Six Players to watch in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup

The six must watch players at this years ICC Cricket World Cup

Chris Gayle – Approaching 40, Approaching 300 ODIs. In February he plundered 424 runs from 4 innings in an ODI series against England which featured no less than 39 sixes. Then there was the IPL, 490 runs at 40.83. Can he leave international cricket on a high?

Rashid Khan – Currently ranked #3 and #1 in ODI and T20 cricket respectively, at only 20 years of Age, he is undoubtedly the number one short format bowler, let alone spinner, in the world. Afghanistan Coach Phil Simmons says that he has been working hard on his batting and interestingly is the only Afghani batsman with a strike rate over 100 with the blade. I don’t expect Afghanistan to feature in the finals, but I do expect a massive World Cup from Rashid

Jos Buttler – His strike rate of 119.57 is well ahead of any other Englishman and at an average of 41.54, Butler epitomises the new generation. A trailblazer who’s advancing the game even further than what Gilchrist, Pietersen and co did in the early 2000’s. A calculated cavalier likely to deliver England a 400+ score or two during the regular matches.

Kasigo Rabada – With Dale Steyn’s recurring shoulder injury I think we’ll see Kasigo stand up and push South Africa towards the finals. Wisden’s Best Young Player in the World in 2018, the firebrand fast bowler could set wickets tumbling with his Yorkers and fireworks off with his on-field behaviour.

David Warner & Steve Smith -

Over the past few months I’ve gone either way on who will have the bigger impact coming back into the Australian set up. After Warners 692 run IPL, including 1 century and 8 50’s from just 12 innings, combined with his 8 ODI centuries in his last calendar year of ODI cricket in 2017, he could be perfectly poised for redemption for the Aussies.

Smith on the other hand had a productive, yet uninspiring IPL campaign which returned only 3 half centuries, Smith has been in incredible form since donning the Australian colours, scores of 89* and 91* against NZ in Brisbane, before 76 and 116 in warm up games in England, Steve Smith has that look in his eye, the hunger for runs and for us, it’s time to watch the second coming of Bradman lead Australia with the bat once again.