Top 5 players who have missed out on the T20 WC

The build-up to squads for a series or tournament is always an interesting aspect – to know who has made the cut ahead of whom – more in the case for the T20 World Cup or an event of that scale. Among some surprise inclusions in the squads for the T20 World Cup to be played in Sri Lanka this time around, there also have been some surprise exclusions. How expensive will the exclusions prove to be for the respective teams, only time will tell. Apart from one of the exclusions that just had to be made, the rest were quite surprising.

Let’s take a look at some of the exclusions that have been made, much to the surprise of many.

Kevin Pietersen (England)

Kevin Pietersen, who was such a vital part of England’s T20 World Cup campaign in 2010, has been left out of the squad this time around in what was not a surprising move by the England Cricket Board, given the issues they were facing with Pietersen already. Pietersen announced his retirement from the limited-over formats a few weeks prior to that. But right before the squad for the T20 World Cup was to be picked, he announced via YouTube his availability in all the formats. However, the English board stuck to their decision regarding Pietersen and he was left out. There is minimal doubt that the game-changer will be sorely missed and his omission will leave a void which will be very hard to fill, but the board has set a good example. Pietersen has played 36 T20s for England and has scored 1176 runs at an extraordinary strike-rate of 141.51.

John Mooney (Ireland)

John Mooney on the contrary has been left out of the squad due to a finger fracture which is believed to be quite serious. His injury occurred while he was fielding during a club game for North County, while he was already nursing a dislocated thumb. He had torn the tendon from the bone due to which he had to be unwillingly omitted from the squad for the World Cup. He was the man who hit the winning runs in the historic game against England during the 2011 World Cup in Bangalore.

James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon (Australia)

In a surprise move, both spinner Nathan Lyon and James Pattinson were left out of the Australian 30-man probable squad for the World Cup. Lyon was overlooked due to the inclusion of 23-year-old Glenn Maxwell, who proved to be an all-round package on Australia’s tour of the UAE. Pattinson was an expected contender for the World Cup, but the selectors thought different. Ben Laughlin and Dirk Nannes made the cut ahead of Pattinson.

Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka)

Opening batsman and wicket-keeper, Upul Tharanga failed to make the final squad for Sri Lanka to participate at the World Cup despite his fair performances at the Sri Lankan Premier League. In the 10 T20 games that he played for Sri Lanka, he has scored a total of 131 runs at an average of 13.10, with a not-so-great strike rate of 113.

Graeme Smith (South Africa)

Last but not the least is the highest-profile omission this edition of the World Cup – the South Africam Test captain – Graeme Smith. Smith missed out on the final 15-man squad named for the World Cup. Smith, in his 33 T20s for South Africa has scored 982 runs at a healthy average of 31.67 and a strike-rate of 127.53. Wicket-keeper Morne van Wyk, Colin Ingram and David Miller have also been overlooked while Marchant de Lange misses out due to injury.