game-changer
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CWC 2019: The unlikely game-changer on every team

Qasim Mujtaba Naqvi·
One Day International (ODI)
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With the World Cup well underway, we find an unlikely game-changer on every team and determine how their performances could affect their nations…

The Cricket World Cup is already underway. The squads were decided weeks ago. Even so, teams need a player to stand up when the odds are stacked against them – a real game-changer. We’re all aware of the tournament’s best players. Everyone expects the likes of Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Jos Buttler, and Trent Boult to perform – but who are the players not burdened by the weight of expectation?

These are the players capable of breaking through at the tournament. More accurately, these are individuals who could plug the gaps in their teams by showing up. If they don’t, there won’t be much criticism going their way. If anything, the beauty of the sport means their approach could define them and their team in the tournament.

Afghanistan: Dawlat Zadran

Role: Fast bowler

Dawlat Zadran is a veteran of Afghanistan cricket. Having made his debut in 2011 as a 23-year old, the fast bowler from Khost is still a mainstay in the side. And yet, he’s never hit the heights that the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mohammad Shahzad have. Nonetheless, he’ll open the bowling with Mujeeb-ur-Rahman. Mujeeb completes a trident of world-class spinners in the Afghani ranks – but a top quality fast bowler eludes them. This has proven to be a recurring problem, with the likes of Shapoor Zadran, Yamin Ahmadzai, Aftab Alam, and Hamid Hassan trying their hand as pacers.

Three of the aforementioned five have been included in the squad as well. However, if Dawlat performs, Afghanistan will take things up a notch. They’ve got a destructive spin line-up, two openers who can give bowlers nightmares, and everything you could want in the middle-order. If they improve their fast bowling department, they really will be as good a team as any. With the tournament in England, the pitches have proven helpful to quickies like Dawlat. If he can be a game-changer, Afghanistan can compete with the very best.

Alternatives: Hamid Hassan, Aftab Alam

Australia: Jason Behrendorff

Role: Fast bowler

Unlike Afghanistan, Australia have never had an issue with their fast bowling. Preceded by the likes of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, Behrendorff hopes to join an elite group of pacers in a World Cup winning squad. The 29 year-old’s rise to stardom has been a tad odd. Many will argue that Australia could’ve opted for better pace options in Jhye Richardson and Josh Hazlewood. The former was forced out through injury, while the latter had been injured for quite some time. However, Hazlewood was expected to be fit for the tournament.

As a result, Behrendorff is in the squad and raring to go. A lanky pacer; he can swing the ball both ways with his left-arm angle. More importantly, he hopes to supplement Mitchell Starc on his return from injury. Although Australia may look towards someone like Marcus Stoinis as a game-changer too, Behrendorff can open the bowling and get early wickets. Given the conditions, he can make more of a difference than any other Australian in the squad.

Alternatives: Marcus Stoinis, Kane Richardson, Glenn Maxwell

Bangladesh: Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Role: Off-spinner/Right-hand batsman

Bangladesh find themselves in a good spot. Some say their players do well because they believe in themselves and work hard instead of relying on natural talent. Players like Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Shakib-al-Hasan will again be hugely important. Similarly, Mahmudullah will hope to recreate the heroic contributions he made in 2015 and 2017. Mehidy Hasan, on the other hand, isn’t being held to the same standards.

Captain of their U19 side in 2016, the off-spinner has been a part of the national set-up for almost two years now. Having picked up a modest 28 wickets in 27 games, Mehidy can be the catalyst for a fairly decent Bangladesh side. He can bat more than adequately, having opened for his nation in the Asia Cup final last year, and bowls very economically at 4.38. Hence, his performances can propel Bangladesh forward. He’s the epitome of an under the radar game-changer, despite being the team’s second-choice spinner. If he finds his form, it’ll prove hugely beneficial to Bangladesh’s chances.

Alternatives: Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das

England: Moeen Ali

Role: Left-hand batsman/Off-spinner

It was probably most difficult to pick a game-changer for England. Such is the quality of their squad that it’s tough to find areas for improvement – so I played it safe and picked Moeen Ali. As England’s second-choice spinner, Moeen epitomises versatility. He can bat in practically any position from 1-7, and can bowl at any point other than the death overs. He’ll be crucial as a stingy middle-over bowler along with Adil Rashid, and needs to keep his economy up. Moreover, Moeen is very important for England with the bat too.

Averaging 26, Moeen needs to improve to do well for England. Frankly, his shortcomings may have been hidden by the brilliance of those around him. Even so, he hasn’t been too bad. In fact, he’s been above average for the most part. Boasting world-class batting options, England have ODI half-centurions from 1-10. Their bowling is also very good, with the aforementioned Adil and Moeen accompanied by two magnificent fast bowlers in Chris Woakes and Mark Wood. They’re followed by the phenomenon that is Jofra Archer. With England spoilt for choice, Moeen as a sixth bowler could be a handful for England’s opposition.

Alternatives: Let’s be honest: They’re all game-changers and will be very tough to beat

India: KL Rahul

Role: Middle-order batsman

It’s a bit unjust to say that it was easy to pick India’s game-changer. Like England, they have world-class options in every department. The number 4 spot, however, is problematic for them. It’s been the subject of much debate, but no player has made the position his own. Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli are a tough act to follow after all. To make matters worse, games like the 2017 Champions Trophy final prove that India’s batting can collapse if two of the aforementioned three get out early.

The middle-order remains untested as of late and KL Rahul promises to be the stopgap at number 4. On paper, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, and Kedar Jadhav seem solid – and Rahul could complete this side. He faces competition from Vijay Shankar and Dinesh Karthik for the spot, but could be crucial to India’s hopes. Good showings from him could add stability to the side – if the three juggernauts at the top let him have the chance. He has shown promise, and it will be fun to see if he can step up.

Alternatives: Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav

New Zealand: Jimmy Neesham

Role: Left-hand bat/Right-arm medium

People Down Under refer to Jimmy Neesham as New Zealand’s Marcus Stoinis. While that statement is meant to mock the players, both Stoinis and Neesham have raised their performance levels recently. Neesham bowled well against India in particular, moving him one step closer to dislodging veteran Colin de Grandhomme from the starting line-up. Certainly the more promising of the two, Jimmy’s strong domestic campaign led to the Kiwis dropping seasoned all-rounder Corey Anderson for the World Cup.

As part of a New Zealand squad primed to make a run for the title after getting so close in 2015, Neesham will hope to do well if given the chance. His role will probably be to accelerate the innings and bridge the middle-overs after a positive start from Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Conditions in England are ideal for the all-rounder who bowls seam up. Partnering up with Ish Sodhi is also a tantalising prospect. If he proves to be a game-changer for New Zealand, we could see a strong campaign from an already strong team.

Alternatives: Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson

Pakistan: Imad Wasim

Role: Left-arm orthodox/Left-hand bat

Given the mercurial nature of Pakistan, this was a difficult decision. However, if there’s one player who should play each game without the expectation of being the star, it’s the Welsh-born Imad Wasim. The unpredictability of the team is probably the only reason people haven’t ruled the South Asian side out. Form says they should do terribly, having lost 10 consecutive ODIs before the World Cup. Nonetheless, Imad has been a shining light in an otherwise gaping hole. Being characteristically economical has led to wickets, and he has two half-centuries and a maiden century in his last 12 List A innings. He also doesn’t throw his wicket away, reinforced by an average of 40 in ODIs.

Pakistan need to accelerate their innings in the latter stages and other than Asif Ali, they don’t have a ‘power-hitter’ to help with that. Imad has shown he can do that too as the aforementioned century came off 70 odd balls, and his strike-rate has improved accordingly. This untapped potential makes Imad, who hardly spins the ball as Pakistan’s second-choice spinner, a shoe-in for the XI in a place like England. He could be crucial for his side in the tournament. The team has shown it only takes one match to turn everything around, in a tournament no less (sorry 1992 and 2017, I reference you again). Those historic turnarounds came on the back of one big team performance as well. If Pakistan are to do well, their bowlers need to pull their weight and be supported by the batsmen – and Imad can contribute to both departments.

Alternatives: Unlike England, Pakistan have far too many good players that haven’t been showing up. Hence, literally anyone not named Fakhar, Babar, and Imam could be the game-changer for an underperforming unit.

Sri Lanka: Isuru Udana

Role: Left-arm seamer/Right-hand batsman

The ambidextrous Udana has been in and out of the Sri Lanka set-up for the better part of a decade now. He’s never managed to establish himself in the side. Like Pakistan, Sri Lanka represent a former giant struggling to find its best form. Unfortunately, the island nation isn’t showing signs of changing course. Their selection was marred by controversy, and Dimuth Karunaratne had literally led the side just thrice before their first group game.

Udana is one of several senior statesmen who need to step up. His variations promise to give batsmen problems and a recent series against South Africa showed his potential with the old willow. In conditions like England’s, where better-travelled teammates like Jeevan Mendis and Lasith Malinga could hog the limelight, Udana is the dark horse in a squad that’s seemingly bereft of great opportunity.

Alternatives: Dananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis

South Africa: Andile Phehlukwayo

Role: Right-arm seamer/Left-hand batsman

Another seaming all-rounder? Undoubtedly, the value of all-rounders in this type of tournament and location means they truly hold the key to success. Most good teams have them too. England have Ben Stokes; Australia have Marcus Stoinis; New Zealand have Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme; West Indies have Andre Russell and Jason Holder; India have Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar; and Pakistan just dropped Faheem Ashraf. Keeping that in mind, South Africa chose Andile Phehlukwayo as their potential game-changer.

Although Chris Morris and Dwaine Pretorius could play the same role, Phehlukwayo has been a fixture in the side and steadily improved prior to the tournament. He showed his batting prowess earlier in the year against Pakistan, leading his side to victory in pressure situations. Andile is usually the bowler attacked as he’s perceived as the weak link – and that alone has led to a multitude of wickets in the middle overs. As a result, Phehlukwayo could provide the fuel needed to fire South Africa to a maiden World Cup title.

Alternatives: Dwaine Pretorius, Chris Morris

West Indies: Evin Lewis

Role: Opening batsman

The Windies’ preparation has gone somewhat unnoticed. They’ve formulated a very solid team with Chris Gayle at the top, followed by Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, and Darren Bravo in a very strong middle order. Later on, they can bank on fireworks from Andre Russell – and possess the raw pace their great predecessors did with the likes of Oshane Thomas. The one weakness they seem to have is in the opening slot.

Evin Lewis will probably open alongside the Universe Boss, and establish himself as a game-changer accordingly. Gayle’s return and his subsequent innings have masked the ease with which the Calypso Kings have lost the other opener. John Campbell was the most recent partner who struggled to make a case for himself, and Lewis has returned for the tournament. A destructive batsman in his own right, Lewis needs to outlast the first power play as the West Indies have enough power beyond the Jamaican openers to mount a serious challenge.

Alternatives: Ashley Nurse