The Oval, London, England, UK. 29th May 2019.

1. 00:00 SOUNDBITE (English): Eoin Morgan, England captain:

(About England's position as favourites)

"Yeah, we've spoke about it as a group. The level of expectation and favourite tags are there for a reason. Over the last two years, our form at home, in particular, has been outstanding, and that's the reason it's there. And to follow up your point, a lot of the World Cups that certainly I have played in, and a couple of the guys in the changing room have played in, we've gone in with very little expectation and not done that well, and I'd pick this position over any other."

2. 00:28 SOUNDBITE (English): Eoin Morgan, England captain:

(About England needing to deliver at their home tournament)

"I wouldn't say it's now or never. Yeah, it's just not something that's crossed my mind. We have made a huge amount of progress. Cricket at home is thriving. The women's game is thriving. The impact of that World Cup two years ago was amazing. I think the impact of this World Cup can have, not as big an impact unless we go a long way, but it will have an impact on everybody. We got knocked out of the 1999 World Cup early, but I still remember it like it was yesterday."

3. 01:04 SOUNDBITE (English): Eoin Morgan, England captain:

"Yeah, we did do a session with Gareth (Southgate, England football manager). It was brilliant. Every one of our players enjoyed it and every one of our backroom staff did as well. He got up and talked about his journey with the team in and around the World Cup, but in the build-up as well, and how they built bigger expectations and became more together as a group. I think everybody within the room listening who has been involved in our team over the last four years, recognised that they are where we were two years ago, and we started exactly where they did. (They) recognised what had happened in the past, drawn a line under it, tried to do things differently and move forward and enjoyed the challenge of that. It's amazing. He did brilliantly. Got to the semi-final and everybody says it's great. We got knocked out of the Champions Trophy semi-final, and we're crap (laughter)."

4. 02:00 SOUNDBITE (English): Eoin Morgan, England captain:

"I think we'll need to win a trophy at some stage. I think the transformation has been brilliant. I think, finding some way of sustaining that and improving it over the course of however long we might see World Cups, 50-over World Cups played... whether it be 10, 20 years, whatever it is, we would like to be at a stage where we are in and around this position right now on a consistent basis. Because when you look at other teams around the world that have consistently competed for World Cups like Australia and India, in particular, they find themselves there all the time and it's not by fluke. So building on this and moving it forward, a lot of it will have to be driven by the players, but it will have to be backed by the organisation, as well."

5. 02:47 SOUNDBITE (English): Eoin Morgan, England captain:

(About South Africa)

"It's a strong attack. They have coped with Dale Steyn in previous series for about a year and a half I think, and they did a good job of that. The last time they played us at home, Dale Steyn wasn't here. They have cover, and probably definitely not as reputable a name as Dale Steyn, but they certainly have cover."

6. 03:15 Various of roller on the pitch

7. 03:27 England captain Eoin Morgan and Joe Root walking on the pitch

8. 03:39 Jofra Archer walking pitch-side

9. 03:51 Various of Jofra Archer warming up

10. 04:29 Jofra Archer bowling

11. 04:41 Jofra Archer talking to Eoin Morgan

12. 04:49 Jos Buttler batting

13. 04:56 Jason Roy and Jos Butler batting

14. 05:04 Jofra Archer bowling

15. 05:13 Jason Roy batting

16. 05:22 Ben Stokes bowling

17. 05:30 Moeen Ali bowling

18. 05:48 Jason Roy and Jos Buttler bowling

19. 05:55 England chief selector Ed Smith and coach Trevor Bayliss

20. 06:06 Wide of Oval

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 06:15

England captain Eoin Morgan said on Wednesday, a day before their 2019 Cricket World Cup opener against South Africa at The Oval in London, that his side are ready to meet the weight of expectation which comes with the hosts' tag as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

England are the top-ranked team in the world in one-day cricket, but are yet to win any big title in that format.

But Morgan believes the 'favourite' tag for this tournament may bring about a change in the fortunes of the national side not seen in previous World Cups.

Entering as the best team in the world is a remarkable turnaround for an England side that was knocked out in the first round four years ago.

Their rise has been built on a powerful batting line-up - England have twice broken the record for the highest total made by an ODI team.