World Cup History: Five popular batsmen who picked up at least one wicket in WC

The second week of the 2019 World Cup was disappointing for most cricket fans as three games in four days were washed out. As a result, questions were raised over the scheduling of the tournament and the lack of reserve days. ICC have kept reserve days for only the semi-finals and the final.

Even with the rain around, there were some games which were worth watching - Australia against Pakistan and England versus the West Indies. What was common in both these games was that the batsmen, who were asked to bowl some part-time overs, ended up taking wickets. Aaron Finch came to bowl against Pakistan and picked up a wicket, with England's Joe Root doing the same against West Indies.

There have been previous instances of popular batsmen picking up wickets at a World Cup. So, let’s have a look at five such batsmen, who surprised many and picked up a wicket at cricket's biggest tournament.

#1 Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming

The current generation knows Stephen Fleming more as a coach of the famous IPL outfit - the Chennai Super Kings. But he was a highly successful player before he started coaching. He played for a long time for New Zealand and was a part of four World Cup squads, with him being the captain in three of those.

Fleming was known as a pure batsman, who bowled very rarely. In their second World Cup match in 1996, when the Kiwis scored 307 against the Netherlands, Fleming came to bowl. New Zealand were winning the game easily and so, Fleming decided to roll over his arm. He bowled two overs and to everybody’s surprise, he picked up the wicket of MM Schewe, who was stumped. It was the only ODI wicket he picked up throughout his career.

#2 Saeed Anwar

Saeed Anwar

Saeed Anwar was a prolific left-handed batsman, who was known for scoring big against Pakistan's arch-rivals India. His highest ODI score of 194 was scored against India as well. Anwar was a part of the Pakistan team at three World Cups - 1996,1999 and 2003.

Anwar was an opening batsman, who used to bowl a few part-time overs if required. He didn’t bowl that often, but could roll over his arms if required. In the 2003 World Cup game against the Netherlands, after Pakistan scored 253, Anwar came into bowl in the second innings, with the Dutch struggling. The Netherlands were never in the game and so Anwar came into bowl some part-time overs. He bowled four over for 15 runs and picked up the wicket of Jacob-Jan Esmeijer, who was adjudged LBW. Anwar picked up a total of six wickets in his ODI career, but it remains his only World Cup wicket.

#3 Faf Du Plessis

Faf Du Plessis

Most people know Faf du Plessis as a pure batsman, but the fact is that he has bowled some leg-spin in his career. Du Plessis is currently captaining the South African side in the ongoing 2019 World Cup. He was a part of the 2011 and 2015 South African World Cup sides also.

In the 2011 World Cup, he was first asked to bowl against England. He bowled five tight overs without getting a wicket. After that game, South Africa were playing against India. The Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were on fire as they had smashed 87 runs in the first powerplay. Sehwag was hitting the ball to all the parts of the park and South African skipper Graeme Smith had tried almost all his options before turning to Du Plessis.

To everybody’s surprise, Du Plessis delivered. He picked up the wicket of Sehwag, who was batting on 73. It was an important breakthrough as India could have run away with the game if Sehwag stayed at the crease. Du Plessis even bowled in the 2015 World Cup without any success. He has picked up two wickets in his ODI career, but it was his only World Cup wicket.

#4 Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf was a composed right-handed batsman with great batting numbers to show. He was a part of three World Cup squads for Pakistan - 1999, 2003 and 2007. Yousuf never really bowled much as before the 2007 World Cup, he had bowled only one ball in ODI cricket.

In a 2007 World Cup match against Zimbabwe, Pakistan scored a mammoth total of 349. Chasing such a big score, Zimbabwe lost the plot as they were 94-9. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was the Pakistan captain at that time, gave Yousuf the ball, and he picked up a wicket in his very first delivery. Yousuf bowled just one ball in the World Cup and picked up a wicket. He dismissed Christopher Mpofu, who was caught by the Pakistan captain. Managing to pick up a wicket in his only World Cup delivery is an achievement Yousuf should be proud of.

#5 AB de Villiers

AB De Villiers

Is there anything in the world that AB de Villiers can’t do? The answer to this question is 'no', especially if you're told that the South African has picked up as many as four wickets at the World Cup. De Villiers was a part of three World Cup squads for South Africa - 2007, 2011 and 2015 squads. He tried to end his international retirement and play in the ongoing World Cup too, but the South African team management didn't allow that.

After smashing the bowlers to all parts of the park, De Villiers decided to bowl some right-arm medium pace in the 2015 World Cup. He first bowled against Ireland and picked up the wicket of John Mooney, who was bowled. He then bowled against Pakistan, and still managed to pick up a wicket. He dismissed Younis Khan, who was caught by Rilee Rossouw. Against the UAE, he picked up two wickets. De Villiers even bowled against New Zealand in the semi-final, but couldn’t pick up a wicket.