ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
“A game is never over till it is over.”
Whether it is scoring at a blitz towards the end of the innings, keeping a calm head during a run chase or guarding the tailenders, an ODI team is never complete without a world class finisher.
Here is a look at the finishers to watch out for this World Cup.
Suresh Raina (IND):
Suresh Raina, the left handed attacking batman from Uttar Pradesh, is the face of India’s Gen-Next batsman. After making his debut in the early 2000’s, the then coach Greg Chappell named him as the batsman to watch in the coming years. After a initial flourish, Raina faded away from the international scene only to return during the Asia Cup in 2008 where he cracked 2 centuries and finished as the tournament’s second highest run scorer. The last three years have been prolific with Raina cementing his place in the Indian middle order. Occasionally coming to bat at No. 3, Raina was more successful at No. 6 playing the role of a finisher to perfection. Raina averages 44.95 at No. 6 since his return in 2008. His electric fielding, ability to bowl economic off breaks and a playing valuable knocks in pressure situations makes him a deadly combination and a player to watch out for in the upcoming World Cup.
Eoin Morgan (ENG):
The Irish born Englishman, Morgan was just the kind of player England were looking for to complete their squad. Playing for Middlesex and helping them win the T20 Cup, Morgan’s natural finishing abilities caught the eyes of the English selectors and they rewarded him with a place in the ODI squad.
Morgan had played 23 matches for Ireland averaging a decent 35. However Morgan took to playing for England like a fish took to water. The Irishmen has a knack of playing uncanny strokes, particularly the reverse sweep, while accumulating runs at a great pace. He was instrumental in England’s triumph in the T20 World Cup. His ability to read the spinners on the flat Indian tracks will prove to be quite an asset to the English middle order. With an average of around 53 in the last couple of seasons, he is the England’s man to watch in the World Cup.
Michael Hussey (AUS):
Michael Hussey, after struggling for a decade to break into the Australian squad, is now an indispensable part of the Kangaroos. It took 29 ODI’s for his mean average to come down below 100 and after 151 ODI’s, the Professor still averages above 51. An old fashioned bat who prefers to nudge and caress the ball, Hussey can also shift gears when batting at the death overs of a game and his average of 77 in 12 ODI’s in India makes him the lynchpin of Australia’s batting lineup. His batting ability was not really utilized in the 2007 World Cup which Australia won with ease but with a not so experienced middle order this time around, the Australians would definitely be praying for him to recover from injury before the start of the Cup.
Tags: AUS, Australia, Countdown, Cricket, ENG, England, Eoin Morgan, Finisher, IND, India, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, World Cup
