Ashley Giles: England can win the Cricket World Cup and Ashes in 2019

Ashley Giles is backing England to secure a double triumph on home soil in 2019 by winning the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Ashes.

Last month the 45-year-old was appointed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as the new managing director of England men’s cricket. He replaces Andrew Strauss who stepped down last October.

Giles, who made 54 Test appearances for England, believes that playing at home presents the “best opportunity” of winning the World Cup and regaining the Ashes from Australia.

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In one-day international (ODI) cricket Eoin Morgan’s side are currently top of the ICC rankings and will start as one of the favourites to win the World Cup, which is being held between May and July. Joe Root’s team has also climbed to second in the ICC Test rankings.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Giles said: “I believe we can win the World Cup and the Ashes. This year creates probably the best opportunity for a long time.

“I think with World Cups we found ourselves, in the past, suddenly running into a bit of a meltdown or change - that’s not the case this time around.”

Before the huge summer of cricket, England head to the Caribbean this week for the tour of the West Indies. Three Tests, five ODIs and three Twenty20 matches will feature on the schedule.

England’s year of cricket

West Indies vs. England cricket: two-day warm-up matches

• 15-16 January: WI Board XI vs. England (Three Ws Oval, Barbados)
• 17-18 January: WI Board XI vs. England (Three Ws Oval, Barbados)

West Indies vs. England Test matches

• 23-27 January: 1st Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados
• 31 January-4 February: 2nd Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
• 9-13 February: 3rd Test at Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, St Lucia

West Indies vs. England one-day warm-up match

• 17 February: Vice Chancellor’s XI vs. England (Three Ws Oval, Barbados)

West Indies vs. England ODI matches

• 20 February: 1st ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados��
• 22 February: 2nd ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados
• 25 February: 3rd ODI at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
• 27 February: 4th ODI at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
• 2 March: 5th ODI at Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, St Lucia

West Indies vs. England International Twenty20s (IT20)

• 5 March: 1st IT20 at Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, St Lucia
• 8 March: 2nd IT20 at Warner Park, St Kitts and Nevis
• 10 March: 3rd IT20 at Warner Park, St Kitts and Nevis

England vs. Pakistan T20 and ODI cricket series

• 5 May: International Twenty20 (Sophia Gardens, Cardiff; 5pm)
• 8 May: 1st one-day international (Kia Oval, London; 1pm)
• 11 May: 2nd ODI (Ageas Bowl, Southampton; 11am)
• 14 May: 3rd ODI (Brightside Ground, Bristol; 1pm)
• 17 May: 4th ODI (Trent Bridge, Nottingham; 1pm)
• 19 May: 5th ODI (Headingley, Leeds; 11am)

ICC Cricket World Cup

• When: 30 May-14 July
• Where: England and Wales
• Format: 50-over ODIs
• Teams: ten
• Matches: 48

Test cricket: England vs. Ireland

• When: 24-27 July
• Where: Lord’s, London

2019 Ashes Test series: England vs. Australia

• 1-5 August: 1st Test (Edgbaston, Birmingham)
• 14-18 August: 2nd Test (Lord’s, London)
• 22-26 August: 3rd Test (Headingley, Leeds)
• 4-8 September: 4th Test (Old Trafford, Manchester)
• 12-16 September: 5th Test (The Oval, London)