Top 5 teams who will not be playing the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup

England and Wales will be hosting the twelfth edition of cricket's greatest spectacle in the summer of 2019 across eleven venues. In the eleven editions of the showpiece event so far, there have been many unforgettable moments which the fans will cherish for the rest of their lives. From being a 60 over World Cup in whites to 50 over tournament under the lights, the game's grandest stage has come a long way.

We have witnessed closely contested eight team as well as 16 team World Cup over the years. But with the ICC resorting to a 10 team World Cup in 2019, some of the top teams that featured in the past editions of the tournament will not be seen next summer. Let us now look at five teams every cricket fan will miss in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup to be held England and Wales.

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1) Zimbabwe

The African Nation's first ever Cricket World Cup appearance was way back in England in the 1983 edition of the tournament. It was the third edition of the game's biggest spectacle and England played hosts to it for a third consecutive time after hosting the inaugural edition in 1975 and the subsequent edition four years later. The former England and India coach, Duncan Fletcher captained the Zimbabwean side that comprised of players like Andy Pycroft and David Houghton. Though they won their first ever World Cup game against the mighty Australians by 13 runs at Nottingham, they finished last in the four-team Group B standings.

The win against Australia was their only win in their inaugural World Cup appearance, as they lost the remaining five matches. In one of the group encounters against the eventual winners India, Zimbabwe were on course for a victory after restricting India to 17-5. But, skipper Kapil Dev's heroics (175* off 138) propelled India to a 31 run win at Tunbridge Wells. Zimbabwe exited the World Cup in group stages in the next three editions (1987, 1992 and 1996) before making it to the Super Six stage in 1999.

They went on to finish sixth in the 2003 edition when they co-hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup along with South Africa and Kenya. A series of poor performances saw them exiting the World Cup in group stages at the 2007 (West Indies), 2011 (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) and 2015 (Australia and New Zealand) editions. Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup after finishing third in the 2018 ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers (which they hosted in March 2018) behind Afghanistan and West Indies. Having qualified for nine consecutive World Cups since 1983, the Zimbabweans will be missed when England and Wales hosts the tournament next summer.

ICC Cricket World Cup stats: Played- 58, Won-6, Lost-48, Tied-1, No Result-3

2) Ireland

Ireland

The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup hosted by West Indies was Ireland's first ever appearance in the showpiece event. It was a 'Dream World Cup' debut for the Irish players, as they finished eighth in the 16 team tournament having reached the Super 8 stage. Ireland's first ever World Cup game ended in a dramatic tie against Zimbabwe at Jamaica after the teams finished on 221 in 50 overs. In their second Group D fixture against the 1992 World Champions Pakistan at the Sabina Park, Ireland registered a famous and surprising three wicket win (D/L method) chasing 128 (revised target) for victory in 47 overs.

This win garnered millions of fans for the Irishmen across the cricketing fraternity. They were praised for the quality of play, spirit of cricket and most importantly for believing in their team's abilities. The team led by captain Trent Johnston introduced some of the stars like William Porterfield, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan to the world. In the 2011 edition of the World Cup, they finished eleventh out of 14 teams after winning just two out of their six Group B matches. They registered victories against England (by three wickets) and Netherlands (by six wickets) thereby finishing sixth in the seven team Group B standings.

In the game against England at Bengaluru, Ireland chased down a target of 328 in 49.1 overs- thanks to a brilliant 113(63) by all rounder Kevin O'Brien. After losing their skipper William Portefield for a duck in the very first ball of their innings, Ireland manged a dramatic win with Alex Cusack and John Mooney too contributing with the bat down the order. In the 2015 World Cup (Australia and New Zealand), Ireland finished ninth among 14 teams winning three wins out of six matches thereby exiting the tournament in group stage.

With England hosting the 2019 World Cup, Ireland would have received immense support had they qualified for the tournament. Unfortunately that did not happen as they finished fifth at the 2018 ICC World Cup qualifiers this March and the fans will surely miss the Irishmen in the 2019 summer.

ICC Cricket World Cup stats: Played-22, Won-7, Lost-14, Tied-1, No Result-0

3) Kenya

Kenya

Though East African team at the inaugural World Cup in 1975 comprised of players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Kenya as a Nation appeared in the World Cup for the very first time in the 1996 edition after attaining the ODI status. Though the team under Maurice Odumbe crashed out of the tournament in the Group stages, they defeated the mighty Caribbeans at Pune by 73 runs. They finished six in Group A after losing five out of their six matches.

They were once again knocked out in the Group stages at the 1999 World Cup, where they lost all five group games against South Africa, India, Zimbabwe, England and Sri Lanka. But the African nation came back stronger when they co-hosted the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup along with South Africa and Zimbabwe, by reaching the semi-finals in that edition. They won four out of their six Pool B matches and made it to the Super Six stages where they managed one win out of three games.

They eventually lost to the Sourav Ganguly-led Indian team in the semi-finals by 91 runs at Kingsmead, Durban. After failing to progress beyond the group stages in the next two editions (2007 and 2011), they failed to even qualify for the 2015 and 2019 editions. The World Cup 2019 in the United Kingdom will no doubt miss the Kenyans, who surprised the world by reaching the semis fifteen years ago.

ICC Cricket World Cup stats: Played-29, Won-7, Lost-22, Tied-0, No Result-0

4) Netherlands

The Netherlands

The Netherlands' first ever World Cup appearance was in the 1996 Cricket World Cup co-hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The team led by Steven Lubbers finished twelfth among the 12 participating Nations after losing all five group stage matches against South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand, England and United Arab Emirates. After failing to qualify for the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, they made it to the 2003 edition co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya where they once again exited in the group stages with just one win out of six matches.

At the 2007 World Cup, they failed to progress beyond the Group stages after winning a solitary game out of three group matches. In the match against South Africa, Herschelle Gibbs smashed six sixes off Dan Van Bunge's over- a tournament first. The Dutch thus finished twelfth among the 16 nations at the 2007 edition in the Caribbean.

A disastrous 2011 campaign saw the Netherlands finish thirteenth out of 14 teams after failing to win a single game out of their six group matches. The Dutch, who have fond memories of defeating the hosts England in the opening game of the 2009 ICC World T20 at Lord's by four wickets would have loved playing in the familiar conditions had they booked a spot for the next summer's event in England and Wales. They finished seventh among the ten teams in the 2018 ICC World Cup qualifiers held in March this year.

ICC Cricket World Cup stats: Played-20, Won-2, Lost-18, Tied-0, No Result-0

5) Scotland

Scotland

The Scots' first ever World Cup appearance was at the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, which was won by the Australians. The team led by George Salmond finished last among the twelve Nations after losing all their five group matches. After failing to qualify for the 2003 edition, they made it to the 2007 World Cup in West Indies where they finished fifteenth as they lost all their three group matches.

Though they failed to make it to the 2011 World Cup, they booked a spot for the 2015 edition co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Under Preston Mommsen, the team finished last among the fourteen teams after losing all their six group matches against New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England and Afghanistan. With the World Cup returning to England, the Scots would have loved playing in the country where their World Cup dreams started off almost two decades ago. They finished fourth in the 2018 ICC World Cup qualifiers earlier this year and thereby failed to qualify for the marquee event.

ICC Cricket World Cup stats: Played-14, Won-0, Lost-14, Tied-0, No Result-0