The 11th edition of ODI Cricket World Cup is going to be held in the Australia and New Zealand with the format is supportive for the Top-10 ranked teams. But few players from Associate Teams are hopeful to demolish that assumptions as they might put a hand in leading to upsets during the biggest tournament in Cricket.
With less than a month remaining for the World Cup, we look at the 5 Best Associate Team players, who might end the tournament as assets for their teams.
5. Khurram Khan:
Khurram Khan, the most senior player of UAE final got a chance to play in the ODI World Cup as one of the oldest player in the tournament. Given played just 10 ODIs, he averages above 53 and has a strike-rate of 83, holding the record for been the Oldest player to score an ODI ton.
However, he has made his bat talk whenever he got a chance to do so against big teams; especially in Asian Cup games. Even in List A and FC, he managed to average over 45. Khurram’s orthodox spin can be also a useful part for UAE as he picked up 12 wickets in the fewer matches he played.
4. Richard Berrington:
Young all-rounder from South Africa representing Scotland could be a player to watch out in this 2015 World Cup, been a consistent performer for his team. Richard has decent numbers when compared to his team mates, scoring 813 runs at a decent batting average of 26.2 and a good strike-rate of 76.
With the ball, Berrington could be a handy option as he picked 16-wicket at a bowling average of 43 and gave away runs under an economy rate of 5.
3. Kevin O’Brien:
With a sensational 50-ball Century, Kevin had drawn the attention towards him during 2011 World Cup where, he broke the record of the fastest century in World Cup history against England.
A reliable contributor with bat in middle order with a good pace and can be a handy bowler with his medium pace at crucial times, making him a perfect all-rounder. However, his recent form can be a worrying factor but his ability to create upsets puts him in this list.
2. Shapoor Zadran:
Shapoor Zadran of Afghanistan is a reliable pace bowler for his team. Bowling at high speeds, he has troubled batsman in the earlier ICC tournaments that he has played. Advantage of playing in Australia/New Zealand, where conditions suit pace bowler well might make him a lethal player during the World Cup for Afghanistan.
1. George Dockrell:
George Dockrell, the slow left-arm spinner of Ireland has caught attention of many people with his orthodox spin. Despite of coming from an Associate Country, Dockrell has been considered as one of the most crucial spinners play in the World Cup 2015.
Dockrell has impressed everyone with the ball during 2011 Cricket World Cup, where he picked up the priceless wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, trapping him in front of the stumps. His skill of bowling a restricted line helps to trouble batsman regularly. However, he has not experienced the Australian conditions which might test him.