5 players we might not see playing ODIs after World Cup 2019

The defending champs were on course to win their 6th title until the British tornado walloped them in the semi-final. After going through a turbulent year the Australian team played quality cricket in the 2019 World Cup. Their batting mantle was led by the dynamic opening duo of David Warner and Aaron Finch. Though they finished 2nd in the points table after the group stages there were some batting concerns. Mainly the middle-order where experienced Shaun Marsh was tested for a couple of games.

The left-hander got the nod for the championship as last year was the most fruitful term for him in ODIs. He averaged 60 and became the batting mainstay when two of their superstars were out of the game. Marsh made his ODI debut way back in 2008 but injuries always denied him a World Cup wicket. When he finally got it at the age of 36 Marsh managed only 26 runs in 2 outings and got himself injured again. Now it is unlikely that the Kangaroos will invest in him for their next white ball tourney.

2) South Africa – Dale Steyn

The African nation will have to wait for another 4 years to live their World Cup dreams. Before the start of the tournament, Proteas had all the bases covered but as usual, they faltered at the steps to glory. Senior players looked rusty and the youngsters were not consistent enough to break the championship hoodoo. Faf du Plessis-led side lost key players to injuries and one of them was Dale Steyn who was expected to lead the bowling unit.

The speedster was returning to white ball cricket after a brief hiatus and his presence would have given the side a menacing pace attack. Unfortunately, Dale Steyn picked up an untimely shoulder injury in IPL 2019. As a result, the pacer was not able to recover in time and he was sidelined for the entire series. Steyn who has played 125 ODIs for his 196 wickets was keen to have a crack at the biggest stage. At 36 the World Cup would have been his final essay as now it will be difficult for him to get into the ODI squad with the same vigour.

3. India – Dinesh Karthik

In 2019 World Cup the Indian juggernaut was rolling on at full speed till the Kiwis decided to act as the speed breaker in the knock-out stages. The Blue team was high on confidence having just dropped a single in the group stages. The famed top-order and the new-found gems of bowling unit were ticking the right boxes which made them look invincible at one stage of the tournament. Still, the never-ending middle muddle made its presence felt and the keeper-batsman, Dinesh Karthik was a part of it.

The Tamil Nadu cricketer was picked in the final 15 because of his experience in the domestic circuit. Though he was not the first choice of the team management in the playing XI it was a golden opportunity for Karthik to prove his mettle in the Indian jersey. Finally, he was included in the game against Bangladesh but he managed only 8 runs. Karthik flattered to deceive as he made a total of 14 runs in 2 outings including a disappointing semi-final where he failed to weather the storm when the side was in trouble. With so many youngsters around it will be tough for Karthik to get into the playing XI again.

4) New Zealand – Tim Southee

Kane Williamson-led side played quality cricket in the 12th edition of the championship but sadly they fell short by an inch in their dramatic final against Brits. With steep slopes and tight turns the Black Caps had a roller-coaster of a campaign. The batting unit led by skipper Williamson did its part and the bowlers tried their level best in every possible situation of the tournament. The young bowling unit was exceptional in keeping the opposition teams in check and they even kept a veteran like Tim Southee out of the side.

Southee got the World Cup ticket because of his heroics in the last edition where he was one of the leaders of the pace battery. This time the cricketer from Whangarei was going through an indifferent form in white ball cricket which denied a direct entry into the playing XI. Though he was given his due in the game against England in group stages, he was smashed to all parts of the ground conceding 70 runs in his spell. Tim Southee has age on his side but he has lost the zip which might put his ODI career in a comatose state.

5. Sri Lanka – Jeevan Mendis

Apart from their World Cup selections, the former champions were not able to surprise the cricketing fraternity with their actions on the field. The team looked vulnerable in all their departments and their only positive was beating the eventual champions, England in their league match. The batting unit provided the occasional spark but failed to maintain the fire and the bowling attack led by Lasith Malinga lacked support cast. Even their spin options including Jeevan Mendis looked lacklustre.

The all-rounder was picked in the squad in the notion of getting the required balance in the side. His leg-spin bowling was the primary weapon which could have helped the team in middle-overs. Mendis played 3 games and bowled a total of 11 overs which shows that the skipper didn’t trust him with the ball in his hand. Even in his batting, the southpaw scored a total of 19 runs in 3 outings. At 36 it was his final chance to revive his international career and it will be a surprise of higher order if the selectors retain him.

These players were not at their best in this World Cup and with youngsters picking up the pace they may not mind themselves in the mix for the next white ball journey.