FARBRACE: IT’S OUR FINEST TEAM
EXCLUSIVE BY THE greatest team in English sporting history? It is a big call, but Paul Farbrace (right) does not think it too wide of the mark.
England open their World Cup defence against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
And the former England assistant coach believes another win in the tournament could end the debate.
“I don’t think England has had such a successful international team in any sport,” he said. “And there’s more to come – I don’t think it will stop at the end of this World Cup.
“We might lose Moeen Ali, we might lose Adil Rashid and even Ben Stokes at the end of this tournament. But there are people coming through who will push for places at this World Cup. And I think this success will continue for at least the next two tournaments. The talent pool is incredible. If someone had said to you in 2015 that in 10 years’ time we would hold both World Cups at the same time, they would have laughed.
“I remember standing at The Oval at the end of an ODI in 2018 and saying we had 19 players who were capable of playing for England’s white ball side.
“I was described as arrogant. We went on to win the World Cup (in 2019) and we did that without four or five players who were either left out or injured.
“Now, I’d say we had nearer 30 players who could come into that squad. Of the 15 players they’ve picked, all of them could play in the team and the balance of that side wouldn’t change.
“There’s not one person in that squad who is going to weaken the team if they come in – and that’s very unusual in international sport. It’s a great place to be, it’s exciting and we’re winning World Cups.” Farbrace left his role alongside Trevor Bayliss shortly before the start of the 2019 tournament, but watched as a Ben Stokes-inspired England won their first global 50-over title. That win against New Zealand has already written itself into English cricket folklore. But victory in India might even top it. “A lot of this side have experience of playing in India and that could prove so valuable,” added Farbrace. “It’s a cricket-mad country – the passion, the noise, the love of the game, it’s like nowhere else in the world. “The experience that England have in this team, playing in front of IPL crowds, that’s why, for me, England are the favourites to win the tournament.”