ICC World Cup 2019: Flop XI from the 3rd week (Match 18 to Match 25)

Windies’ misfortunes in this tournament can be attributed to the senior players not living up to the expectations. Chris Gayle was in terrific form a few months ago when he played England back at home. But in this World Cup, after a lot of huffs and puffs, he is holding the crease. The ‘Universe Boss’ didn’t have a great week and left his side in tatters on both the occasions when he batted. On a good batting surface against England, he threw the start away after scoring 36 runs from 41 balls. Yet again on a great deck against Bangladesh, the left-hander got out for a duck.

His stats from Week 3:

Matches: 2
Runs: 36
Average: 18
S/R: 66.66

2. Usman Khawaja – Australia

Usman Khawaja has really struggled to bat out of position at number three or four. In the game against Sri Lanka, he was sent in ahead of Steve Smith at three and there were more than 30 overs left in the game. He could have set himself up for a big knock and make a valuable contribution to the team. However, he got out after playing a slugging knock and could only pile up 10 runs.

His stats from Week 3:

Matches: 1
Runs: 10
Average: 10
S/R: 50

3. Mushfiqur Rahim – Bangladesh

After the fine half-century in the first game, the senior Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has struggled a bit. Despite being in wonderful form, Rahim threw his opportunity away on a belter of a pitch. The way he got out in this game was frustrating and unexpected from the experienced player. He tried to glance a delivery bowled down the leg side but hit it straight into the gloves of the keeper. The assisting knock from Liton Das saved the day for Bangladesh. Otherwise, Rahim would have had to face a lot of flak.

His stats from Week 3

Matches: 1
Runs: 1
Average: 1
S/R: 20

4. Shoaib Malik – Pakistan

Shoaib Malik‘s torrid time in England continues and many are already of the opinion that he might have played his last ODI game already. The veteran cricketer came into bat in a pressure situation against India and was expected to handle things well. But, even before he realised, the ball arrived at him and before he could react, it went crashing into his stumps resulting in a golden duck.

His stats from Week 3

Matches: 1
Runs: 0
Average: 0
S/R: 0

5. MS Dhoni (c, wk) – India

Despite getting off to a wonderful start, India couldn’t finish the innings well against Pakistan. After the fall of Hardik Pandya’s wicket, MS Dhoni was presumed to provide the team with the final impetus. However, he went for a big heave on the leg-side. The ball was bowled way outside the off-stump and there was hardly any foot movement for MS Dhoni. He back his power and hand-eye coordination to clear the fence. However, he only found an outside edge which carried straight to the wicket-keeper.

His stats from Week 3:

Matches: 1
Runs: 1
Average: 1
S/R: 50

6. Jos Buttler – England

Jos Buttler is one of those names you’d not want to see in the Flop XI. But the way he let go a wonderful chance on an excellent batting surface gets him here. Buttler didn’t get to bat against Windies but came into the middle at a crucial juncture against Afghanistan. He had the platform set with about three overs left in the innings and it was an ideal situation for him. Buttler could have played a quickfire knock and got his team past 400 runs. But he badly mistimed one shot which went straight to the fielder resulting in a disappointment.

His stats from Week 3

Matches: 2
Runs: 2
Average: 2
S/R: 100

7. Andre Russell – Windies

Andre Russell doesn’t seem to be interested in getting out of the T20 mode. He is swinging at every delivery despite having many overs left in the kitty. Against England, there were about 14 overs left at the time he got out. But he wanted to go for the glory shots despite being dropped once earlier. He failed to take the onus in the Bangladesh game as well and walked back to the pavilion for a duck. Russell was slightly expensive with the ball as well.

His stats from Week 3:

Matches: 2
Runs: 21
Average: 10.5
S/R: 116.66
Wickets: 1

8. Rashid Khan – Afghanistan

Rashid Khan had a terrible day at the office when he faced England. Eoin Morgan was dropped off his bowling when he was batting on 28. This drop catch resulted in Rashid Khan registering the most expensive figures ever in a World Cup game. All the English batsmen went after him and he remained clueless after this assault. The leg-spinner, in the 9 overs that he bowled, conceded a mammoth 110 runs of which 74 were scored only in his last four overs. He was expensive and went wicketless in the game against South Africa as well that was played before the England game.

His stats from Week 3

Matches: 2
Wickets: 0
Average: –
Economy: 9.68 

9. Nuwan Pradeep – Sri Lanka

After the four-wicket haul that he picked up against Afghanistan, Nuwan Pradeep was back in action for the Australia game. However, he failed to repeat the same kind of heroics in this match and leaked a lot of runs. Aaron Finch particularly attacked him in that game and Pradeep couldn’t pick up any wickets. In his 10 overs, he gave away 88 runs at an economy rate of 8.80.

His stats from Week 3:

Matches: 1
Wickets: 0
Average: –
Economy: 8.80 

10. Shadab Khan – Pakistan

Shadab Khan‘s performance against India was hardly up to the mark. Indian opener Rohit Sharma struggles against leg-spin and Shadab was expected could take advantage of this weakness. But he bowled a lot of loose deliveries in which helped the batsmen hit him away from boundaries and also rotate the strike on a consistent basis. The young bowler couldn’t pick up any wickets in that match.

His stats from Week 3:

Matches: 1
Wickets: 0
Average: –
Economy: 6.8

11. Oshane Thomas – Windies

Oshane Thomas, who started off the World Cup campaign on a good note, couldn’t really captivate the momentum in the third week. The 22-year-old failed to pick up any wickets against England and couldn’t subject the opposition to pressure. Thomas was mostly ineffective against Bangladesh as well and was quite expensive as well. He picked one wicket in that game but Mushfiqur Rahim gifted it to him.

His stats from Week 3:

Matches: 2
Wickets: 1
Average: 95
Economy: 7.91