Alastair Cook says England can mount “a strong challenge” at a “wide open” 2015 World Cup, which starts in 100 days.
Cook is set to lead England at what will be his first World Cup, which is being held in Australia and New Zealand during February and March.
The opening batsman has big-tournament leadership experience from captaining his country to the final of last year’s Champions Trophy, when they were pipped to the title by World Cup holders India in a contest reduced from 50 to 20 overs a side.
Cook, who is soon to embark on England’s tour of Sri Lanka which will feature seven one-day internationals, said: “Having reached the ICC Champions Trophy final in 2013, we firmly believe we are capable of mounting a strong challenge next year.
“But there will be plenty of strong one-day sides who will also fancy their chances of winning the competition and in my view it remains wide open at this stage.”
England were runners-up the last time the World Cup was held in the Antipodes, during 1992.
Cook, who was seven when Pakistan defeated England in the ’92 showpiece and is now 29, added: “England reached the final the last time the competition was staged in Australia and New Zealand so there’s a real incentive for us to go one better next time and win the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time in our history.”
Cook made his ODI debut in 2006 but was not selected for the 2007 World Cup.
He had more opportunities in the one-day side before the 2011 competition but, despite having just amassed 766 runs in England’s Ashes triumph Down Under, was again overlooked.
The left-hander was made skipper soon after that tournament and now has 86 ODI caps, during which he has scored five hundreds and 19 fifties.
With a tri-series versus Australia and India to come in the new year, Cook could win his 100th cap during the World Cup which England begin by facing the Aussies on Valentine’s Day.
“Every professional cricketer dreams of representing his country in the ICC Cricket World Cup and I am no exception,” he said.
“I am hugely thrilled to have been given the chance to lead England in the tournament and I expect that competition for places in our final squad will be extremely tough.”