World Cup 2019: Three batsmen to watch out for in final

England will enter as the overwhelming favourites to lift a much-awaited first World Cup crown on Sunday at Lord's when they take on a resurgent New Zealand who are also aiming to lift their maiden WC crown.

While England carry into the final as the most complete side of the tournament, they have also had their share of hiccups while reaching the big stage just like their rivals. In terms of batting prowess and form, the Englishmen are way ahead of the Kiwis, but, in Kane Williamson, New Zealand's formidable anchor, the Kiwis have a potential match-winning batsman in their ranks as well. Joe Root, another member of the fab four has also had a sterling World Cup and was unbeaten on 49 as England romped home to a majestic victory over Australia in the high-octane second semi-final at Edgbaston.

In this article, we shift our gaze away from Williamson and Root to take a look at some of the other batsmen who can set the home of cricket alight come Sunday.

---

#1 Jason Roy

Jason Roy.

Jason Roy's impact on this England batting-order can be gauged by the fact that when he was out of the team recuperating from an injury mid-tournament, England became a frail shadow of their formidable selves dropping games and almost teetering on the brink of elimination.

He forms the best opening partnership of the tournament with the equally destructive Jonny Bairstow who also has been in scintillating form with 496 runs in this World Cup.

Roy was the wrecker-in-chief on Thursday, blasting his way to 85 off just 65 balls that included five sixes, three of them hit in a row. His hitting can sometimes border on the audacious but his confidence and immaculate hand-eye coordination makes him take those risks with aplomb. Roy has already hit a wonderful century against Bangladesh earlier and has an average of 71 in the tournament, the highest for an England batsman. Importantly, he also inspires partner Bairstow to give his best, as signified by the consecutive hundreds the latter hit after Roy's return.

Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on World cup points table, news, live scores, World Cup schedule, most runs, most wickets and fantasy tips.

#2 Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor has been around for a long time.

The 35-year-old ace batsman's value to this Kiwi side cannot be overstated. With Martin Guptill enduring a horror run at the top of the order, it is up to Ross Taylor and captain Williamson to navigate out of troubled waters and take the Kiwis to a competitive score or steady the ship in a tricky chase.

The veteran has had a mixed Cup so far though and is only 19th in the run-getters' list. He has often got out to a rash shot after a good start but his invaluable 74 in difficult circumstances against India in the first semi-final was invaluable to his country's cause as they got over the line against India in a thriller.

Taylor can ride out the storm before unleashing in classic fashion and is probably playing his last World Cup and will have more to prove than most when the Black Caps begin their quest for a maiden Cup triumph on Sunday. Taylor has hit three fifties so far and has a decent average of 41.87 in the Cup so far, scoring a total of 335 runs.

#1 Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes is the full package.

A brilliant fielder, a capable bowler and a devastating batsman. Ben Stokes brings everything to the table and, despite the presence of captain Eoin Morgan and blaster Jos Buttler, is probably the most important England batsman in the middle-order. Let us see why.

Stokes has averaged 54.42 for England in the Cup, just behind Roy and Root, but those runs have come lower down the order, in pressure situations when the team was either chasing down a steep target or trying to set an imposing total. He has hit a total of nine sixes in the Cup, just three behind Roy, but he didn't get to bat in the last match, such was England's dominance.

Stokes has a specific role as a batsman and his late cameo against India in the league game proved how vital he is to the team's cause; he can be the difference between a 280 and a 310 when striking the ball cleanly, and he is striking it cleanly in this WC.

He nearly pulled off a great escape against Sri Lanka in a tough chase earlier in the tournament and was also brilliant in a losing cause against the Aussies in another league game, thus proving his instrumental role in both setting a target and chasing one for his team. Worse still for the Kiwis, he is still due for a big one in the Cup and Lord's might be the best setting for the same.