Senior Players- An Unresolvable Dilemma..

We are already half way into the ODI Cricket’s Largest Carnival #CWC 2019. With first 4 teams currently placed in the Points table, expected to be clashing in the Semi-Finals with a change in their order till the end of the league matches.

Those 4 teams namely , are England,Australia, NewZealand and India (in order of their present position in the points table) as most of the cricketing pundits predicted. Still early days in the competition where there can be some changes especially for the Fourth contender because NewZealand has 5 matches to play that too with all the big teams.

But The top two teams , who being the Most Favorite right from the start of the tournament were England and India which brings us to throw some light on today’s agenda. While we closely observe both the teams they have got great openers, great one down batsmen, top finishers,top class bowlers which are effective both at the start and at the death overs.

Still there’s one reason which these teams have managed well is the management of senior players which I feel is felt by many other teams in the tournament.

Starting with SriLanka ,Pakistan,Windies,Bangladesh and South-Africa because these teams have those match winners the Old Guns which used to win matches for their teams.

Now then who are these players, will go one by one to analyse better

SriLanka–

One of the most dominating teams of all times coming from such a small country which had given many great players are now reeling somewhere in the bottom of the table, with 5 matches played till now with 2 of them resulting in washouts, one winning against Afghanistan and losing other two, their Salient players Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews have not clicked in the World Cup so far with the later managed to get 9 runs in 3 games scoring two ducks and The Slinga Malinga managed to get 4 wickets out of which 3 wickets coming against Afghanistan, with an economy of about 7 runs in over. Mathews is not bowling due to shoulder injury.

Pakistan-

Tagged as most Unpredictable this team has Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez where Malik managed to get 8 runs in 3 matches and the later managed to 71 runs in 3 matches as he showed glimpse of his batting against England but they have highly affected Pakistan in their ground feilding not able to save those valuable runs.

South-Africa-

With already on the verge of getting a ticket back to home their team suffered a big blow right after their second game into the tournament knowing that their ace bowler Dale Steyn was ruled out of the tournament. With another important player JP Duminy managing to get 11 runs in two important matches against India and England whereas Hashim Amla managed to score 25 runs in 3 matches scoring 40 odd against Afghanistan.

Windies-

Starting off very promisingly in the tournament they crushed Pakistan but since then showing some glimpse in bits in between but failed to cross the line they have thier vows with The Universe Boss not getting along in full flow….He amazed everyone against Bangladesh by not scoring a single run and got out playing 13 deliveries and his Strike rate remained a matter of concern.

Bangladesh-

With their senior players like Shakib dominating the tournament so far.. he’s one of the contender for Man of the Tournament but one player Masrafe Mortaza, who with his captaincy skills and Team Management has been a great performer so far but with his bowling hasn’t managed to make an impact with Bangladesh not having a hit the deck hard sort of bowler they are missing someone like Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed. Masrafe has had very average stats with speed being somewhere between 125-130kph which certainly not troubling the batsmen these days.

These teams might certainly need some revival at some point in time but they really will have to think a bit faster.

With Senior Players Adding experience to the team should not result into a liability.

With teams like India who have the Best cricketing mind like MS Dhoni utilising him very smartly with change in his batting position sending Pandya up the order and if the situation permits he goes up at no. 5 also England managing Liam Plunkett in the same way using him where he can be lethal both with the bat and bowl.

The Other teams will have to tighten up their screws and somehow manage to get back to winning ways or else it will be to late for some of their Going-to-be-legend players as they want to give themselves a Farewell to remember….