10 Key Players to look for before the World Cup 2015

This blog is about the Key players to look at during upcoming Cricket World Cup 2015. With 7 days to go to the biggest event in cricket, lets have a look at the players who can turn the game at any stage of the match and take their team to victory. 

1. VIRAT KOHLI (India)

Virat Kohli’s aggressive and consistent batting has seen him remain close to the top of the One-Day International batting rankings since early 2010. Kohli always dreamed of representing his country in cricket and had his first opportunity as a teenager when he played for the India under-19 team in 2006, guiding the same team to a World Cup win in 2008.

His senior international career took off soon after when he made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in August 2008. The 26-year-old now has more than 20 one-day hundreds and more than 30 fifties to his name. His high-score of 183 came against Pakistan in 2012 and scored four ODI centuries in 2014.

He played a crucial role when India toppled Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final, arriving at the crease when India was 2-31 and steadying the ship with a calm 35. Kohli took over the one-day captaincy for India’s series against Sri Lanka in November 2014 when MS Dhoni was rested, but will return to his vice-captain role for the 2015 World Cup.

4. GLENN MAXWELL (Australia)

Glenn Maxwell has gained worldwide fame since making his one-day international debut in 2012.The big-hitting all-rounder had a purple patch of form during Australia’s ODI tour of India in late 2013.

The Victorian posted scores of 31, 53, 3, 92, 9 and 60 in six matches, scoring 172 of his 248 runs in boundaries.He continued his hot form during the Australian summer.

Till now, he has an ODI top score of 93 and this best bowling figures are 4-63. Australia will have faith on the all-rounder as he heads into his maiden ICC Cricket World Cup.

3. JOE ROOT (ENGLAND)

An exciting batsman with buckets of talent, Joe Root is a superstar in the making.

After Root made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 2011 and cemented his spot in the side, commentators were quick to mark him as one to watch.

Selection in the England Lions squad and a place in the England Performance Programme followed.

His call-up to the one-day international squad came in early 2013 and Root has since produced a string of impressive performances for England, including three one-day centuries, ensuring his selection for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2014.

4. KEVIN O'BRIEN (IRELAND)

When you hear the name Kevin O’Brien, his classic century scored against England in the 2011 Cricket World Cup immediately comes to mind. His knock of 113 from 63 balls was the fastest century in World Cup history but there is far more to the all rounder who is one of Ireland’s most talented cricketers.

Coming from a family of cricketers – his father and brother Niall also played for Ireland – O’Brien first represented Ireland at senior level in 2006 after playing for his country at under-19 level.

He played eight matches during the 2007 World Cup, scoring 49 against New Zealand and 48 against Bangladesh. O’Brien followed that with his famous performance in the 2011 tournament, following up with 4-71 against West Indies. O’Brien is also a regular on the Twenty20 circuit.

5. KANE WILLIAMSON (NEW ZEALAND)

At 24-years old, Kane Williamson has certainly achieved plenty at the top level of cricket. The talented batsman came to the attention of selectors after a string of strong performances for Northern Districts and made his One-Day International debut for the Black Caps in August 2010.

Williamson played four matches for New Zealand during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, with a top score of an unbeaten 38 against South Africa.

The batsman was in good form during India’s 2014 tour of New Zealand, with knocks of 88, 77, 71, 65 and 60 during the ODI series.

In a good show of form ahead of the World Cup, Williamson lodged scores of 10, 70*, 46, 123 and 97 in the December 2014 ODI series against Pakistan.

6. AB DE VILLIERS (SOUTH AFRICA)

Without a doubt one of the world’s leading batsmen, AB de Villiers will continue to strike fear into the hearts of the world’s bowlers after keeping his grip on the top of the ICC one-day international batting rankings throughout 2014.

Since his debut in 2004, the South African captain has proven his ability to score runs anywhere in the order. Currently in the midst of a purple patch in the middle order, his recent successes include an unbeaten 136 against Australia in August, and 89-not-out against New Zealand on October 21.

After an outstanding 2011 World Cup, where de Villiers scored 353 runs in five matches to average 88.25 and became only the fifth player in the tournament’s history to score consecutive centuries, he will surely be keen to replicate that form this time around. De Villiers will lead his side in a World Cup for the first time, after taking over the role from Graeme Smith in June 2011.

7. CHRIS GAYLE (WEST INDIES)

Chris Gayle has been playing one-day international cricket since 1999 and will represent West Indies in his fourth ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015.

A damaging allrounder, Gayle has scored more than 8800 ODI runs and claimed 158 wickets. With 21 centuries, 46 fifties and a five-wicket haul to his name, working out how to restrain the Jamaican will be a priority for other teams during the tournament.

Gayle enjoyed success at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups, including 119 against Kenya in 2003.

8. MITCHELL JOHNSON (AUSTRALIA)

The career of fiery left-armer Mitchell Johnson has been the proverbial roller-coaster ride. He ranks as a genuine fast-bowling great of Australian cricket and this will be his second ICC Cricket World Cup.

Johnson won Man of the Series in the recently-concluded Ashes of 2013-14 that Australia won 5-0, picking up 37 wickets at an average of 13.97. He also recorded career-best figures in Tests of 8/61 in 2014 when Australia toured South Africa.

At his previous World Cup appearance in 2011, his best performances came against Zimbabwe (4-19) and New Zealand (4-33). Johnson will be crucial to Australia’s World Cup hopes. In 10 ODIs during 2014 the quick picked up 14 wickets at an average of 26.64, including two three-wicket hauls against Pakistan the United Arab Emirates in October.

9. ROHIT SHARMA (INDIA)

An exciting batsman who made his One-Day International debut in 2010, Rohit Sharma had appeared in more than 60 ODIs and 20 Twenty20s by the time he was 24 years old. He has had some outstanding performances through more than 120 ODI games including a high score of 209 in late 2013. But his biggest feat to date came in late 2014, when he blitzed Sri Lanka to score 264 from 173 balls – the highest individual ODI score in history. This will be his first ICC Cricket World Cup and the Indian will need him to fire as he did recently.

10. MOHAMMAD NABI (AFGHANISTAN)

Mohammad Nabi first picked up a cricket bat aged 10 while living in a refugee camp in Peshawar and has come through the ranks to Captain team Afghanistan.

He honed his skills through countless hours of cricket before he began formal training at Arshad Khan’s academy in Peshawar.

In his 40 ODIs since Nabi has played a major role in Afghanistan’s rise as a cricket nation and in 2010 he was appointed captain.

He has scored seven fifties including a high score of 77 against United Arab Emirates in May 2014, while Nabi’s best performance with the ball was 4-31 against Canada in 2011.

He is ranked in the Top 10 ODI all rounders.


This is it for now and thanks for reading.

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