Adam Gilchrist backs Australia to pass 500 mark at World Cup

With several sides in the competition blessed with tremendous hitting power, and a number of the venues being used for the tournament boasting a track record of his massive totals, there is the potential for England's record 488 to be beaten

Australia legend Adam Gilchrist fully expects the first 500-plus one-day international score to be posted during the World Cup, and he sees no reason why his country can't be the ones to do it.

With several sides in the competition blessed with tremendous hitting power, and a number of the venues being used for the tournament boasting a track record of his massive totals, there is the potential for England's record 481 to be beaten in the coming two months.

Gilchrist, who has been involved in his fair share of run fests, would not be surprised to see the 500 barrier surpassed.

“I reckon it will definitely happen,” Gilchrist told Foxsports.

RECORD MEN'S ODI SCORES

481-6 - ENGLAND v Australia (Trent Bridge, 2018)

444-3 - ENGLAND v Pakistan (Trent Bridge, 2016)

443-9 - Netherlands v SRI LANKA (Amstelveen, 2006)

439-2 - SOUTH AFRICA v West Indies (Johannesburg, 2015)

438-9 - SOUTH AFRICA v Australia (Johannesburg, 2006)

“Some of the ground sizes over there with fast outfields, there’s every potential that the record score England set against Australia will be broken.

“The effects T20 cricket is having on batsmen’s approach in this day and age, the varying field restrictions and powerplays, it’s all in the batsmen’s favour in that regard so I would expect there will be some really high scoring.”

And the former wicketkeeper sees in a Australia top order that includes David Warner, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell as being more than capable of breaching the landmark.

“If Australia get themselves into the tournament with a settled line-up and get the confidence levels up, there’s no reason why they can’t do it,” he said.

Australia begin their campaign on Saturday, June 1 against Afghanistan in Bristol - where England recently chased down 359 with five overs to spare.

They also play on a small ground at Taunton, against Pakistan, and have two games at Trent Bridge - the venue which currently holds the two top scores of all time in ODIs - against West Indies and Bangladesh.

Our coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is brought to you in association with Cricket 19, the official video game of the Ashes. Pre-order your copy now at Amazon.co.uk