Fired. Dropped. Left Out. Mismanaged. Ignored. Neglected.
These are some of the worst feelings to have. I’m sure all of us have suffered something similar at one time or another in our lives. As Irish poet Oscar Wilde once reflected,
“There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
His career is a study in how NOT to treat a cricketer or any professional athlete for that matter.
Ignorance, But Not Bliss
The retirement call might have been hastened by ECB’s careless choice of announcing new central contracts amidst a tumbling World Cup campaign.
These contracts are said to be worth between £130,000–£800,000. These are multi-year contracts with additional scope of £70,000 for any County commitments. Why did the ECB need to take such drastic actions?
Well, cricket is changing and 2023 has been a watershed moment with SAT20, ILT20, and MLC offering more income and additional options to IPL, BBL, CPL, and PSL. With IPL franchises owning teams around the world, there were murmurs about franchises offering year-long contracts to players, thereby threatening the last remaining bits of international cricket.
The English administration had to act fast. And act they did.
27 England players were offered a central contract. Every member in the World Cup squad except for one was offered a central contact.
And that one was David Willey.
Ignored.
England’s 2023 World Cup Debacle
The decision would have made sense had Willey been out of favor for a few months or had a dip in form or was out of his prime, but let’s look at the facts.
In England’s derailing World Cup, who has the best batting average? You guessed it right, David Willey — 42.00 (yes he bats in the bottom and may have not-outs to boost him up but so what…let’s not go in the details here)
Willey is also England’s third highest wicket-taker despite only playing 3 matches so far — 5 (the only more unfortunate player than Willey is at the top of England’s bowling charts — Reece Topley, who has gone back home with yet another freak injury).
2nd best bowling average — yep Willey again (behind Topley)
3rd most sixes…behind Malan and Mark Wood (which tells you everything you need to know about England’s listless World Cup)
But I know what you must be thinking — these are stats after the contracts were announced, but what about the statistics leading up to the World Cup?
Between the 2019–2023 World Cups, David Willey was England’s second highest wicket taker and the highest wicket taker for a pacer (37 wickets in 21 ODIs compared to 41 in 27 for Adil Rashid).
37 wickets, 22.35 Average, 5.2 Economy, best of 5/30, 4/5 fers: 1/2
Those are stellar figures. In the absence of Jofra Archer & Mark Wood, Willey often led the attack alongside Topley & Saqib Mahmood.
Imagine taking 52 wickets in 45 wickets and being a consistent member of the side for FOUR years before being dropped on the eve of the World Cup (after being initially selected)…for someone who had taken 3 wickets.
Well that happened to Willey. Now of course, it’s another story that the person he was dropped for was none other than Jofra Archer, waiting for his residency period to complete after immigrating from Barbados. Archer would end up playing an instrumental part in the World Cup victory a month later and bowled THAT Super Over.
Anyway, back to Willey.
What’s more depressing is that deep down, Willey predicted that he would be the one to be cut. He said a few days earlier to Archer’s inclusion,
“It’s an interesting dilemma for the captain, coach, and selectors. It’s a group of players that have been together for three or four years now that have got us to No. 1….Whether someone should just walk in at the drop of a hat because they are available, whether that’s the right thing. I don’t know.”
I am sure Willey would have been crushed.
What did Ed Smith, England’s selector back then, have to say?
“He deserves to be in the World Cup squad. But that’s sport.”
Broken Cricket Dreams.
The Hope of 2022
When there is disappointment, there is always a glimmer of hope.
Willey did enjoy some good memories over the years.
In domestic cricket, he gained a reputation of batting in the top order and hitting some gigantic sixes. He was England’s leading wicket taker in the 2016 T20 Final and had a stunning all-round performance of 21*(14) of 4–0–20–3 in the Final (could have been a player of the Final…but unfortunately, Marlon Samuels & Carlos Brathwaite had other plans).
Then the 2019 World Cup happened.
He made another comeback and was selected in the 2021 & 2022 T20 World Cup squads but would not end up playing a single game (at least he finally lifted the T20 World Cup Trophy with the team).
Forever on the Sidelines
First there was Archer. Then another player picked out of thin air, Tymal Mills.
With Topley & Sam Curran around, there was always competition in the left arm pace department. In the all-rounders category, England were blessed with Stokes, Woakes, and Moeen Ali.
Willey had to prove to the selectors every time he took the field in an England jersey because his spot was never confirmed. He was always in the scheme of things but only on the edge. As a substitute, an injury replacement.
But once another shining player was found or conditions did not favor swing, Willey was the first to be dropped.
In this case, he was the only one not among 27.
England lost out on Willey, not the other way around. David Willey — Forever on the sidelines.
Resilience and Determination – David Willey in his Own Words
And here is David Willey’s retirement statement in his own word.
“Winning World Cup with my family around…that medal there…I didn’t play in that World Cup…But that victory signified so much for me…Coming back into the side and being there…that was very special.”
Have you ever seen Harsha Bhogle hit six sixes like Yuvraj Singh, hit a straight drive like the God of Cricket — Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, or bowl deadly inswinging yorkers like Wasim Akram?
I bet not.
Then how exactly did Harsha Bhogle become the voice and face of world cricket?
The tournament’s entertainment value is increasing by the day, but this World Cup is still missing two things — a thriller & Harsha Bhogle’s voice. Unfortunately, Mr. Bhogle has caught another fever, dengue, and has had to subsequently miss a few matches.
It is the days that he is not present that you miss his voice the most.
Okay okay, I know I am deviating. Anyway, back on topic. Where were we again?
Oh yes, how did Harsha Bhogle become Harsha Bhogle?
Did he take voice coaching lessons? Did he get a PhD in phonetics & linguistics? No, no he did not.
Harsha’s mother and uncle had arrived in India from Lahore on an army train right before the Partition in 1947.
He remarked in The Grade Cricketer’s podcast, “For my father’s generation, survival was important.” Just like many Indians in that generation, he grew up in a middle-class household. Both his parents were professors. So naturally, education was at the forefront of his upbringing.
Bhogle completed his undergraduate in chemical engineering and then went on to graduate from IIM Ahmedabad in 1985. He even worked in advertising for a couple of years after his education.
However, he did not forget his first love, cricket.
He had played Division A level cricket in Hyderabad along with competing at Osmania Nizam University & company teams. In Hyderabad, he had played with the likes of Arshad Ayub and Mohammad Azharuddin, a cricketer he would later write a biography of. (As an aside, he was once offered the opportunity to bat at #3, but said no. He was eventually picked for the university team but unfortunately did not make the XI).
The Greatest Weapon
Harsha Bhogle’s greatest weapon is his voice.
He found his voice during elocution & debate contests in high school. The ‘Eureka’ moment in his career came when he realized he could combine this gift with the love of cricket.
His broadcasting journey began with a 15-minute commentary stint during a Hyderabad vs Kerela Ranji Trophy match. Later in 1983, he took part in his first ODI broadcasting assignment on Doordarshan-Hyderabad.
By the time we arrived at the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Bhogle was recognized as the “sexiest voice on radio.”
“I didn’t look like a model, I didn’t play a 100 Test matches. There was lots of things I wasn’t. So, I didn’t have the option to say ‘No’ to anything…When you say ‘Yes,’ it’s a fantasy world. You don’t know where you will go when you say yes.”
From All India Radio & the BBC to Kutti Stories with Ravichandran Ashwin & Cricbuzz Live, Bhogle’s evolution is his mark of success. Sometimes he is having fun with Gaurav Kapur & Joy Bhattacharya, while at others, he is critically analyzing the state of world cricket with Ian Bishop, Nasser Hussain, and Mike Atherton.
To hone his skills and stay relevant in the broadcasting world, he did anything and everything. He has covered matches in makeshift commentary boxes in Hyderabad, written for several newspapers, transitioned to radio, become the face of cricket during live television, conducted quiz shows, talked about mental health, given inspirational speeches to the next generation, written books, interviewed the CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, and has done a heck of a lot more. Bhogle’s multilingual background aided in his evolution as a broadcaster. He wrote magazine columns in Marathi, took broadcasting assignments in English, interviewed in Hindi, and joked in Hyderabadi.
Throughout his career, he has interviewed Sir Garfield Sobers, heard memorable stories from another great Indian commentator, AFS Talyarkhan, and possibly most importantly, covered the career of Sachin Tendulkar.
The Voice That Propelled Sachin Tendulkar
An article on Harsha Bhogle is incomplete without a mention of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Even Ian Bishop took a step aside when Harsha concluded one of the great careers in one of the legendary segments of cricket commentary.
“This is an indicator what one man meant to a nation. With Tendulkar, it was not just cricket…He’s been a good man, apart from being a great cricketer, Tendulkar…Tendulkar meant to India more than just the numbers. It’s as if Tendulkar was born to be great and everyone just looked after him. Everyone in Indian cricket, in Mumbai cricket, looked after him. Everyone will have their own Tendulkar story to tell…Those 22 yards made that little boy from Bandra the legend that he became.
Without the voice of Bhogle, Sachin’s shots might not have been heard around the world.
What Characteristics Makes Harsha Bhogle Good?
Bhogle often says that for broadcasting metrics, “Chappell is my guru for work ethic.”
He prepares for each interview, writes down notes, talks to Simon Taufel to understand the rulebook, and draws from the wisdom of other cricketers to understand how to analyze techniques and read the pitch conditions.
He continues to learn and innovate. Not many would have the courage to dive into the world of Twitter, YouTube, and podcasts. He keeps on learning. But that’s how he has managed to stay relevant in the industry for over four decades. Two of his own quotes describe him best,
“The day you think you know everything in life, you’ve descended already. You’re gone.”
“Sometimes, we wait for the big things to happen in life…Be happy with small times….But don’t wait for the big thing to happen.”
Final Thoughts
When things are all said and done, what will I remember the most about Harsha Bhogle?
Along with the voice, came the infectious personality — the expressions, inflections in the voice, historical references, the smile, research into players’ backgrounds, and the contrast between serious bits & humor. He talks mostly about cricket but speaks with an open mind.
As cricket fans, we like to talk about our cricket heroes, the greatest Test match players, and the best World Cup finishes.
Sometimes, we should sit back and appreciate the people who make the cricket community great — The commentators, the umpires, the ground staff, the security staff, administrators, and many other individuals behind the scenes.
I will leave you all with this quote by American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
And Harsha Bhogle did exactly that. He provided us with the little moments of joy to live by.
Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2023 Squad Breakdown – Everything you need to know.
Since the retirements of the Lankan greats – Dilshan, Jayawardene, Malinga, and Sangakkara, Sri Lanka have been in an elongated transition phase.
Since the 2021 T20 World Cup, a core group has come together that is beginning to bring the island nation some hope.
How will they fare in the 2023 ODI World Cup? Let’s discuss.
Key Takeaways from Sri Lanka’s World Cup 2023 ODI Squad Announcement
The average age of Sri Lanka’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad is 27.33. Sri Lanka have a younger squad ranging from Pathirana (20) & Wellalage (20) to Karunaratne (35).
The 15-member Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad has average ODI experience of 43 matches (637 ODIs among 15 players). Hemantha (3), Madushanka (6), and Pathirana (10) are the newer faces on the block, while Kusal Mendis (112) & Kusal Perera (109) are their most experienced players.
Sri Lanka’s’ squad composition is as follows: 5 proper batters, 4 all-rounders, and 6 proper bowling options. In total, Sri Lanka has 10 bowling options (2 off spin, 1 mystery spin, 1 left arm spin, 1 leg break, 1 left arm pace, and 4 right arm pace) in their squad if absolutely needed.
Sri Lanka have 4 left-handed batting options (Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Wellalage) and three wicketkeeping options.
Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup Team at a Glance
Player
Role
Age
Dimuth Karunaratne
Batter
35
Kusal Mendis
Batter/Wicketkeeper
28
Pathum Nissanka
Batter
25
Kusal Perera
Batter/Wicketkeeper
33
Sadeera Samawickrama
Batter/Wicketkeeper
28
Dasun Shanaka
All-Rounder/Right Arm Pace
32
Charith Asalanka
All-Rounder/Right Arm Off Spin
26
Dhananjaya de Silva
All-Rounder/Right Arm Off Spin
32
Dushan Hemantha
All-Rounder/Right Arm Leg Spin
29
Lahiru Kumara
Right Arm Pace
26
Dilshan Madushanka
Left Arm Pace
23
Matheesha Pathirana
Right Arm Pace
20
Kasun Rajitha
Right Arm Pace
30
Mahesh Theekshana
Right Arm Mystery Spin
23
Dunith Wellalage
Left Arm Spin
20
*Chamika Kauranatne
Right Arm Fast
27
*Traveling Reserve
Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2023 Potential XI
Pathum Nissanka
Kusal Perera
Kusal Mendis (WK)
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Charith Asakalanka
Dhananjaya de Silva
Dasun Shanaka (C)
Dunith Wellalage
Mahesh Theekshana
Matheesha Pathirana
Dilshan Madushanka
Injury News
Dusmantha Chameera (torn pectoral muscle)
Wanindu Hasaranga (thigh strain)
Mahesh Theekshana (in the squad, but returning from hamstring injury)
Madushanka (coming back from torn oblique)
Lahiru Kumara (coming back from side strain)
6 Sri Lankan Players Who Were Unlucky to Miss Out
Hasaranga, Chameera
Avishka Fernando
Pramod Madhushan, Binura Fernando
Bhanuka Rajapakse (retired early, came back, but considered more a T20I player)
Is Hasaranga playing for Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup?
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka has been ruled out of the 2023 Cricket World Cup due to injuries. In case he recovers and another member of the SL squad is injured, he may be brought in.
Which players are in Sri Lanka’s 2023 World Cup squad?
Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Mahesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage are in Sri Lanka’s 2023 World Cup squad.
Netherlands Cricket World Cup 2023 Squad Breakdown – Everything you need to know.
The ODI Super League helped Netherlands play ODI matches against the Top teams, which in turn, helped them in the World Cup qualifiers.
Now the County cricketers return to the fold with Roelof van der Merwe, Colin Ackermann, and Paul van Meekeren. What does this mean for the Dutch? How does their squad look like?
All that and more, right here, right now. Let’s dive straight in.
Key Takeaways from Netherlands’ World Cup 2023 ODI Squad Announcement
The average age of Netherland’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad is 28.4. Netherlands is going with a healthy mix of youth and experience. They have youngsters like Shariz Ahmad (20), Vikramjit Singh (20), and Aryan Dutt (20) as well as experience in Wesley Barresi (39) and Roelof van der Merwe (38)
The 15-member Netherland’s World Cup squad has average ODI experience of 21 matches (The entire 15-men squad have played 313 ODIs combined).
Netherlands’ squad composition is as follows: 4 proper batters, 7 all-rounders, and 4 proper bowling options. In total, Netherlands has 11 bowling options (4 off spin, 1 left arm spin, 2 leg break and 4 right arm pace) in their squad if absolutely needed. Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, and even occasional keeper Barresi can bowl some part-time spin/medium pace if needed.
South Africa have 1 left-handed batting options (Vikramjit Singh) and two wicketkeeping options.
Netherlands Cricket World Cup Team at a Glance
Player
Role
Age
Scott Edwards
Batter/Wicketkeeper
27
Wesley Barresi
Batter/Wicketkeeper
39
Max O’Dowd
Batter
29
Vikramjit Singh
Batter
20
Colin Ackermann
All-Rounder/Right Arm Off Spin
32
Bas de Leede
All-Rounder/Right Arm Medium Pace
23
Teja Nidamanuru
All-Rounder/Right Arm Off Spin
29
Saqib Zulfiqar
All-Rounder/Right Arm Leg Spin
26
Roelof van der Merwe
All-Rounder/Left Arm Spin
38
Aryan Dutt
Right Arm Off Spin
20
Ryan Klein
Right Arm Fast
26
Shariz Ahmad
Right Arm Leg Spin/Googly
20
Logan Van Beek
All-Rounder/Right Arm Fast
33
Paul van Meekeren
Right Arm Fast
30
Sybrand Engelbrecht
All-Rounder/Right Arm Off Spin
35
Noah Croes*
Right Hand Bat
23
Kyle Klein*
Right Hand Bat/Right Arm Pace
22
*signifies that the player is a traveling reserve and not in the main 15-player squad
Tim Pringle (withdrawn due to niggles), Fred Klaasen (stress fracture)
6 Netherlands Players Who Were Unlucky to Miss Out
Tim Pringle, Fred Klaasen
Clayton Floyd, Michael Levitt, and Vivian Kingma played the WC qualifiers but missed out on the WC spot due to the return of Ackermann, van Meekeren, and van der Merwe.
Musa Ahmad played few ODIs before the qualifiers, but failed to make the cut after march 2023
Surprise Pick for Netherlands’ World Cup Squad
Sybrand Engelbrecht
Netherlands World Cup 2023 Squad – Complete List of Players
Netherlands World Cup Squad – The Traveling Reserves
16. Noah Croes
Role: Right Hand Bat
Matches: 1 ODI, Runs: 7
Last ODI (also was his debut): 9 July, 2023
Age: 23
17. Kyle Klein
Role: Right Hand Bat, Right Arm Pace
Age: 22
*Under 19 cricketer, who is yet to debut in first class or international cricket
Final Thoughts
The Netherlands have surpassed all expectations and made it to the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
With no bilateral series scheuled the World Cup qualifiers, they have attempted to acclimitize to the conditions by arriving to India early and playing against domestic teams.
Will that be enough? Can they make an impact in the World Cup?
Related ODI World Cup Articles
If you liked this article, be sure to check some of the other World Cup content:
Frequently Asked Questions – Netherlands World Cup 2023 Squad
What is the average age of Netherlands’ 2023 Cricket World Cup squad?
The average age of Netherlands’ World Cup squad is 28.4
Who is selected for Netherlands’ 2023 Cricket World Cup squad?
Scott Edwards, Colin Ackermann, Shariz Ahmed, Wesley Barresi, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Ryan Klein, Bas de Leede, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe, Teja Nidamanuru, Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, and Saqib Zulfiqar made it to Netherland’s 2023 World Cup squad.
Can Netherlands win the 2023 ODI World Cup?
If Netherlands do win the 2023 Cricket World Cup, it will be the story of the century. Can they get there though? I am afraid not. They have the potential of winning 2-4 games, but with the strength of some of the other teams, I do not see them winning in Indian conditions.
New Zealand Cricket World Cup 2023 Squad Breakdown – Here is everything you need to know.
The finalists from the last two editions, can they go one step further this time around?
Let’s dive right in.
Key Takeaways from New Zealand’s World Cup 2023 ODI Squad Announcement
The average age of New Zealand’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad is 30.67. New Zealand have a slightly aged squad with 12 out of the 15 members over the age of 30. Only Rachin Ravinda (23), Glenn Phillips (26), and Mark Chapman (29) are on the younger spectrum.
The 15-member New Zealand’s World Cup squad has average ODI experience of 69 matches (1022 ODIs among 15 players).
New Zealand’s’ squad composition is as follows: 5 proper batters (Glenn Phillips & Williamson with the part-time spin as well) 5 all-rounders, and 5 proper bowling options. In total, New Zealand has 12 bowling options (2 off spin, 3 left arm spin, 1 leg break, 1 left arm pace, and 5 right arm pace) in their squad if absolutely needed.
New Zealand have 6 left-handed batting options (Latham, Conway, Chapman, Santner, Neesham, Ravindra) and three wicketkeeping options.
New Zealand Cricket World Cup Team at a Glance
Player
Role
Age
Kane Williamson
Batter/Off spin
33
Tom Latham
Batter/Wicketkeeper
31
Devon Conway
Batter/Wicketkeeper
32
Glenn Phillips
Batter/Wicketkeeper/Spinner
26
Will Young
Batter
30
Mark Chapman
Allrounder/Left Arm Spin
29
Daryl Mitchell
Allrounder/Right Arm Medium Pace
32
James Neesham
Allrounder/Right Arm Medium Pace
32
Rachin Ravindra
Allrounder/Left Arm Spin
23
Mitchell Santner
Allrounder/Left Arm Spin
31
Trent Boult
Left Arm Pace
34
Lockie Ferguson
Right Arm Pace
32
Matt Henry
Right Arm Pace
31
Ish Sodhi
Right Arm Leg Spin
30
Tim Southee
Right Arm Pace
34
New Zealand Cricket World Cup 2023 Potential XI
Devon Conway
Will Young
Kane Williamson (C)
Glenn Phillips
Tom Latham (WK/VC)
Daryl Mitchell
Mitchell Santner
Tim Southee
Matt Henry
Trent Boult
Ish Sodhi
Injury News
Tim Southee & Kane Williamson (ACL) are nursing injuries.
Kyle Jamieson has recently comeback from back injury. He is not officially a reserve but has been called up as cover in case Tim Southee does not recover in time.
Michael Bracewell is out indefinitely due to ACL injury.
Adam Milne was ruled out due to hamstring injury.
5 New Zealand Players Who Were Unlucky to Miss Out
Finn Allen, Henry Nicholls, Michael Bracewell, Adam Milne, Kyle Jamieson
Other players who have played for NZ recently but did not make the cut: Dean Foxcroft, Tom Blundell, Cole McConchie
Honorable Mention: Martin Guptill (Has been active in T20 leagues but has not played for NZ recently)
2 Surprise Picks for New Zealand’s World Cup Squad
Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman
New Zealand World Cup 2023 Squad – Complete List of Players
Who won the player of the series in the 2019 Cricket World Cup? It was none other than Kane Williamson!
Can you remember who are all the player of the tournament in Cricket World Cups?
Let us help you. Here is everything you need to know about the player of the tournament trophy.
Key Takeaways
The first player of the tournament in the Cricket World Cup (Men’s) was awarded in 1992.
Three batters, two bowlers, and three all-rounders have so far won this award in the eight instances so far.
New Zealand (2), India (2), and Australia (2) share the most player of the tournaments with South Africa & Sri Lanka winning it once each.
The player of the tournament had the following characters: 3 left handers, 4 right handers, and one ambidextrous (Lance Klusener – left hand bat, right hand bowl) .
World Cup Player of the Tournament – At a Glance
Player
World Cup
World Cup Venue
Martin Crowe
1992
Australia, New Zealand
Sanath Jayasuriya
1996
India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
Lance Klusener
1999
England, Wales
Sachin Tendulkar
2003
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya
Glenn McGrath
2007
West Indies (Caribbean Islands)
Yuvraj Singh
2011
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Mitchell Starc
2015
Australia, New Zealand
Kane Williamson
2019
England, Wales
*POTM – Player of the Match
List of All 8 Man of the Tournament in Cricket World Cups
1. Martin Crowe (New Zealand), 1992 Cricket World Cup
A dream run. A sad ending. Having pulled his hamstring, Crowe was run-out on 91. He watched on the sidelines as a new captain tried to defend a spirited Pakistan. 1992 was a World Cup of firsts. Colored clothing,new ODI strategies,South Africa’s re-entry, rain controversies, round-robin format.
Martin Crowe is fondly remembered by many due to his inspiring captaincy and runs across the board. An average of 114 at 90 strike in 1992 is spectacular!
Revolutionized ODI cricket in the Powerplay. Sanath Jayasuriya (with Romesh Kaluwitharana) gave birth to a new brand of aggressive cricket. Chipped in with wickets and catches as well for a complete all-round show.
Perhaps the greatest player of the tournament performance of All-Time. Runs at an insane strike, finishing games left and right, and 17 wickets to top it off. People will remember that run-out in the semi-final that crushed South African cricket for a generation, but should also remember him as a pioneer of lower-order hitting/finishing in ODI cricket.
If Klusener was the greatest all-round performance, Tendulkar gets the best batting show award. Except for the match again Kenya, New Zealand, and the final, Tendulkar had eight innings of note. The 98 (75) vs Pakistan will go in folklore as one of the greatest innings of all-time in limited overs cricket.
Even though McGrath did not take a single 4-fer in this World Cup and was (only) player of the match twice, he was at his consistent best. Took at least a wicket in every match, 2 wickets thrice, and 3-wickets on six occasions. His spell in the semi-final broke South African hearts yet again.
Australia were so dominant for 15 years, they needed a maverick to knock them out of the quarter-finals. Yuvraj did it with clutch performance of 57*(65). Battling cancer behind the scenes, Yuvraj Singh went from good to legendary status in a space of 9 games.
It is only after Yuvraj was left out of the team, that we see what a gem he was to Indian cricket. As all-rounder in the Top 5. Yuvraj-Raina provided India with the balance they needed and with Dhoni, formed one of the greatest middle orders.
If McGrath has been the most consistent World Cup bowler, Starc has definitely been the most destructive (10.18 average, 17.4 SR, 3.5 economy – geez those numbers are out of the world!). The Australia vs New Zealand match at Eden Park and the first over to Brendon McCullum in the Final encapsulates Mitchell Starc’s career. Fast, inswinging yorkers that can change the momentum in space of a few balls.
In the prime of his life, Williamson’s 2019 was marked by pure batsmanship and character. Keeping cool in the final and couple of centuries highlighted his campaign.My favorite was the 106((138) against South Africa on a tough pitch, taking NZ from 80/4 to 245/6. He timed the chase with that late cate and slog sweep in the last two overs to perfection.
Whether it is the all-round show of Jayasuriya, Klusener, Yuvraj, the pure batting class of Williamson, Crowe, Tendulkar, or the bowling genius of Australians, McGrath & Starc, it has been just great to watch.
And even though from 1975-1987, we did not have player of the tournament awards, there were still many memorable performances from that era by Kapil Dev Glenn Turner, Vivian Richards, David Boon, and many more!
Which player will capture the hearts and imagination of cricket fans in 2023?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Man of the Tournament in Cricket World Cups
Who won the player of the tournament in the 2019 Cricket World Cup?
Kane Williamson won the player of the tournament award in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
When was the first man of the tournament given in Cricket World Cups?
The first man of the tournament trophy was awarded to Martin Crowe in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
Which Indian cricketers have won the player of the series award in Cricket World Cups?
Sachin Tendulkar (2003) & Yuvraj Singh (2011) are the only two Indians to win the player of the tournament trophies in the ODI Cricket World Cup.
Other 2023 Cricket World Cup Content
If you liked reading facts about the World Cup, consider checking these articles out:
Do you remember the highest individual scores in ODI World Cup? What are some of the best World Cup knocks?
The World Cup is right around the corner, so I thought I would help you refresh some of the golden memories of earlier World Cups.
Let’s dive right in.
Key Takeaways
Martin Guptill (237*), Chris Gayle (214), and Gary Kirsten (188*) hold the record for the higest individual scores in ODI World Cup.
Among the Top 25 highest scores in the World Cup, only Adam Gilchrist’s 149 (Final) Martin Guptill’s 237 (quarter finals), came in knockout rounds. Matthew Hayden’s 158 came in the Super Eight Stage while all others took place during the group stage.
Batters from Australia (5) feature in this list the most followed by India & South Affrica (4), New Zealand & England (3), West Indies (2), and Zimbabwe, Scotland, Pakistan & Sri Lanka (1).
The 2015 ODI World Cup was by far the best for batters – with 7 of the highest all-time scores coming in that World Cup. It is followed by the 2019 CWC (5 scores), 2007 (3), 2011, 2003, 1996 (2), and 1999, 1983, 1987, 1975 with one each.
Once again, the 2015 CWC saw the highest ever score (237*), while the 1992 CWC had the least highest top score (119*).
There have been 22 150+ scores and two double centuries in the ODI Cricket World Cup.
List of Top 10 Highest Scores in Cricket World Cup
The entire list of Top 25 and details are featured below, but here is a snippet of the Top 10 highest scores in the ODI Worl Cup.
Player
Score
Opposition
World Cup
Martin Guptill
237*
West Indies
2015
Chris Gayle
215
Zimbabwe
2015
Gary Kirsten
188*
UAE
1996
Sourav Ganguly
183
Sri Lanka
1999
Sir Vivian Richards
181
Sri Lanka
1987
David Warner
178
Afghanistan
2015
Kapil Dev
175*
Zimbabwe
1983
Virender Sehwag
175
Bangladesh
2011
Craig Wishart
172*
Namibia
2003
Glenn Turner
171*
East Africa
1975
Evolution of the Highest Individual Scores in ODI Cricket World Cup (1975-2019)
1975: Glenn Turner (New Zealand) – 171* vs East Africa
1979: Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies) – 138* vs England
1983: Kapil Dev (India) – 175* vs Zimbabwe
1987: Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies) – 181 vs Sri Lanka
1992: Rameez Raza (Pakistan) – 119* vs New Zealand
1996: Gary Kirsten (South Africa) – 188* vs UAE
1999: Sourav Ganguly (India) – 183 vs Sri Lanka
2003: Craig Wishart (Zimbabwe) – 172* vs Namibia
2007: Imran Nazir (Pakistan) – 160 vs Zimbabwe
2011: Virender Sehwag (India) – 175 vs Bangladesh
2015: Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 237* vs West Indies
2019: David Warner (Australia) – 166 vs Bangladesh
Top 25 Highest Scores in Cricket World Cup: Best World Cup Innings
1. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 237* vs West Indies, 2015
I will never forget Guptill’s 237*. It just seemed too good to be true.
Can anyone in the 2023 World Cup beat this record? Let us know below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who have scored the highest individual scores in the ODI Cricket World Cup?
Martin Guptill (237*), Chris Gayle (215), and Gary Kirsten (188*) are the Top 3 for the highest individual scores in the ODI Cricket World since 1975.
Which Cricket World Cup had the individual highest scores?
The 2015 ODI Cricket World Cup featured 7 of the Top 25 all-time highest individual scores in the ODI World Cup. This included Martin Guptill (237), Chris Gayle (215), David Warner (178), AB De Villiers (162*), Tillakaratne Dilshan (161*), Hashim Amla (159), and Kyle Coetzer (156).
Who has scored the most centuries ODI Cricket World Cup?
Here is a quick answer: Rohit Sharma & Sachin Tendulkar have scored the joint highest number of hundreds in ODI Cricket World Cups at 6 centuries each.
Rohit Sharma has a chance to go ahead of the pack by scoring more hundreds in the upcoming 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup.
Key Takeaways
10 cricketers have scored 4 or more centuries in the ODI Cricket World Cup. Rohit Sharma & Sachin Tendulkar lead the pack with 6 each, with Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, and David Warner close behind with 5 each.
Sri Lanka, India, and Australia have 3 representatives each from this list while South Africa has only one in AB de Villiers
Rohit Sharma and David Warner are the only current players in the list. Joe Root is currently sitting at 3 World Cup tons.
Bangladesh Cricket Schedule 2023 Cricket World Cup—The Complete Guide.
2019 was probably Bangladesh’s best ODI World Cup with Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round performance. However, they fizzled out at the end. Does their schedule allow them to play high intensity cricket all the way through?
Let’s find out together.
Key Takeaways from Bangladesh’s World Cup Schedule
Bangladesh begin their opening match against Afghanistan on October 7, 2023 and play their last group stage match against Australia on November 11, 2023.
Bangladesh play three 3-day games, more than any team in the tournament.
The Tigers will play two games at Dharamsala, Kolkata, and Pune. They also have one game scheduled in Mumbai (Wankhede), Chennai, and Delhi.
Bangladesh have had a steady few years in ODI cricket. They have been rising since 2015 and ended in the Top 2 of the ODI Super League. However, their fortunes have dipped this year with the batting not pulling their
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Bangladesh Cricket Schedule 2023 Cricket World Cup
When is Bangladesh’s first match in the 2023 cricket World Cup?
Bangladesh’s first match is on October 7th, 2023 against Afghanistan.
Can Bangladesh defeat India in the 2023 Cricket World Cup?
Bangladesh surely have the potential to defeat India. It will be tough, but with spin conditions in Pune, Bangladesh may have a chance in a low scoring thriller.
When will Bangladesh play Sri Lanka in the 2023 Cricket World Cup?
Bangladesh will play archrivals, Sri Lanka, on November 6, 2023.
Let’s breakdown Pakistan World Cup 2023 squad, which is basically Pakistan’s 18-member preliminary World Cup 2023 squad.
Here is a quick preview: Pakistan is banking on youth to help them go all the way in this upcoming World Cup.
Let’s dive right in.
Key Takeaways from Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 ODI Squad Announcement
The average age of Pakistan World Cup 2023 squad is 26.9. Pakistan is going with a young squad, especially in the pace department. They have youngsters like Naseem Shah (20), Mohammad Wasim (21), Mohammad Haris (22), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (23). Fakhar Zaman is the oldest member of squad at just 33.
The 18-member Pakistan’s preliminary World Cup squad has average ODI match experience of only 41 ODIs (607 ODIs among 15 players). Babar Azam (108), Fakhar Zaman (78) & Imam-ul-Haq (66) are their most experienced players.
Pakistan’s squad composition is as follows: 6 proper batters (1 part time), 4 all-rounders, and 5 proper bowling options. In total, Pakistan has 10 bowling options (2 off spin, 1 left arm pace, 2 left arm spin, 2 leg spin, and 3 right arm pace) in their squad if absolutely needed.
Pakistan has 4 left-handed batting options (Imam, Fakhar, Saud Shakeel, Nawaz) and one wicketkeeping option.
Pakistan’s fast bowling unit has always been good, but this time they also have a stable top order, an in-form keeper, variety of spin options, and a Babar Azam.
Oh yes, and in Shadab Khan, they have one of the best fielders going around.
Take Pakistan lightly at your own peril.
What do you all think? How far can Pakistan go in the upcoming Asia Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup?
Related ODI World Cup Articles
If you liked this article, be sure to check some of the other World Cup content:
What is the average age of Pakistan’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad?
The average age of Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 squad is 26.9. Pakistan is going with a young squad. They have youngsters like Naseem Shah (20), Mohammad Wasim (21), Mohammad Haris (22), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (23). Fakhar Zaman is the oldest member of squad at just 33.
Who is selected for Pakistan’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad?
Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (C), Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Tayyab Tahir, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Abdullah Shafique, and Agha Salman are selected for Pakistan’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad.
Who is selected for Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 squad?
Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (C), Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Tayyab Tahir, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Abdullah Shafique, and Agha Salman are selected.
Can Pakistan win the 2023 ODI World Cup?
Yes, Pakistan have it in them to win the 2023 ODI World Cup. They have a strong core that has been playing since the 2017 Champions Trophy as well as some new faces. Their pace bowling is as good as it gets, and this time they have the batting to back it up.
