Two standout contenders for World Cup will be England and India, claims Herschelle Gibbs

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk,SportsCafe Editor

20

Herschelle Gibbs has labelled Virat Kohli-led India and hosts England as favourites to lift the upcoming 2019 ICC ODI World Cup trophy. Gibbs has also added that South Africa will not miss the presence of AB De Villiers as much as it will lack a quality all-rounder in the World Cup squad.

In the buildup to this yearā€™s ODI World Cup, India and England will definitely be the two favourites to go all the way in the international competition scheduled for later this year. Virat Kohliā€™s team are currently second in the rankings with 122 points while hostsā€™ England top the chart with 126 points.

Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs also maintained that these top-ranked sides will enter the tournament as favourites in England & Wales later this year with theĀ tournament scheduled to begin from May 30.

ā€œIt is always wide open. The two standout contenders will be England and India. But, who is going to make the other two places for the semi-finals? It is difficult to say. A lot depends on the weather in England. The bowling attacks will all play a part (in the tournament),ā€ Gibbs said while speaking at a promotional event of OTT video service operator ā€˜Viuā€™, who also announced the launch of ā€˜IB Cricket Super Over Leagueā€™.Ā 

Talking about his own country South Africa, Gibbs was adamant that the Proteas will not miss the absence of AB De Villiers as much as they will rue the lack of quality all-rounder in the entire team.

ā€œWe (South Africa) are always up there irrespective of ABD. We have got Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock. The only issue for South Africa is not having an all-rounder,ā€ Gibbs said.

Meanwhile, the 44-year-old wants batsmen to be challenged more in the Test format which is on a steady decline in the last couple of years.

ā€œThe batsmen around the world get it easy in ODIs and T20. If they need to fight on sporting tracks in Test cricket, so be it. Sometimes, the game finishes in two days, when the pitch is offering turn. I donā€™t mind that.ā€ the dashing right-hander said.

ā€œIt should not have to go for all five days. It is important that a batsmanā€™s technique gets tested all the time. The bowlers, they also have something in it, to get their confidence going. They donā€™t get it from T20s or ODIs because flat decks are on offer."

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