World Cup 2019: Combined underperforming XI of the tournament 

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 has just ended in tremendous fashion. Congratulations to England for holding their nerves and lifting the trophy at the end of this grueling tournament. Commiserations to New Zealand to losing the World Cup final in the perhaps the unluckiest of fashions.

The controversy of the finals still does not take away from the fact that the fans got to see a spectacular tournament. This year’s World Cup saw us witness some brilliant performances from a lot of players like Rohit Sharma, Shakib Al Hasan, Kane Williamson, Mitchel Starc, etc. On the flip side, there were quite a few star players who buckled under pressure and did not live up to the billing.

In this article, we present to you a list of 11 players who underperformed terribly for their respective teams.

---

Openers: Martin Guptill and Fakhar Zaman

Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill is one of the most destructive openers in world cricket. On his day, he can single-handedly demolish any bowler in the world. In fact, Guptill holds the record for the highest individual score in World Cup history when he scored an unbeaten 237 runs against the West Indies in the 2015 World Cup.

However, this year, Guptill’s form has taken a turn for the worse. He struggled at the top of the order and his poor performances put his captain Kane Williamson in a very tight spot. The Kiwi opener scored a total of 186 runs in 10 matches at an average of 20.66. He managed to score just one half-century in the entire tournament. Kane Williamson seemed reluctant to drop him because of his international experience and his exploits as a fielder.

Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman is another opener who came into the World Cup with a lot riding on his shoulders. Just like Martin Guptill, Fakhar Zaman has also scored a double century in ODI cricket. Fakhar came into the tournament with unpredictable form. He did score a century during Pakistan’s tour of England just before the World Cup commenced. Sadly, he couldn’t carry his form over into the biggest tournament of his career.

Zaman just failed to get his team off to good starts and his poor performances at the top put a lot of unnecessary pressure on the middle order. In 8 matches that he played, Zaman only managed to score 186 runs at a below-par average of 23.25. Maybe Pakistan should look to change their opening combination going forward.

Number 3: Gulbadin Naib (c)

Gulbadin Naib

It might seem a bit unfair to include an Afghanistan batsman considering the fact that they are a young cricketing nation, but Gulbadin Naib really deserves to make this list due to his poor batting and captaincy. Gulbadin Naib took over the captaincy from Asghar Afghan just prior to the World Cup taking place. This was a move that shocked everyone including some of the Afghanistan players. This move did not work out well for them. Gulbadin Naib tried to show ownership and responsibility by promoting himself up to the order, but he lacked the one thing needed from a top-order batsman – consistency. To say that he was inconsistent would be an understatement. He lacked a lot of intent and threw his wicket away immaturely. Gulbadin only managed to score 194 runs in the 9 innings he played. With the ball, he performed quite well and picked up 9 wickets in 9 matches. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan.

Even his captaincy wasn’t up to the mark. There were a couple of matches that Afghanistan could’ve won particularly against India and Pakistan. Instead, a few tactical blunders cost his team those two crucial victories. Throughout the World Cup, Gulbadin kept messing with the batting order which seemed to disrupt the flow of the innings. On the field, he wasn’t an attacking captain and was happy to leak singles against the opposition. Gulbadin Naib needs to learn how to be a bit more aggressive in his approach and look for wickets more often.

His poor showing with the bat coupled with his inability to lead this young team earns him a spot on this list.

Middle Order: Glenn Maxwell, Shoaib Malik, David Miller and Tom Latham (wk)

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell was expected to be the most lethal middle-order batsman in this World Cup. Maxwell entered the World Cup with some good form, scoring three consecutive fifties against Pakistan. He was the middle-order batsman that Australia desperately needed but ‘The Big Show’ failed to show up.

Maxwell struggled for the better part of the tournament and it was Alex Carey who carried out the role that Maxwell was supposed to play. Maxwell scored only 177 runs in 10 innings at an average of 22.12. His batting wasn’t the only thing that disappointed. With the ball, the Aussie all-rounder failed to pick up any wicket in the 49 overs he bowled.

Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik has been around the international scene for many years. He is probably one of the most experienced players in this entire tournament. Malik had a very disappointing tournament this year. Being a senior player, he just couldn’t perform at the level that was expected of him. His poor performances led to him being dropped after only playing three games. He scored just 8 runs in those three games which include two ducks.

David Miller

It’s time for the South African cricket board look beyond David Miller. Miller is undoubtedly one of the biggest hitters in the South African dressing room. However, consistency has been his biggest enemy that seems to plague him every time. Batting at a crucial position for South Africa, Miller is expected to carry the South African innings on his shoulders much like AB de Villiers did for most of his carrier. Miller gets himself in but then throws away his wicket cheaply instead of batting through the innings. Miller only managed to score 136 runs from 6 matches at an average of 34.

It would probably be a good idea for South Africa to drop him post this World Cup so that he can look to improve his game before making his return to international cricket.

Tom Latham

Tom Latham is another middle-order batsman who struggled to score runs in this World Cup. Latham also didn't have much time at the crease that would allow him to contribute significantly. It was the Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson show for the better part of New Zealand’s World Cup campaign. But Latham’s lack of form when given the opportunity to bat was worrisome for the Kiwis and this added a lot of pressure on Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor who had to bat a bit more conservatively to preserve their wickets. Latham only managed to score 155 runs in 10 matches at an average of 19.37.

World cup prize moneyAll-rounder: Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has to be one of the most disappointing all-rounders in this World Cup. Rashid Khan holds a pretty good record when playing against minnows but he just struggles against stronger opponents. Since he participates in T20 leagues around the world, most batsmen have figured out the mystery that is Rashid Khan. Rashid seems like lethal leggie, but when you look at his bowling closely, you will realize that he lacks a lot of variations that most spinners have.

In fact, many commentators and cricket pundits have stated that batsmen should play Rashid Khan as a googly bowler since he mostly bowls googlies. This one-dimensional approach from the Afghan leggie has made him a predictable target. That’s why it was so easy for Eoin Morgan to go after him during England’s clash against Afghanistan. Rashid Khan ended up with the most expensive bowling figures in World Cup history by conceding 110 runs in his 9 overs. His numbers in the entire tournament aren't very good as well. In the 9 games he played, Rashid only managed to score 105 runs and pick up 6 wickets.

Rashid Khan needs to reinvent himself and figure out a new plan of attack against stronger opponents if he is to contribute to Afghanistan’s growth as a cricketing nation in the years to come.

Bowlers: Mashrafe Mortaza, Hasan Ali and Suranga Lakmal

Mashrafe Mortaza

Bangladesh has had an interesting World Cup campaign, to say the least. Mashrafe Mortaza has been a good tactful captain, but he has also been their weakest link in the bowling department. The 35-year-old all-rounder isn’t in the best shape of his life and this is quite evident in his bowling. He has lost a lot of pace, making him an easy target for batsmen. Mortaza picked up just one wicket in the tournament and was quite expensive at an economy rate of 6.44. It may be time for him to call it quits on his international career.

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali hasn’t been an effective bowling option for Pakistan in recent memory. In a team that includes exceptional bowlers like Amir and Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali’s poor performances stick out like a sore thumb. His poor bowling performances not only put pressure on the rest of the bowlers, but it’s also partially responsible for Pakistan’s poor start in the tournament. He scalped only two wickets in four matches and was very expensive at an economy rate of 7.75. Pakistan team management should look to move on from Hasan Ali and look towards more lethal pacers like Shaheen Afridi.

Suranga Lakmal

Much like the other bowlers on this list, Suranga Lakmal has had a horrific tournament. He was expected to lead the bowling attack along with ace Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga. Instead, it was Malinga who shouldered most of the burden of the bowling while Lakmal remained wicketless in the tournament in the 3 games that he played.