Cross takes pride at England World Cup place

The world number five from St Leonards will team up with fourth-ranked Michael Smith at the global event, which will be played in the Austrian city of Salzburg from November 6-8.

Cross wrote on Twitter: "Very proud to represent my country again! Mike and I have got a tough job ahead but we'll give it everything."

England will be the number one seeds as they seek to secure their fifth title in the 10th staging of the World Cup, which will be televised live on Sky Sports.

Cross and Smith were due to begin their quest for glory at the 32-nation tournament against the Philippines in a repeat of last year's first-round tie.

But some darts media outlets reported on Sunday that the Asian country will not be travelling to Austria next month for reasons relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

England's main opposition is likely to come from Wales, who will be led by in-form world number two Gerwyn Price, and a Netherlands team spearheaded by world number one Michael van Gerwen.

Defending champions Scotland are not among the eight seeded nations, with reigning world champion Peter Wright and two-time former world champion Gary Anderson not in their line-up this year.

Cross, meanwhile, reached the quarter-finals of the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen, Germany, last weekend.

The 2018 world champion edged past Adam Hunt 6-5 in round two on Saturday night, pinning double one in the deciding leg after Hunt had fought back from 5-3 down to level at 5-5.

Cross then swept aside Dutch thrower Martijn Kleermaker 6-1 in round three on Sunday afternoon, averaging 101.38 and hitting six of his seven attempts at a double.

But his progress was brought to a grinding halt by a 6-0 loss against Austrian world number 15 Mensur Suljovic in the quarter-finals on Sunday night.