1.
Stuart
Binny(India):
Stuart Binny's
selection in India's 15-man World Cup squad had raised a lot of eyebrows. The
30-year-old Karnataka all-rounder had made his ODI debut against New Zealand in
January 2014. Apart from a 6/4 against Bangladesh - the best ever ODI bowling
figures by an Indian - he has not exactly set the stage on fire.
Representing
Karnataka in the domestic circuit, Binny ended the 2012 -2013 season with 612
runs at an average of 47.07. He also had 19 wickets to his name. Binny had to
miss a few matches in the 2013-14 season as a result of his national
commitments. In the matches he played, he averaged 40 with the bat,
scoring 321 in 6 matches, besides picking up 11 wickets.
 |
| Stuart Binny |
But
in the recent concluded ODI tri-series, Binny suddenly became Dhoni’s go-to
man. The Indian skipper had so much faith in the all-rounder that he gave him
the new ball in last two ODIs that India played against England. Binny was the
star in the first ODI against England, where he was not only the highest
run-scorer, but also the lone only wicket taker. In the second ODI, he rattled
England’s middle-order and picked three crucial wickets of Joe Root, Eoin
Morgan and Ravi Bopara. Not to forget, in both the matches, his economy rate
was less than four runs per over.
While
there would be many who would still be unhappy with him playing ODI cricket,
the 30-year-old could play a crucial role for India in ICC’s pinnacle event,
proving them wrong.
2.
Harris Sohail(Pakistan)::
With only 11 matches to his name Harris Sohail has made it to the
Pakistani World cup squad. Haris Sohail is a 26 year old promising young
talented batsmen and probably the future of Pakistan
The Left-handed
middle-order batsman has scored 309 runs at an average of 34 with the highest
score of 85*. He has a decent record in the first class career averaging in the
mid 37. He is yet to score a List-A 100. His best score in the 50 over format
is 99.
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| Harris Sohail |
Relatively
new to international cricket, he also bowls a bit of left-arm spin and made it
to the World Cup squad with his all-round performace in the ODI series against
New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates in December. With Mohammad Hafeez
banned from bowling in Int. cricket, Pakistan may use his part timers.
This
will be a great opportunity for the young lad to prove his selection right.
3.
Mitchell Marsh:
Mitchell Marsh
has done pretty well in whatever cricket he has played till date. He has shown
a lot of maturity in his small career. He has an impressive debut against
Pakistan in UAE. He has showed his maturity with 47 and 87 in his second test
in Abu Dhabi.
Marsh
was one of few players to emerge with great credit from the triangular series
in Zimbabwe, where the Australians lost to the hosts for the first time since
1993 and were beaten again by South Africa in the final. Marsh played several
innings of note, most memorably taking to the high-class offerings of Dale
Steyn and also trialling at No. 3 in the batting order. The Zimbabwe trip gave
him a lot of confidence.
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| Mitchell Marsh |
He
also played a crucial knock in the recently concluded Carlton Mid triangular
series final against England, which was won by Australia. Despite losing some
early wickets Mitch shared a century stand with Glenn Maxwell to help his side
posting a respectable target.
4.
Shikar Dhawan:
Stylish
Moustache batsman Shikhar Dhawan has not been in the best of form of late
Down Under, which is now a major concern for Team India. The left-hander seems
to be stuck at the crease too often without any footwork. And if that doesn’t
sound convincing enough, the recent concluded tri-series in Australia has been
Dhawan lowest point in his career scoring just 48 runs in four innings
Shikar Dhawan
has continuously failed to impress in the Australian tour. India will be hoping
Shikar to fire at the top of the order which didn’t happened at all in
Australia.
The tour of
Australia has been a big struggle for Dhawan. He has managed only one
half-century that too down the order. However, the opener showed some signs of
getting his form back in the last innings. His innings of 38 against England
was a rare decent knock on that tour.
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| Shikar Dhawan |
Interestingly
Shikar has done very well in Champions trophy, where he scored 363 runs in 5
matches with a mammoth average of 90.75 and scored at a tremendous pace. He scored two centuries in that series, one against South Africa and one against West Indies. Dhawan scored a 94 ball 114 at Cardiff in the opener of the Champions trophy held in England.This can inspire him a lot to do well in the upcoming ICC Pinnacle event
Indian
fans will be hoping him to repeat the same feat and it is also the last
opportunity for Shikar to prove his mettle and secure his place in the side
5.
Younus Khan
The 37 year old Pakistani veteran player Younis khan had
a dream series against Australia, where he scored tons of runs in the series. In
the process he became the first
batsman since New Zealand's Glenn Turner, in 1974, to score hundreds in both
innings against Australia. Returning to the Pakistan ODI team has not
been a cake walk for him.
Having played his part in the series
victory, Younis said he wished to be a part of the Pakistan squad for the
upcoming 2015 World Cup, to be jointly co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The middle-order batsman was unceremoniously sacked from the ODI team for the
Australia matches with the team management indicating that the 37-year old
batsman was no more in the frame for selection to the shorter format of the
game.
 |
| Younis Khan |
After
challenging Pakistan’s selectors in September to find a better replacement
after his exclusion from the one-day series against Australia, Khan let his bat
do the talking over the past five Test matches throughout October and November.
The veteran right-handed batsman hit 717 runs over five Tests against Australia
and New Zealand which earned him place in the world cup squad.
It may be
the last world cup for Younis khan, he will be aiming to finish this on a high
note
