As the World Cup 2023 has already started in full swing with New Zealand inflicting a merciless defeat upon England while Pakistan getting the better of Netherlands in a lopsided encounter, the quadrennial extravaganza has already been set ablaze and the teams are willing to go raring and roaring into the tournament.
When we talk about roaring in the tournament, obviously there are a few stars whom we believe can make all the difference in the world. They are called the X-Factors of the side. Here is our humble attempt to decode the X-factors of five teams while we will decode the x-factors of the remaining sides. You can read the first part of this article here:
New Zealand:
Trent Boult
Left arm pacer Trent Boult is obviously one of the most experienced picks of the side and can be an absolute menace considering his ability to move the ball both ways. He also bowls an exceptional line which is mainly hovering around the corridor of uncertainty and that is exactly what makes the batters come looking for those drives that can prove to be a game-changer, especially with the new ball in Boult’s hands.
Mitchell Santner
As the tournament hits the yard in India, spinners will be playing an important role and Mitchell Santner is obviously one of the most experienced all-rounders who can create all possible differences for New Zealand with his all-round sensation. In the last five fixtures, Santner has clinched eight wickets which makes him a favourite already to be a part of the Indian conditions where rank turners are rife.
Devon Conway
The hard-hitting southpaw is averaging a century in every five innings that he has played so far which is no mean feat. Even against South Africa in the warm-up game, he blasted a breezy 78 which already speaks volumes about how he loves to play in the Indian conditions.
South Africa:
Heinrich Klaasen
It is needless to say but Klaasen has been South Africa’s best bet with the willow in his hands in 2023 that has already seen him conjuring a couple of tons in ODIs. He has scored at an average of 58.55 in this year while smashing the cherry at a staggering strike rate of 151.43. Add to this the crazy sheen of smacking 25 sixes and South Africa will depend on Klaasen for a lot of runs.
Gerald Coetzee
Gerald Coetze’s selection ahead of the seasoned Wayne Parnell did come as a surprise, however, there are a few things about Gerald that makes him a threat. An out and out pacer capable of bowling 145 kph regularly, Coetzee’s pace could be quite a menace for the batters – and add to that the youth of exuberance, and the batters will need to be wary of some chin music coming their way in this World Cup.
Tabraiz Shamsi
Whenever you are arriving in India, your spinners play a crucial role in the side and Shamsi is one of those bowlers who doesn’t care how many runs he is going for but he will keep on searching for those wickets. In the last five matches that he has played across ODIs and T20Is combined, he has clinched eight wickets.
Sri Lanka:
Dasun Shanaka
His recent numbers with the bat aren’t that promising with his average in single digits, however, knowing Shanaka and his proclivity of going big in the games that matter the most, the Lankan skipper is expected to step up when his team comes calling. He is a handy all-rounder but he has misplaced pessimism in his bowling flair. However, if he stays true to his strengths, we may also see Shanaka rolling his arms for a few considerable overs.
Matheesha Pathirana
It all depends on how Sri Lanka uses this raw talent as he can very well prove to be the next big thing in their arcade. Blessed with speeds up to 145 kays and gifted with an ability to ram in those ramrod straight sandshoe crushers, Pathirana is someone who can trouble the batters significantly with the new ball in his hand. Shanaka will be hoping for him to come alive when it matters the most.
Charith Asalanka
The southpaw has been the top-scorer for Sri Lanka at the number five position and forget coming close but no one else has even matched the technique of Asalanka in the squad. His unbeaten 49 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup is a testimony of what he is capable of when under pressure was proven with another gift of those witty off-breaks that threw India into utter disarray.
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
The hard-hitting opener has smashed two centuries in the last five innings with a blistering 151 against Pakistan while clobbering 119 against Sri Lanka in the recently concluded warm-up. More importantly, he has a scintillating chemistry with Ibrahim Zadran and this opening pair can very well be the game-changer for the Afghans.
Rashid Khan
Needless to say, the leg-spinner is one of the best in the business and when he joins the groove, not only does he stun with the ball but the bat acts like a scythe in his hands. He can ravage the bowlers at will and the kind of venomous outing that he is capable of producing for the Afghans, that makes him an irresistible pick for any side in the world.
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Despite an experience of only 21 ODIs, Farooqi still has proven his mettle and has somewhat entrenched his position in the Afghanistan side with his superlative displays in the franchise tournaments where he has gone up against renowned names of the world. Despite a fairly constricted arsenal, Farooqi pulls off the basics right with a lethal yorker that is being flanked by a decent flurry of short balls or the ones that would skid onto the batter.
Bangladesh:
Shakib Al Hasan
The current skipper is the highest run scorer for Bangladesh with 606 runs from eight games at an average of 86.57 but lost on support from his teammates. He smashed a crucial 80 against India in the Asia Cup fixture and that would be sparking hopes of him continuing the same gun form for the upcoming games.
Taskin Ahmed
The fast bowling ace has been in sensational form for Bangladesh with the new ball and his haul of nine wickets in the last five games that he has played will make the Bangladeshi team believe that if someone can shock the opposition early on, it has to be this youngster.
Litton Das
Face of the Bangladeshi revolution in cricket, Litton Das will obviously be a key element of the Men in Green and Red. His 61 against Sri Lanka in the warm-up match was a testimony to the kind of brilliance that he brings to the platter while his strokeplay is sensational.
