ODI XI: Players in 2015 World Cup

The 2015 Cricket World Cup is just two days away and all teams are on their final stretch with preparations prior to the start of the mega event. While the 2011 edition proved to be the swansong appearance for greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting etc., the current edition also has several terrific players who will be looking to enter into the history books by putting forth some excellent performances.Here's an XI consisting of the best players from the current crop in world cricket:

#1 Hashim Amla

South African opener Hashim Amla has become the lynchpin of his side at the top of the order. The 31-yer-old right-hander might not be as devastating as a Chris Gayle, but always ensures that a good tempo is maintained throughout the innings, which is reflected by his strike-rate in 50-over cricket, which is 89.61.

In the 107 ODIs that he has played since making his debut in 2008, Amla has scored 5359 runs with a best of 153* against the West Indies. He had a very good time with the bat in 2014 in limited-overs cricket, scoring 892 runs in 18 50-over games at an average of 52.47.

Amla was part of the side that lost in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup to New Zealand and will be looking to help his country cross the hurdle and win their maiden World Cup title.

#2 David Warner

David Warner might have not had tasted as much success in the limited-overs format of the game as he has had in the longer format so far, but there is no denying that when on song, he can take the game completely away from the opposition.

Warner has scored 1702 runs in 54 matches with a best of 163 that he notched up against Sri Lanka in Brisbane in 2012. The 28-year-old had a good time with the bat in the recently-concluded Carlton Mid tri-series, scoring163 runs in 4 matches at an average of 54.33 with a best of 127 against England.

This will be Warner’s first World Cup for his country and he will certainly be looking to carry forward his good form with the bat into the competition and thereby play a key role in his side winning the tournament after a gap of 8 years.

#3 Virat Kohli

India’s batting mainstay Virat Kohli will have a key role to play in the upcoming World Cup, regardless of the position he bats at. The 26-year-old has been one of the standout players in world cricket over the last 2 years, scoring a total of 2322 runs in 56 ODI games in 2013 and 2014 combined. Overall, the right-hander has scored 6232 runs in 150 ODIs at an average of 51.50 with a best of 183 against Pakistan.

One of Kohli’s biggest strengths is his ability to anchor the innings brilliantly when his side is chasing a big total. He averages a staggering 64.26 when batting second and has won many a match for his country since the last World Cup in 2011, under pressure.

He was part of India’s victorious campaign at home in 2011 and will certainly hold the key if the Men in Blue are to win consecutive World Cup titles.

#4 Kane Williamson

One of the most underrated batsman in the limited-overs format of the game today, Kane Williamson is soon becoming the player around who the likes of Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum look to play around in the New Zeland batting order.

Initially branded as a Test specialist, the 24-year-old has certainly evolved his game to suit the requirements of one-day cricket and like Amla, maintains an excellent strike rate during his stay in the middle.

In the 65 ODIs that he has played so far, Williamson has amassed 2453 runs at an average of 46.26 and a strike-rate of 82.78 with a best score of 145 against South Africa and has been extremely prolific with the bat over the last 2 years for his country.

There is no doubt that the Black Caps possess one of the most explosive batting line-ups with the likes of Taylor, McCullum, Corey Anderson and wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi, but they would be banking on Williamson to play the sheet anchor’s role and help them post big totals on the board.

#5 AB de Villiers

Very few would argue that AB de Villiers is the best batsman in world cricket at the moment. The South African ODI captain has been one of the star performers for his side across all formats in the last few years and has played some breathtaking innings with the bat.

He has scored 7459 runs in 179 ODIs at an average of 52.16 and a strike rate of 97.16. One of his most sensational performances came against the West Indies earlier this year, when he smashed a 44-ball 149 en route to the fastest ODI ton by a player.

De Villiers’s ability to play unorthodox shots sets him apart from the rest of modern-day batsmen and if the South Africans are to win their first ever World Cup, the 30-year-old will have to play a stellar role in helping them win the title.

#6 MS Dhoni (c) (wk)

One of the best finishers in the modern game, MS Dhoni has scored 8262 runs in 254 ODIs for India at an average of 52.29. The 33-year-old might have lacked the technical skills to succeed in the longer format of the game, but there is no doubting his ability to win matches for India when it comes to the 50-over format.

Dhoni’s biggest strength is his ability to remain calm when the heat is on and it is this trait that has helped his country pull off several wins from the jaws of defeat.

One of the most memorable instances to illustrate the point came in the 2013 tri-series in the West Indies, involving Sri Lanka and the home team. In the final against Sri Lanka at Port-of-Spain, he rallied the tail around him, stitching together a valuable stand of 21 runs with number 11 Ishant Sharma to help the Men in Blue pull off a tight win over the Lankans.

There is no doubt that the wicketkeeper-batsman will have to play a significant role with the bat if India are to win the World Cup for the third time.

#7 James Faulkner

One of the best emerging players in the game today, James Faulkner’s exploits with the bat have helped Australia pull off several wins in recent times. The 24-year-old has scored 770 runs in 24 ODIs for Australia with a best of 116 that came against India in Bangalore in 2013.

He single-handedly helped his side pull off a thrilling win over England in Brisbane last year when he scored an unbeaten 47-ball 69 to help his side win by one wicket. He is equally effective with the ball as well, having taken 50 wickets in 38 matches and is one of the few bowlers in world cricket today who is able to execute the back-of-the-hand slower ball perfectly.

Faulkner may not be available for Australia for the first game at Melbourne, but there is no doubt that if the hosts are to do well in the competition, they will need him to produce good all-round performances on a consistent basis.

#8 Shahid Afridi

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi will be playing his final 50-over tournament for Pakistan in the upcoming 2015 World Cup. The 34-year-old has played 391 ODI matches for his country and has scored 7948 runs at a staggering strike rate of 116.79.

Afridi has also been extremely successful with his leg-spin, having picked up 393 wickets with a best of 7 for 12 against the West Indies.

The all-rounder, however, hasn't been able to consistently win games for his country and has often been a cause of frustration for his fans across the cricketing fraternity. He will be hoping to get his act together in Australia and New Zealand and perform for one final time at the 50-over mega event down under.

#9 Dale Steyn

Probably the most complete fast bowler in the game today, Dale Steyn has taken 151 wickets in 96 ODIS at an average of 25.14 in a career spanning over a decade. One of Steyn's best spells came in the 2011 edition of the World Cup held in the subcontinent, when he took figures if 5 for 50 against India in Nagpur to bowl out the hosts for 296 after they were 267 for 1 in the 40th over.

One of the features that separates the 30-year-old from the rest of the crop is his ability to pick up wickets in all conditions. In Asian countries, which provide very little assistance to fast bowlers, Steyn has taken 26 wickets in 17 matches at an impressive average of 26.03.

On the bouncy Australian tracks and seaming New Zealand conditions, he has taken 21 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 30.

As the Proteas head into the 2015 World Cup, they would be hoping that their spearhead is in the best bowling form possible and will guide them to their first World Cup triumph.

#10 Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson’s ODI performances might not have been as consistent as his Test performances in recent times, but there is no doubt that the 33-year-old is as dangerous with the ball in coloured clothing as he is in the whites.

Johnson has picked up 224 wickets in 145 ODI games at an average of 25.50 and although he hasn't played as many 50-over games for Australia in recent times, partly owing to injuries, that is still no reason to take him lightly in the limited-overs format of the game.

Australia head into the 2015 World Cup with an extremely competent bowling attack with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, but there is no doubt that they would have their hopes pinned on this left-armer to rattle batsmen with his pace and bounce and also pick up early wickets for them.

#11 Lasith Malinga

One of the best bowlers to bowl at the death, Lasith Malinga might have his issues with injuries, but his slingy action and a pocketful of variations, make him an extremely difficult customer for batsmen to deal with even today.

In 177 ODIs, the 31-year-old has picked up 271 wickets at an average of 27.21. One of his most memorable bowling efforts came in the 2007 edition of the World Cup in the Caribbean where in a group game against South Africa, he took 4 wickets in 4 balls and almost pull off an unlikely victory for his side.

Captain Angelo Mathews will be hoping his best bowler can produce such magical spells in the upcoming World Cup down under and from a personal perspective, Malinga will be hoping to cross the final hurdle this time around after two successive failed attempts in 2007 and 2011.