5 players to watch out for from the minnows in 2015 World Cup

The Cricket World Cup is the stage for the best players in the world to step up and showcase their talents. It also gives opportunities to players from smaller teams to shine and make everyone take note of them. In the past editions of the World Cup, players like Gavin Hamilton, Neil Johnson, John Davison and Collins Obuya from the so-called “minnows” have performed very well.We look at 5 players to watch out for, one each from the 5 minnow teams participating in the 2015 World Cup:

#1 Hamid Hassan (Afghanistan)

The 27-year-old tall talented fast bowler from Afghanistan was the first player from his country to play at Lord’s in 2007 when he represented Marylebone Cricket Club in a game. This bowler has the ability to swing the ball both ways, and has been recorded bowling at 90 miles/hour.

A key member of the Afghan national team, Hassan has received praise for his bowling from many experts. Participating in the Cricket World Cup will be a massive step for the player, who had to flee Afghanistan and take refuge in Pakistan as a kid because of the turmoil in the country, and Hassan will look to continue his recent excellent bowling form into the event and do well on pitches in Australia and New Zealand which are likely to aid his bowling style.

#2 Kevin OBrien (Ireland)

The Irishman grabbed headlines in 2011 when he smashed the fastest century (off 50 deliveries) in World Cup history to help his team successfully chase the total of 328 set by England to cause a major upset.

Kevin O’Brien has been a consistent performer for Ireland in their limited ODI opportunities with his batting and canny medium pace bowling. A blistering 84 from just 47 deliveries in a thrilling tied game against Pakistan in 2013 showed that O’Brien’s knock against England was no fluke and that he can perform against the best sides.

As Ireland look to continue their giant-killing run in World Cups and hope to qualify to the knockout stages, much will depend on the 30-year-old O’Brien who will look to continue his good run in the pinnacle event of the sport.

#3 Preston Mommsen (Scotland)

The captain of the Scotland team in the 2015 World Cup, Preston Mommsen scored a match-winning 139* in the final of the World Cup Qualifiers in 2014 to confirm the participation of the Scots in the event. He, later, won the ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year award for his performances.

The 27-year-old, who has played for South Africa at the under-19 level, made his ODI debut for Scotland in 2010. He was first given temporary captaincy of the side when regular skipper Kyle Coetzer had to miss the World Cup Qualifiers due to injury. But after leading his side to a title win with some impressive performances, Mommsen has been given the captaincy for the World Cup despite the return of Coetzer.

Mommsen will look to emulate compatriot Gavin Hamilton’s exploits in the 1999 World Cup, and put up an impressive showing at the event.

#4 Khurram Khan (UAE)

The UAE team qualified for the 2015 World Cup ahead of more fancied teams like Netherlands and Kenya, and will make only their second appearance at the event. The Arab country haven’t played much ODI cricket and will look to their most capped player Khurram Khan, who also happens to be UAE’s leading run-scorer, as well as their highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket.

The 43-year-old veteran, who works as a flight purser when not playing cricket, is a handy batsman and will look to pick wickets with his left-arm spin. There might be some question marks on his ability to deliver at the highest level given his age, but if his performances against Afghanistan recently (where he scored a fine 132*, along with two fifties) are any proof, Khurram can still perform and will look to end his career on a high.

#5 Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe)

It is unfortunate that the Zimbabwean team is clubbed with non-Test playing nations in the list of minnows, given that the team got Test status way back in 1992 and made it to the Super Six stage in 1999 and 2003 editions of the World Cup before enduring a steep decline in their fortunes.

Zimbabwe will be keen to put up a strong show in the 2015 World Cup and kick-start their resurgence in world cricket. The side’s fortunes will depend a lot on the performances of wicket-keeper batsman Brendan Taylor who is the leading ODI run-scorer in the team.

The 28-year-old has been playing international cricket for more than a decade and has represented franchisees in T20 tournaments in India, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Taylor has played many impressive knocks in ODIs, including centuries against Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh, and will be the batting mainstay for his side in the World Cup.