10 youngest players in top 8 teams in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Usman Ghani, batting against India
Usman Ghani, batting against India

Many legends of this generation of cricketers have retired since the last World Cup, and new candidates would be raring to step up to be counted as worthy successors. It would have been natural to expect that there would be more young cricketers in this edition than in previous World Cups. But the statistics show a different picture. The ICC World Cup 2015 will see less teenage and U-25 players as compared to previous World Cups. In this World Cup, there are 49 players in the teams’ squads ageing less than 25, and there are only two players who are still teenagers.Number of players aged below 25 in World CupsWorld CupTotalTop 8 teams19752323197912191983272319873433199229261996362419993720200363292007692220115522201549*18*(*) based on the squads only. Actual number of players playing at least a match in the World Cup will be known only after the event.There were 55 players below 25 years of age in the last World Cup, 69 in 2007 and 63 in 2003. Also, there has been a big change in the number of teenagers in the top eight teams over recent years.Number of players aged below 20 in World CupsWorld CupTotalTop 8 teams19752219791119832219871119924319964219994220037020077120115120152*0No big team has selected a teenager in its World Cup squad this year. That is in contrast to all of the previous World Cups (except 2003), where there was at least one teenager in the top eight teams. In this World Cup, there are 10 players below the age of 24 in the squads of the top-eight teams. What follows is a rundown of the youngest players this World Cup.NOTE: All ages are as will be on February 14, the day when World Cup 2015 begins.

#11 From non-top 8 teams

Usman Ghani, batting against India
Usman Ghani, batting against India

Youngest players in World Cup 2015 apart from top eight teams (age of 22 or less):

  • Usman Ghani (Afghanistan) - 18y, 86d
  • Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh) - 19y, 317d
  • Nasir Jamal (Afghanistan) - 21y, 55d
  • Matthew Cross (Scotland) - 21y, 122d
  • Peter Chase (Ireland) - 21y, 128d
  • Afsar Zazai (Afghanistan) - 21y, 188d
  • Andy Balbirnie (Ireland) - 21y, 290d
  • Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan) - 21y, 351d
  • Soumya Sarkar (Bangladesh) - 21y, 354d

#10 Mitchell Marsh (Aus) - 23 years and 117 days

Mitchell Marsh

The 10th youngest player among the top eight teams is the youngest of the Marsh brothers – Mitchell Marsh. Marsh, at the age of 23 years and117 days, will enter into the World Cup as one of the major players for the Australian team despite being a relative greenhorn.

Marsh made his ODI debut after the last World Cup, so this will be his maiden World Cup.

Marsh’s ODI career:

Debut – October 19, 2011

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

14

420

89

38.18

0

6

2/23

48.33

0

Marsh has not scored a century yet but has four 50+ scores – two of those being above 85. He is yet to prove his full worth though, if his his performances in domestic matches are anything to go by. He has picked up only six wickets in 14 matches but has the potential to capture many more.

#9 Jason Holder (WI) - 23 years and 101 days

Jason Holder

Jason Holder at the age of 23 years and 117 days is the ninth youngest player in the 2015 World Cup. It is interesting to note that Holder is the skipper of the West Indies team despite being the youngest member in the squad; no other player is less than 25 years old in the West Indies squad.

It will be a great challenge for Holder to produce a good performace in the World Cup considering his team's recent results and the player-board issues.

Jason Holder’s ODI career

Debut – February 1, 2013

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

26

162

22*

14.72

0

37

4/13

30.21

0

Holder has displayed a mature temperment since his debut for West Indies two years ago, and would be expected to do well for the Caribbean men in Australia.

#8 Ahmed Shehzad (Pak) - 23 years and 85 days

Ahmed Shehzad

Ahmed Shehzad, who turned 23 a couple of months back, is the most reliable top order batsman in the present squad for Pakistan. Though he is young, he has been in great touch in recent matches.

Shehzad made his ODI debut in the year 2009 and he was part of the Pakistan team in the last World Cup in 2011. He did not have great success in that tournament at the age of 19, but he will likely play an important role in this World Cup.

With Hafeez being withdrawn from the World Cup squad due to an injury, Shehzad will play the all-important role at the top of the order.

Ahmed Shehzad’s ODI career:

Debut – April 24, 2009

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

58

1985

124

34.82

6

2

1/22

70.00

0

He has scored six centuries in 58 matches, with nearly 2,000 runs at an average of 34.82.

World Cup career:

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

5

44

13

8.80

0

-

-

-

-

#7 Dushmanta Chameera (SL) - 23 years and 34 days

Dushmanta Chameera

Dushmanta Chameera should be feeling lucky about his inclusion into the World Cup squad just a week before the tournament began; he only got in because Dhammika Prasad missed out due to injury.

Chameera is 23 years and 34 days old and he is the seventh youngest player from the top eight teams in this tournament.

Chameera made his ODI debut against New Zealand at Wellington on January 29, 2015, and that is the only ODI he has played so far. He picked up two wickets in that match while conceding 60 runs.

#6 Tom Latham (NZ) - 22 years and 318 days

Tom Latham

Tom Latham, the sixth youngest player among top eight teams in World Cup 2015, is aged 22 years and 318 days. He hasn’t been in the greatest of form so far though.

Latham has played 26 ODIs for New Zealand with moderate success. He has batted in all batting positions for his team from No. 1 to No. 9, except No. 8. He would be expected to show a good performance in the World Cup and also consolidate his batting position.

Latham will be appearing in a World Cup for the first time.

Tom Latham’s ODI career:

Debut – February 3, 2012

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

26

502

86

23.90

0

-

-

-

-

He has scored one half-century so far.

#5 Adam Milne (NZ) - 22 years and 307 days

Adam Milne

The fifth youngest player is another New Zealander, Adam Milne, at the age of 22 years and 307, as of February 14. The right arm fast bowler has played 16 ODIs for New Zealand since making his debut in 2012.

He is yet to play in any World Cup, and his home country hosting the 2015 edition could help Milne turn it into a memorable debut.

Adam Milne’s ODI career:

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

16

38

19

38.00

0

14

2/28

42.64

0

#4 Quinton de Kock (SA) - 22 years and 59 days

Vernon Philander and Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock will be the fourth youngest player in this World Cup among the top eight teams. South Africa’s youngest has been highly successful in his short ODI career so far.

De Kock, who turned 22 just a month back, has played 36 ODIs scoring nearly 1,500 runs at an average of 42.45, which includes six centuries and four half-centuries. At such a tender age, he has already established himself as the first choice opener for his team in the World Cup.

Quinton de Kock’s ODI career:

Debut – January 19, 2013

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

36

1486

135

42.45

6

-

-

-

-

The 2015 World Cup will be his first World Cup.

#3 Ehsan Adil (Pak) - 21 years and 336 days

Ehsan Adil

Ehsan Adil, who turned 21 just a month back, is the third youngest player among the top eight teams in the 2015 World Cup. He is a right arm fast medium bowler who made his debut in 2013.

Adil has just played four ODIs for Pakistan, picking up two wickets while having a bowling average of over 80 and strike rate of over 75.

With Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Shahid Afridi having fixed spots as bowlers for Pakistan, Edil will have to fight for his place against Yasir Shah, Sohail Khan and Haris Sohail.

#2 Pat Cummins (Aus) - 21 years and 282 days

Pat Cummins

Patrick Cummins from Australia will be the second youngest player from the top teams. He will be 21 years and 282 days old when the World Cup begins on February 14.

Cummins made his ODI debut after the World Cup 2011 and has appeared in 10 ODis for Australia. He hasn’t performed to his potential yet, and with the World Cup being played in his home nation and the tournament being long, he would be expected to produce a good performance for his team.

Pat Cummins’ ODI career:

Debut – October 19, 2011

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

10

22

11*

11.00

0

14

3/28

35.50

0

The two youngest players for Australia in this World Cup, Cummins and Marsh, made their debut in the same ODI – against South Africa at Centurion on October 19, 2011.

#1 Axar Patel (Ind) - 21 years and 25 days

Axar Patel and Mohit Sharma

Axar Patel, the left arm spinner, has just celebrated his 21st birthday (with a duck against England in the triangular series, though) and has found himself in the Indian squad.

He was selected into the Indian side after a good performance in the Indian Premier League and Champions League for Kings XI Punjab. He has played 13 ODIs so far, picking up 16 wickets.

Axar Patel’s ODI career:

Debut – June 15, 2014

Mat

Runs

HS

Bat Avg

100s

Wkts

BBI

Bowl Avg

5WH

13

41

17*

8.20

0

16

3/40

25.00

0

Patel is the youngest player from the top teams in World Cup 2015.

If squads of all teams are considered, there are two even younger players – Usman Ghani (Afghanistan) at 18 years, 86 days and Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh) at 19 years, 317 days.

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Edited by Staff Editor