World Cup 2019: 15-man squad from the axed players for the tournament

Since the inception of slam-bang cricket, the ODIs has been the middle child of the cricketing arena. In a family of three children, the elder one, Test cricket is always nurtured and provided royal birthright and the younger one, T20 cricket is an attention seeker and always cuddled with affection. Over the years the middle one, 50-over cricket has been the crowd pleaser, but now it is sandwiched between the other two stars.

It has been creative but the parents, fans have not been able to reconnect with it and the upcoming World Cup is one more chance for the ODIs to get its aura back.

England, the home of cricket is again hosting the mega event, and 10 teams will be battling it out for the coveted championship. The preparation for the white-ball saga began a long time ago, as teams have been playing bilateral series in order to sharpen their skills. Now, most of the teams have announced their squads and even standbys have been named in case of last-minute injury. The selection panel has sprung a few surprises, as some good players have failed to make the cut.

Here we pick the 15-man squad

1) Ambati Rayudu (India)

Ambati Rayadu has played 55 ODIs for India in which he has scored 1700 runs at an average of 47. He has the ability to maintain the tempo in middle overs, as he is an excellent player against spinners. The experienced campaigner can also play at the top of the order which he proved while playing for CSK last year. He can also be used as a floater but can be a match-winner if he plays at the top of the order.

The Hyderabad batsman, Rayudu is unfortunate to have missed the plane ticket to England. He is one of the most elegant players with his wrist work, and stroke making abilities. Rayadu has been regular in the Indian team set-up from the last couple of years. He has been tested at No.4 by the team and has generated reasonable numbers, but the latest entrant Vijay Shankar was preferred by the selectors ahead of him.

2) Imrul Kayes (Bangladesh)

Imrul Kayes has played 78 matches for the Bangla tigers and has amassed over 2400 runs. He can be a game-changer at the top of the order with his hitting abilities. The southpaw has the experience of opening the innings and has stroked all his 4 centuries while playing at that position. Though he has been inconsistent with his performances, Imrul stands up for his team in tough situations.

The exclusion of Imrul Kayes from the squad is questionable as he has been in good form for his country. He had scored 2 tons and 1 fifty in his last 5 matches which included a career-best 144 against the visiting Zimbabwe side. Kayes has the ability to deliver at crucial junctures which he proved in 2011 WC, as he won two Man of the match awards in that campaign. The selectors have persisted with youngster Liton Das in place of Kayes which can backfire.

3) Reeza Hendricks (South Africa)

The Kimberly batsman, Hendricks has played 20 matches for the Proteas and has looked quite impressive. He has shown his potential in limited opportunities. The right-hander just made his debut last year in Sri Lanka and scored a century which contained full of graceful shots. Recently, he has been struggling with his form, but the selectors should have backed him as Hendricks has the ability to deliver on big stages.

Reeza Hendricks has been doing well at No.3 for South Africa, as he averaged 35 in seven outings. He had a decent outing against Pakistan as well during the home season. But his form dipped a little bit in the following Sri Lanka series which cost him his place in the World Cup squad. The selectors have been hard on the youngster, as he would have been a good addition to the side. Reeza lost his place to the SA legend Hashim Amla who has been out of form and can consider himself unlucky.

4) Rishabh Pant (India)

The Delhi keeper-batsman is the latest superstar in the Indian cricket with his eye-catching batting displays. He has quickly adapted to the International circuit and can be a nightmare for any bowling line-up on his day. Pant has been given limited opportunities in the ODI format, as he has played only 5 matches. The youngster has the power game, and inventive shots in his kitty to succeed in white-ball cricket.

The Indian team tested him at No.4, but he was not able to generate his magic in such a short span. Pant played attacking cricket which is visible from his strike rate of over 100 in all these matches. He is a match-winner, and he has proved it when he was given a long rope by the Delhi franchise in IPL. His impatience at the crease cost him the place in the World Cup squad, as the selectors have opted for the calm-headed Dinesh Karthik.

5) Peter Handscomb (Australia)

The Victorian batsman, Handscomb is one of the players who cashed in on his opportunity, when the banned duo of Steve Smith and David Warner was out of the team. He played only a handful of matches but impressed everybody with his skills and temperament. Handscomb has represented the Kangaroos in the ODI set-up for 21 times, and his numbers are good for a middle-order batsman. He can play the role of an aggressor and an innings builder.

The right-hander was in his elements in the last couple of bilateral series where he scored around 350 runs in 10 innings batting at No.5. His hitting abilities was on show when he made a century against India at Mohali. Handscomb can also play as a back-up keeper, as he is good with his glove work. The Australian selectors have dropped him for the WC for occupying Steven Smith in the team, but it is hard on the youngster who proved his mettle in tough situations.

6) Tim Seifert (New Zealand)

The Kiwi keeper-batsman has the ability to hit the ball out the park right from the word go. He has only played 2 matches for the Black Caps in the 50-over format and has played the role of a finisher for the team on both occasions. Tim Seifert has played 11 T20Is in which he has scored the runs at a strike-rate of 160. He can be used as a pinch hitter, and can also play a long innings if needed.

The Kiwi batsman has been in good form as he scored a total of 140 runs in 3 innings in the T20 series, which was played earlier in the year against India. He has been a consistent performer for his domestic side Northern Districts. Seifert can play the role of a finisher perfectly, as he has the ability to carve out international accomplished bowlers. The New Zealand selectors preferred the uncapped Tom Blundell in the squad which is unfair to Seifert.

7) Chris Morris (c) (South Africa)

South Africa has always been blessed with the fast bowling all-rounders and Chris Morris is one of them. He can consistently clock 90 mph, and his power hitting skills is an added bonus for the skipper. He has played 34 ODIs in which he has scored 400 runs, and has scalped 35 wickets. Morris can provide the required balance to the side as he can contribute in both departments.

The all-rounder has the experience of playing ICC events which can be really handy for the Faf du Plessis-led side. Morris has been an injury-prone player, and his form has also dipped in the last couple of years, but he has the ability to bounce back if faith is shown on him.

Morris is one of the rare bowlers who can bowl in the powerplay and death overs as well. Pretorius and Phehlukwayo have got the selectors’ nod ahead of Morris.

8) Shreyas Gopal (India)

The Karnataka lad, Shreyas Gopal is one of the emerging talents of the IPL 2019. With his leg-spin bowling, he has showcased his potential to the cricketing world. Though he has not played any internationals, he has outfoxed some of the best batsmen of the world in this year’s IPL. Gopal is only 25, but he has already played 43 T20s in which he has taken 47 wickets with an economy of 7.1 which is spectacular.

The leggie has also shown his batting prowess in a couple of IPL matches for the Rajasthan franchise. He has been a consistent performer for his domestic side with both bat and ball. He has been in good form in the ongoing IPL, where he has picked 8 wickets in as many matches with an economy of 6.60. Gopal was unlucky to not get a reward in the form of a ticket to England, as the Indian selectors have gone with the winning combination of Kuldeep-Chahal for WC.

9) Akila Dananjaya (Sri Lanka)

In recent times Akila Dananjaya has been the strike bowler for the Lankan side, and he is one of the stars who has shone brightly in this turmoil of SL cricket. The mystery spinner from the island nation has played 34 ODIs in which he has taken 48 wickets. In his short stint, he has already bamboozled many great players of spin and has various tricks up his sleeve. On helpful pitches, Akila can run through the sides in a matter of overs.

Along with his wicket-taking skills the tweaker is efficient in bowling tight spells. He can be handy with his willow and has played some useful cameos down the order. The off-spinner was suspected for his bowling action, and that hampered his performances in the last ODI series against SA. Sri Lanka’s selectors went ahead with Jeffrey Vandersay for the WC squad as they overlooked the contributions of Akila.

10) Jofra Archer (England)

The West Indies-born England all-rounder is a star in the making. The right arm pacer has all the elements to become a successful speedster in the International circuit. He can generate pace and bounce even on dead pitches. Jofra Archer has already played a lot of county cricket and within a couple of years, he has been the most talked talent in the cricketing fraternity.

The pacer has been in good form in IPL 2019 where he has picked 8 wickets in 8 matches with an economy of 6.7. Archer can tonk the ball a long way and can be used as a pinch hitter in crucial ties. Archer has the ability to take wickets with the new ball, and as well as with the old one. He was not named in the preliminary WC squad, but he has been selected in the upcoming bilateral series against Pakistan which will decide his fate.

11) Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)

When Mohammad Amir, the left arm quickie burst into the scene, he used to terrorize the opposition with his swing and seam bowling. He moved the ball in both directions which made him a difficult customer for the batsmen. Amir has played 43 ODIs in which he has scalped 58 wickets. In the recent past, Amir has not been effective and is unable to take wickets with his new action.

Amir has the experience of bowling in England conditions, and most of his Test wickets came have come on similar tracks. The pacer has the ability to stand up for the team on big stages which was on show when he rattled the Indian top order in the 2017 Champions Trophy final.

Amir has lost a couple of yards, but on helpful pitches, he can win matches on his own. Pakistan selectors have not included him in the WC squad due to his recent failures but have given him one last chance to prove his mettle in the England series.

12) Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

The Australian pacer, Hazlewood is a perfect blend for bowling friendly England surfaces. He can make the new ball talk on good pitches, and can be a strike bowler in the powerplay overs. Josh has played 44 ODIs in which has taken 72 wickets with an economy rate of 4.74. Recently he has not played white ball cricket, but his ability to bowl accurately is second to none.

Josh Hazlewood can bowl tight spells and he provides important breakthroughs for the team. He has the experience of playing ICC events, and the last event he played was the CT 2017 where he took 9 wickets in 3 matches. With his tall stature, he can generate uneven bounce on good tracks which can be a threat for the opposition batsmen. The CA has not selected him in the WC squad, as they want him fresh for the Ashes series which follows the World Cup.

13) Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka)

The former Lankan ODI skipper, Dinesh Chandimal is a middle-order batsman who can play spin and pace well. He can be an attacking batsman whenever the team is in search of quick runs, and also has the defensive skill sets to succeed on tough tracks. In the current ODI set-up, he is one of the most experienced players. Dinesh has played 144 matches in which he has scored 3600 runs.

Recently Chandimal has been getting starts, but a big innings has eluded him which prompted the selectors to drop him after a couple of failures in NZ earlier in the year. He has regained his touch in the recently concluded domestic 50-over event where he stroked a 110 off 90 balls.

Chandimal can lead this new look Lankan batting line-up to great heights if enough faith is shown in him. The SL selectors have failed to stick with a plan, and that is the reason why Chandimal was overlooked for the WC squad.

14) Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh)

Taskin Ahmed is one of the rare Bangladesh bowlers who can consistently trouble the batsmen with his raw pace. He has been a regular in Bangladesh’s ODI set-up from last 4 years. Although he has played only 27 matches for the Tigers, he has bowled some match-winning spells. The team has benefited with Taskin’s attacking mindset, as he always looks for wickets.

The pacer was one of the finds of 2015 WC where he took 9 wickets in 6 matches. Taskin has been regularly breaking down, but he has not given up his premium skill set. In the last couple of series, he has been off the boil, as he has not been able to take wickets. The selectors preferred uncapped Abu Jayed over Taskin Ahmed for the 2019 WC, as the pacer showcased his swinging abilities in the New Zealand tour but the decision could prove to be a wrong move.

15) Todd Astle (New Zealand)

He has always been on the fringe of team selection because of his good show for his domestic side Canterbury. The leg-spinner from New Zealand has played a lot of List A and FC matches. Astle has only represented the Black Caps in 9 ODIs in which he has picked up 10 wickets. Astle is a perfect example of a stock bowler, as he can bowl economical overs in the middle of the innings.

The Kiwi is no mug with the bat, as he has an average of close to 35 in List A matches. In his short international career, he has done justice to his role, as he has been a perfect foil for the team’s wicket-taking bowlers. At 32, Astle is an experienced player and could’ve been a good addition to the team, as he has bowled a lot of overs on pitches which are similar to England tracks. Todd Astle was not included in the WC squad, because the selectors choose the Sodhi-Santner duo due to their recent good track records.

The selectors will always have a tough time selecting the players for the multi-nation tournaments, as there are various talents who are waiting in the wings. In events like WC, they will take tough calls for the success of the team, but some decisions can also cost them their entire campaign.

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