Defending champions Australia are once again being tipped as the favourites to lift the 2019 World Cup in England. The Aussies took time settling under the new management of head coach Justin Langer who started off in ordinary fashion. With time, the team found its right balance and has since dominated teams. The return of some of the key players has also benefited them immensely. Though they have not performed well in English condition especially in ICC trophies, the team is raring to win the championship. Let us look at the five key players who could help Australia lift its fifth World Cup title. ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler and Other Key Players in the England Team for CWC.

David Warner

David Warner (Photo Credits: Getty Images)

After spending a year on the sidelines, David Warner makes a comeback to the Australian fold. The left-handed opener was brilliant in the recently concluded Indian Premier League where he finished as the top scorer despite leaving the tournament mid-way. His dominance with the bat gives the opposition skipper a lot to think about. On some of the flat decks of England, Warner will be very difficult to contain.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith (Photo Credits: Getty Images)

Former Australian captain Steve Smith was the leading run scorer for his team in the last World Cup. He too likes David Warner makes a comeback after a year for his role in the sandpaper gate incident on the South Africa tour. He looked off colour in the Indian Premier League but the amount of talent he has, it will be just a matter of a few innings before he starts finding his rhythm. The Oz middle-order can be somewhat brittle, and this is where Smith can show his importance. ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Other Key Players in the New Zealand Team for CWC.

Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch (Photo Credits: Getty Images)

Australian skipper Aaron Finch has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders but that has not impacted his game. He continues to give explosive starts to his team and 2019, in particular, has been very kind to him. The right-handed batsman has accumulated 634 runs in 13 games so far and was brilliant against Pakistan in UAE. In the 2015 World Cup, he played important innings in the semi-final against India that helped his team reach the finals. He along with David Warner could pose a lot of problems for the new ball bowlers.

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc (Photo Credits: Getty Images)

Injuries have kept him out of the squad since November 2018 for Australia, but the king of the swing is back again after regaining full fitness. Named the player of the tournament in the last World Cup, the left arm pacer is a delight to watch when on a song. He has picked up 145 wickets in 75 games for the Aussies and in the swinging condition of England, he will be the go-to guy for Aaron Finch.

Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa (Photo Credits: Getty Images)

Australia has been lacking a proper attacking spinner for long in the fifty over the game, but the emergence of Adam Zampa has helped them get over the issue. Although his average is a bit high at 35 in ODI’s, he continues to be a wicket-taking option for his country in the middle stages of the innings. Zampa will need to eradicate his tendency to bowl loose deliveries to leave a fine imprint on the World Cup.

Australia have a great team for the World Cup and look solid in all departments. If they play as a unit and avoid those odd bad days, they will be very difficult to beat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 27, 2019 11:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).