By Sudipto Ganguly
MUMBAI (Reuters) - The English weather will play a major role during the World Cup and teams from the Indian subcontinent stand to gain if hot and dry conditions prevail during the May 30-July 14 tournament, former captain Kevin Pietersen has said.
England, which last hosted the quadrennial showpiece in 1999, has witnessed more batsmen-friendly conditions in recent past with scores of 300 regularly posted in one-day internationals held in the country.
A hot English summer will translate into dry pitches on which the batsmen and spinners from the subcontinent teams are expected to thrive.
"It is going to be weather dependent," Pietersen told reporters in Mumbai at a promotional event last week.
"Last year was one of the most beautiful English summers since 1976. It was the hottest summer recorded in the UK with hardly any rain at all, conditions were extremely dry.
"If the conditions are like they were last summer, then I think the subcontinent teams are going to have a massive role to play in the World Cup.
"If they are not and it's horrible and green and seaming, then it's going to play in England's favour and the team that copes best in those circumstances."
While many see it as England's best chance to win their maiden 50-overs World Cup, India will also be among the favourites.
Led by Virat Kohli, the two-time champions have more or less a settled batting line-up even though they continue to search for a reliable number four in the batting order.
Opener Rohit Sharma agreed the English conditions could have a big say on their team selection.
"I think we are pretty much settled. There are a few spots which everyone know about," Rohit, Kohli's deputy in limited-overs formats, said.
"It all depends on what the captain, coach and selectors think about the combination. Whether we need to go with the extra seamer, extra middle order batsman, extra opening batsman or an extra spinner.
"The conditions in England will matter the most. The last time when we were there the conditions were really dry. I don't know if it will be the same again. If it is like that then we need to get an extra spinner, as simple as that. If it's not then we should probably get an extra seamer."
All 10 participating teams will have to submit their 15-member squads by April 23, while injury replacements can be named until May 23.
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)