World XI: Players who have been ignored for the 2015 World Cup

The Cricket World Cup, without a shadow of a doubt, is the biggest event in the cricketing calendar, and every budding cricketer aspires to represent his country at the marquee event at some stage or the other in his career. While the very best in the world expectedly manage to realise their ambition, there are a few who, unfortunately, miss out either due to injury or simply bad luck.Here is a playing XI made up of cricketers who, perhaps, deserved to be included by their respective teams for the 2015 World Cup but weren’t: Disclaimer: The choices in this article are strictly of the author and not of Sportskeeda

#1 Robin Uthappa (WK)

In what must have been a close call, Ambati Rayudu made it to the Indian 15-man World Cup squad at the expense of Robin Uthappa for the backup wicketkeeper’s slot. Uthappa was definitely in with a chance after a strong showing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last season but could not break into the defending champions’ squad. Uthappa was a member of India’s victorious World T20 squad in 2007 but hasn’t been able to establish himself as a permanent member of the Indian side since.

Uthappa makes it to this team quite easily, though. Here, he dons the wicketkeeping gloves and also lends solidarity at the top of the order.

#2 Upul Tharanga

Many former Sri Lankan cricketers, including the great Muttiah Muralitharan, have expressed shockat the exclusion of Upul Tharanga. The left-handed opener played a pivotal role in Sri Lankas 2011 World Cup campaign, and although his batting doesnt make audiences throng to the stadium, his importance in building platforms for the rest of the order to follow shouldnt be underestimated.

Tharanga has been the unsung second fiddle to the more celebrated trio of Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. He will open the batting with Robin Uthappa in this sideand will always keep the fielders busy with his style of batting.

#3 Kevin Pietersen

Yes, the big fella from England makes it to this side. Although he wasn’t expected to make it to the World Cup squad, he has made a strong case for himself by leading the batting charts in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL).

While the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Paul Downton has been adamantly quoted as saying, “Kevin Pietersen has no place in the English side in the near future,” we wonder whose loss it really is?

A dominating cricketer, Pietersen occupies the crucial No.3 spot in this lineup. When on song, this guy can bring the strongest of bowling attacks to shame.

#4 Yuvraj Singh

From the Man-of-the-Tournament in the 2011 World Cup to his exclusion in the squad for the 2015 edition, Yuvraj Singh’s career has taken a rather disappointing turn. It was agonising to see Yuvi’s name missing from the 30-man preliminary squad and, in turn, the final 15-man squad. The World Cup will definitely miss the strong heaves over long on in the absence of this celebrated cricketer. Considering his match-winning capabilities, it is difficult to ignore Yuvraj, but the selectors did just that, picking seam bowling all-rounder Stuart Binny ahead of the southpaw.

#5 DWAYNE BRAVO (C)

The Clive Lloyd-led West Indies selection panel made a highly dubious decision by omitting the experienced Dwayne Bravo from the squad. A match-winner with both bat and ball, Bravo’s exclusion, at the biggest stage of them all, has greatly disturbed the West Indies’ team balance. It is cited that his altercation with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the subsequent Indian tour pullout has cost him his deserved spot in the squad.

He lends a lot of stability to this squad as a swashbuckling batsman, wicket-taking bowler, electric fielder and a composed leader, Bravo will captain the side. And yes, he will also entertain the crowd with his dance moves.

#6 Kieron Pollard

The Trinidadian burst onto the scene with a big-hitting display in the 2009 Champions League Twenty20 (CL T20) where he carted the ball to all parts of the ground for his 18-ball 54. The burly all-rounder became a hot property thereafter, sending fielders on leather hunts all over the world.

Not quite the batting mainstay for his team, averaging just under 25 with the bat, his big-hitting prowess and medium pace can make him single-handedly turn the game to his team’s favour. His velcro hands and agility at the deep also adds an extra dimension to the West Indies outfit.

#7 James Neesham

All-rounder James Neesham provides tremendous balance to the New Zealand side both with his seam bowling and batting prowess lower down the order. The New Zealander, however, was grossly unlucky to miss out on a World Cup berth. Grant Elliot got the nod ahead of Neesham due to his brilliant domestic form prior to the announcement of the World Cup squad.

He is yet to set the stage on fire and establish his presence, but there is no question that he has huge potential to be the next big cricketer to emerge from New Zealand.

#8 Ryan Harris

Ryan Harris has been a mainstay in Australia’s Test squad over the last couple of years but has been ignored in the limited-overs setup due to his dodgy track record with injuries. The selectors have preferred saving Harris for the rigours of the longer format, but considering Ryano’s undoubted class as a fast bowler, it would have perhaps been worth taking a risk with him for cricket’s marquee event.

Ryano’s ability to move the ball in the air & off the seam and subtle variations make him a potent force with the ball in hand. His injury-plagued career has often been on the brink of a complete breakdown, but Ryano continues to strive hard.

Harris will lead the bowling attack in this playing XI and can be a real handful with the new ball, not to forget that he can strike a few lusty blows with the bat in hand if needed.

#9 Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon, like Ryan Harris, has been a mainstay in the whites for the Aussies but hasn’t got enough opportunities to show his mettle in the shorter formats. Many experts have criticised the Australian selection committee for constantly preferring the accurate-yet-predictable Xavier Doherty over Lyon. A good showing against India in the recently concluded Test series should have presented a strong case for his inclusion. On the contrary, Doherty, with a rather poor bowling average of 39, is constantly getting the longer rope.

On his day, Lyon can be unplayable. He has recently developed his own version of the doosra which pretty well-disguised, but he relies more on his off-break to beguile batsmen.

#10 Varun Aaron

A fast bowler charging in to bowl is a sight to behold; India had a rather dry run with talented, fiery quicks until Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav arrived on the scene. Aaron’s economy rate may be on the higher side, but on Australian surfaces with ample pace and bounce, Aaron could have been the answer to India’s quest for a genuine “fast” bowler. Notably, Aaron was amongst the highest wicket-takers in the 2014 IPL season for his franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and could have combined well with a contrasting character in Bhuvneshwar Kumar if entrusted with the new ball.

#11 Ajantha Mendis

Once labelled a “mystery” spinner, Ajantha Mendis now finds himself out of favour to Sachithra Senanayake. Though Mendis’ carrom ball is not a mystery anymore, he is still very effective in the middle overs. With an impressive One-Day International (ODI) career bowling average of 21.17, he should ideally have been on the flight Down Under. Especially with Senanayake’s bowling action being under discreet scrutiny after being banned last year, this was the ideal scenario for Mendis to bowl in tandem with the experienced Rangana Herath.

He will form a potent partnership with Nathan Lyon in this side, and the duo can put the brakes on the scoring of even the best of batsmen when at their best.