10 World Cup debutants who can play a starring role during the World Cup

The World Cup countdown has begun. There are just 9 days left for the biggest event in world cricket to begin. This is the biggest stage for any cricketer representing his country, and all of them have 2 options: rise to the occasion or succumb to the pressure. To come to terms with the enormity of the event is especially difficult for those players who have never experienced playing in a World Cup before.Let us look at 10 World Cup debutants who will be keen to make an impression in the marquee event:

#10 Axar Patel

The highly talented Axar Patel has been a revelation ever since he played for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last season, prompting the national selectors to fast track him into the senior side without having played much first-class cricket. He hasn’t let the selectors down either, picking up 16 wickets from 13 ODIs at an economy rate of just 4.41.

He has the ability to check the run flow whenever he comes on to bowl, thereby exerting pressure on the batsmen. Unlike orthodox spinners, he does not give much air, but instead bowls a consistent line and length. He can also hit lusty blows and get useful runs down the order when given the opportunity, making him invaluable to India’s plans for the World Cup.

#9 Vernon Philander

Seamer Vernon Philander might not have too much pace to worry batsmen, but he makes up for it with his mastery over line and length and ability to move the ball in the air as well as off the pitch. He has a knack for picking up early wickets and that has been evident right from the time he burst onto the scene in 2007. Especially since making his Test debut in 2011, he has been absolutely phenomenal, establishing himself, alongside Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, as an instrumental part of the South African attack.

With a bowling average of 22.25 and an economy rate of 4.61, he is expected to open the attack for the Proteas and help make crucial breakthroughs for the side, especially considering there will be new balls from each end.

#8 Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler is easily one of the most exciting and attacking batsmen to have emerged from England, illustrated by his ODI record of over 1000 runs from 49 ODIs at an imposing strike-rate of just less than 110. His ability to score briskly arises from the fact that he has a wide range of shots at his disposal, including his favourite scoop over the short fine-leg fielder.

His innings of 124 against Sri Lanka at Lord's last year when England seemed down and out will be remembered for a very long time to come, even though it was in a losing cause. Although he has struggled to find consistency in his game in international cricket, he can make any bowling attack on his day look toothless, and England will be looking to him to provide the fireworks at the end of an innings and get them to a big total.

#7 Trent Boult

The pitches and conditions in New Zealand support genuine swing bowling, and who better to exploit them than New Zealand’s Trent Boult. The 25-year-old can hit the deck hard, bowl a consistent line and length, and move the ball both ways.

The fact that New Zealand play all their matches at home will be a huge advantage, and they will be looking to Boult and new ball partner Tim Southee to give them early breakthroughs and take full advantage of the familiarity of the conditions. Boult has been doing that consistently over recent times, especially in Tests, and giving runs at a miserly economy rate of around 4.5 runs per over.

#6 Quinton De Kock

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock was earmarked as a talent to reckon with after emerging as the leading run-scorer for the Proteas during the 2012 Under-19 World Cup. Since then, he has only gone from strength to strength, establishing himself as an integral member of the ODI side. He has already scored 6 centuries and 4 half-centuries in the 36 ODIs that he has played for the Proteas, and that tally will only rise in the years to come.

He scores at a brisk pace and complements his fellow opener Hashim Amla, who likes to take his time before expanding, excellently. He is also very good behind the stumps and has fine reflexes. If he can keep his good form going during the World Cup, it will not only set a great platform for the likes of AB de Villiers but also go a long way towards ensuring that South Africa finally break their long-standing World Cup jinx.

#5 Glenn Maxwell

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell first came to the fore when he played for his state Victoria in 2009. A 19-ball half-century in his very next season earned him some recognition. His powerful shot-making ability, along with his big range of shots, earned him a national call-up in 2012. Since then, he has been a regular member of the Australian side in the shorter formats.

Although the 26-year-old has often been criticized for not playing responsibly and throwing away his wicket, he seems to be slowly learning how to pace his innings properly, a fine example being the match-winning knock of 95 against England in the tri-series final when Australia were precariously placed at 60 for 4.

If he gets going, it is going to be very difficult to contain him.

#4 Corey Anderson

Corey Anderson’s record-breaking century off just 36 balls against the West Indies last year has made the New Zealand all-rounder a household name in international cricket. A destructive batsman who can change the course of the game in a matter of just a few overs, Anderson has scored 687 runs from 20 ODIs at a phenomenal strike-rate of 129.37. His six-hitting ability is his greatest asset and it comes very naturally to him, like to many batsmen in modern-day cricket.

He is also a handy left-arm medium pacer and an amazing fielder. He mostly operates in the death overs, not allowing batsmen to get easy boundaries while also picking up important wickets. He will surely need to step up to the plate with both bat and ball if the Black Caps are to lift their first ever World Cup.

#3 Joe Root

England’s Joe Root is one of the most promising young players in world cricket at the moment., having impressed many astute judges in the couple of years that he has been in the international arena and is already being considered as a certainty to captain England in the future. Although primarily suited to the longest format, he has adapted his game and managed to find a way to be successful in limited-overs cricket, too. From the 48 ODIs that he has played for his country, he has scored 1600 runs at an average of around 40 from the 48 ODIs.

What stands about Root is the fact that he is never unfazed by the conditions or the might of the opposition bowlers and goes about his job of scoring runs at a steady speed before exploding in the death overs. He is also a useful off-spinner and has chipped in with crucial wickets on more than one occasion until now. If England are to go far in the World Cup, it would be safe to say Root will have to play an instrumental role.

#2 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is among the most talented batsmen in India today, of that there is no doubt, which, in turn, makes his indifferent record all the more frustrating. From 127 ODIs, he has scored 3890 runs at a relatively modest 38.90, a number which has been embellished by his record-breaking 264 against Sri Lanka and 209 against Australia.

His ability to hit a wide range of strokes makes him a menace for opposition bowlers, but his lack of application and consistency has hindered him from cashing in. Over the last 2 years, however, he has played quite a few responsible innings – his recent hundred against the Aussies at the MCG being a perfect example - and has been getting runs on a more consistent basis. Irrespective of how favourable the conditions might have been, the fact that he is the only batsman to score two double hundreds in ODI cricket is simply remarkable; if he can continue in the same vein during the World Cup, India should go a long way towards defending the World Cup.

#1 David Warner

The swashbuckling David Warner has been brilliant for Australia across all the three formats of the game over the last 12 months and can be expected to have a major impact in the upcoming World Cup at the top of the order.

His ODI record, 1702 runs from 54 matches at an average of 32.73, might not be all too impressive, but he has to be granted that luxury considering the fact that he takes the attack to the opposition right from the word go. He is also an excellent fielder, both in the 30-yard circle as well as in the outfield, who routinely saves 5-10 runs for Australia in the field, a facet of the game that will be of huge significance come the World Cup considering the big grounds in Australia.