ICC World Cup 2019: Strongest England playing XI

#3 Joe Root

Sri Lanka v England - 4th One Day International

Joe Root is one of the most consistent players in the limited-overs format, especially in 50-over cricket. In 2018, he scored 946 runs from 24 innings at an astonishing average of close to 60 and a strike-rate of 83.94.

He has accumulated three centuries and five fifties since January 2018. With the kind of form he is in, he can score a lot of runs during the pioneer event.

---

#4 Eoin Morgan (captain)

Sri Lanka v England - 5th One Day International

Eoin Morgan will act as a captain for the England team during the 2019 World Cup. Since the early exit in last World Cup, he has made a lot of changes to the squad that worked out very well. Under his captaincy, they have won a lot of ODI series since the last World Cup.

He is equally good in the batting department as well. Since January 2015, he has amassed 2832 runs from 76 innings at an average of close to 40 and a strike-rate of about 90. He can smash any bowling attack once he settles.

---

#5 Jos Buttler

England v Australia - 5th Royal London ODI

Just like England, Jos Buttler had a poor outing during the 2015 World Cup. But, since then, he has become an important member of England team in the shorter formats of the game. He has scored a lot of runs at a good pace since 2015.

In 2018, he scored 671 runs from 18 innings at an average of more than 50 and a strike-rate of 113.54, including two century and four fifty. He is expected to continue his luminous form during the 2019 World Cup.