CWC 2019: Ranking the all-rounders of the 10 teams

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is almost upon us as the warm-up fixtures take place from 24th May as the teams prepare for the most prestigious cricketing tournament. Each team are hoping to find the right team balance and on great batting surfaces like the ones set to be seen in England, every player has a role to play in either scoring runs or not conceding them when they take the field.

All-rounders, will have a major role to play as they will mostly have to finish off innings as a big score is necessary on a batting paradise that England has turned to. Teams would also like to play an extra batsman or an extra bowler and an all-rounder has to adjust accordingly.

That said, let's now take a look at the all-rounders of the teams and rank the all-rounders in each team.

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#10 Afghanistan

All-Rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari and Rahmat Shah

Afghanistan have a couple of good all-rounders but though these players are experienced, no one other than Mohammad Nabi seems to be comfortable donning a dual role. Nabi is one of the best all-rounders in the world but Rahmat Shah seems to be more comfortable with bat in hand than bowling his leg-spin. Plus, these players haven't really played much with the top teams in the world so all these stats pretty much mean nothing when we take into context what they will face at the World Cup.

Sure, they are surely capable of punching above their weight as their spinners have demonstrated but on paper, they don't seem that strong and need to issue a strong statement that they're here to compete.

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#9 Sri Lanka

Kusal Mendis will play a key role in Sri Lanka's capaign

All-Rounders: Angelo Matthews, Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana and Milinda Siriwardene

Sri Lanka have a squad filled with all-rounder but none of them apart from Angelo Matthews and Perera have actually made any impact. Both of them are quality all-rounders and provide the middle order with stability and give the skipper an extra pace bowling option to choose from.

The other players however haven't matured too well and apart from Jeevan Mendis, none of them have performed too well and though Sri Lanka have a lot of choices to pick from, they need to deliver and mature with not much time on their hands. If they do so, however, Sri Lanka might spring a real surprise.

#8 Australia

Maxwell is a Golden Arm for Australia.

All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis

Australia have made it clear that they don't need too many all-rounders and in fact have only two in their squad. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, however are among the best in the world and though Australia do lack in options, this is good enough for their team. With 2 spinners and 5 fast bowlers in their squad, they might very well be without the need for an extra bowler and if they do need so, Maxwell has the habit of picking up wickets while Stoinis is a good option in the death overs.

While they don't rank too high when it comes to all-rounders of other sides because they're really more dangerous with the bat, they are just what Australia need in their side and are perfect fits.

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#7 South Africa

Andile Phehlukwayo

All-Rounders: Andile Phehlukwayo, JP Duminy and Chris Morris

South Africa don't really have an explosive, power-hitting set of all-rounders but these players have a lot of experience and compliment the side really well. Andile Phehlukwayo has done a great job batting down the order and is a safe rearguard option. He's very clever with ball in hand and has a knack of picking up wickets without going for too many runs. JP Duminy is a player who every team will want and his experience makes him a great option to bat at No.4 or No.5 though his ability to bowl his off-spin has seen a decline.

Chris Morris hasn't done too much in ODI cricket and the bowling all-rounder came in as a replacement for speedster Anrich Nortje. He needs to step up and shine if given the opportunity.

All in all, South Africa have a decent set of all-rounders who can slot themselves across various positions in the middle order and make the side well balanced.

#6 West Indies

Can skipper Jason Holder lead the side to victory?

All-Rounders: Jason Holder, Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite

West Indies have been a side which have produced few of the most sought after T20 players this decade but they haven't really turned up on the ODI stage. This year, however, they have an in-form Andre Russell who has been adding a lot of new things to his game and a good performance from his is expected this World Cup.

Skipper Jason Holder, though is the main man and he has been outstanding for the side in the longer formats equally with both bat and ball. Carlos Brathwaite hasn't done wonders with the bat but is a stable bowling option and he can smack a few out of the park as well.

West Indies have 3 dynamic all-rounders but not all of them have proven themselves in ODI cricket and they need to adapt very quick.

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#5 Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan.

All-Rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin

Bangladesh at No.5 ahead of powerhouse units like Australia and South Africa might surprise a few but one look into the stats of these players proves that Bangladesh are no slouch when it comes to competing in this tournament. Shakib enters this tournament as the No.1 ODI All-Rounder in the world as ranked by the ICC. His presence provides balance in all aspects to the side.

Mahmudullah, meanwhile is one of the most under-rated players in the world and has been rescuing Bangladesh from a batting collapse on numerous occasions. He's a very good off-spinner who can contain the run flow. Then come the young bowling all-rounders, Mehidy Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin who bowl right arm off-spin and medium pace respectively. Both of them can give the ball a real whack while Mosaddek Hossain is a reliable all-round option too.

Bangladesh might be an unnoticed team but this might work to their favor and they may very well end up punching above their weight.

#4 Pakistan

Imad Wasim

All-Rounders: Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shoaib Malik and Harris Sohail

Pakistan have a good set of all-rounders for this World Cup but the only issue seems to be that apart from Imad Wasim, the rest all seem to be more of part-time bowlers who haven't had the best of form ahead of the World Cup. Imad is a hard-hitting batsman and very wily left-arm spinner very similar to Mitchell Santner.

Hafeez and Shoaib are meanwhile off-spinners with a knack of picking up wickets but however, they are nearing the end of their careers and aren't operating too much with the ball. Harris Sohail too is a good batsman but is used sparingly with the ball.

Also, the fact that they have no pace bowling all-rounders hurts them a bit but if we look past that, Pakistan have a very capable set of all-rounders who are however pretty similar to each other.

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#3 New Zealand

Mitchell Santner

All-Rounders: Mitchell Santner, James Neesham, Colin De Grandhomme and Colin Munro

New Zealand have a strong set of all-rounders who can deliver a strong performance in the World Cup. Mitchell Santner is an all-rounder who every captain will want in his team. A perfect No.7 with solid technique and an aggressive edge, Santner is also a very crafty left-arm spinner and is among the top all-rounders in the world.

Neesham, meanwhile rivals few of the biggest hitters in the world and can launch himself on the opposition while he's a decent pace bowler. Colin de Grandhomme is a hard-hitting batsman too and bowls handy medium pace while Colin Munro, the dashing opener is also a good medium-pacer.

#2 India

Hardik Pandya.

All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja and Vijay Shankar

India too have an explosive group of all-rounders who however apart from Hardik Pandya, tend to specialize in one field. Hardik is in red-hot form and the flat pitches will assist both his batting and bowling and it will be really exciting to watch him take the field.

Jadhav is a tactical option who Kohli turns to whenever they need a wicket and with him keeping in check few of the best batsmen in the world, his bowling is a neat compliment to his batting. Jadeja's form with the bat has faded over the years but he's still a pro with the ball in hand. Vijay Shankar too is more of a batting all-rounder but he has proved that he is a reliable option to turn to with the ball.

India certainly have firepower and enough options and a good set of all-rounders.

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#1 England

Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali.

All-Rounders: Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Dawson and Tom Curran

England have one of the most balanced squads in this tournament and their stable middle order and the support of their all-rounders in either department is a major reason for this. With 5 quality all-rounders available, England are certainly among the best in the business. Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali are capable of piling on the runs with the bat and chipping in with vital contributions with the ball.

The other three players are inclined towards bowling but can strike the ball at a very quick rate and can be a real threat to bowl to in the death overs. With this competition expected to favor the batsmen and be high-scoring, these England all-rounders are perfect fits in the team and are undisputed No.1.