Using bowling and batting data from one day internationals over the past eight years, we plotted how each of the 10 countries might fare at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The data revealed several trends including the strong all-round chances of the hosts, England, and Sri Lanka’s slim hopes of advancing to the semi-finals.
The scatterplots below show each team’s batting and bowling averages relative to the other teams in the tournament. The bar charts then show the average runs per 50 overs against each of their opponents in the past eight years.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s bowling stands out
Afghanistan enter the World Cup as the weakest team, but one of the strongest bowling attacks in the tournament will give them a chance. Superior run totals over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and West Indies means they have three winnable games.
Australia
Australia are in the middle of the pack
The reigning champions, Australia, enter the tournament in an unfamiliar position – ranked fifth in the world. The Aussies have a decent bowling attack, but their batting might hold them back, and are set for a string of close matches against the likes of England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh could struggle with bat and ball
The seventh-ranked team have one of the worst batting and bowling attacks, and their exceedingly high bowling average might mean they struggle against the best batsmen in the world. A tough start against South Africa, New Zealand and England may anchor them to the bottom of the group.
England
England’s batsmen have outperformed their bowlers
England enter the tournament as one of the favourites to win the whole thing, behind one of the best batting lineups in the tournament. The data suggests their bowling will need to improve in order to advance to the semi-finals. Still, this could be the year.
India
Can India repeat their success of 2011?
India enter the tournament as one of a handful of teams with strong batting and bowling attacks. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are ranked the No 1 and No 2 ODI batsmen in the world respectively, and Jasprit Bumrah happens to be the best ODI bowler in the world. High-scoring games against South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan to start could make or break their hopes.
New Zealand
Are the Black Caps the dark horses of the World Cup?
The fourth-ranked team in the world open with three winnable games, against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, against whom they’ve had superior run totals over the past eight years. They’ll need to win all three before things get tougher against Australia and England to end the group stage.
Pakistan
Which Pakistan team will turn up?
Pakistan are often the World Cup’s quandary with no one really knowing who will turn up. On paper the men in green have a strong batting lineup, which they’ll hope will be enough to cover for a middling bowling attack. As ever, Pakistan might be the biggest surprise and disappointment of the tournament.
South Africa
A strong South Africa team could go all the way
South Africa arrive as one of the strongest teams, with superior average run totals against seven of their nine opponents. They face tough games against England and India in their first three games, so look for them to finish strong at the back end of the group stage.
Sri Lanka
Weak Sri Lanka find themselves in an unusual position
It was only in 2011 when Sri Lanka made the World Cup final, but there has been a slow and steady decline since. In the past eight years, only Bangladesh have a worse batting and bowling record, and the Sri Lankans enter this year’s tournament ninth in the world, with only Afghanistan ranking worse.
West Indies
West Indies have a strong team on paper but have history against them
West Indies have endured a similar decline to Sri Lanka, though their downfall started in the late 70s after back-to-back World Cup victories. Their chances of escaping the group stage are small, as they’ve only fared better against two of the teams over the past eight years.
