World Cup 2019: 5 Players who found lost form when it mattered the most

From November 21, 2018, Australia has played 5 T20Is and 8 ODIs against India (Excluding the World Cup). And Aaron Finch managed to score only 246 runs in those many matches. Things were looking gloomy for Finch but Australia persisted with him for their series against Pakistan.

Finch capitalised on the golden opportunity and soon found himself amongst the runs again. 2 centuries and 2 fifties followed and Aaron Finch now looked in good shape. His figures, in that series against Pakistan, read as 116, 153, 90, 39, 53. This is the form that resulted in Finch getting selected for Australia’s World Cup campaign.

2. Kuldeep Yadav

Wrist spinners have taken the cricketing world by storm. India turned to wrist spinners post-Champions Trophy 2017 and the inclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has brought a lot of strength to the current Indian bowling unit. Kuldeep Yadav was India’s leading wicket-taker (10 wickets) in their recently concluded ODI series against Australia.

But in the IPL 2019 that followed, Kuldeep had a forgettable season with Kolkata Knight Riders. He managed only 4 wickets in 9 matches and had an economy rate of over 9 in 4 of those matches. A lot of faith with Kuldeep for India yet the Chinaman hasn’t disappointed. In this World Cup so far, Kuldeep has scalped 5 wickets and held the best economy rate amongst all the spinners before the one-off game against England.

3. Lockie Ferguson

Lockie Ferguson is a decent bowler. He runs in hard, hits the deck and generates a lot of pace. But he hasn’t been a regular in the New Zealand team. In the 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is that New Zealand have played against India in 2019, Ferguson managed to pick only 6 wickets. He followed it up with 5 wickets against Bangladesh a month later.

He wasn’t in a very good form and that continued in the IPL as well with an average season playing for KKR. But Ferguson put his failures behind him and delivered when it mattered. He has been the pick of the Kiwis bowlers and is currently the 2^nd highest wicket-taker in the extravaganza. The right-arm quick has bowled with a lot of heart and has used the conditions on offer really well.

4. Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes had a decent outing against West Indies when England toured them in January this year. But in the upcoming IPL in March, he wasn’t at his usual best. His defining role of an all-rounder was missing and he returned back to England. But even in their home series against Pakistan, Stokes failed to pick even a single wicket!

When this World Cup began, England were the favourites but their biggest all-rounder was yet to strike. In the matches that followed, Stokes has played a big role in all 3 departments and is the key player for England. He has scored 370 runs so far and has chipped in with a few wickets as well. He has risen at the right time and England would want him to continue in order to win the title.

5. Mohammad Amir

A lot of eyebrows were raised when Junaid Khan was left out and Mohammad Amir was picked in the Pakistan squad for the World Cup. Since the Champions Trophy 2017 final against India, Amir played 14 matches and managed only 5 wickets at an average of 92.6. But still, he was selected in Pakistan’s tour of England just before the World Cup. He featured in only 1 ODI and his chances looked bleak.

But Amir has been magnificent in this World Cup so far. With 16 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 20.31, Amir has delivered one of the best performances by a Pakistani bowler at a World Cup. This rise in his form couldn’t have come at a better time. In spite of back to back failures, Amir has returned to form at the right time and will be the key for Pakistan.

Written by Ameya Thakur