CWC 2019: How the teams might line up for their first match

The ICC Cricket World Cup is not merely a tournament, it is a clash between the best teams in the world for their reputation and a claim to be the best in the world. The teams have to put their best foot forward if they want to have any chance in this fierce competition.

This year, ten teams will battle it out in the mega-event. The tournament will begin on 30th May with England locking horns with South Africa. England and India are the hot favorites, but the other teams won't leave any stone unturned out challenge them.

Every team would need to carefully figure out the best playing XI, that suits the tough conditions in England and Wales. On this note, let us take a look at the best possible playing XI of all the teams for their first games:

#10 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will start as the biggest underdogs in the tourney. They have got many chinks in their armor and judging by their past performances, it is highly unlikely that they would make it to the semis. The onus of heading the batting department would be on Lahiru Thirimane and their skipper Dimuth Karunaratne.

Thisara Perera will be the biggest X-factor for the team. He had enjoyed tremendous success in 2018 and SL would expect him to carry forward the same momentum going into the mega-event. Kusal Mendis will start as the frontline wicketkeeper, primarily due to his superior form over Kusal Perera. However, none of them are big-hitters and good finishers.

Spin bowling is another concern. It will be headed by inexperienced Dhananjaya de Silva and a player who last played an ODI in 2015, Jeevan Mendis The fast bowling of the team though looks settled. It will be lead by the experienced and in-form Lasith Malinga, who has had a fabulous outing in the recently concluded IPL. He will be assisted by another in-form player in Suranga Lakmal and Nuvan Pradeep.

Playing XI - Lahiru Thirimanne, Avishka Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Thisara Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Isuru Udana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep

#9 Afganistan

Though Afghanistan will start as the underdogs, they have enough strength to spoil the party of other teams. The inclusion of Hamid Hassan instead of Shapoor Zadran was the biggest surprise from their selection.

Experienced Mohammed Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai will in all probabilities open for the team. They will be followed by Hashtamullah Shahidi, who has scored three half-centuries in the last 5 international matches. Coming in next would be Rahmat Shah, who also recently scored a century against Scotland. The onus of finishing would he on Mohammad Nabi and their skipper Gulbadin Naib.

Afganistan's bowling is reliant on their spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman. A lot will depend on how they, and especially Rashid, fare in the tournament. Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Zadran will be the two pacers, backed up be Gulbadin Naib, their sixth bowler.

Playing XI - Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib (c), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan

#8 Bangladesh

Bangladesh ringed in a surprise by picking up uncapped Abu Jayed in place of injured Taskin Ahmed in the squad. However, the squad is pretty experienced and is a team to watch out for. Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal would have the responsibility of providing solid starts to the team.

Mushfiqur Rahim has scored 4 back-to-back 30+ scores and will hold the key for the team. Mahmadullah and Shakib Al-Hasan will have to play the role of finishers. The team has the same skipper as in 2015 WC, Mashrafe Mortaza, and this will surely provide stability to the team.

The bowling of the team is not very strong. Mustafizur Rahman will have the key pacer. Skipper Mortaza will be the second pacer, and Mohammed Saifuddin would also be expected to give a few overs. Shakib and Mehidy Hasan will share the spin bowling duties.

Playing XI - Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin.

#7 West Indies

With the return of their star players, West Indies look much stronger than the past few months. They have got back to the winning ways and the oppositions can't be complacent against them. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis will open their batting and will be followed by Shai Hope, who is in red-hot form.

The team enjoys the services of Andre Russell, who was batting with a strike rate of over 203 in the IPL. He will play the role of a finisher and will be expected to give a few overs as well. Nicholas Pooran is another explosive batsman in the team, who can support him in the finishing.

Windies enjoy the services of two pretty good young fast bowlers, Oshane Thomas, and Sheldon Cotrell. Fabien Allen and Ashley Nurse would be the two spinners in the team.

Playing XI - Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Jason Holder (c), Fabien Allen, Ashley Nurse, Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell.

#6 Pakistan

Pakistan will start their campaign with a mild claim to the semis berth. They might have been demotivated with the way they fared against England, but there is a lot more in the store for them. Though Imam-Ul-Haq suffered an injury, the fans would expect him to be fit and open with Fakhar Zaman.

Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, and Sarfaraz Ahmed will comprise the middle order of the team. Babar has scored 2 half-centuries and a century in last 5 international matches. Malik has been in good form as well.

Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan will be the two spinners in the team. However, Mohammed Hafeez and Imam-Ul-Haq can be effective part-timers as well. Mohammad Hasnain, Hasan Ali and Mohammed Amir would be the three pacers in the team. Wahab Riaz last played an ODI in 2017 and won't e the first choice in the initial games.

Playing XI - Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir

#5 South Africa

The current South African team might not be scary, but it has some huge in-form match-winners. Not being a favorite will ease the pressure from them, and the current form of their players is literally alarming for others.

Quinton de Cock has been fabulous in the past few months. He was the third highest run-getter in this IPL and would be looking to carry this form in the mega-event as well. Faf Du Plessis, Aiden Markram, and Hashim Amla will be other players to watch out for. However, the biggest threat would be the new entrant Rassie Van der Dussen, who has stolen the limelight for his outstanding stats. He has scored 467 runs in 8 innings with 4 half-centuries, averaging 88.25.

Their fast bowling trio can bamboozle any opposition. Kagiso Rabada had scalped 25 wickets from 12 IPL matches and won't leave any stone unturned in the WC as well. Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi are equally threatening. The spin attack would be led by Imran Tahir, the leading wicket-taker of this IPL.

Playing XI - Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Rassie van der Dussen, Chris Morris, JP Duminy, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir

#4 New Zealand

New Zealand, though not the favourites are a team which has the capacity to intensify the fierceness of the battle in the tournament. They have got some big names in their lineup, and if they deliver, they might be able to make a cut through the semis.

Tom Latham might miss out from the match due to an injury, but either of Tom Blundell or Colin Munro can be played as his backup. A lot will depend on how Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, their best and the most experienced batsmen, go about their business.

Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner will be the two all-rounders. These two will together share the duties of the fifth bowler. Trent Boult and Tim Southee will be the frontline pacers. Although the team does not possess many superstars, other teams need to be wary of each and every one of them.

Playing XI - Tom Latham (wk)/ Tom Blundell (wk)/ Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Matt Henry

#3 Australia

The return of David Warner and Steve Smith has literally boosted the Australian team's chances and forced the pundits to hail them another favorite in the tournament. Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, and Usman Khawaja to have been in a good form, and these 5 players make the batting lineup, which has a correct mixture of firepower and innings- builders.

Alex Carey will be the wicketkeeper for the Aussies. He seems the only weak link in the team, but he still has pretty good stats. Marcus Stoinis had a nice outing in the IPL, and he will play the role of the finisher and the fifth bowler.

The fast bowling attack would be controlled by Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, and Pat Cummins. They are big names and all of them are in good form as well. The lone genuine spinner in the squad is Adam Zampa. However, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith can also give a few overs if needed.

Playing XI - Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa

#2 England

England will start as one of the favorites to lift the title. They had called back their players from the IPL early, which has helped them to prepare for the WC and manage the workload issues. They probably have the best batting, as their top five are highly experienced and dominating.

Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali are the two genuine all-rounders in the team. The former did not have had a good outing in the IPL, but he will still be an important aspect. The latter though had an excellent IPL and will be expected to carry this form in the WC as well. He will share the duty of spin with Adil Rashid. The keeping department will be looked after either by Jos Buttler or Jonny Bairstow, who'll also be the openers of choice for England.

Chris Woakes, Tom Curran, Mark Wood, and Jofra Archer will share the duty of fast bowling. England has so strong and balanced team, that they actually enjoy the services of 8 batsmen and 6 bowlers.

Playing XI - Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer

#1 India

The Indian players have just endured a hectic IPL, and it would be interesting to see how they overcome this issue. However, the team is looks of a high order and it should be a cakewalk for them through the league stages.

The men-in-blue have the best top-order, which features Virat Kohli, the best ODI batsman, Rohit as the second in the ICC ODI rankings. Not to forget, Shikhar Dhawan has been extraordinarily good in the ICC events.

Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni will share the onus of finishing the bating. Although Number 4 is still a question, the batting is overall pretty strong. The spin department will be headed by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. With MS Dhoni behind the stumps, these two become even deadly.

At last, Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler in the world at the moment will lead the fast bowling attack. Mohammad Shami should be given preference over Buvneshvar, due to his superior form.

Playing XI - Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami

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