2019 has been an eventful year for One Day International cricket with lots of ups and downs. While the cricket fraternity was happy to recognize newer talent (Alex Carey) and witness the resurgence of the well-known greats (Shakib Al Hasan), there have been quite a few bloopers and flop shows.
To play regular cricket, a player must cope with the game and its requirements. When players fail to meet certain expectations at different levels, the game punishes them in the form of a momentary break-up. Like every year, there is a set of cricketers who failed to perform well and are harshly put into a list of the Worst ODI XI of 2019:
1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Martin Guptill
3) Shoaib Malik
4) Tom Latham (wk)
5) Vijay Shankar
6) David Miller
7) Mashrafe Mortaza (c)
8) Rashid Khan
9) Kagiso Rabada
10) Kuldeep Yadav
11) Suranga Lakmal
1) Fakhar Zaman:
The only positive highlights for Zaman in ODI’s this year are two innings, one against England where he scored a fine 138 run knock and his scratchy half-century against India in the World Cup. The left-handed opener was named in Pakistan’s World Cup squad to solidify the top order.
After his brilliant show in the Champions League finals (2017) against India, a lot was expected of this 29-year-old who managed only 186 runs in 8 innings. Fakhar has scored 683 ODI runs this year in 20 outings, which surely bothers the PCB.
2) Martin Guptill:
If it weren’t for skipper Williamson’s and Ross Taylor’s efforts, New Zealand wouldn’t have managed all the way to the finals of the World Cup. Guptill failed every time the team needed a decent start. Martin amassed only 166 runs in 8 innings, which doesn’t really match his standards.
His poor form wasn’t evident only during the World Cup, but his sloppy touch could be noticed throughout the year. Guptill managed only 650 runs in 20 innings this year.
3) Shoaib Malik:
Shoaib’s last (this year) 50 over the game was versus India on 16th June 2019. The World Cup must have been a tournament the 37-year-old might never want to talk about. He managed only 8 runs and one wicket in 3 outings that included two golden ducks. Being the senior-most player in the squad, Shoaib missed on being an inspiration for the youngsters.
Malik has scored only 251 runs in the 12 ODI’s he has played in 2019.
4) Tom Latham (wk):
The Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman has had a very below-average year with the bat and the gloves. He was chosen as a promising youngster with decent experience in a New Zealand squad that boasted untested talent in the form of Tom Blundell but the 27-year-old played ordinary cricket and wasted several opportunities.
Besides scoring only 98 runs in 7 Wold Cup innings, Latham has only managed 347 ODI runs in 14 matches (2019).
5) Vijay Shankar:
This Indian all-rounder got his chance only after Hardik Pandya was sidelined due to a talk show controversy. His performance against the Kangaroos seemed significant and after a lot many debates, Shankar made it to India’s World Cup squad.
However, his inclusion was only a two-match affair where his below-par show couldn’t impress anyone. Vijay Shankar hasn’t been the cricketer he was expected to be. In his eight 50 over matches this year, Shankar has only managed 228 runs.
6) David Miller:
Miller’s World Cup campaign was very similar to South Africa’s, both the entities took off well during matches but failed to convert the starts into victories/big scores. David Miller has somewhat lost his mojo of being an excellent middle-order batsman. In his 4 outings at the World Cup, David Miller scored only 136 runs.
The 30-year-old has had a similar year, with 278 runs in 10 innings.
7) Mashrafe Mortaza (c):
The Bangladesh captain failed to lead the team effectively during the World Cup. As a bowler, Mortaza tried everything possible but could manage only 1 wicket in 8 innings.
He has claimed only 8 wickets this year with an economy rate is 5.82 runs per over.
8) Rashid Khan:
Nobody would’ve ever thought of reading this leg spinner’s name in this list. Rashid Khan garners worldwide respect for his brilliant gameplay but this year didn’t go his way. The Afghanistan spinner was hit for a record 110 runs by the English batsmen and these figures are just one instance when Khan returned wicketless.
Rashid averages only 14.3 with the bat this year and has claimed 15 wickets.
9) Kagiso Rabada:
The speedster ended the World Cup as the biggest disappointment for South Africa. His bowling average rocketed above 50, he didn’t even feature in the top 20 wicket-takers’ list and his economy rate was just a little less than 6 runs per over.
Rabada didn’t fail to perform as a bowler and a leader of the young South African pack. He has picked 24 wickets in 155 overs this year.
10) Kuldeep Yadav:
Except for Babar Azam’s genius wicket, Kuldeep just couldn’t get out of the disastrous IPL season he had in 2019. The chinaman’s bowling was the strongest weapon in India’s lineup but his continuous failures disappointed the team management. Kuldeep managed to pick 6 wickets in 7 matches.
Kuldeep’s bowling has lost its magical touch this year. He along with Chahal made the most formidable spin pair in the 50 overs game but Yadav’s failure caused an imbalance in the combinations.
Kuldeep has claimed 29 wickets at a very high economy rate (5.31 rpo) this year.
11) Suranga Lakmal:
Lakmal ended up without a wicket in the 3 matches he played during the World Cup. His underperformance overpressures the other bowlers, especially Lasith Malinga.
Suranga has had a dry 2019, with only 2 wickets in 23 overs. He can probably be the worst ODI performer of 2019.
