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March 23, 2011Posted on 03/23/2011 in World Cup 2011
Sorry you’ve gone XI
From Tim Wigmore, United Kingdom
Ashish Bagai was one of the best wicketkeepers in the World Cup, and Canada's best batsman as well
© Getty ImagesXI of the best players whose World Cup is over, featuring at least one player from each of the six knocked-out sides
Imrul Kayes
While Tamim fired only briefly, his less obtrusive opening partner was the nearest Bangladesh had to a reliable batsman this tournament. Kayes provided the backbone for their successful chases over England and Netherlands, winning the Man-of-the-Match award in both games.
Ed Joyce
His long-awaited return to Ireland colours was a disappointment in many ways – how Joyce will rue his soft dismissal against Bangladesh. But his 84 against West Indies, which begun with consecutive boundaries, was a testament to his class: he is surely the most aesthetically pleasing batsman any of the Associate nations possess.
Collins Obuya
He is remembered for his sharp-turning leg-spin in the 2003 World Cup, when he took 5-24 in the victory against Sri Lanka. Obuya’s bowling has since subsided, but he has reinvented himself as a top-order batsman of genuine quality, as 243 tournament runs illustrates. It was a great shame he ended 98* against Australia, after he had handled Tait, Lee and Johnson with the calm of a Test player.
Niall O’Brien
O’Brien will be extremely frustrated reflecting on this World Cup: he made starts in every innings but only once past 50. O’Brien’s relish for a challenge was illustrated by hitting Morne Morkel for six over long-on, one of the shots of the tournament, and an average in excess of 40 shows the quality of this most industrious of cricketers.
Ashish Bagai (wicketkeeper)
Bagai was one of the best wicketkeepers on display in this World Cup, keeping with poise to seam and spin alike. And with the bat he was easily Canada’s best player, taking them to victory over Kenya and scoring an elegant 84 at almost a-run-a-ball against New Zealand.
Ryan ten Doeschate
ten Doeschate came into the tournament with a reputation as the best Associate player in the world, and, with a century of both brawn and finesse against England, he quickly went about justifying it. Though runs proved harder to score thereafter, he chipped in with a half-century in difficult circumstances against Bangladesh, before ending the tournament with another magnificent hundred. His wicket-to-wicket bowling also troubled England.
Kevin O’Brien
Critics will say he only played one innings of note, but what an innings. O’Brien 113 against England – including 45 off 15 balls during the batting powerplay - will be remembered for decades. As a display of brutal, calculated hitting it is hard to beat – and an IPL contract could be the ultimate reward.
Shafiul Islam
Belying his ODI average of under 6, and three ducks in five innings this tournament, Shafiul proceeded to smash Swann and Anderson down the ground en route to raiding England for a match-winning 24*. His pace, movement and accuracy earned him 4/21 to clinch a narrow win over Ireland. But, like his team, Shafiul was hopelessly inconsistent, leaking 124 runs from 14 overs in Bangladesh’s three defeats.
George Dockrell
When was there last an 18-year-old spinner with Dockrell’s control and big-match temperament? In the intense pressure of the opening game in partisan Dhaka, Dockrell’s wonderful 10 overs, in which he returned 2-23, ought to have secured Ireland victory. Thereafter, he only continued to impress, with the only shame that his skipper didn’t trust him to bowl to Kieran Pollard. What odds him representing England in 2015?
Ray Price
The man with the most theatrical expressions in world cricket illustrated his guile and skill with some admirable performances, notably 2-21 of eight overs against Pakistan, and was equally effective opening the bowling or bowling in the middle overs. Nine wickets at less than 19 deserved better support from his disappointing compatriots.
Harvir Baidwan
Canada’s bustling seamer was impressive throughout, making up for a lack of express pace with nagging consistency and a touch of movement. He will be rightly proud of his haul of 13 scalps, which included Brendon McCullum, Shane Watson and Younis Khan.
Posted by: Wavey at March 23, 2011 12:58 PM
Good choices. I was a bit surprised there weren't more Dutch players included, but then none of them really performed consistently, apart from Ten Doeschate, of course. No arguments from me!
Posted by: Richard S at March 23, 2011 2:07 PM
Brendan Taylor?
Posted by: Rohit B at March 23, 2011 3:48 PM
Brendan Taylor should be Included in this XI...he is even better than many other Countries Openers...
Posted by: Salaar at March 23, 2011 4:02 PM
Jimmy Hansra should definitely be in this!
Posted by: Anonymous at March 23, 2011 4:34 PM
Porterfield should be here too.....he is the best captain in the Associate arena.........
Posted by: Shridhar Jaju at March 23, 2011 4:35 PM
I would remove Ashish Bagai, and let Niall O'Brien keep. He is a fantastic keeper. In place of Bagai would come Bangladesh's one-man army - Shakib Al Hasan. And I would remove Ed Joyce, and replace him with Brendan Taylor. Joyce and Kayes are too slow for an opening pair that wants to utilise the Mandatory Powerplay. So Taylor it is for me!
Posted by: Matt C at March 23, 2011 6:17 PM
Largely agree with most of these... Brendan Taylor instead of Joyce? Depending on any hypothetical build-up of any team - I think Trent Johnston deserves a spot, especially as Rankin was largely disappointing so he was forced to carry the seam department of the Irish attack for large parts. Big fan of Porterfield too, especially as captain.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 24, 2011 3:19 AM
Could have added Seelar as 12th man. He deserves a mention surely.
Posted by: thugg_life_wood at March 24, 2011 3:59 AM
what about brendan taylor for opening?
Posted by: Sanny at March 24, 2011 4:15 AM
Wait, so no Shakib?
Posted by: Shashin at March 24, 2011 5:05 AM
You could add Peter Borren, Pieter Seelaar, Paul Stirling, Tanmay Mishra, Nehemiah Odhiambo and Henry Osinde
Posted by: Rakesh at March 24, 2011 5:10 AM
where is shakib al hasan...i think he should have been also the capt of this team...
Posted by: Rahul at March 24, 2011 5:48 AM
I would remove Shafikul and put in Shakib. Doeschate and Baidwan can bowl pace.
Otherwise a good selection
Posted by: Anonymous at March 24, 2011 6:57 AM
shakib-ul-hasan???
Posted by: Anonymous at March 24, 2011 6:57 AM
shakib-ul-hasan???
Posted by: shoaib at March 24, 2011 7:00 AM
Where is shoaib Akhtar in this list???
Posted by: Biplab at March 24, 2011 7:04 AM
Bang;adesh is not an associate nation.... its a test playing country... So better keep Sakib out of this fray..and concentrate on the other names...specially Poterfield.....
Posted by: srkrishnan at March 24, 2011 7:35 AM
GEORGE DOCKRELL COULD BE PLAYING FOR ENGLAND IN 2015????????? You dont get it buddy, do you? He's not from South Africa!
Posted by: priyantha at March 24, 2011 7:45 AM
After today you can include M.S Dhoni as the captain of this team.
Posted by: Sagar at March 24, 2011 7:51 AM
there should be shakib al hasan in place of nial o'brian....also trent johnston in place of shafiul islam.. & also brendon taylor in place of joyce....
Posted by: Janak at March 24, 2011 8:01 AM
@Shahin: Well, you could add all those, but then you would have more than XI :)
Posted by: Janak at March 24, 2011 8:01 AM
@Shashin: Well, you could add all those, but then you would have more than XI :)
Posted by: kwitharana at March 24, 2011 10:16 AM
Where is Sanath Jayasuriya?
Posted by: Craig at March 24, 2011 1:03 PM
Questions about Shakib are valid - but then 3 left arm spinners. Price really stands out with the best economy rate (3.44) of any one having bowled more than 30 overs. What would he be like in the IPL?
Posted by: Akram at March 24, 2011 3:19 PM
No shakib? He is one of da best players in the world. Shafiul Islam and Nial O'brian shouldnt be there anyways.
Posted by: Yedashri at March 24, 2011 9:16 PM
well, i guess now you can add the Aussies in this list too.. lol!
Posted by: Rake1 at March 24, 2011 10:20 PM
How about umpire Asoka de Silva. He was sent packing as well after the group rounds.
Posted by: George at March 24, 2011 11:47 PM
I don't think people are quite understanding where the writer of this piece is coming from.
A) It doesn't matter if Bangladesh aren't an associate nation because the article is about the teams that are no longer in the World Cup, and Bangladesh are one of those.
B)Shakib is not one of the best players in the world. He is Bangladesh's best player.
C) Nehemiah Odhiambo and Peter Borren? Pur-lease.
D) I do agree that Brendan Taylor should be in the XI in place of Ed Joyce.
Posted by: Rakibul Islam at March 29, 2011 11:40 AM
@George: Shakib is one of the best cricketer of present time. ICC Test & ODI all-rounder ranking is a proof of it. Shakib should replace Nial and Yeah, Taylor should replace Joyce.
Posted by: Najeeb Islam at April 1, 2011 12:31 PM
George, your knowledge of cricket is very limited. Look at the batting average and bowling stats of Shakib. Number speaks for itself. And Bangladesh isn't as bad as you think - we lost to England 1-2, beat NZ 4-0, and went 3-3 in the World Cup including a win vs England.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 16, 2011 9:03 PM
Tamim doesn't get a say in this
Posted by: scorpion at June 13, 2011 5:16 PM
if you overall rather than wc.
T. Iqbal
I. Kayes
B. Taylor
C. Obuya
Sakib al hasan (captain)
R.T. Doeshchate
N.O’Brien (W.K)
T. Jhonston
R. Price
H. Baidwan
G. Dockrell
K.O’Brien (12th)
Posted by: Ziyad at July 30, 2011 9:27 AM
I agree with scorpion
Posted by: rahul at September 15, 2011 7:56 AM
1.paul stirling 2.imrul kayes 3.niall o'brien 4.ryan ten doeschate 5.b.taylor 6.shakib al hasan 7.mahmudullah riyad 8.trent johnston 9.harvir baidwan 10.ray price 11.george dockrell 12th man: kevin o' brien
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