India, currently ranked second in ICC team ODI rankings, dominate ICC player rankings with two batsmen and three bowlers among top 10; also, number 1 batsman and number 1 bowler are both from India.
The
much-awaited International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament, the
men’s cricket World Cup 2019 (50-over) is scheduled to kick-start
from May 30. The cricket world cup (CWC), hosted by England and Wales
this time, will see 10 teams playing 47 league matches. Four teams
would advance to the knockout stage where two semifinals will be
played. The winners of the semis will meet in the final to decide the
world champion.
Days
before the start of the 12th edition of CWC, we look at the ICC
rankings for batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders, and estimate which
teams will have the advantage going into the World Cup.
According
to the latest ICC batsmen ranking,
India, New Zealand and South Africa have two players each in top
10 list, while England, Australia, Pakistan and West Indies have a
player each. The India cricket team seems to have an advantage in the
batting department, with the top two batsmen in the ICC rankings from
the country — Virat Kohli (ranked first) and opener Rohit Sharma
(second). New Zealand’s Ross Taylor is ranked third, while the only
England player among top 10 is Joe Root (ranked 6th).
However,
if we were to widen the list from top 10 to top 20, England would
find three of its other frontline batsmen making the list — Eoin
Morgan (ranked 19th), Jos Butter (14th) and Jonny Bairstow (17th). By
comparison, apart from Kohli and Sharma, India have only one player
in top 20 — Shikhar Dhawan (13th).
Talking of Australia, which
recently returned to winning ways after a team overhaul, have only
their skipper, Aaron Finch, in top 10 (ranked ninth). The only other
Australian in top 20 is Finch’s opening partner Usman Khawaja
(18th). At least three participating teams — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
and Afghanistan — have no representation in ICC’s top 10 batsmen
list.
Bowlers
Indians
appear to be dominating the ICC rankings in the bowling department,
too, with Jasprit Bumrah ranked first, Kuldeep Yadav seventh and
Yuzvendra Chahal (eighth) in top 10. Afghanistan have two bowlers on
the top 10 list — Rashid Khan (third) after Mujeeb Ur Rahman
(ninth). New Zealand have Trent Boult (second) in top 10, while South
Africa, regarded the best bowling unit in ICC
Cricket World Cup 2019, have two players — Imran Tahir (fourth)
and Kasigo Rabada (fifth). Australia have only Pat Cummins (sixth) in
the list of top 10, while World Cup favorites England have Adil
Rashid (ranked 10th). Again, three participating nations — Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan — have none of their players in the
ICC list of top bowlers.
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