LISTICLE
Follow Us* All stats from the start of 2023, unless stated otherwise
(Pre-World Cup - 30 wickets in 13 innings @ 14.7, economy 4.9)
(In World Cup - 6 wickets in 5 innings @ 42.83, economy 5.9)
After having struggled against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the Indian seamer finally found some form against New Zealand. Siraj claimed 1/45 in his 10 overs in Dharamshala but hasn’t really been able to light up the 2023 World Cup like many expected him to do, especially in the first 10 overs.
Siraj had 16 wickets @ 17.2 in the powerplay prior to the World Cup but is averaging 52 and claimed only two wickets in that phase in the ongoing tournament. His lack of form hasn’t really hurt India because Jasprit Bumrah has produced astonishing numbers in every game. India have won all their games despite Siraj’s mediocre form, so imagine what they can do once the 29-year-old returns to his best.
(Pre-World Cup - 745 runs in 15 innings @ 49.67, strike rate 85.4)
(In World Cup - 157 runs in 5 innings @ 31.40, strike rate 79.69)
The top-ranked ODI batter has two fifties but hasn’t really been able to stamp his authority in the tournament. As expected, Babar has struggled big time against spin. The right-hander has operated at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 118.75 against pace, but those numbers fall to 27 and 60.9, respectively, against spin.
Babar has got out to spin three times in this World Cup, and the opponents have had little trouble planning against him. If you want to know how dismal those numbers are, Babar has the second-worst strike rate and worst balls/boundary (33.3) against spin in this World Cup - a minimum of 100 balls faced.
(Pre-World Cup - 24 wickets in 13 innings @ 23, economy 5.5)
(In World Cup - 8 wickets in 5 innings @ 35.75, economy 6.97)
Rauf has been treated with utmost disrespect in the last four games. The tearaway quick started his campaign with figures of 3/43 against the Netherlands but since then, has only managed five wickets at an average of 48.6 and an economy of 7.6. That’s not it; in three games that Pakistan have lost, Rauf has bowled four overs in the powerplay and leaked runs at an economy of 13.8.
Also read - What has gone wrong with Pakistan? Almost everything!
Amongst bowlers who have bowled at least 40 overs in the tournament, Rauf has the second-worst economy (6.97). No other bowler has conceded more sixes (11) than him in the event. Rauf has tried to bounce out every batter, but the likes of Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Kusal Mendis have made him pay.
(Pre-World Cup - 698 runs in 14 innings @ 49.86, strike rate 86.9)
(In World Cup - 74 runs in 5 innings @ 18.50, strike rate 67.27)
The left-handed batter has been a massive disappointment for Bangladesh. He came into this tournament in some form, having crafted five fifties and two centuries, but has been a big failure in this event. The 25-year-old started this campaign with an unbeaten 59 against Afghanistan but has just 15 runs in the last four innings. Amongst batters who have batted at least five times in the top four in this WC, Shanto has the third-worst average.
(Pre-World Cup - 21 wickets in 10 innings @ 16.9, economy 4.3)
(In World Cup - 2 wickets in 3 innings @ 63, economy 6.3)
Taskin has never enjoyed bowling in the World Cup, as his average of 41 and economy of 6.4 in nine games would suggest. The right-armer from Bangladesh was making all the right noise prior to the showpiece event but has looked a shadow of himself in the three games he has featured in.
In the middle overs (11-40), Taskin has the third-worst economy (7.4) amongst pacers who have bowled at least 10 overs in that phase. To make things worse for Bangladesh, none of the seamers have an average of less than 44. Bangladesh have the worst average (60.5) and balls/wicket (52.7) in the World Cup.
(Pre-World Cup - 548 runs in 10 innings @ 60.89, strike rate 110.5)
(In World Cup - 95 runs in 5 innings @ 19, strike rate 114.45)
England have been terrible, and so has been their skipper Buttler. One of the best white-ball batters of the current generation, Buttler hasn’t done anything and that has affected England’s campaign in a major way. The wicketkeeper-batter got 43 against Afghanistan but has only scored 52 runs since then.
Someone like Mark Wood has better numbers than him and that tells you the entire story. Buttler has got out to pace in all five innings, with three of those being caught behind. England have now lost four of their five matches and are more or less out of the World Cup.
Also read - Disoriented Buttler’s abysmal form echoes England’s struggles
(Pre-World Cup - 637 runs in 10 innings @ 79.63, strike rate 104.1)
(In World Cup - 59 runs in 3 innings @ 19.66, strike rate 64.83)
South Africa have looked more dangerous in the absence of their regular skipper. Bavuma missed the last two games due to illness and the Proteas ended up hammering 399 and 382 in those two encounters. Bavuma has often been criticized for his lack of intent, but this year, the right-handed opener had a strike rate of more than 100 before the World Cup.
Bavuma, however, hasn’t been able to carry forward that form into the main event. In a team where almost every single batter has operated at a strike rate of more than 100, Bavuma has scored at just 64.83. The right-hander has the second-worst strike rate amongst all openers (at least 50 deliveries). He has neither played the role of an aggressor nor the role of an anchor.
(Pre-World Cup - 31 wickets in 15 innings @ 17.5, economy 4.5)
(In World Cup - 3 wickets in 4 innings @ 57.66, economy 4.89)
The 23-year-old hasn’t been as bad as some of the others on the list. Theekshana has given away runs at an economy of less than five but hasn’t picked enough wickets. These numbers would have looked good if Wanindu Hasaranga was around, but in his absence, the onus was on Theekshana to provide Sri Lanka with important breakthroughs. He has the third-worst strike rate (70.7) for a spinner - a minimum of 30 overs. Overall, Sri Lanka have the second-worst average (76.3) and balls/wicket (76.9) in the tournament.
(Pre-World Cup - 285 runs in 7 innings @ 47.5 and 15 wickets @ 22.1)
(In World Cup - 97 runs in 5 innings @ 19.4 and 9 wickets @ 34)
The Netherlands’s ace all-rounder had a day to forget against Australia in Delhi. The right-arm seamer registered the most expensive figures (2/115) in the history of ODI cricket, getting slammed for 13 fours and six maximums in his 10 overs. Unsurprisingly, de Leede has the worst economy (7.7) in the competition.
If not for his performances in the Qualifiers, the Netherlands might not even have qualified for the main tournament. De Leede did start well, scoring 67 runs and picking up four wickets against Pakistan. Since then, the right-handed batter has scores of 18, 2, 6 and 4.
