England’s new director of cricket Ashley Giles said on Wednesday he believes a World Cup and Ashes double is possible for his side this year.
England are currently top of the global 50-over rankings and will head into a home World Cup that starts in May as one of the favourites to win a trophy they have never lifted.
After that tournament, they defend the Ashes in a five-Test series, also on home soil, against arch-rivals Australia.
It will be the first time the two events have taken place in the same country in the same year since the inaugural 1975 men’s World Cup in England.
Asked which he would rather win, Giles, most recently head of sport at Warwickshire — the county he represented during his career as an England left-arm spinner — told Sky Sports at Lord’s: “I’ll have both thanks.
“This year represents a great opportunity for us to do something really special but at the moment that’s all it is.
“The train is moving at a hell of a pace…
