T20 WC: Part 1 - Youngsters who could be game-changers

We are 10 days into September already and the T20 World Cup is a little less than 10 days away. There are many a thing for cricket fans to look forward to apart from the unlimited fun and excitement in the closely-contested games that would be a feature in the T20 WC. T20s, for a lot of fans, is perhaps the most exciting format of the game, because of its speed and glamour, and this time, those few or more have a lot to look forward to. Cricket fans all over the world will have different reasons to rejoice, some may rejoice the returns of the Singhs – Harbhajan and Yuvraj; for some it could be watching the veteran Brad Hogg spinning his way into the tournament; for some, the blitz of Chris Gayle or David Warner or the skill of Dale Steyn.

In Part 1 of the 3-phased series, we shall have a look at some of the young blood to look out for in the T20 World Cup – who are not favorites yet – but who are extremely exciting to watch. For all we know, they could be the next game-changers for their respective teams.

George Dockrell (Ireland)

After the U-19 World Cup participation – leading the Irishmen, the T20 World Cup will be his second ICC event participation this year. What makes him such a vital part of the Irish unit is his knack of dismissing the best players of the opposition at crucial times relying on changes in pace and flight. His level-headedness and ability to handle pressure well are added benefits. At the age of 17, he made his debut for Ireland in 2010. His brilliance was reflected in the U-19 WC earlier in the year against Australia when he took 1-10 with 6 maidens against the Australians.

Akila Dananjaya (Sri Lanka)

The 18-year-old Sri Lankan was named in the 30-man provisional squad for the WC despite not having played a single game professionally. In the Sri Lankan Premier League, he featured in 4 games and those were enough to secure him a spot in the final squadron, which instigated allegations of political influence in the decision. Dananjaya’s skill lies in spin bowling. He is recognized domestically as someone who can bowl off-breaks, the doosras, the occasional carrom-ball along with leg-breaks and the googlys. He will have the backing of the variations of Ajantha Mendis, and together they can cause havoc in the opponents’ lair.

Jonny Bairstow (England)

Bairstow was an instant hit with the English media and fans when he raced to a 21-ball 41 on debut against India in 2011. He is a player known to thrive in a pressure situation. If given the freedom of expression in this format, we might see a different, more liberated side of him which might do him and the team wonders.

Nasir Hossain (Bangladesh)

Nasir Hossain made his debut for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in 2011 with a half-century. He must have faltered a little in the Asia Cup final, but Hossain will be looking forward to making the most of the opportunity in the form of the ICC T20 World Cup, which will be his first chief project. His chief role is to wrap up the game; he usually comes below No.6, which requires him to handle pressure well and bat with intellect. He has a long way to go in maturing as a cricketer, but with every given opportunity, a new lesson awaits the young lad. Apart from being a lower-order batsman, he also offers his services as an off-spinner.

Pat Cummins

The 19-year-old having been a part of Australia’s T20, ODI side and Test side, has warranted his selection in all formats with some great performances in the recent past. His ability to handle pressure at such a premature age is a characteristic that will only do him good eventually. Cummins, along with the brilliance of Starc, will be a lethal combination for Australia to bank on during the tournament.