Cricket’s elite competition,
the ICC World Cup is alright around the corner. With just over a month to go,
before the mega cricket feasts commences, all teams taking part in the
competition have announced their 15 man squads. A 15 man squad doesn’t do
justice in many cases, it would even be hard to pick a best 20 out of a
country’s professional lot of players. It is indeed a very tough decision to
make for the selectors, and can leave out some of the most talented of players
behind.
The finalized 15 man squads of
many teams including India, Pakistan and the West Indies have proved to be real
shockers. Pakistan would be without Umar Gul, who has been replaced by 30 year
old fast bowler Sohail Khan. India would be without heroes of the last World
Cup in Yuvraj and Sehwag.
Likewise,
there are some absolute shockers of omissions from the squads of many a team.
So we’ve decided to build an 11 man starting line up amongst the players who
won’t be going to ICC’s grand competition next month.
1. Shaun Marsh (Australia): If you
talk about the saddest stories of any batsman from recent times, you won’t miss
Shaun Marsh’s. Marsh played his last ODI for his country a year ago. No doubt
he is one of the most talented Australian players of this era, but his lack of
match fitness and injury woes have deeply hampered his progress as regular
first team material.
2. Mathew Wade (Australia):Another
Aussie makes the list, and this time it’s the 27 year old Mathew Wade who
replaced Brad Haddin back in November. Wade didn’t disappoint at all, scoring a
crucial half century leading Australia to a win in the 4th ODI. Tough luck for
Wade though, Brad Haddin is back, fit and kicking!
3. Kevin Pietersen: A name loved by cricketing fans all around
the globe, Kevin Pietersen is a true cricketing star.Pietersen put on show some
excellent batting in the last Ashes he played, but his ODI form let him down immensely.
Leaving aside all the controversies and disputes he has with the England board,
Pietersen’s talent with the blade would get him into the starting 11 of any
World Cup team.
4. Yuvraj Singh
(India): The omission of World Cup 2011 hero Yuvraj Singh won’t
surprise a big lot. The man who led India to World Cup glory the last time,
hasn’t featured in an ODI game since over a year. In Yuvi’s defense though, he
has shown excellent formin first class cricket recently.
5. Kieron Pollard (West Indies): Here
it is, probably the most shocking of exclusions. Kieron Pollard had been
involved in some massive controversies with the West Indies cricket board as of
later, and his name was not mentioned a single time when selector head Clive
Lloyd announced the 15 man West Indies squad earlier this week. Although his
recent one day form hasn’t been too impressive, Pollard’s talent and ability
should have been enough to get him straight into the West Indies 15.
6. Dwayne Bravo (West Indies):The
case of Dwayne Bravo is a carbon copy of that of his team mate Kieron Pollard.
One of the best all-rounders of the game, Bravo led the West Indies out of the
India tour as a result of a boycott against the WICB. Bravo was excluded from
the squad that toured South Africa, and now from the World Cup team too.
According to his team mate Chris Gayle, Pollard and Bravo are being isolated by
the WICB.
7. Ben Stokes (England):
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been extremely poor with his ODI form as of
later. He did show signs of life in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne
Renegades, but just wasn’t convincing enough to make it in time to get included
in the Three Lions’ World Cup squad.
8. James Neesham (New Zealand): One of
the brightest kiwi prospects for the future is none other than Jimmy Neesham.
The young versatile kiwi all-rounder pays the price for his form with the bowl,
as he makes way for 34 year old veteran Grant Elliot.
9. Ryan Harris (Australia): Aussie
speedster Ryan Harris is without any shadow of a doubt one of the finest fast
bowlers in the World today. His exclusion from the Aussie squad would mean good
news for any batsman facing Australia. What cost him his place in the side was
nothing but his frequent fitness issues.
10. Umar Gul (Pakistan): Talk
of the best fast bowlers in world cricket prompts us to mention names like
Pakistan’s Umar Gul. Umar Gul has been amongst the most versatile fast bowlers
of the modern era, with his deadly swinging deliveries and laser like Yorkers.
Unfortunately.
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