3 teams that are unlikely to win the World Cup 2019

It is close to seven months before all the ten teams gear up for the prestigious Cricket World Cup next year in England. It is always a dream of an individual and the team to get their hands on that elusive trophy at the end of the tournament. Only five teams in the history of the ODI cricket can boast about having the ICC World Cup trophy in their cabinet at least once in their entire lifetime.

With a very fascinating format in prospect for the forthcoming tournament, one can expect it to be one of the most closely fought editions in the history of ICC World Cups. Each team is equally capable to stage an upset on any given day in the tournament.

However, when cricket pundits and former cricketers term the hosts England and the Champions Trophy finalists India as the firm favorites even before the start of the tournament, there are some teams which can pack a punch anytime with their performance. Teams like Pakistan, South Africa go in with such a reputation with a tag of unpredictability in their performance on any given day.

At the same time, there are teams who have not fared well in the ODI cricket in recent times. The likes of West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Australia are the ones who have witnessed a dip in their form in white-ball cricket and can be easily rated as the underdogs going in the World Cup.

Here's a look at three teams who are unlikely to win World Cup:

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#3 West Indies

The Jason Holder-led Windies team hasn't fared well in the recent past in this form of the game. They lost an ODI series at home against Bangladesh to be counted as one of the weakest team in this format. However, they do possess players who if play to their potential can spring a surprise against any big team on their given day.

It is always about keeping the players intact and looking after them before the tournament begins next year. Windies also failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy last year as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka pipped the team from the Caribbean Islands to make it to the top eight. They managed to later qualify for the World Cup by reaching the finals of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

#2 Sri Lanka

One of the better teams at the turn of the century, the fall of the Sri Lankan cricket is the most disheartening things to see as a cricket fan. Ever since the departure of their cricketing greats in 2015, the island nation has failed to produce players who could step up to fill in huge voids left in their cricket. The Islanders have been dismal in terms of their record in ODI cricket in the past couple of years.

They are one among the countries with the lowest win percentage in ODI format. Sri Lanka has failed continuously to stack up wins after wins. Their performances at the multi-nation tournaments haven't been either much promising. To add to their woes, they have lacked an inspiring soul who could bring a tide of change to bring back Sri Lankan cricket on track. The senior players have been out of the team and the youngsters have looked helpless during times of uncertainty.

#1 Australia

The Kangaroos have failed to perform as per the much high standards set by their own teams of yesteryears. The men in yellow, who witnessed a golden run in the first decade of the millennium as invincibles, have done nothing to hold up their similar reputation. Ever since their World Cup win in 2015, Australian cricket has seen a downfall in terms of putting up consistent performances against the top teams.

Players have been involved more in controversies, often putting their great legacy in question. Their pre-mature exit from the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was a major setback as they never looked to recover from the sight of not qualifying for the semis.

The last one year has brought even greater misery to cricket in Australia after the ball-tampering saga saw an abrupt end with three of their players getting a year ban. It will take some hard yards from these players if they are to repeat their heroics from their last win in 2015 at home.