(Cricket News) The ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 has concluded with forty-five matches. There are just four teams and three matches left in this World Cup. This World Cup has seen some very incredible performances and breakthrough moments.
Nevertheless, a few players have fallen short of the standards. These players have not had a successful World Cup for a variety of reasons.
We evaluate the individual achievements of the players from the 10 teams that competed in the league round and select a combined flop 11 of the Cricket World Cup 2023 league stage before the two important semi-finals and the championship match.
- Temba Bavuma
Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, has led his team to the semifinals with great skill. However, his hitting has fallen short of expectations. In this World Cup, Bavuma has not yet reached a half-century mark. Bavuma appears to be a complete failure as a batsman when you consider what other South African batters, including his true opening partner Quinton de Kock, have accomplished in this World Cup. The sole hole in South Africa’s batting lineup is Bavuma.
- Johnny Bairstow
Along with Jonny Bairstow, the majority of English players did not do well at this World Cup. With 532 runs in his first World Cup, Bairstow had a fantastic run in 2019. Bairstow became the player with the most runs in his first World Cup as a result. However, Bairstow fell short of the high expectations everyone had of him. During this World Cup, Bairstow was removed twice for just ten runs and was only able to hit two half-centuries.
- Babar Azam
Pakistan captain Babar Azam entered the World Cup as the highest ranked batter in the World. But Babar failed to live up to the reputation of being the highest ranked batter in the World Cup. Although Babar managed to score four fifties, he failed to notch even one hundred. Now Babar has conceded the No. 1 ODI rank to India’s Shubman Gill. Babar and Gill are the only batters in the top-10 of the latest ICC ODI rankings who have not hit a hundred in this edition of the World Cup. Harry Tector is excluded from this comparison as Ireland did not participate in this World Cup.
- Steve Smith
Steve Smith has been poor in this World Cup, as he managed to score only two fifties in eight innings. He also missed one match against Afghanistan due to vertigo. Although he managed to cross thousand World Cup runs in this edition, he failed to make an impact or have a match winning innings in this World Cup.
However, they are two matches left for Smith to make an impact and he is known to perform at World Cup knockouts. So maybe fans are yet to see the best of Steve Smith and he is saving his best for an important encounter.
- Jos Buttler (C& WK)
Jos Buttler’s World Cup experience was awful. Buttler only managed 138 runs at an average of 15.33 when playing batting. Buttler made bad decisions both as captain and as a wicketkeeper. It was suggested that Buttler may force his way to the top of the order to establish his authority and settle the team’s early problems. However, he also disregarded such recommendations.
- Shakib al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan was at the pinnacle of his abilities four years ago. Shakib made history in the 2019 World Cup by becoming the first player to ever score 500 runs and take ten or more wickets in a single tournament. Shakib appeared to be a shadow of the man he used to be this time. The ageing all-around player was unable to participate in all nine league games. He had to miss a match against India first because of a thigh strain, and this time he was unable to play in the league final game because of a finger injury. This time, Shakib took nine wickets while only managing 186 runs.
- Shadab Khan
As an all-rounder and leg spinner who, on his day, can challenge the greatest of the hitters, Shadab Khan of Pakistan is highly regarded. But Shadab was mostly out of the spotlight during this World Cup. Shadab only participated in six games, claimed two wickets, and amassed just 121 runs.
- Maheesh Theekshana
One of the talented young players making his World Cup debut was Maheesh Theekshana going into this tournament. Theekshana bowls off-spinners with a motion that makes us think of Ajanta Mendis. Because of his skill, Theekshana is trusted by the captains to deliver the ball during Powerplay overs. Theekshana was selected by the Chennai Super Kings, giving him some valuable experience playing in Indian conditions. However, Theekshana did not do well in this World Cup, taking just six wickets. Theekshana was greatly impacted by the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga.
- Mark Wood
One of the fastest bowlers on the international circuit right now is Mark Wood. When in peak form, Wood is capable of unleashing lightning-fast strikes. However, Wood’s most notable contribution to this version of the Cricket World Cup came with the bat, when he struck a rapid 43 not out at the Wankhede Stadium during England’s vain attempt to chase down South Africa’s run total. Wood was a relatively poor bowler, taking just six wickets in the World Cup.
- Mitchell Starc
In the first two ODI World Cups, Mitchell Starc set the record for most wickets taken. Starc got 22 wickets in 2015 and an incredible 27 wickets in the 2019 World Cup, four years apart. Nevertheless, Starc has been mainly ineffectual this time. Starc has only claimed ten wickets. Starc’s renowned yorkers no longer posed a threat, and he is not even among the top 10 wicket takers in this World Cup.
- Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, has not had a great World Cup thus far. Cummins is averaging forty-three and has only grabbed ten wickets. Similar to Mark Wood, Cummins’ most noteworthy World Cup performance came at the bat, where he and Glenn Maxwell combined to score an undefeated 12, which enabled Australia to overcome Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium.
See also: 2023 Cricket World Cup: Best Playing XI
