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England's 2019 World Cup XI: who would you select in your team?

Alex Lees - would he make your 2019 England World Cup XI?
Image: Alex Lees - would he make your 2019 England World Cup XI?

What will a winning England side look like at the 2019 World Cup? Tweet in your XI to @SkyCricket...

Picture England winning the World Cup on home soil in 2019…

Never going to happen? Tell that to the players who are already aiming to make history!

What would your England team look like at the next World Cup? To mix it up a little, you’re not allowed to select anyone playing in the current tournament – no matter how much you’d like to include the likes of Joe Root, Alex Hales or Moeen Ali...

Live Cricket World Cup 2015

England’s 2019 World Cup XI?

Alex Lees (Yorkshire) – currently 21

The 2014 PCA Young Player of the Year offers England a left-handed option at the top of the order (as, of course, would his county team-mate Adam Lyth) but at six years younger has plenty of scope to improve on his burgeoning reputation in all formats.

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Jason Roy (Surrey) – currently 24

Surrey’s opener failed to do his explosive talent justice on his T20 international debut against India in September but surely can’t be far away from becoming an England fixture in all short-game formats. Brazen and bullish at the crease, he’s willing to attack from ball one – often spectacularly.

James Vince (Hampshire) – currently 23

Continues to grow in stature with each passing season, so much so that Dominic Cork believes the Hampshire hitter could replace Eoin Morgan as England’s ODI captain. Led Hampshire to Finals Day in 2015 and gained further captaincy experience with the Lions this winter.

Tom Westley (Essex) – currently 25

Since getting the nod for the England Performance Programme's batting and spin camp in Sri Lanka in 2014, Westley has continued his education by wintering with Bloomfield. Essex’s Player of the Year (not to mention Batsman and Players’ Player) chalked up 1,642 runs in all formats – including two tons in the NatWest T20 blast.

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Steve Harmison praises his former teammate Ben Stokes after he hit 77 off 37 in his first Big Bash game for Melbourne Renegades.

Ben Stokes (Durham) – currently 23

From ‘strange’ to ‘ridiculous’, the response to England’s decision not to take Ben Stokes to the World Cup was largely greeted by bewilderment. His 151 off 86 balls for the England Lions against South Africa A seemed to ram home the point that, at his destructive best, he’s a rare talent with bat and ball.

Sam Billings (Kent) – currently 23

Described by Craig Kieswetter as “A seriously talented player - future star” on his call up to England’s provisional World Cup squad, Billings has no shortage of admirers and – given his expansive repertoire of shots - could be regarded as a genuine ‘finisher’ or potential opener, although his wicketkeeping does need work.

Will Rhodes (Yorkshire) – currently 20

One of the many reasons Yorkshire’s future looks so bright. Already has positive tournament experience, having led England to third in this year’s U19 World Cup. A handy seamer with middle-order batting potential, he’s vice-captain material at the very least. Not to be confused with Wilfred Rhodes!

David Willey (Northants) – currently 25

Never one to shirk the big occasion, Willey was mentioned in despatches for a possible place in England’s 30-man World Cup squad only for injury to dog him. Fiery at full pace, the left-armer might not have the full mix of variations but as he proved in the 2013 T20 final, you’d want him on your side in tight scrap.

Craig Overton (Somerset) – currently 20

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Sky Sports' David Fulton take us through the players he would pick for England future ODI's.

Two years after a stress fracture ruined his 2013 season, the (slightly) older Overton twin seemed firmly back on track before an ankle injury cut short his England Lions tour this winter; nevertheless he remains a promising all-rounder who showed greater promise with the bat in 2014.

Reece Topley (Essex) – currently 21

At six foot seven inches tall, this towering left-armer could provide the seam variety England so badly lack. He’s proved his wicket-taking ability for Essex over the last three seasons in Twenty20 cricket in particular and could become a potent international threat, back problems permitting.

Mark Wood (Durham) – currently 25

A key part of Durham’s 2013 Championship-winning team, Wood continues to make decent strides – and with Steve Harmison and Paul Collingwood squarely in his corner, expect big things in the coming seasons. He might lack the height of the former – and the express pace of Tymal Mills - but he still has the ability to rush batsmen.

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