Every global event that brings several nations together revolves around the performance of a few individuals that leave their mark on the event. This mark not only represents the quality of the individual and the flag that he represents but it also enhances the quality of the event.
The ICC World Cup 2015 will also have this elite group of individuals who are to be considered as impact players. The success of their team will depend on how these players perform. I have picked a few players that are, in my mind, going to be the horsepower that will drive the engine forward.
To start off, I will pick the players from selected teams and briefly explain why the player or players are to be considered as the ones that will have the most impact for their team’s overall performance.
Australia: The one player that automatically comes to mind is David Warner. He is a pack of TNT ready to explode every time he goes to bat and at the moment there is no bowler that can dictate and dominate him. Against a good world class attack, he mixes caution with aggression and gets good scores. Against a mediocre attack, his batting is ruthlessly effective.
Australian progress will depend on his success because with Warner on the loose, one can easily expect an Australian score of 300 plus. True, there are other Australian players like Steve Smith and Glen Maxwell that are in striking form but it is Warner who must set the tone.
The other player that will be a force to reckon with is Mitchell Johnson. He is one of the most aggressive strike bowlers in world cricket and is expected to play a major role in ensuring the Australian progress.
India: Picking this player is a no-brainer. Virat Kohli must come up big in this tournament for India to have any chance and I am confident he will. Kohli is one of those players who can set the tone of the innings very early on whether the team is batting first or chasing. He has won several matches for India chasing totals beyond 300. His ability to judge the situation and pace his innings is remarkable. He had a tremendous Test series against Australia recently and even though he failed in the Tri-Nation ODI series, he will come back strong in the World Cup.
England: While Johnson, Dale Steyn and Trent Boult are for pace and bounce, James Anderson is for genuine swing and accuracy with the new ball. And that makes James Anderson the most dangerous new ball bowler in the World Cup. Anderson is one bowler that can get wickets on any type of pitch be it on dry sun baked surface in India, the UAE or on grassy wickets of England and Australia. When the ball gets older, he reverses it better than many.
Along with Anderson, if I were to pick another it would have to be Ian Bell for his batting class and experience. This England team is young and Bell’s batting is crucial for the team to do well and I am confident that he will find the conditions on Australian wickets conducive to his style of batting.
South Africa: The two that automatically come to mind are AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla. Both of them make two of the best batsmen in the world today. While Amla is more sedate and calculated in his approach, De Villiers is ruthlessly effective. To better describe their style we can state that Amla is a surgeon while De Villiers is the butcher; however, both of them in their own unique styles get the job done.
With these two, the player that will create an impact will be Morne Morkel because of the extraordinary bounce he generates by fully utilising his height. These three must strike on a fairly consistent basis for South Africa to progress far into the tournament.
New Zealand: Like Hashim Amla, Kane Williamson seems to be the most composed batsman in the Black Caps’ tent. He has been in tremendous form and is easily the most dependable player in the side as far as batting is concerned. He comes in at a position when the team may ask of him to play with caution to build the innings and with composed aggression to maintain the run rate, both of which he so eloquently displays. Added to his batting skills is his ability to bowl genuine off spinner that can trouble the best in the business. Watch out for this giant killer with the skills of an assassin.
Another player to watch that is likely to create an impact is Brendon McCullum. He is an explosive player and can take any match away from the opposition right from the start, something that is similar to Warner.
Pakistan: “Boom Boom” are the two familiar words that Pakistanis and international cricket commentators alike cry out whenever Pakistan is on the field. Shahid Afridi can win a match single-handedly on any given day. Sad part is that he is a terrific bowler but a part time batsman. But he is the only game changer in the Pakistan squad. Even though Pakistan’s rating is nothing to rave about and that not many I spoke with are giving them a chance to go beyond the quarters, they can storm through provided Afridi strikes it big this time. Needless to mention, he will need to come up with one of the most consistent all-round performances of the tournament if Pakistani fans want to see their green and white progress in the tournament. Perhaps, to many eyebrow raised cricket followers, I wish to add Yasir Shah’s name here. He is a genuine leg spinner who reminds me of the great Abdul Qadir, who is a turner with a wrong one. If he gets to bowl in the right areas, he can be a dangerous prospect on the bouncy Australian wickets. Watch out for this fellow!
Sri Lanka: The “three musketeers “of Sri Lankan cricket have now become the “three aged musketeers.” Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene have held their batting together for years with world class performances. Sangakkara is the key to give Sri Lanka the scores that the Lankans would be looking for. He is a skilled craftsman who not only has the finesse but also the power. If the other two get going then Sri Lanka’s search for glory may turn into a reality.
In addition to the batting veterans, Lasith Malinga can be a major factor with his experience and consistent yorker length deliveries in the death overs.
West Indies: I had counted on Sunil Narine as one of their major impact player but he has pulled out of the tournament. So the attention now turns to someone like Chris Gayle. If Gayle can keep his lid on and play with some caution, his natural ability to disperse the ball to all corners of the park will take the Caribbean team smoothly into the quarter final stage and perhaps beyond.
Bangladesh: Only one name qualifies here and that is of Shakib al Hasan. He has been and, will be for the foreseeable future, the only impact player for Bangladesh. Not much of a turner, he relies on smart bowling rather actual spin. He will step up for Bangladesh and his performance will be crucial in the matches that Bangladesh must win (Afghanistan and Scotland). Bangladesh’s match against England will be played in Adelaide which is one of the few surfaces where spinners may have a significant role. Shakib needs to produce a gem of a game aided by additional support from the others to give Bangladesh the chance creating of a major upset.
Others: The others that may be considered to have an impact are Brendan Taylor for Zimbabwe, the O’Neill brothers of Ireland, and Mohammed Nabi of Afghanistan. All of them are pugnacious performers and their sole performance can turns half-chances into a full chance.
Let us keep this list handy and follow as each game unfolds in front of our eyes. We shall all look forward to the final day and find which player has created the most impact for its team.