5 reasons why England will be the top contenders for winning the 2019 ICC World Cup

England ODI cricket has transformed big time and how. Their early exit from the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand led to a complete makeover of the ODI team. The experienced trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ian Bell made way for youngsters, who were consistently performing well in the limited overs arena in country cricket. England have finally given up the age-old tradition of playing the same set of players in Tests and ODIs which was really affecting their limited overs cricket success.

The ploy of attacking the opponents in first ten overs, aggressive batting in the middle overs, variety in the pace bowling attack, spinners controlling the run flow and picking up wickets, all-rounders extending the batting line up to number 10 have been a few reasons for England's success in the recent past.

Here is a look at 5 reasons why England will be one of the favourites for the 2019 ICC World Cup:

#5 Aggressive opening batsmen

Jason Roy holds the record for the highest score by an English batsman in ODIs

England have three aggressive openers to choose from when it comes to ODI cricket. Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Alex Hales have all tasted success opening the batting for England.

Jonny Bairstow has indeed transformed himself from a middle order batsman to an aggressive opener. His consistency is reflected by his average in the ODI format. The wicket-keeper batsman from Yorkshire, in 38 ODI innings averages 48.36 with 4 centuries and 6 half-centuries. Bairstow has been so consistent in the ODI format that he is a certainty at the top of the order.

Jason Roy has been a great find for England as an opener. The 27-year-old has an impressive strike rate of 102.60 in 56 ODI innings and averages 37.14 with the highest score of 180. Roy holds the record for the highest-ever individual score by an England batsman in ODI cricket.

Alex Hales is another dynamic opener, who has done well in the 57 innings he has played for England. An average of 36.69, 5 centuries and the highest score of 171 reflects his usefulness as an opener for England.

The openers have played the role to get England off to flying starts in the power play overs and have the ability to play the long innings if the situation demands.

#4 Dynamic middle order

England have the perfect number 3 in Joe Root

England bat deep in ODIs and at times the players at number nine and ten have rescued the team and led them to an improbable victory. After the explosive opening pair, England have the perfect number 3 in Joe Root, who at this point in time is considered as one of the best cricketers in world cricket.

Root can set his own pace, build up an innings, play the role of a stabiliser when wickets tumble around him and an aggressor when needed. Root is the most dependable batsman for England in ODIs too. In 101 ODI innings, Root averages 51.16 with 11 centuries and 27 half centuries

Eoin Morgan, the English ODI skipper brings in with him lot of experience and the stability at number 4. Morgan has played 200 ODIs and in 187 ODI innings, has scored 6031 runs at an average of 37.22 with 11 centuries and 35 half-centuries. Morgan is a perfect batsman at number 4 for England and a left-hander in the middle order is always a boon for any team. Add to his batting Morgan has been impressive with his stint as the English ODI captain and commands the respect of his teammates and opponents.

Jos Buttler has been one of the reasons for the positive transformation of English cricket. Buttler holds the distinction of scoring the fastest ODI hundred for England. In 92 ODI innings, 118.02, an impressive average of 38.05 with 5 centuries and 15 half-centuries. He is a dangerous batsman in the last 10 overs and has proved himself in almost all testing conditions. Buttler by far is the most aggressive wicket-keeper batsman England have produced till date.

#3 Variety of all-rounders

Ben Stokes is an impact player with both the bat and the ball for England

The success of a team in any format depends on its all-rounders and English ODI team is blessed with not one but many all-rounders in their playing eleven. To begin with, Ben Stokes is an asset for English cricket and is a perfect player to have in any team at number six. Stokes is a naturally aggressive batsman who can bowl fast and has proved his worth at the international stage.

In 59 ODI innings in 67 matches, Stokes averages 35.82 with the bat with 3 centuries. He is equally effective with the ball and has picked up 58 wickets at an average of 38.02. Stokes is a match winner on his day with either the bat or ball and is one of the best all-rounders to be playing ODI cricket at present.

Chris Woakes is a bowling all-rounder who has done wonders for English cricket. Woakes has picked up 109 wickets in ODIs at an average of 30.78. Woakes is an effective bowler with the new ball and is also used a death over bowler by the skipper. With the bat, he has scored averages 27.95 which is effective for a number 8 batsman and has 3 half-centuries to his credit with the highest score of 95. Woakes is indeed a dependable batsman lower down the order for England.

Moeen Ali has is another all-rounder who features in the English playing 11. Ali has been the go-to man for the skipper whenever he needs a wicket. With the ball, Ali controls the run flow and picks up vital wickets. With the bat, Ali is known to be a good striker of the ball and has scored vital runs for England. Ali averages 27.87 with the bat in ODIs with 3 centuries and 5 half centuries with the bat and has picked up 60 wickets with the ball.

#2 Depth in the bowling department

Tom Curran has had a good start to his ODI career

The trio of Mark Wood, Tom Curran and David Willey have done exceptionally well for England in the recent past. Curran has been really exceptional in the death overs and has picked up 12 wickets in 8 ODIs. The likes of Wood and Willey too have impressed one and all with their ODI performances. Chris Woakes, in particular, has been an exceptional performer in ODI cricket for England.

Adil Rashid has picked up 93 wickets in his ODI career and is one the vital members of the England ODI team.

England have bowlers who have grown up playing county cricket on the pitches in England and will indeed be a threat for batsmen in the 2019 World Cup.

#1 Home advantage

The home conditions and the crowd support will help England's campaign in the 2019 ICC World Cup

The last two World Cups i.e. 2011 and 2015 were won by one the countries hosting the World Cup. Be it India in 2011 or Australia 2015, the home conditions were of a vital importance in their successful campaign.

The 2019 World Cup will be held in England and Wales and the England team will immensely benefit with the home advantage. The players are familiar with the pitches, conditions, weather and also the crowd support will add to England's support.

England are indeed a well balanced all-around team and one of the favourites to win the 2019 ICC World Cup.