Jos Buttler gives England the "best chance they have ever had" of winning the World Cup, according to former captain Michael Vaughan.
Buttler's 110 not out rescued England from the brink of defeat as they beat Australia by one wicket in the fifth one-day international at Old Trafford on Sunday to complete a 5-0 whitewash of the reigning world champions.
England, the world's top-ranked ODI side, are the tournament hosts for the 2019 World Cup.
But they have never lifted the men's version of cricket's premier one-day trophy and haven't won a knockout match at the tournament since making the last of their three losing appearances in the final back in 1992.
They also failed to get out of the group stage at the most recent edition in 2015. "I look at the England side and Buttler is the one," Vaughan told BBC Radio's Test Match Special.
"Teams that win trophies have X-factor cricketers. He's right up there," he added. "I've got everything crossed that he doesn't pick up an injury.
Also Read
"If he's fit next year, they've got the best chance they have ever had," insisted the former Yorkshire batsman, a veteran of 82 Tests and 86 ODIs from 1999-2008.
England were on the verge of losing on Sunday as they slumped to 114 for chasing chasing just 206 for victory.
- 'Reads the game' -
====================
"He knows and the team know that the opposition are scared of him more than most."
"For them to get over the line today -- in a real close game after Australia were favourites -- this means more."
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content