can book your stay at our Nottingham hotel online today, or get in contact with us with any queries you might have.
