Disappointing XI of 2018

2018 has just come to an end and we have witnessed a lot of interesting matches in international cricket this year. Throughout the year, the likes of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Rashid Khan and Jonny Bairstow had some brilliant performances.

While Virat Kohli dominated the ODIs and Tests in the batting department, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada were the highest wicket-takers in ODIs and Tests respectively. But, there were a few cricketers who have failed to live up to the expectations.

Here, we try to make an XI with the players who disappointed in the year 2018.

Openers:

Chris Lynn (Australia)

The hard-hitting opener from Australia, Chris Lynn, is a specialist in the shortest format of the game. He came into the limelight when he dismantled the bowlers in the Big Bash League. His skills at the top of the order earned him a contract in T20 leagues around the world such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

But, the destructive batsman who has been tremendous in the various T20 leagues failed to repeat the same performance on the international stage this year. He scored just 226 runs from 12 matches at a forgettable average of 18.83 in T20Is.

Even though he began the year on a good note in the home series against England and New Zealand, he failed against Pakistan and India. He did not score a single fifty in the T20Is last year.

Chris Lynn's T20I stats in 2018:

Matches: 12, Runs - 226, Average - 18.83, Highest score - 44

Murali Vijay (India)

Murali Vijay has been a trusted opener in Tests for India since his debut. In 2017, he was in prime form when he accumulated 520 runs from just 6 matches at a terrific average of 52, scoring three hundreds.

However, the right-handed opener lost his form that cost him his place in the squad. The 34-year-old scored just 282 runs from 15 innings at a poor average of 18.80. He did not begin the year with the desired result as he ended the series against South Africa without a single fifty.

Later, he scored a much-needed hundred against Afghanistan at home to secure his place. However, it did not help him regain his form and he bagged a pair against England. Following his poor form in England and Australia, he lost his place in the playing eleven for the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

Murali Vijay's Test stats in 2018:

Matches - 6, Runs - 282, Average - 18.80, Highest score - 105

Middle order:

Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

The skipper of the South African cricket team, Faf du Plessis, has been their key player in all formats of the game. Even though he has good numbers in the limited-overs format, the 34-year-old failed to deliver in test cricket.

He began the year on a positive note when he smashed a couple of fifties against India. But since then, he never impressed with the bat barring his century against Australia. He scored 463 runs from 20 innings at an average of 24.37.

Faf du Plessis' Test stats in 2018:

Matches - 10, Runs - 463, Average - 24.37, High score - 120

Hashim Amla (South Africa)

The veteran South African cricketer, Hashim Amla, did not have the best of times in 2018 as he failed to score runs for his country in all formats of the game. He did not hit a single hundred in international cricket last year.

He scored 510 and 315 runs from 20 Test innings and 11 ODI innings respectively with an average of 26.84 in Tests and 28.64 in ODIs last year.

Hashim Amla's Test stats in 2018:

Matches - 10, Runs - 510, Average - 26.84, High score - 82

Hashim Amla's ODI stats in 2018:

Matches - 11, Runs - 315, Average - 26.84, High score - 71

MS Dhoni (India)

The former Indian skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has been poor with the bat, especially in the ODIs. He ended the year without scoring a single fifty in One Day Internationals. Dhoni has been struggling to hit the poor deliveries even after having a splendid IPL season.

He scored runs at a strike-rate of about 71 which clearly indicates that the former Indian skipper lost his hitting skills. He ended the year with 275 runs from 13 innings at an average of 25.

MS Dhoni's ODI stats in 2018:

Matches - 20, Runs - 275, Average - 25, High score - 42*

All-rounders:

Mitchell Marsh (Australia)

The all-rounder from Australia, Mitchell Marsh, who has decent numbers in the limited-overs format, failed horribly in test cricket. He is one of the few players who could change his batting style according to the format.

Marsh, who failed horribly with the ball as well, began the year with a century but failed to replicate the same form in matches thereafter. In 2018, he scored 326 runs at an average of 21.73 and picked up 6 wickets at an average of 58.50 from 8 tests.

Mitchell Marsh's Test stats in 2018:

Matches - 6, Runs - 326, Batting average - 21.73, High score - 101, Wickets - 6, Bowling average - 58.50, Best figures - 2/26

Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies)

The big all-rounder from West Indies, Carlos Brathwaite, announced his arrival in international cricket in 2011, but it took him more than 5 years to cement his place in the squad. He rose to fame when he struck four sixes in the last over of the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2016.

Later, he was appointed as the captain of the T20I side but he did not live up to the expectations. He only scored 65 runs and picked up 9 wickets from 12 matches at a bowling average of 38.44 in 2018.

Carlos Brathwaite's T20I stats in 2018:

Matches - 12, Runs - 65, Batting average - 10.83, High score - 15, Wickets - 9, Bowling average - 38.44, Best figures - 2/11

Spinners:

Moeen Ali (England)

Moeen Ali is one of the most underrated all-rounders in the world. He has been England's key member in the test squad and has decent numbers in the longest format of the game, but he failed to perform in limited overs, especially in the ODIs.

In ODIs in 2018, the off-spinner picked up just 29 wickets from 24 matches at a bowling average of 34.48. Ali, who could also be handy with the bat, ended the year without a single ODI fifty.

Moeen Ali's ODI stats in 2018:

Matches - 24, Wickets - 29, Average - 34.48, Best figures - 4/46

Samuel Badree (West Indies)

West Indies is known for producing great fast bowlers, but in recent years, they have produced a few high quality spinners and Samuel Badree is one of them. Even though he is not a big turner of the ball, his accuracy and consistency gets him wickets.

He started the year with a spell of 1/23 against New Zealand but had to wait for more than five months after that to pick his next wicket. He picked up 2/4 against the ICC World XI at Lord's but then was dropped from the team.

Samuel Badree's T20I stats in 2018:

Matches - 9, Wickets - 3, Average - 81, Best figures - 2/4, Economy - 8.37

Fast bowlers:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the few Indian players who could play in all three formats of the game. Having made his debut in 2012, he provided a lot of match-winning spells for his country. However, he saw a sudden downfall in 2018 and could not provide the breakthroughs at crucial junctures.

He played 14 matches and picked up just 11 wickets at an average of 48.81 and a strike-rate of 55.00. With the World Cup around the corner, the right-arm pacer will look to regain his form.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's ODI stats in 2018:

Matches - 14, Wickets - 11, Average - 48.81, Best figures - 3/15, Economy - 5.32

Tim Southee (New Zealand)

Tim Southee has been New Zealand's best bowler across all formats in recent times. But, he did not enjoy a good run in 2018. Barring his couple of match-winning spells against Pakistan, the right-arm pacer failed with the ball.

Southee picked just 10 wickets from 12 matches at an average of over 50 and conceded runs at an economy rate of 5.22 in 2018. He will look to get back his form ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

Tim Southee's ODI stats in 2018:

Matches - 12, Wickets - 10, Average - 52.50, Best figures - 3/22, Economy - 5.22

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