The Top Performers II

The previous article didn’t complete the list of the best performers. Here are the others –

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal, 31, has walked into international cricket a fully formed off-spinner, mature, in control of all his weapons and ready to deliver. He is proof of the fact that Pakistan still has impressive reserves of talent, even though lately it hasn’t been the force it once was in every form of the game. Ajmal bowls the doosra just as effectively as the regular off-spinner, and he also varies the pace and flight of his bowling cleverly. These impressive skills coupled with great control and the tight line and length that he bowls make for an ideal limited overs bowler, especially on the dusty tracks of the sub-continent. However, he would be a handful in all conditions, especially in a T20 scenario, and he proved this during this world cup in England. He formed the deadliest spin duo of this world cup with Afridi, picking up 12 wickets in 7 matches to end up as the second highest wicket-taker. His economy rate, at 5.82, was very impressive too.

AB deVilliers

AB deVilliers was the middle order and middle over force that made the South African team such an intimidating outfit. He has been in brilliant form for a couple of years now in all forms of the game, and seems to be going from strength to strength as a batsman. Strong both sides of the wicket, he can play classical strokes and delicate nudges, and he can murder bowlers with big hits. What was most impressive in England, though, was his ability to find the gaps and his imperious self-confidence. There is no doubt that he must have been upset and disappointed after his failure in the semi-finals. His dismissal for 1, coming on the back of failures from Smith and Gibbs, virtually sealed the game for Pakistan. Nevertheless, he finished the world cup with an impressive tally of 186 runs at an average of 37.20. His innings of 63 against India on an impossible surface would go down as one of the best innings of the tournament.

Jacques Kallis

Kallis’ fantastic form during the IPL and the world cup has done a world of good to his image. For most of his career, he has faced criticism about his reluctance to lift his scoring rate, in spite of having exceptional stroke-making ability. Many believed, unfairly so, that Kallis was more interested in records and individual achievements than working for the team’s cause. South African cricketing experts also didn’t consider him adaptable enough for the needs of T20 cricket and famously dropped him from the squad during the previous edition of the world cup.

The rest, as they say, is history. Kallis re-invented himself as a batsman with fantastic success during the recently concluded IPL. His contributions at the top of the order took Bangalore to the finals. In fact, so successful was he that he even achieved the unthinkable – replacing the dashing Herschelle Gibbs as an opener during this edition of the world cup. Some achievement and answer from a man who was not considered good enough for this form of cricket till a season back. He exceeded all expectations in the world cup, ending up as the second highest run getter with 238 runs at an average of 59.50 and a strike rate of 126.59. What’s more, he re-discovered the pace and fire of his early years as a bowler, regularly clocking 90-92 mph.

Wayne Parnell

Wayne Parnell, recently the captain of the South African under-19 team, was the find of the tournament. He impressed everyone not only with his calm approach and maturity in high pressure situations, but also his belligerent left-arm fast bowling and ability to bowl relentless yorkers at the death. The world’s best hitters couldn’t take him for more than 5.71 runs an over, and he ended up with 9 wickets, 4 of them against the West Indies in a crucial super eight game. He seems to be one of those destined to go a long way – watch out for him.

Chris Gayle

After famously declaring that test cricket is the game of the past and T20 is where his priority lies, he did not embarrass his bold comments. He single-handedly demolished Australia with a brutal 88 from 50 balls in the first match that the West Indies played, which then put the fear of god into every opponent who confronted him – an effect that no one except Lara has had from the Carribean nations in more than a decade. His next top performance came in the semi-finals, when he carried his bat through with a solid 63* from 50 balls. Unfortunately though, he got no support from the other end (the next highest score was 9!) and the West Indies were crushed in a lop-sided game. Perhaps he got an idea why Lara used to get so frustrated.

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo lived up to his reputation of being a dangerous all-rounder capable of match winning performances with both bat and ball. He almost single-handedly defeated India, taking 4 for 34 and then scoring a brilliant 66 from 36 balls in a successful run chase. He scored 154 runs in all, and was on of the leading wicket takers of the tournament with 10 wickets.

This completes the list of the best performers from the four most successful teams in the world cup. Except all these names to be a force once again during the next world cup in the West Indies, since, rather absurdly, it has been scheduled only nine months from now!