Cricket World Cup 2015: Which all-rounders should make the best XI of the World Cup?
AUSTRALIA has three nominees as we ask you which all-rounders should make the cut in an All-Star XI from the Cricket World Cup. VOTE NOW!
THE world’s best cricketers are coming to town - and we want you to tell us who should make the cut in a Cricket World Cup all-star XI.
Our own Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock will present his version on Sunday, but we want to know what you, the fans, think.
On Tuesday it was the batsmen, but today we turn our attention to the all-rounders. We’ve made a shortlist of eight but you can only vote for two players.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to include three of the best all-rounders in world cricket - West Indies duo Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, and England’s Ben Stokes - as they were inexplicably left out of their country’s World Cup squads.
THE PEOPLE’S WORLD CUP XI: THE BATSMEN
CRICKET WORLD CUP INTERACTIVE DRAW
We’ll reveal the People’s World Cup XI on Monday.
SHAKIB AL HASAN
The world’s top-ranked all-rounder will need to be on top of his game if Bangladesh is to progress from the group phase. A talented batsman and accurate, skiddy slow left-arm bowler, Shakib has returned to his national side for this World Cup campaign after a dispute with the board.
MOEEN ALI
Ali began his career as a specialist batsman but has developed into a handy all-rounder in recent times. The improvement in his off-breaks is so marked that he has become England’s frontline ODI spinner. Ali’s top-order partnership with Ian Bell will be key to their World Cup hopes.
SHAHID AFRIDI
The veteran Pakistan all-rounder wound back the clock over the weekend, smashing 67 from just 29 deliveries against the Black Caps in Wellington in a reminder of his devastating power with the bat. Very few cricketers can bowl accurate leg breaks at 110km/h either.
JAMES FAULKNER
It is incredible to think that Faulkner didn’t make Australia’s first-choice side for the ODI series against South Africa in November (but neither did Steve Smith…). Originally viewed as a bowler and handy pinch-hitter, Faulkner has become Australia’s finisher at number eight, averaging over 45 with the bat in this format. However an abdominal strain has put his World Cup hopes in doubt.
ANGELO MATHEWS
When Angelo Mathews visited our shores two years ago, he was a consistent medium-pacer and handy batsman. Since then the Sri Lankan has transformed himself into one of the world’s best cricketers, holding an ODI batting average of more than 40 (and Test average of more than 50), and is also captain of his country.
GLENN MAXWELL
For a player so often criticised for his cavalier approach, Glenn Maxwell rarely fails to produce with either bat or ball each game. He appears likely to bat at six and be Australia’s main spin option at this World Cup. He can field, too.
DARREN SAMMY
A crowd favourite where ever he goes, Sammy showed Australian fans just what he can offer during his whirlwind stint with the Hobart Hurricanes. The former West Indies skipper has an incredible wing span to swing anything pitched up into the stands, while his wily medium pacers have accounted for many a class player over the years.
SHANE WATSON
Watson’s Test form is shaky but there’s no doubting his value to Australia’s one-day side. His ability to keep runs to a minimum is invaluable and his power hitting at the top of the order can change the match in the space of a few overs.
Originally published as Cricket World Cup 2015: Which all-rounders should make the best XI of the World Cup?