Pietersen and Bravo head World Cup 'unwanted' XI

Ajit Vijaykumar 08:34 19/01/2015
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  • Missed out: Superstars Kevin Pietersen, Dwayne Bravo and Ryan Harris have all missed out on Cricket World Cup selections.

    The World Cup will start in a little less than a month from now and all teams have finalised their 15-member squads that they hope will perform to the best of their abilities and go as far in the competition as they can.

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    Quite a few players missed out due to fitness issues, poor form or the discretion of the selectors. It resulted in some seemingly deserving candidates losing out so here we take a look at the discards who would have made a decent side amongst themselves Down Under.

    Starting with the big name who I feel should have been in the mix, despite all the criticism he continues to face, is former England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

    Granted, he has been sidelined by England for a long time but if one looks at the way he has batted in the Big Bash T20 in Australia, it’s clear the fire in his belly still burns bright and he will pounce on any opportunity he gets to prove his detractors wrong. That passion, along with his proven credentials, is enough to make it to the ‘discarded XI’ and be awarded its captaincy as well.

    The next in line is West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. The Trinidadian paid a heavy price for leading a players’ revolt over a wage dispute and even though he was his side’s top run-scorer in 2014 (415 runs from 13 matches), the leading wicket taker (20 scalps) and was named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year, the West Indies Cricket Board found him surplus to their needs. That Bravo would walk into most ODI sides in the world doesn’t seem to matter.

    The opening slots are taken up by Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera and India’s Robin Uthappa. Both are devastating batsmen at the top of the order and have given regular glimpses of their hitting prowess.

    Perera’s batting reminds me of another explosive Sri Lankan southpaw – Sanath Jayasuriya – and though he had a below par series against India and England towards the end of 2014, he still had 506 runs from 22 matches and retains the ability to tear apart any bowling attack.

    Uthappa must consider himself very unlucky to lose the spot of the wicketkeeper batsman (as a back-up for Mahendra Singh Dhoni) to Ambati Rayudu. Right before the squad was announced, the 29-year-old batsman smashed a scintillating 156 in a domestic Ranji Trophy match that continued a purple patch for him. However, the selectors went with the less flamboyant Rayudu. Not me, though.

    Giving Pietersen and Bravo company in the middle order is Kieron Pollard. Now he has not had the best 2014, but given his potential he makes it to the side.

    It’s the all-rounder list that throws up some interesting names. The first player that pops up is South Africa’s Ryan McLaren. He was the second highest wicket-taker for the Proteas last year, scalping 23 wickets in 14 matches. His economy rate was 5.6, better than frontline bowler Morne Morkel.

    Kiwi James Neesham too will be cooling his heels as his side fight for glory at home. Until a few months back, he was seen as the next Chris Cairns but has suddenly fallen out of favour. Though he is yet to play more than 20 matches in any format, his ability to bowl quick and bat with flair simply can’t be ignored.

    Then we come to the quicks. And top of the pile is Aussie Ryan Harris. Rhino has been cocooned by the selectors, given his age (35) and dodgy knee, so that he has enough in the tank for one last Ashes push later in the year. But surely Harris would like to have a crack at the World Cup, given his form and familiarity with the conditions. The other two names that come to mind are India’s Varun Aaron, expensive but easily one of the quickest bowlers in the world right now, and Pakistan’s experienced pacer Umar Gul.

    The ace in the pack, however, is Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis. Yes, the master of the carom ball. No matter which way you look at it, 38 wickets from 17 matches in 2014 should have been enough to make the cut but the management had more faith in the all-round abilities of Rangana Herath and Jeevan Mendis.

    These 11 players (well 10, excluding Pietersen) must be wondering what exactly caused their World Cup dreams to go up in smoke.

    For some, this was probably their last chance at a World Cup but unfortunately have to make do with a place in my misfits team.

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