Cook: Settled England the favorite to win World Cup

Former captain Alastair Cook believes England has an “outstanding chance” to lift the World Cup on home soil, having built a squad full of proven winners.

Eoin Morgan’s top-ranked side enters the tournament as the one of the most consistent teams in the format and its quest for a first 50-overs title begins against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.

Since its shock group-stage exit from the 2015 World Cup, England has been particularly strong at home, winning 30 of its 42 ODIs while losing only nine.

“England have an outstanding chance,” said Cook, who retired last year from international cricket. “This is first time going into a World Cup England has such a settled squad. Everything looks great from the outside, they have every option covered.”

England failed to cope with raised expectations at the 2017 Champions Trophy, when it lost to eventual winners Pakistan in the semifinals.

Cook is positive such blips can only make a team mentally stronger.

Since the start of last year, England has come out on top in bilateral ODI series against World Cup holders Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India.

“They had that blip in the 2017 Champions Trophy, where it lost in the semifinal to Pakistan when it was the favorite, but you need those lows to be able to grow as a side,” he added. “[England] is the favorite. This is a great opportunity for Eoin [Morgan] and the guys to play some fantastic cricket.

“There are match winners throughout the squad, there are batsmen that can win games on their own, and over the last six or eight months the bowling has really come on. I think [England is] going to win it.”