‘England can win World Cup and Ashes in 2019’ – Hussain

In a huge summer of cricket for England, they will host the Men’s Cricket World Cup on home soil for the first time in 20 years between 30 May and 14 July, before taking on arch rivals Australia in the Ashes during August and September.

They are yet to win a Men’s World Cup title, finishing runners-up on three occasions (1979, 1987 and 1992), but many see this year’s tournament as their best-ever chance of lifting the famous trophy.

With the number-one ranked ODI side littered with high-quality players, England have been labelled favourites to lift the World Cup at Lord’s on 14 July.

Hussain, who played at two World Cups – captaining England at the 2003 tournament – thinks the hosts have the firepower to lift not only the World Cup this year but the Ashes urn as well if they maintain a fresh squad.

“You have to go back to 1975 for the last time an English summer contained a World Cup and an Ashes, so it will be absolutely key that the players keep their minds on the job,” Hussain told The Daily Mail.

“I see England as favourites for both, but they’re only going to win if everyone’s fresh and raring to go. And if that means players missing, say, the Test against Ireland in May, or a one-dayer or two against Pakistan, so be it.

"[Joe] Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow play all three formats now, so England have to look after them properly. We don’t want to get to a World Cup semi-final or a crucial fourth Test against Australia and the players look jaded.”