In checking past World Cup scorecards of games played in the UK to try and gain a clue as to who might win in 2019, one thing stands out; the teams with the best attack generally make the final.

The one exception is in 1983 where India upset the short-priced favourite West Indies to set off a revolution in the one-day game. However it should be noted that India did have a wily seam attack that cleverly exploited the helpful conditions.