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I would add Misbah-ul-Haq to this list, not just because he scored a hundred in the warm up today, he seems like the middle order gunslinger that will win games from precarious positions. Much like Pathan and Eoin Morgan [sadly missed, unless called up as a reserve later in the tournament] ul-Haq does the incredible and makes it look pretty simple.

Is Tamim Iqbal not a star name for Bangladesh then? (More so than Shakib, I believe...)

I reckon Imran Tahir for South Africa is going to have a big world cup, he's looked good in the warm-up games, and gives South Africa an attacking spinner at last.

As a SA supporter, I hope you are right about Tsotsobe but the reality is he and Wayne Parnell are vying for the third seamer spot - and that's assuming SA feel they need a third seamer, depends a lot on how they plan to use Kallis. Lopsy's had better form recently, but Parnell is quicker and is probably a better reverse swing exponent.

However I am a little baffled by your comment about "few recognised spin options". Johan Botha, Imran Tahir and Robin Peterson are clear options, while Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy are pretty decent part-timers. In other words, a third of the squad are spin options, more than that if you want to include Mr Smith (please no!). Obviously we don't have the resources of an India or Sri Lanka, but I think by any sensible measure our spin options are quite decent.

Personally, I'd have picked Tahir as the one to watch. He will play, he's a quality spinner, and he adds genuine variety to our attack. He might also not choke. That would make a nice change.

Oliver seems to make the mistake of thinking that interest in a player in the IPL illustrates that players talents or deliverance of those talents in the 50 over international game.

This is a league where Ishant Sharma once got valued at nearly $1m for 6 weeks work yet Tamim Iqbal wasn't deemed worth a bid of 1/20th that value. And where Gambhir fetched about $2.5m and Chris Gayle didn't get sold at all.

Marketability, pressure to sign Indians and impulsive owners are far more important than talent in this league.

Added to that, 20/20 is rather different to 50 overs.

There are a lot of mediocre players in the IPL, happy to take the cash without performing and lots of past-it players just wanting a retirement fund, there will be far fewer of these types in the world cup.

Agree, Adrian Barath is an exciting youngman with a bat in his hand! He could emerge as a superstar in this world cup!

If he and Gayle can gel, WI could be the dark horse in this competition!

in response to 5.

Your post is both ridiculous and ignorant. The best Indian players in the IPL are always going to be bought at a premium because there is a cap on the number of foregn players in the starting 11 and there is only a handfull of top Indian players to choose from.
They are naturally going to fetch extravagent prices. Such is the nature of supply and demand.Ishant Sharma at the time was the most exciting fast bowling prospect India had had for years after some stellar performances against Australia.
Also the reason why Dareen Bent goes for 23 million and Andy Carrol for 35 million..

The 20/20 and the ODI are not poles apart and the IPL auction is a decent yardstick for an international cricketers potential and prospect. If a young foreign player gets signed up for mega bucks its because he has been impressive and has the talent to be a match winner...
If the IPL was all about marketability, then the likes of Ganguly and Brian Lara would have been snatched up. However they werent even wanted at their base prices..Chris Gayle went unsold because of unavailability.

The IPL does have its share of mercenaries and past-it players but such is the nature of any league. But it also exposes the potential of exciting young cricketers and gives them a platform to shine on a global stage which they wouldnt have otherwise..

The only issue really is whether the selectors' confidence in Imran Tahir is well-placed. If he doesn't come off, we'll be juggling a bunch of spinners who can bowl defensively, and probably we won't have enough to win.

The gamble is that he turns our lot into a very mean proposition.

Ps. You maybe noticed that we're braining the Aussies at the moment... not that anyone should read too much into that these days.

Oliver, I usually quite like your articles but I assume this one is aimed more at the non-cricket fan, as most of your choices are all fairly well known and predictable, especially the first 3. I would suggest some lesser-known players who could do well as the Pakistan opener Ahmed Shezhad, who I doubt most British viewers will have seen before and is coming off the back of another century today; Darren Bravo, younger brother of Dwayne, looks a better bet than Adrian Barath; and Paul Stirling as a lesser-known Associate player. I agree with the SA fan that Tahir could well be key if SA are to win, however I disagree with his assumption that Tsotsobe is not a guaranteed pick over Parnell, after his series against India I'm sure he is.

Two names i would like to add on will be Yusuf Pathan and MN van Wyk provided SA give him a chance to play.

#2 am with you on Tamim Iqbal. Quality batsman. I think Bangladesh could do really well in this world cup.

2 and 12, I think the clue is in the third line...'six players you may not have heard of who are worth following'..I think most people who watch cricket would have heard of Tamim Iqbal.

To the exciting list of six, may I humbly add the name of Yusuf Pathan ? The exciting Indian all rounder is showing tremendous hunger, skill and determination with the bat and the ball.



Dr. Cajetan Coelho

#13 If its going with players who people have not heard of, then at least 3, if not 4, of the players on the list are fairly well known by people who watch cricket.

#13- Yes, but #2 and #12 are objecting to Oliver's description of Shakib al-Hasan as "the only real star name in the Tigers line-up"; your post in fact backs them up as Tamim can surely be regarded in that way also.

Steve Smith, Tim Paine and Ajantha Mendis are all future stars in the waiting
Smith could be the next Warne, and he can bat
Paine could be the next Gilchrist
Mendis could be the new Muralitharin

What about Kane Williamson for the Kiwis? I'm suprised he's not been mentioned. A decent middle order batsman with some tons to his name. If you can mention Barath, then Williamson deserves a mention as well.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Who wouldn't have heard of any of these players? Some article.

Very interesting list! As I live in Holland, I'm very excited by seeing TenDo on the list, though not surprised... I must admit to having very little knowledge or insight into the other Associates' squads. But I'd still add Cooper to the ones to watch. If he can handle the pressures, he could be a very interesting batsman at 3 or 4 for Holland, tying Kervezee amd TenDo together...
I'll be watching out for Buurman and Bukhari as well. The latter is my club's most destructive bowler and has the potential to be a handy bat down the order...
I'm still English, though... :)

Unlike previous world cups, this one has no clear-cut favourite(s). It is wide open and it is anyone's to win.

It also is great to see the Game expanding beyond the traditional 'elite' club to include the Associate nations like Canada. I trust this opportunity continues into the distant future.

In time, a few of these nations may emerge to challenge the old=boys' club and can only augment the sport.

One thing is possible, a few lesser-knowns will seize the stage to make a name for themselves. Let the games begin!

Splendidsparrow, as much as I love the sentiment of your post, Associates have been in the world cup for quite some time. This, however, might well be the last time, as the ICC have been so caught up witht hemselves, that from the next edition on, there will be only 10 countries competing. The top 8 will qualify automatically, with the other two births being allocated through qualifiers.
Because of the amount of cricket played by Bangladesh, West Indies, New Zealand and Zimbabwe, compared to Ireland, the Netherlands, Kenya, Scotland, Afghanistan and Canada (to name but a few), they have a huge benefit over he Associates.
Under these circumstances, it is very unlikely for Associates to get a regular chance to break into the "old boys' club"... The ICC giveth (they're entrusted with the further development of the game) and taketh away....

Tendulkar, Ponting, Muralitharan and "AFRIDI" in the same breath? While Afridi can be entertaining, surely he has not even come close to achieving what the other players in that list have consistently achieved over the last decade (or more)! And to think Jack Kallis, perhaps the greatest cricket player of all time, is not mentioned in this "esteemed" category. Other posters have already picked on the many problems with the six "players to watch" so I will not weigh in on that, but I think the very first sentence of the article reflects what kind of an "article" this piece was going to be. Disappointing.

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

#24. Afridi has done enough to be a part of such elite club at least in the shorter form of the games. He won the T20 WC literally on his own. And whenever you talk about him then please do not forget what he brings up with his bowling. He has been perhaps the most consistent bowler for Pakistan, and also in the world, at large, in the last 6-7 years.Why people have to keep on talking about his batting only? His batting is just a bonus. I know a certain Tendulkar fan would cry about this but tell me if he ever won the world cup for India? Even this time chances are not that good.

Thanks Oliver! You're right in thinking Holland is weaker than in previous years. In fact, I think there's a lack of consistency in the Associates' game in general. Ireland being the exception to prove the point...

I hadn't actually heard of the film, so thanks for the tip!

Don't do it, ICC!

It would be a tragic mistake of epic proportion if the ICC goes ahead to eliminate the Associate nations from this competition.

Why take the world out of the World Cup?

Canada proved today that they can play with the best. You cannot deny these lads this forum to progress into the future.

Should the ICC go ahead to exclude this element of the game, it will have been one more reason why they may appear to have become out-of-touch and insensitive to the expectations of a great many in the cricket world.

Don't do it, ICC

Possible format for next World Cup 2015. Groups, teams and matches shown as an example.

Qualifying groups will be drawn by lots, from 5 pots of 3 teams each, which will be allocated according to World rankings.
The host country will be placed in group A, with joint host going into group B and C as necessary. The first 2 matches would have been switched if the host is a 2nd/3rd-seeded team..
All group matches to have a spare day allocated. All knockout matches to have 2 spare days allocated.

Group A Group B Group C
A1 Australia B1 Sri Lanka C1 India
A2 Pakistan B2 England C2 South Africa
A3 West Indies B3 New Zealand C3 Bangladesh
A4 Netherlands B4 Zimbabwe C4 Ireland
A5 Kenya B5 Canada C5 Afghanistan


Group matches.
The order of matches for each day could be switched for TV.

Day Day/ Night
Friday Australia A1 v A3 West Indies
Saturday- Pakistan A2 v A5 Kenya Sri Lanka B1 v B3 New Zealand
Sunday- England B2 v B5 Canada
Monday- India C1 v C3 Bangladesh South Africa C2 v C5 Afghanistan
Tuesday- Pakistan A2 v A4 Netherlands West Indies A3 v A5 Kenya
Wednesday- England B2 v B4 Zimbabwe New Zealand B3 v B5 Canada
Thursday- South Africa C2 v C4 Ireland Bangladesh C3 v C5 Afghanistan
Friday- Australia A1 v A5 Kenya West Indies A3 v A4 Netherlands
Saturday- Sri Lanka B1 v B5 Canada New Zealand B3 v B4 Zimbabwe
Sunday- India C1 v C5 Afghanistan
Monday- Bangladesh C3 v C4 Ireland Australia A1 v A2 Pakistan
Tuesday- Netherlands A4 v A5 Kenya Sri Lanka B1 v B2 England
Wednesday- Zimbabwe B4 v B5 Canada India C1 v C2 South Africa
Thursday- Ireland C4 v C5 Afghanistan Australia A1 v A4 Netherlands
Friday- Pakistan A2 v A3 West Indies Sri Lanka B1 v B4 Zimbabwe
Saturday- England B2 v B3 New Zealand India C1 v C4 Ireland
Sunday- South Africa C2 v C3 Bangladesh


Quarter-Finals.
The schedule of day or day/night matches will be decided by TV.
Group finishing order and QF rankings will be decided by this criteria:
a) Number of points.
b) Result of match between teams.
c) Net run-rate.
Rules will dictate that QF matches cannot be competed by teams from the same qualifying group:
a) If the highest-ranked group winner are from the same group as the middle ranked third place team, the third placed teams will be switched.
b) If the lowest ranked r-up are from the same group as the lowest ranked group winner, the lowest ranked R-up and middle ranked R-up will be switched.

Thursday QF1- Australia Highest ranked Winner v Middle ranked 3rd New Zealand
Friday QF2- England Highest ranked R-up v Middle ranked R-up India
Saturday QF3- Sri Lanka Middle Winner v Highest ranked 3rd West Indies
Sunday QF4- South Africa Lowest ranked Winner v Lowest ranked R-up Pakistan


Semi-Finals

Tuesday- Australia QF1 v QF2 India
Wednesday- Sri Lanka QF3 v QF4 South Africa


Final

Saturday Australia SF1 v SF2 Sri Lanka


37 matches in total completed in less than 30 days.
Can easily be adapted allow 20 teams in 4 groups with the addition of just 5 more days. QF places would be awarded to group winners and runners-up.

Any thoughts welcome, especially if some knows how to format posts to keep the tabs and spaces! :)

Totally agree with you on Kohli Oliver, he is the best of India's next generation and he makes our XI to look out for in the WC

An XI to watch closely in the World Cup

Good shout on Barath and Mathews too - even if the latter sounds like he should be starring in Home & Away or Neighbours rather than plying his trade as an all-rounder for Sri Lanka

Splendidsparrow, there are a few Facebook groups speaking against the reduction of the world cup to 10 countries.