ICC Cricket World Cup: 5 players who starred in 2011 but have flopped in 2015

When it comes to players who have earned their place in the pantheon of World Cup greats, what stands out, apart from their ability to perform on the biggest stage and win matches single-handedly, is their consistency in producing performances from one edition to the other. Whether it is a Sachin Tendulkar or a Glenn McGrath, they were able to come up with match-winning performances on a regular basis, which is why they finished as the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker of the World Cup, respectively.Talking specifically about the 2011 and 2015 editions, there have been a few players who did extremely well in the subcontinent in 2011 but have failed to replicate that level of performance this time around.Here’s a look at 5 such players:

#1 Shahid Afridi

Pakistans Shahid Afridi has been an enigmatic character right throughout his 19-year international career. The 35-year-old is a classic example of a cricketer with animmense amount of potential who has not been able to transform that into performances in the international arena on a consistent basis and do justice to his ability.

He started off his career batting at the top of the order and bowling leg spin occasionally, but in recent years, he has made himself into a dependable bowler who comes off with the bat only every once in a while.

In the 2011 World Cup, he took 21 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 12.85 and finished as the joint highest wicket-taker of the tournament along with Indias Zaheer Khan, helping his side play a key role in reaching the semi-finals.

Heading into the current edition of the tournament, then, Afridi was once again someone whom Misbah-ul-Haq had pinned his hopes on to help Pakistan progress deep into the tournament. While Pakistan are on course to reach the latter stages, it is very much on the back of the quicks who have done a commendable job.

Many expected Afridi to set the tournament on fire considering this is his swansong to ODI cricket and he wouldve been eager to end on a high, but thats not been the case and he has been a huge disappointment, having taken just 2 wickets in 5 games at an average of 107.

What has happened in the past is irrelevant now, though, and the veteran all-rounder would be hoping to put in a good performance and ensure that they qualify for the quarter-finals.

#2 Upul Tharanga

Sri Lankas Upul Tharanga was one of the main performers for his side in the 2011 edition of the tournament, providing good starts at the top of the order along withTillakaratne Dilshan. The left-hander made 395 runs in 9 matches at an average of 56.42 with 2 centuries and a solitary half-century.

Critically, one of those three-figure scores, an unbeaten innings of 102 from 122 balls, came against England in the quarter-finals of the tournament where he shared a 231-run stand with Dilshan that helped his side win by 10 wickets.

But ever since then, the 30-year-old hasn't opened the innings on a regular basis for his country and instead been used in the middle-order by the teammanagement. While that move did pay dividends at the start scoring 248 runs in 5 games from March 2012 to January 2013, he hasn't delivered consistently at that slot since then.

In fact, his form had deteriorated to such an extent that he wasnt even a part of Sri Lankas original 15-man squad for the World Cup and only came in as a replacement after the first few games as a result of Jeevan Mendis having to withdraw due to injury.

He was a part of the playing XI during Sri Lankas loss to Australia, scoring just 4 runs after coming in to bat as low as No.8 and was dropped for their subsequent game against Scotland.

#3 Imrul Kayes

Bangladesh batsman Imrul Kayes had an impressive 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent, scoring 188 runs in 6 matches that included a 100-ball 60 against England which helped his side win a memorable match in front of their home fans.

However, the 28-year-old has been in contrastingly poor form in the current edition of the tournament, having scored just 4 runs in the 2 matches he has played, and captain Mashrafe Mortazawill hope that the left-hander gets back among the runs in the knockout stages of the competition so as to providefurther solidity to their batting.

#4 Shane Watson

While the likes of Glenn Maxwell and David Warner have risento the occasion and performed at the ongoing World Cup, allrounder Shane Watson hasn't been able to step up to the plate.

The right-hander has scored a mere 90 runs in 3 games at a middling average of 30, and his poor run of form with the bat led to him being dropped for the Afghanistan match before making his way back against Sri Lanka, albeit at No.6.

The 33-year-oldhad a considerably better time with the willow in the 2011 edition of the tournamentwhere he amassed 290 runs in 7 matches at an average of 48.33 with 3 fifties.

The heartening aspect from an Australian perspectivewould be that Watson scored a breezy 67 off 41 balls in Australias last game against the Lankans, and they would be hoping for him to deliver with the bat on a more regular basis come the quarter-finals.

#5 Kemar Roach

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roachwas one of the shining lights for his side during the2011 World Cup campaignwhere he took 13 wickets in 6 matches, including a hostile spell of 6 for 27 againstNetherlands in New Delhi.

Entering into the current edition of the World Cup, the 26-year-old was expected to hurry the batsmen with his pace but, unfortunately, hasn't been able to doso. In the two games that he has played so far, Roach has put in disappointing performances, picking up just one wicket and not completing his full quota of overs in eithergame.

Like Pakistan, West Indies will have to win their final Group B encounter against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday in order to qualify for the quarter-finals and the fast bowler will need to step up and help his side progress through to the knockouts.