The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 is about to begin in a week’s time and there are numerous players who can take the World by storm and change the fortunes for their future. Here are the five players to watch out for in the upcoming T20 extravaganza.
5. Zulfiqar Babar, Pakistan
Pakistan is a team that has a good pack of spinners in their side for the World T20. The likes of Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Mohammed Hafeez pose a huge threat to the batting sides as they are very hard to score against. The latest addition to Pakistan’s spin trio is the 36-year-old Zulfiqar Babar. The veteran slow left arm bowler is a relatively a new entrant to the Pakistan’s National side after having tons of experience under his belt. Babar, in his 40 T20 matches has picked up 59 wickets with an average of 14.45 and an impressive economy of 5.68. In the four International T20 matches, he has accounted for 8 wickets with an average of 13.5 and an economy of just over 7. Pakistani skipper Hafeez expects Babar to be Pakistan’s surprise package at the World T20, much like Raza Hasan was in the previous edition of the tournament
4. Jos Buttler, England
The England Cricket team are not in a great form off late after having had a disastrous tour of Australia in which they were whitewashed by the Aussies in the Ashes. They got their coach sacked and their star batsman Kevin Pietersen was axed from the National team as the effect of the series loss. Their woes got worse when their batsman Joe Root was injured and was declared that he won’t be fit in time for the World T20. This makes the English middle order very weak as the bulk of the batting responsibilities lies on the shoulders of Eoin Morgan. But the only bright spot for England in the recent past is the form of their wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler. Buttler has been in terrific form as he is slowly becoming the mainstay of the English batting line up. He is more of a pinch hitter who attacks the bowling side right from the word go. England will be looking for Buttler to come good in the World T20.
3. Corey Anderson, New Zealand
Barely 12 months ago, Corey Anderson was just a household name in the New Zealand Cricket circle and was regarded as a talented cricketer possessing a lot of talent. But his 47 ball stay at the crease against West Indies on the New Year day(2014) made the entire world to turn back and look after him. The epic knock of 131 off 47 balls included a record breaking 36 ball hundred for the fastest century in ODI’s which was previously owned by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi. Anderson, known for his big hitting is capable of winning the match for New Zealand in a matter of balls. He is also a decent Left arm medium pacer who can bowl four productive overs for the kiwis. Anderson along with his fellow All Rounder Jimmy Neesham holds key for New Zealand’s fortunes in the World T20.
2. Samuel Badree, West Indies
Ravi Rampaul is the only frontline pacer in the West Indian bowling line-up. He will be backed by Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy and Andre Russell in the pace bowling department apart from their trump card Sunil Narine as a primary spinner. But their X-Factor in their bowling is expected to be the so called secondary spinner Samuel Badree. Badree is a leg spinner who tends to skid the ball ca be used as a new ball bowler along with Rampaul. Badree has done it in the past and the Windies will hope for Badree to come good in the World T20. He also owns an economy of 5.10 in T20 Internationals, which is expected to be more than exceptional for a spinner who bowls his majority of overs in the field restriction overs, He also set up the stage for Narine to cash in on with some wickets. With the conditions in Bangladesh expected to assist spinners, Badree will be hopeful for a better show in the World T20.
1. Jimmy Neesham, New Zealand
Jimmy Neesham is one of the find of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Even before the tournament started, he made headlines by smashing a hundred against a local team from Chandigarh. He single-handedly took Otago Volts to the verge of qualifying for the last four stage. He proved his class both as a batsman and as well as a bowler. He also handed pressure well in the tied game against Highveld Lions in which he led his team to the super over and won the match in the tie-breaker. He was also impressive for hi country when he made his debut for the kiwis. He along with Corey Anderson will be key to New Zealand’s fortunes in the World T20.