Sam Billings Feels India Will be the Biggest Threat for England at the 2019 World Cup

India has started off their journey in England on a winning note. They registered a 2-1 series win in the recently completed three-match Twenty20 International series.

With just a day left for the three-match One-day International series to start, England’s Sam Billings feels that the Men in Blue will pose as the biggest threat to England in the 2019 ICC World Cup. The quadrennial event will be held in England and Wales, next year.

The battle between the number one and number two team in the world should be an intense one. Given India’s dominant run in the recent past, they will start as favourites.

Moreover, Billings, who has played 15 ODI’s for England. He is well aware of the quality India will unleash at the quadrennial event slated to be held next year.

“There’s a lot of very good teams. I think India will be a very strong side to beat. They are always strong,” said Billings at the recent ‘World Cup Schools’ event. [They’re a] very adaptable side and have some very good players. So I’d put them down as England’s biggest rivals,” Billings was quoted as saying by the official ICC website.

Billings made his ODI debut for England way back in 2015. He got his break after England’s below-par performance in the 2015 World Cup which was held in Australia and New Zealand respectively.

Since then England has played a totally different brand of cricket which has helped them reach the numero uno position in the 50-over format.

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Sam Billings optimistic of England’s chances in 2019 CWC

“Over the last few years our one-day cricket has gone from strength to strength,” added Billings, who will be hoping to return to England’s line-up ahead of CWC19.

“The squad of players we’ve got have been incredible and will only get better. It’s a really exciting time,” he asserted.

 

“Of course you have to be optimistic. You have to be confident. If we play our best cricket then we’ll certainly be there or thereabouts [at CWC19], so it’ll be a great contest and hopefully a great tournament,” he added.

Meanwhile, England’s football team has created quite a buzz in the country courtesy their impressive performances in the tournament.

England has reached the semi-final spot after several years. They have a realistic chance of lifting the World Cup on Sunday (July 15).

Promising professional Billings is optimistic that World Cup 2019 will do the same for the home team in cricket.

“In our own home country, home field advantage. You see how the whole country reacts to when a sporting team does well, whether it be the rugby or the football, which is currently going on,” he remarked.

 

“You see the public movement towards it and it’s just great to see. Hopefully, fingers crossed. We will have the same movement towards the England cricket team next year and encourage some other kids and people to not only watch the cricket but play as well.”

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