In this Article there is critical analysis done of the entire ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Each & every Team’s Performance has been noted with an unbiased view and written in a Pragmatic Way.
#India
For the second consecutive time India failed to win a Semi Final match in ICC Cricket World Cup as earlier in 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Australia demolished India and now in 2019 New Zealand diminished India’s dream of winning World Cup in England as in 1983 Kapil Dev lifted the World Cup in England in 1983. The Semi-Final played between India and New Zealand made a statement about India’s middle order woes and this conundrum has been going on since India won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011. The Management and skipper of team India took horrendous & horrible decision as they send MS Dhoni to bat at No.7 position which costed Team India the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma the exuberant hitter of the ball had a dream World Cup as he was the leading run scorer of the Tournament as he amassed 648 Runs which included 5 centuries and 1 half century; Rohit became the first batsman to score 5 Centuries in a World Cup. Rohit had a rare failure in the Semi Final but that proved to be heart wrecking for the entire Nation. Virat Kohli the run machine was scoring 50s on a consistent basis as he scored 443 runs which included 5 half centuries. Virat Kohli now has a history of not performing in knock out matches as from 2011 World Cup he has failed miserably i.e. he has not even scored a match winning knock of at-least 50 runs in the last 5 crunch games. This performance of Virat disturbs the environment of dressing room as when there is need of a Star Player to perform and shine on the Big Stage then Virat gets out cheaply and the entire morale of Team India goes down as a result India has failed to win 2015 World Cup and 2019 World Cup as in both these World Cups India’s performance was incredible. KL Rahul who was in the team as a No.4 batsman played as an opener because Shikhar Dhawan got injured while playing against Australia in the league stage. KL Rahul had a decent World Cup as an opener because his performance was topsy-turvy but he managed to score 361 runs which included 1 century and 2 half centuries. KL Rahul couldn’t fill the shoes of Shikhar Dhawan as he was often targeted outside the off stump. MS Dhoni once again proved his mettle by providing a finish at the end. Dhoni couldn’t take the team home in the Semi Final as the bulk of wickets were lost and he had an insurmountable responsibility on his shoulders to take the team out of shell. Dhoni didn’t had a memorable final World Cup but his witty tricks of wicket keeping and a little bit of brutal hitting would be remembered for some period of time as he scored 273 runs which included 2 half centuries. The likes of Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik now have their places in a dangerous position as both of them didn’t live up to their expectations. Rishabh Pant the dashing wicket keeper and batsman needs to sort out his shot selection technique otherwise his sacking is also on the cards. Hardik Pandya tried to become the finisher of India but lack of experience on big stage backfired for him and for India but he managed to score 226 runs with a heathy strike rate.
India’s batting line up no doubt has the caliber to post humongous totals on board and they can also chase such targets; but whenever there is a do or die match India doesn’t put a fight on display which is an excruciating fact which is sad but true. The next ICC Cricket World Cup is in India where India had won in 2011 under the leadership of MS Dhoni and Coach Gary Kirsten ; as Virat was a part of that Playing 11 and Squad he knows what traits and strategies are required to clinch that Trophy but the most important thing which Virat should keep in his heed that Winning ICC Cricket World Cup requires Team-Work not individual Performance/s.
The bowling department of India was led by a young sensation Jasprit Bumrah as he was ruthless with his various deliveries which gave headaches to the entire remaining 9 Nations as a result, he took 18 wickets in his first ever ICC Cricket World Cup which included one 4 wicket haul. Bumrah kept on bowling Jaffa deliveries and his bang on target Yorker as he somewhat revolutionized the fast bowling of India. Mohammed Shami set the stage on fire as he took a Hat-Trick against Afghanistan on 22nd June and he became the 2nd Indian to take a hat-trick as earlier Chetan Sharma took a Hat-Trick against the Mighty Kiwis in 1987 World Cup on 31st October. Even if this Hat-Trick was taken against a minnow nation but in that match, India was in a precarious situation; if the result of the match would have been different then it would have been ignominious act for nation. Shami was immaculate with his line and length and he made the most of his World Cup Experience as he was helping and guiding the bowlers; it happened ‘n’ times that through his bowling the other bowlers like Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar got wickets as all these 3 bowlers & 2 bowlers bowled in tandem; but the wickets column of Shami was filled with 14 wickets which included two 4 wicket hauls and one 5 wicket haul. Hardik Pandya was given responsibility of being a 5th bowler; but he was at times taken for cleaners also but he took 10 wickets and provided break throughs whenever skipper needed. Bhuvneshwar Kumar the King of swing bowling wasn’t up to his mark in this World Cup as earlier he was providing the break throughs in power play overs but overall performance of Bhuvneshwar was satisfactory but not outstanding as he took 10 wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal the deceptive leg spinner foxed batsman with his variations which proved to be as a wicket taking weapon for Virat because Chahal never disappointed Virat as he took 12 Wickets which included one 4 wicket haul. Kuldeep Chahal the left arm china-man was expected to completely destroy the batting line up of teams but his variations weren’t threatening as earlier in 2018 when India played against England in England, he created havoc in England but this time he took mere 6 wickets. Ravindra Jadeja the player who makes his presence felt that with his acrobatic fielding style and also with his skill of finishing overs in a short span of 2-3 minutes which is incredible; in this World Cup Ravindra Jadeja would be remembered for his pugnacious knock of 77 runs in just 59 balls in the Semi Final against Kiwis.
The Bowling department of India was a bit inexperienced on ICC stage especially in the spin department but as the time would pass the bowlers would be full of experience and they would be a force to reckon with. India’s bowling line up was one of the best in the tournament and history is evident that India’s bowlers perform in a scintillating way which is the reason why India is a Champion Team and to beat them the opposition team needs to play out of their skin to excel on the big stage.
#Australia
For the first time in the history of ICC Cricket World Cup Australia lost a Semi-Final Match that too against their arch-rivals England. Australia couldn’t retain the World Cup which they earlier had won in their own backyard 2015 in the Leadership of their Former Courageous Captain Michael Clarke. The Semi-Final was a one-sided affair where the Britishers razed Aussies; in that Semi-Final Aussies two elegant batsman Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja were not in the Playing 11 as both of them unfortunately got injured just before the Semi-Final which hurt the Aussies a lot as these 2 batsmen were the pillars of the middle order. Finch, Warner and Smith were doing the bulk of scoring throughout the tournament but in the Semi Final only Smith played knock of Senior Batsman and; the Novice Alex Carey displayed his character when he got a dangerous bouncer from Jofra Archer as a result Carey was in blood as the bouncer ball removed the helmet and he was severely injured but he continued batting for his Team and Nation and this scene showcased the Spirit which Aussies have; as earlier in ICC World Cup 2011 Bret Lee got severely injured while saving a boundary in the Quarter Final against India and after this incident he applied a bandage and continued to play for the nation and every sportsperson should have such type of Spirit when playing for their Country. Australia’s middle order looked fragile throughout the tournament but it didn’t come into notice as Warner and Finch did the majority of the scoring and when both of them failed to perform in Semi-Finals which are regarded as toughest the entire team collapsed and lost its momentum and rhythm
Warner and Smith were making a comeback to International Cricket after their infamous ball tampering scandal in which both the players played crucial part which they have admitted. David Warner dazzled throughout the tournament as he made a point that he may be a controversial cricketer but he has the spark and ignition in himself to shine on the big stage as he scored 647 runs which included 3 Centuries and 3 Half Centuries. David Warner looked like a man on a mission which the cricketing world earlier missed because the passion and aggression which Warner possesses is a joy to watch. Smith showed some glimpses of his memorable 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup but he didn’t score a match winning knock i.e. a century was missing from Smith as in 2015 Smith was one of the main architects along with Finch for their famous victory against India in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Smith was finding gaps and rotating strike at ease as a result he scored 379 runs which included 4 Half-Centuries but that Steve Smith factor was some sort missing in this World Cup. Aaron Finch the accidental Skipper had an unbelievable World Cup with the bat as he scored 507 runs which included 2 Centuries and 3 Half-Centuries. Finch made a statement that to get used to captaincy it takes time but when a player plays his natural game then Captaincy feels like a Complementary thing to have as earlier Finch had struggled a lot. Aaron Finch was marshalling his troops as earlier he had the experience of Captaining the T20I Team of Australia. Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh were expected to play the role of rescuing the team from hiccups but both of them failed; Glenn Maxell who was expected to play the role of an experienced all-rounder but he didn’t showcase his skills and his technique of playing attacking and aggressive shots was only for a short period of time as he managed 177 runs and now Maxwell is on the radar of selectors because Ashton Turner the hero of Mohali ODI is banging the door of Australia. Marcus Stoinis the Fast Arm Medium Bowler who was expected to fill the void of all-rounder was awful according to his potential. Australia found an almost perfect middle order batsman in the form of Alex Carey who somewhat reminds of the Former Batsman Mike Hussey through his shots and Carey is unarguably and undoubtedly the future of Australian Cricket which should be groomed by the Selectors and Coach because he is also a good wicket-keeper as in this World Cup he scored 375 runs which included 3 Half Centuries and his way of pacing the innings is resplendent.
Australia would definitely rue the fact that they missed a golden opportunity to lift the Cup at Lords, but if they look at the period before World Cup where the entire team was in disarray and there was lot of turmoil in Cricket Australia (CA); Australia would definitely take pride in reaching the Semi-Finals as in this World Cup there was cut-throat competition as all the 10 Teams were equally matched. As the Ban of Smith’s Captaincy is going to end in March 2020 there are slim chances that Smith would again be the skipper of Australia’s ODI Team; as the next World Cup is in 2023 India it would be interesting to see whether Cricket Australia want Smith as a pure batsman or as a Skipper. The only worry for Australia as they have not found the ideal replacements for Shane Watson and Michael Clarke as both these players played invaluable roles in lifting the World Cup at Home Soil in 2015 but as there is still a long rally ahead Australia can definitely find perfect batsmen in the Middle Order.
Mitchell Starc once again performed to his potential in ICC Cricket World Cup as in this World Cup he bagged 27 wickets which included two 4 wicket hauls and two 5 wicket hauls and he was the leading wicket taker for the second consecutive time as earlier in 2015 World Cup he was the joint leading wicket taker along with Trent Boult where both of them grabbed 22 wickets. What just happens to Starc in ICC Cricket World Cup is beyond imagination as in the period from 2015-19 he had played few ODI’s but he always makes sure that a Star Athlete and Bowler makes a statement about his performance and also about the culture of Board. Patrick Cummins made reverse swing a delight to watch and whenever Finch gave the ball to Cummins, he not only took wickets but also slowed down the run rate which is badly needed if you want to beat Champion Teams as he took 14 Wickets. Jason Behrendorff the left arm Pacer enthralled everyone with his new ball swing capability and he took the batsman by storm with his clocking pace. Jason wasn’t that much effective when the ball got old as a result he also got beating from the batsman and he took 9 Wickets. Marcus Stoinis the complete all-rounder did the work of breaking partnership somewhat as he took 7 Wickets but performing in a crunch game overshadowed his contribution to the Team. Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon weren’t able to create pressure on the opponent; they weren’t picking wickets at regular intervals and they were only going through their overs which is unacceptable at the International Stage.
Australia’s fast bowling Pace Attack is unarguably one of the Best attacks but they should have a complete bowling line up i.e. there should be mixture of pace and spin in World Cup and in this World Cup Australia’s spinners didn’t perform or we can say did any noticeable action which is one of the reason Australia couldn’t Win the World Cup for the 6th Time. The next World Cup is going to be conducted in India were spinners dominate the game and proceedings a lot; Aussies definitely have got the talent in spin department in the form of Adam Zampa, Ashton Agar and Nathan Lyon but Cricket Australia should show faith in their wrist spinners and off spinners as all these 3 spinners are tyro in ODI format .Australia should not only try out other options but they should also make sure that Starc and Cummins are in the frame of ODI Cricket because every-time Starc and Cummins are not going to come and play ICC Cricket World Cup after a gap of more than 6 months & Australia should make it clear that whether they want Josh Hazlewood only for Test format as Josh Hazlewood was the part of the squad of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
#England
England finally have ended a 44-year drought by clinching the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 that too with the help of boundary count as the match went into the Super Over & Super Over was also tied. The management of England took vital and pivotal decisions by sending Butler and Stokes for Super Over and the Super Over was bowled by the T20I Specialist Jofra Archer which definitely paid off. England lifted the World Cup at Lords after so much hard-work and perspiration and their process was immediately started after their embarrassing performance in 2015 WC.
Joe Root the wall of England’s batting line up was in supreme form as he scored 556 runs which included two 100s and three 50s. He was unarguably the rock of England’s line up as he took the team out of the trouble and he made a statement that he may be an orthodox batsman but the has got the technique and temperament to thrive in every condition. Jonny Bairstow the dashing opener succumbed to criticism earlier in the tourney but he made a mark for himself by amassing 532 runs which included two 100s and two 50s. Bairstow played his natural game which proved to be critical and crucial for team because Bairstow has been the main aggressor in power play overs. Ben Stokes the flamboyant all-rounder was demolishing the bowlers over the entire park with his clean striking and strike rotation which is a also significant trait which a batsman and all-rounder should have as he smashed 465 runs which included five 50s and he was also productive with the ball as he grabbed 7 wickets. Jason Roy the brutal opener was amazing with his sumptuous way of batting as a result he scored 443 runs which included one 100 and four 50s. Roy took the pressure off from Bairstow as their opening partnership was in harmony which was also one of the reason Britishers won World Cup at their home soil. Eoin Morgan the skipper had a mediocre tournament with the bat except when he came into bat against Afghanistan where he thrashed the entire bowling line up of Afghanistan as in that innings he scored 148 runs in just 71 balls which included 17 Sixes and 4 Fours and while Rashid Kan the witty leg spinner had figures of 110 runs in 9 overs and all this happened on 18th June 2019. Morgan scored 371 runs which included one 100 & one 50 but he made sure that his captaincy clicked when the team was defending a target. Jos Butler the swashbuckling wicket keeper batsman wasn’t a big threat but his knock in the final of WC and in Super Over proved to be match winning effort from him as he scored 312 runs which included one 100 and two 50s.
England would be extremely happy and jubilant as finally they have the World Cup in their hall of fame. The way they won the World Cup shows that for any nation to clinch a trophy you need to give your whole & soul then only there would be chances that you would grab the trophy. The next World Cup is scheduled in India in 2023 and as now England’s players are getting acclimatized to Indian conditions via IPL ; England have definitely got the batsmen who can destroy the opposition but as of now they need to make their bench strength sturdy then only they can survive in Indian conditions because in this World Cup Jason Roy got injured in the middle and his replacement (James Vince) was awful due to which England got a scare that they would get eliminated before the knock out stage but somehow Roy was fit for big matches and he made his presence felt with mind blowing performances. To avoid such circumstances in the opening pair England should make it clear whether they want Alex Hales back as he is an experienced campaigner. The middle order of England is puissant as they have got an impeccable allrounder who can give nightmares to the opposition through his batting and bowling. The main issue and concern for England is: Do they want Morgan as a skipper or only as a pure batsman because his form got deteriorated with the burden of captaincy but whoever the skipper may be England would definitely go for kill in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
It was a dream World Cup for Jofra Archer as he bagged 20 Wickets and he was a wicket taking machine for Morgan and Co. Jofra Archer’s super over spell almost break the hearts of British but his experience of playing cricket leagues around the world paid off. Jofra Archer was an asset for England because whenever Morgan wanted to stop the run rate he gave the ball to Jofra and as Jofra Archer had no experience of playing in Cricket World Cup he followed the guidelines of Management which did Wonders for the Nation and Team. Mark Wood the speedster took 18 Wickets which include one 4 wicket haul and he was also used as a wicket taking option. Chris Woakes the fast bowling all-rounder was a treat to watch as he took 16 wickets and Woakes with the new ball was far more effective. Liam Plunkett the veteran fast bowler guided the entire bowling line up and made sure that he played the role of an experienced bowler by taking 11 Wickets and he was a partnership breaker fast bowler. Adil Rashid the leg spinner made his presence fell as he took 7 wickets and was often used as to slow down the run rate.
England definitely has got good bunch of fast bowlers who play only in ODI Format in the form of David Willey who was unfortunate to miss out as Jofra Archer made the cut and there are many bowlers who are still waiting in the Wings to perform and create the name and to have such headaches is indeed a blessing in disguise for England. As the next World Cup is being conducted in India were the Pacers are not in ascendancy but they make the initial period tough for batsmen. England need a companion for Adil Rashid as we all know that Moeen Ali is not that much effective with the ball i.e. England need a wicket taking option spinner. But as England’s team play and perform as a team this issue of spinner will definitely get sorted out in the near future and if not then the pair of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid is also a decent one.
#New Zealand
For the second consecutive time New Zealand failed to outclass the opposition in the Final as earlier Australia won the title by defeating New Zealand convincingly whereas now New Zealand were so near yet so far of winning World Cup for the first time against the resurgent England. The super over which was played was an emotional one because the fate and result of the game was decided by a boundary count rule. New Zealand performed a bit better than the 2015 Cricket World Cup but the final hurdle wasn’t cleared by the Kiwis under the rein of Kane Williamson but the overall performance of New Zealand was supreme and astonishing.
Kane Williamson the gritty skipper showcased his brilliance by notching 578 runs which included two 100s and two 50s. Kane was not a wall who guided the team but he was a shield where he took the team out of shell and he made sure that his batting speaks as he was a force to reckon and deal with. Ross Taylor the veteran and immensely experienced scored 350 runs which included three 50s and his knocks even of 30s and 40s proved to be vital for team’s success. There were much higher expectations from Ross as he was the senior lad and was expected to guide the team and take team out from a tough phase which he didn’t did on a consistent basis. James Neesham the dexterous all-rounder played with full buoyance and also with responsibility as he scored 232 runs which included one 50 and he along with Colin De Grandhomme took the team out of trouble as CDG scored 190 runs which included two 50s and the contribution of both the batsmen was invaluable for the team as when the team lost a couple of wickets around 20-25 overs then both these played a humongous role in setting a mediocre target. Martin Guptill the destructive opener didn’t produce a single humdinger knock for team as he scored 186 runs which included one 50. Due to such performance of Guptill there was enormous pressure on Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham. Tom Latham had a forgettable World Cup as he couldn’t score considerable runs and knock/s.
As the next World Cup is in India 2023 New Zealand need to find an ideal opening partner for Guptill because blaming Guptill is not a good thing to do as Openers need to contribute if a team wants to excel and beat a Champion Team which New Zealand failed to do in 2015 and in 2019. As there is uncertainty of Ross Taylor whether he would play another World Cup because he is currently 35 years and by the next World Cup he would be 39 so the chances of Ross playing is extinct; so New Zealand are in a bit of dilemma because they used Henry Nicholls as an opener as Colin Munro was flop in the World Cup as a result he was dropped from the playing 11. The batting line up of New Zealand is almost ideal and good but their middle order batsman need to learn the strike rotation and if they can master that then there is a chance that New Zealand may win the next ICC Cricket World Cup because in India the batsmen are going to dictate.
Lockie Ferguson the lanky and disciplined fast bowler was the leading wicket taker as he bagged 21 wickets which included one 4 Wicket haul. He was bang on target with his short ball as he perturbed the batsmen with short ball barrage. Trent Boult the lightning and immaculate fast bowler was impeccable with his bowling as he took 17 Wickets which included two 4 wicket hauls; but the decision of giving Boult the Super Over backfired as he was hammered by England for 15 runs. Boult became the first Kiwi fast bowler to take a hat-trick in World Cup and in ODI also that too against their arch-rivals Australia on 29th June 2019 Boult did have a splendid World Cup because with the new ball he had taken a million-dollar wicket of Virat Kohli in the Semi Final which opened the gates of final for New Zealand. Matt Henry who shared the new ball with Trent Boult was also effective as he grabbed 14 Wickets which included one 4 wicket haul. Matt Henry was instrumental with the new ball as he took the place of Tim Southee who was struggling for form throughout the tourney but Matt Henry made sure that he took early scalps which proved to be match defining in the Semi-Final against India where he took wicket of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma which completely diminished India’s hopes of World Cup. James Neesham the eclectic all-rounder took 15 wickets which included one 5 wicket haul and he provided the break through when team badly needed which made him a star all-rounder to have. Colin De Grandhomme the furious all-rounder made his presence felt by picking up 6 wickets and he didn’t allow the opposition to run away with the game. There was no significant and ample contribution done by the spinners of New Zealand and the spinners were only present on the paper as on the field Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi didn’t pick up crucial wickets.
The bowling line up of New Zealand is full of zeal and the only problem, worry and concern is that the spinners are not picking up wickets. There is a lot of variety in the fast bowling department of New Zealand without any question and doubt; but only the fast bowlers are doing the hard work and as the next World Cup which is in India the spinners must trouble and irritate the batsman which New Zealand’s spinners failed to do it. The spin twin of Santner and Sodhi is dangerous but both of them need to show results if New Zealand want to perform better in the next World Cup as compared to 2015 & 2019. The 2023 World Cup would be dominated by spinners so New Zealand need to pull up the socks and enhance their current spin twin which is threatening but it should be groomed well.
#Pakistan
Pakistan missed a golden opportunity as they failed to make it to the Semi-Finals and the main reason behind their absence is that they lost the 1st Group Match against West Indies very badly in term of balls left and wickets in hand. There was typical batting collapse in the tourney which hurt Pakistan a lot. Under Sarfaraz’s captaincy and in the presence of two immensely experienced veteran batsmen: Mohammed Hafeez and Shoaib Malik also didn’t help Pakistan to make an entry into knock- outs. Pakistan team was crestfallen after two huge defeats against West Indies and India but still they put a fight on display which proved a little too late to prove a point in World Cup.
Babar Azam the run machine for Pakistan amasses 474 runs which included one 100 and three 50s. He was literally and practically the back bone of Pakistan’s batting line up and team. Imam-ul- Haq the relative of Inzamam-ul-Haq performed to his potential as he scored 305 runs which included one 100 and one 50; but he didn’t play according to the expectations because from an opener at-least couple of match winning knocks are expected which he failed to attain; because Fakhar Zaman the opening partner struggled a lot against the new ball as he scored 186 runs which included a single 50+ score. The veteran Hafeez failed to perform the role of a senior lad as he scored 253 runs which included a single 50+ score. Hafeez didn’t play according to the situation of game which hurt Pakistan a lot. Haris Sohail the elegant left-handed batsman came into the playing 11 as Shoaib Malik the former skipper failed miserably throughout the tournament. Haris Sohail made the most of the opportunity as he scored 198 runs which included two half centuries and both knocks were in team’s victory. Haris Sohail made a statement that if a batsman wants to score runs then placement and shot selection technique matters and not lofted shots method where you go bang -bang. Sarfaraz the skipper failed to play captain’s knock and Sarfaraz the batsman also failed to grab attention by his runs. The batting line up of Pakistan was controlled by Babar Azam which is a good thing but when he failed then the entire team didn’t showcase a fight and they were just falling like a pack of cards which is excruciating for any nation and team management.
There are serious question marks and uncertainty regarding the captaincy of Sarfaraz and for Sarfaraz the things have turned out to be ugly too promptly because this was the same Sarfaraz who was appraised for his spectacular performance in 2017 Champions Trophy. As the next World Cup which is in 2023 India Pakistan have got many problems regarding their middle order as Shoaib Malik has taken retirement and still there is uncertainty regarding the future of Hafeez and also Pakistan lack a proper lower middle order where there should be a finisher like Michael Bevan which they miss badly. But as there is a long rally ahead Pakistan would be able to find a good leader who brings out the most from every player as the WC in India would be very competitive as compared to 2019 and 2011.
Mohammad Aamir the new ball bowler was the leading wicket taker of Pakistan with 17 wickets which included one 5 wicket haul. Aamir somewhat lost his swing with the new ball as he was taken to the cleaners by batsmen but later in the middle and death over, he took wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi the tyro fast bowler grabbed eyeballs and attention of everyone as he took 16 scalps which included one 4 wicket haul and one 5 wicket haul. Shaheen was very much disciplined regarding his line and length and he definitely is the future of Pakistan for a very much long span of time. Wahab Riaz the old horse was expected to play the role of senior but he performed in only couple of matches as he took 11 wickets but it was expected that Wahab would guide and groom the pace trio of Hasan Ali, Mohammad Aamir and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Hassan Ali who was the Man of the Tournament in 2017 Champions Trophy didn’t performed to his level as a result there weren’t any major contributions from him. Shadab Khan the juvenile spinner didn’t produce match winning spells as he took 9 wickets and he lacked support from Imad Wasim which wasn’t there at all. The bowling line up of Pakistan failed to perform and play like a team which has been happening from the last decade which PCB should take note of.
There is not a question or doubt regarding the talent which Pakistan’s bowlers have but such talent which is raw should be guided in an appropriate manner then only Pakistan’s bowling line up would be a threat and a treat to watch. The bowlers should be rotated in order to create and develop the bench strength because if in a crunch match a star player gets injured then the bench should have a perfect replacement for that player and this is the main reason why Champions Team clinch trophies and titles. As the World Cup of 2023 would be played in India which is in sub-continent Pakistan would be some sort of jubilant and happy that they won’t face any short ball treatment which they faced in the First League Match against West Indies which in fact ended their hopes of making it to Semi Finals. Pakistan need to be chary regarding the choice of their new skipper because the dynamics of team depend a lot on the skipper and the dressing room’s environment is also critical for a team’s success.
#Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka had named a new skipper for the tourney in the form of the Test Match Specialist Dimuth Karunaratne who did a decent job. Not entire but the batting and bowling department was revamped where new and old faces come back in the squad. In the starting phase of the tournament Sri Lanka overcame a scare as Afghanistan gave them a sniff but Sri Lanka won the game by 34 runs according to the DLS Method on 4th June 2019. Sri Lanka also gave nightmares to England as they astonished them by winning the match by 20 runs on 21st June 2019 and this was a significant attainment which they would be proud of. Sri Lanka showcased brilliant performances in bits and pieces but they couldn’t maintain consistency as a result they failed to make it to knock-outs.
Kusal Perera the dynamic left-handed batsman who reminds of Sanath Jayasuriya was the leading run scorer for Sri Lanka as he scored 273 runs which included three 50s. Kusal’s way of playing shots and rotation of strike was similar to the Legend Sanath Jayasuriya but he couldn’t display a knock of a century which Sri Lanka badly needed to post challenging totals. Angelo Mathews the senior batsman played the role of experienced lad as he scored 244 runs which included one 100 and one 50. Mathews required support of his remaining team-mates which wasn’t there most of the times as a result there was slump in Sri Lanka’s performance. Dimuth Karunaratne who earlier in 2015 played the World Cup was the skipper this time and he had a topsy-turvy World Cup where he scored 222 runs which included two 50s. The batting positions of players where changed from match to match which perturbs a player. Avishka Fernando the young sensation took the World Cup by Storm as he scored 203 runs which included his maiden ODI ton against West Indies on 1st July 2019. He showcased great mental application in the World Cup which was missing from the other batsmen.
The batting department of Sri Lanka has got all the quality but the only concern is that the players should be given a long rope to prove their mettle then only Sri Lanka would find winning 11 which currently they don’t have. But as the next World Cup is 4 years away Sri Lanka would definitely find a good mix of players because defeating England doesn’t happen in an overnight or in fortnight; they definitely have got players but SLC board has to put that players in current order and position and if this is done in a proper manner then Sri Lanka team would be a threat which no one can imagine.
Lasith Malinga the Yorker machine was at his best as he took 13 wickets which included one 4 wicket haul. The spell of Malinga against England was mesmerizing and throughout the tourney Malinga reminded his older version of 2007, 2011 and 2015 through his impeccable bowling and as of now Malinga has retired from 50 over World Cup the Yorker Machine would be missed by everyone. Isuru Udana the deceptive bowler who bowls most of his deliveries slow took 6 wickets. The entire bowling unit didn’t take enough wickets as a result there was burden (pressure) on Malinga and Udana to take wickets.
The bowlers of Sri Lanka should be given a long rope in order to develop the raw talent. There is abundance of fast bowlers and spinners in Sri Lanka but the only problem which the management is facing is that the fast bowlers and spinners are frequently changed. If such continues then the performance of 2019 World Cup would be imitated in 2023 World Cup because in a World Cup individual performance can win few matches but team performance/s will definitely win you championships.
#South Africa
The absence of A B de Villers was clear cut seen throughout the World Cup as he had a habit of taking the team out of trouble which he did on a regular basis. South Africa started their campaign against England where they were convincingly beaten. Bangladesh for the second time defeated South Africa in World Cups as earlier on 7 April 2007 Bangladesh defeated South Africa by 67 runs in the Super Eight Stage and on 2 June 2019 Bangladesh once again showcased their wittiness as they defeated South Africa by 21 runs. South Africa weren’t quite ready for the challenges which the opposition team posted on board.
Faf the skipper amassed 387 runs which included one 100 and three 50s. He was the lone striker and contributor for team but he also failed in crucial matches and situations. Rassie Van Der Dussen had a decent World Cup where he scored 311 runs which included three 50s. He was rotating the strike on a consistent basis which is priceless in ODI format. Quinton De Kock the energetic wicket keeper had a mediocre World Cup as he scored 305 Runs which included three 50s. Quinton failed to play a scintillating knock in the World Cup. Hashim Amla the immensely experienced batsman failed to perform to his potential as he scored 203 runs which included two 50s. Amla’s absence of form and runs was a major part in the decline of South Africa team in World Cup. There was no ample and ominous contribution from JP Duminy who had experience of playing in 2 World Cups and now who has taken retirement. David Miller didn’t play to his potential as his performance got deteriorated a lot. In the middle of the tournament there came some rumors regarding A B wanted to come out of retirement to represent and help the nation but after the league stage got over A B stated the rumors and statements were false. The entire batting department got booged down by pace and spin as the team lacked character and courage.
The entire batting department of South Africa would be changed as there is uncertainty regarding the availability of Faf as a player and skipper. The next World Cup would be a big challenge for CSA as all the players won’t have experience of 100 ODI’s and to add more to that the WC is in sub-continent were spinners dominate the proceedings. It doesn’t mean that South Africa don’t stand a chance in next World Cup but their road map is very tough and hard one which requires proper planning and perfect execution which is attainable but would require arduous work.
Chris Morris the allrounder was the leading wicket taker of South Africa with 13 Wickets. Chris Morris was expensive but he grabbed and seized crucial phases of the match. Andile Phelukwayo the cunning fast bowling all-rounder took 11 wickets in the tourney. His variations were different which gave him and South Africa the results. Imran Tahir the crafty leg spinner also took retirement from ODI’s and he took 11 Wickets which included one 4 Wicket Haul. Tahir wasn’t that destructive with his spin as the batsmen quite easily picked out the variations. Kagiso Rabada the young sensation didn’t perturb the batsmen with his pace because his pace also got a bit less but he took 11 wickets. Lungi Ngidi the tyro fast bowler was injured and his absence was quite evident in the tournament as he took 7 wickets. Dale Steyn who was expected to play in World Cup got injured and his injury was not healed as a result he was ruled out of the World Cup. The entire bowling line up didn’t had the “X Factor” which was the main flaw in their Bowling Department.
The bowling line up of South Africa has got players who can fill the shoes of their great legendary pacers and spinners but the only question, problem or we can say issue is that the players are inexperienced and novice and they should be given ample time to establish their name in the Cricketing World even when they perform and this is an annoying process but in the near future South Africa would again be a bowling force to reckon. The next World Cup is in subcontinent where the Pacers don’t have their hegemony but in the initial phase of match Pacers can create some kind of havoc which South Africa should not forget. South Africa need to keep an eye on Tabraiz Shamsi the left arm china man who definitely can dismantle the opposition with his variations. There are question marks regarding the captaincy of Faf so there is a chance that Quinton De Kock would captain the Proteas team for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
#Bangladesh
Bangladesh failed to keep the momentum going forward because when they had beaten South Africa they raised a quite eye brows but they couldn’t sustain the atmosphere like that. Bangladesh once again played to their style as defeating South Africa doesn’t happen in an overnight but that same passion for the game was missing in the tourney. The weak link or we can say their chink in the armory was their bowling which lacked consistency even in the presence of their Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza who should have led the bowling team by an example which he couldn’t.
Shakib Al Hasan the furious all rounder amassed 606 Runs which included two 100s and five 50s and he also took 11 Wickets which included one 5 wicket haul and by doing such performance he became the first player to achieve both the feats which is a tremendous attainment for Bangladesh. Mushfiqur Rahim the wicket-keeper batsman showcased his batting as well as wicket keeping skills as he scored 367 runs which included one 100 and two 50s. Rahim was the pillar of team i.e. when Shakib failed then he led the batting unit by an example. Tamim Iqbal the dashing opener scored 235 runs which included a single 50 score. A lot was expected from Tamim because in 2017 Champions Trophy which was in England where he scored 293 runs which included one 100 and two 50s and in 2019 WC he failed terribly. Mahmudullah scored 219 runs which included one 50 plus score. From Mahmudullah the team required someone who can give a finishing touch to the innings which he failed to do frequently. Liton Das the tyro batsman scored 184 runs which included one 50 plus score. Liton performed the role of a middle order batsman not in a perfect manner but in a decent way. Bangladesh in the league stage match against West Indies they chased down the target of 322 runs with ease as they chased down in 41.3 over with 7 wickets remaining on 17th June 2019. The batting line up was too much dependent on Shakib and Rahim as a result whenever both failed Bangladesh failed to put a humongous total on the board and also weren’t able to chase down the target put by the opposition.
Bangladesh’s batting line up has got experience and youth which is incredible. At the same time their players or we can say batsmen need fix batting positions which determines the future of Bangladesh Cricket. As the next World Cup is in 2023 India Bangladesh have got the spinners who can rattle the opposition but they need to figure out their top 8 batsman who would fit in the playing 11 and if they can do that then Bangladesh can pave their way in the knock out matches which they had done previously in 2015 WC in Australia and New Zealand.
Mustafizur Rahman the asset of Bangladesh’s team and bowling line up took 20 wickets. Mustafizur was instrumental with ball as he gave the breakthrough for the captain whenever needed but he didn’t got crucial support from the other bowlers. Mohammad Saifuddin the young sensation took 13 Wickets. He was taken to the cleaners by bowlers due to his inexperience. Mehidy Hasan the rookie spinner took 6 wickets. He along with Shakib were phenomenal with their spin variation but the wickets column was not that much filled. The pace department of Bangladesh wasn’t productive i.e. they didn’t pick up wickets which is must if you want to excel and beat big teams.
There is no question and doubt regarding the spin department which day by day is getting improvised and enhanced; but the main question is that there are no sturdy fast bowlers who can make the batsmen uncomfortable with pace and bounce with their presence and make an impact in the innings which hurt and haunted Bangladesh a lot. As the next World Cup is in 2023 India Bangladesh would definitely produce such above par performance but now Bangladesh team is no more a minnow who would be happy if they beat South Africa as of now Bangladesh is a complete unit whose ultimate aim should get through the knock out stage and if such attitude is there then Bangladesh can give head-aches to bigger and Champion teams like India and Australia.
#West Indies
West Indies failed to make it to the knock outs as earlier in 2015 WC they made it after going through tough times. West Indies failed to click together as a team which was seen throughout the tourney. The batting order and line up was unstable as the opening pair was changed from match to match which was seen along with the middle order where there was instability in the batting line up which was evident in the tournament. Whenever the batting line up would be changed for most of the times then definitely there is insecurity in the dressing room and in the players mind which is a wake-up call for the board, management and captain.
Nicholas Pooran who was initially named in the team as a back up wicket keeper was a permanent member of the batting line up as he notched up 367 runs which included one 100 and two 50s. Nicholas reminded of Shivnarine Chanderapaul irrespective of the stance but the way of scoring runs was a bit similar. Shai Hope was expected to led the team from the front as he scored 274 runs which included three 50s. Hope was a victim of performance pressure as he failed to convert his starts into humongous knocks. Shimron Hetmyer the explosive batsman was looking to attack each and every ball as a result he scored 257 runs which included two 50s. Hetmyer was playing as if he is going to smash every ball out of the park which is not expected from a proper middle order batsman. Chris Gayle the self-proclaimed Universe Boss scored 242 runs which included two 50s. There was not an onslaught from Gayle in his final 50 Over World Cup which everyone were eagerly waiting. Jason Holder the skipper scored 170 runs which included one 50 run score. Jason the skipper didn’t take the team out of shell and also Jason the batsman was uncertain at which position he should bat. On 22nd June 2019 West Indies failed to chase down the target of 292 runs by only 6 runs where Carlos Brathwaite scored a century knock of 101 runs in 82 balls and that defeat somewhat marked the end of West Indies in 2019 World Cup. Evin Lewis the opener was tried at various middle order positions due to his poor form at the top order. Andre Russell the thunderous all-rounder took the World Cup by storm in the couple of matches but after that his form declined and he also got injured in the middle of the Tournament which made the things worse for West Indies. The injury of Russell opened the gates for Carlos Brathwaite who perfectly played the role of all-rounder as on 22nd June 2019 WI failed to chase down the target of 292 runs by only 6 runs where Carlos played a thunderstorm knock of 101 runs in 82 balls and that defeat somewhat marked the end of West Indies in 2019 World Cup.
The batting department of West Indies badly missed the services of the immensely experienced Marlon Samuels as the Selectors and Management ignored him; Samuels the experienced batsman would have laid the foundation for team where none of the batsmen did. The batting department needs to be well furnished by the Selection Committee and it is High Time that the Board of West Indies trust a particular Coach for a span of 4 to 5 years because changing of Coaches changes the dynamics of the team a lot or we can say very much. The presence of Hope, Hetmyer and Pooran would definitely mold the next generation as these three are highly talented but they should be polished well.
Sheldon Cottrell was the leading wicket taker of West Indies where he bagged 12 Wickets which included one 4 wicket haul. Sheldon wasn’t that much threatening with the old ball but he got significant swing from the new ball which created havoc in the opposition team’s mind. Carlos Brathwaite and Oshane Thomas both of them took 9 Wickets each as Oshane was devastating with his bang on target bowling and Carlos was deceptive with the slow ball variation but both of them didn’t pick important wickets in the middle overs. The spin department was a bit extinct of West Indies as the spinners were expensive and the wickets column can be said as a bit empty too.
West Indies had to go through World Cup Qualifiers to make an entry into 2019 WC which is not a good thing to go through as WI are 2 Time World Cup Champions. WI need to play competitive cricket if they want to raise the ICC Rankings and the best way to do this is by trusting the current bunch of players which could be around 20-25. As the next World Cup is in India 2023 that World Cup WI want to go through as Favorites and they would love to see that they won’t play the 2022 WC Qualifiers which would be their main priority and goal heading to ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
#Afghanistan
Afghanistan failed to win a single match in the group stage which was disappointing to see because in 2015 WC they had defeated the Courageous Scotland and created history by Winning their first World Cup Match. The leadership of Afghanistan in World Cup was given to a player whose place in the team was not fixed or we can say permanent in the form of Gulbadin Naib and he also had no captaincy experience. Due to such decision or we can say step the entire atmosphere of dressing room was a bit different which was seen in the tournament because Asghar Afghan the earlier skipper had laid the foundation for coming in the World Cup and to add more to that he was also dropped from the team without any proper justification which perturbed the team a lot.
Rahmat Shah was the leading run scorer for Afghanistan as he scored 254 runs which included one 50 plus score. Rahmat was expected to guide the team when the team was in trouble which he failed to do. Najibullah Zadran who was an all-rounder scored 230 runs which included one 50 plus score and for most of the times he was playing attacking cricket which was his peculiarity. Hashmatullah Shahidi the elegant batsman scored 197 runs which included two 50s. Shahidi showed mental application to survive which is must for Sub Continental Players. Gulbadin Naib the skipper also contributed by scoring 194 runs but he couldn’t produce a match winning knock for team which was badly needed. In the middle of tournament Mohmmad Shahzad was sent back to home as he was injured but he later said and proclaimed that ACB has conspired against him and this issue got heated but ACB said that the claims made by Shahzad are false. Afghanistan almost scattered Pakistan in the group stage game as Pakistan were requiring 228 runs to chase the target and Pakistan chased that target with 2 balls and 3 wickets remaining; that contest was a nail biting one because at a stage it looked like Afghanistan would upset Pakistan and end their campaign.
There is definitely talent in Afghanistan Cricket but the talent is raw which should be nurtured well if Afghanistan wants to win matches in World Cup. The main problem which was witnessed in World Cup that the batting department somewhat failed to build big partnerships which is must if you want to excel in any World Cup and as the next World Cup is in India Afghanistan would be very much familiar with the Indian Conditions due to the rise of IPL and they also play bilateral Series against West Indies, Bangladesh and with many other teams also.
Gulbadin Naib the skipper took 9 wickets but he was taken to cleaners by the batsmen. Gulbadin took too much pressure of captaincy which was seen through his bowling. Dawlat Zadran the fast bowler took 8 wickets and his style of bowling took the beating. Mujeeb the tyro and youth sensation along with Rashid Khan got a reality check regarding their bowling as their bowling failed to fox the batsmen as Mujeeb took 7 Wickets and Rashid took 6 Wickets. The bowling line up wasn’t threatening as these bowlers earlier had troubled the players but this time Afghanistan got a wake-up call regarding their style and way of bowling.
As the bowling line up of Afghanistan is young and juvenile; they definitely would like to go step forward by not playing the 2022 WC Qualifiers for taking a part in 2023 WC which is in India. The bowling line up of Afghanistan should have fast bowling speedsters who can create pressure on the batsmen and be as threatening and swindling as the spin department. As still there is a long rally ahead for World Cup 2023 Afghanistan need to find out excellent bowling line up and that too with a proper and adequate bench strength.
This ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 made one point that the Cricket is being played only on the field and not on the paper as if the cricket would have been played on paper then India or Australia would have won the title and not England. A single poor performance Costed the Knock-Outs for Pakistan and also one Brilliant Performance which West Indies displayed against Pakistan is not enough to make an entry into the Semi Finals.
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