 "The World Cup's top 5 batsmen")
Here is a look at the five batsmen who can set the World Cup ablaze:
Virat Kohli (India)
The stubble. The swagger. The sublimity. Never since Sachin Tendulkar burst on to the international scene two and a half decades ago, has Indian cricket seen a more complete batsman than Virat Kohli. A batsman who is equally adept at blocking and bashing the ball, Kohli has been India’s most outstanding performer over the last couple of seasons. The 26-year-old comes into the World Cup on the back of an impressive Test series against Australia. What sets Kohli apart from his contemporaries is his uncanny ability to mix caution and aggression with lethal precision.
After dramatically capitulating against James Anderson and Co. on seaming English wickets last year, Kohli seems to have found his feet in overseas conditions. With most batsmen in the Indian side exhibiting patchy form, Kohli will have to step up if India are to defend the title. When India clinched the crown in 2011, a young Kohli was slowly making his way up in the Indian team. Four years on and its impossible to imagine an Indian batting line-up without him.While there is some uncertainty about where he will bat in the order, it would be best for the team if he comes in at three. The more overs he faces, greater are the chances of India winning.
As a kid, AB De Villiers excelled at a variety of sports - rugby, golf, tennis, swimming, cricket. He was a part of South Africa’s junior Davis Cup team and was the country’s national under-19 badminton champion. But he chose to represent the South African cricket team at the senior level. And we couldn’t be more thankful.
So paranormal is the talent of the man that against the West Indies in Johannesburg last month, he smashed a hundred in just 31 balls. He ended up with an astonishing 149 off 49 balls. A batsman who possesses an almost unrivalled range of shots, De Villiers is the kind of batsman you’d want out in the middle if your team is at 20 for 3 or at 200 for 1. He can hit the perfect straight drive and follow it up with an audacious lap shot for six over fine-leg against the fastest bowler in the world. Arguably the best batsman in the world at the moment, the Proteas skipper can take the World Cup by storm.
For so long, Steven Smith was labelled as someone who could bowl a bit of leg-spin and add a few quick-fire runs at the end for Australia. Little did we know that he could do so much more. In the last one year, Smith has evolved into the mainstay of the Australian batting order. Once he gets his eye in these days, fielding teams find it tough to dislodge him. Against India in the Test series that concluded last month, the Aussie stand-in-skipper amassed 769 runs at an average of 128.17 - the kind of numbers that would make even Donald Bradman feel a little inferior.
An unorthodox technique combined with intelligent shot selection, Smith’s style of play is tailor-made for the shorter format of the game. The way he uses his feet against the slower bowlers is particularly impressive. With the Australian top-order a tad vulnerable, the hosts will look to Smith to provide solidity in the middle. Also, with doubts over captain Michael Clarke’s fitness, Australia's chances will hinge on how Smith performs.
After a game-changing 242 by Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka in Wellington last month, Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum said that the 24-year-old had the potential of becoming the country’s greatest ever batsman. From what we’ve seen from the young man in the last year, it is difficult to question McCullum’s judgement. A proper batsman who always had the talent, Williamson is finally delivering with consistent performances.
66, 6, 112, 54 and 97 - Williamson’s numbers in the last five one-day international matches. More than his attacking instincts, its his steely defence that will help New Zealand on pitches that are expected to favour the pacers. The Kiwis have enough firepower in the form of McCullum, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson. Williamson is a key player who can drop anchor and provide cool-headedness in the middle. On home soil, a strong performance from Williamson may see New Zealand finally end their World Cup hoodoo.
It’s difficult to decode Hashim Amla - the ODI batsman. In the age of slam-bang cricket, how does a man who caresses the ball as gently as him average nearly 57 in ODI cricket? How does he manage to churn out hundred after hundred with such phlegmatic resolve?
Its his immense hunger for runs that keeps the bashful 31-year-old from Durban going. With Amla, there are no booming square cuts or gargantuan sixes. Just proper cricketing shots with the odd dab down to third-man and a mellow dance down the wicket. Amla possesses a beautiful mix of exquisite stroke play and solid temperament. His ability to bat from start to finish is what makes his so special. With South Africa looking to end their World Cup drought, Amla’s form at the top of the order will be key. Knowing his remarkable consistency, it’s highly unlikely that he will disappoint.
Virat Kohli (India)
The stubble. The swagger. The sublimity. Never since Sachin Tendulkar burst on to the international scene two and a half decades ago, has Indian cricket seen a more complete batsman than Virat Kohli. A batsman who is equally adept at blocking and bashing the ball, Kohli has been India’s most outstanding performer over the last couple of seasons. The 26-year-old comes into the World Cup on the back of an impressive Test series against Australia. What sets Kohli apart from his contemporaries is his uncanny ability to mix caution and aggression with lethal precision.
After dramatically capitulating against James Anderson and Co. on seaming English wickets last year, Kohli seems to have found his feet in overseas conditions. With most batsmen in the Indian side exhibiting patchy form, Kohli will have to step up if India are to defend the title. When India clinched the crown in 2011, a young Kohli was slowly making his way up in the Indian team. Four years on and its impossible to imagine an Indian batting line-up without him.While there is some uncertainty about where he will bat in the order, it would be best for the team if he comes in at three. The more overs he faces, greater are the chances of India winning.
As a kid, AB De Villiers excelled at a variety of sports - rugby, golf, tennis, swimming, cricket. He was a part of South Africa’s junior Davis Cup team and was the country’s national under-19 badminton champion. But he chose to represent the South African cricket team at the senior level. And we couldn’t be more thankful.
So paranormal is the talent of the man that against the West Indies in Johannesburg last month, he smashed a hundred in just 31 balls. He ended up with an astonishing 149 off 49 balls. A batsman who possesses an almost unrivalled range of shots, De Villiers is the kind of batsman you’d want out in the middle if your team is at 20 for 3 or at 200 for 1. He can hit the perfect straight drive and follow it up with an audacious lap shot for six over fine-leg against the fastest bowler in the world. Arguably the best batsman in the world at the moment, the Proteas skipper can take the World Cup by storm.
For so long, Steven Smith was labelled as someone who could bowl a bit of leg-spin and add a few quick-fire runs at the end for Australia. Little did we know that he could do so much more. In the last one year, Smith has evolved into the mainstay of the Australian batting order. Once he gets his eye in these days, fielding teams find it tough to dislodge him. Against India in the Test series that concluded last month, the Aussie stand-in-skipper amassed 769 runs at an average of 128.17 - the kind of numbers that would make even Donald Bradman feel a little inferior.
An unorthodox technique combined with intelligent shot selection, Smith’s style of play is tailor-made for the shorter format of the game. The way he uses his feet against the slower bowlers is particularly impressive. With the Australian top-order a tad vulnerable, the hosts will look to Smith to provide solidity in the middle. Also, with doubts over captain Michael Clarke’s fitness, Australia's chances will hinge on how Smith performs.
After a game-changing 242 by Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka in Wellington last month, Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum said that the 24-year-old had the potential of becoming the country’s greatest ever batsman. From what we’ve seen from the young man in the last year, it is difficult to question McCullum’s judgement. A proper batsman who always had the talent, Williamson is finally delivering with consistent performances.
66, 6, 112, 54 and 97 - Williamson’s numbers in the last five one-day international matches. More than his attacking instincts, its his steely defence that will help New Zealand on pitches that are expected to favour the pacers. The Kiwis have enough firepower in the form of McCullum, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson. Williamson is a key player who can drop anchor and provide cool-headedness in the middle. On home soil, a strong performance from Williamson may see New Zealand finally end their World Cup hoodoo.
It’s difficult to decode Hashim Amla - the ODI batsman. In the age of slam-bang cricket, how does a man who caresses the ball as gently as him average nearly 57 in ODI cricket? How does he manage to churn out hundred after hundred with such phlegmatic resolve?
Its his immense hunger for runs that keeps the bashful 31-year-old from Durban going. With Amla, there are no booming square cuts or gargantuan sixes. Just proper cricketing shots with the odd dab down to third-man and a mellow dance down the wicket. Amla possesses a beautiful mix of exquisite stroke play and solid temperament. His ability to bat from start to finish is what makes his so special. With South Africa looking to end their World Cup drought, Amla’s form at the top of the order will be key. Knowing his remarkable consistency, it’s highly unlikely that he will disappoint.