ICC World Cup in 2019: Look out for these top 5 players in their maiden WC

Several players across teams are making their first world cup appearance in ICC World Cup 2019; Business Standard looks at the skills of top 5 debutants and estimates the impact they might make

As 10 participating teams put themselves on the shop window for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, being held in England and Wales from May 30, there will be several members in each team who would be making their maiden World Cup appearance. Business Standard look at the statistics for each of these players, analysed their skills and whittled the list of debutants down to top 5 players who could make the greatest impact in World Cup 2019 for their respective teams.
 
Here are the top 5 World Cup first-timers to look out for:

Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan
 
Many might think that Imam-ul-Haq, a nephew of one of Pakistan’s greatest batsmen Inzamam-ul-Haq, would be under pressure to prove himself at ICC World Cup 2019. But, in his brief career so far, the southpaw’s bat has done the talking and justified his place in the Pakistan playing 11 at the top of the batting order. In 28 One Day International (ODI) matches played so far, Haq has amassed over 1,300 runs at an average of 57.79, including six hundreds and five fifties. In an ODI match against England recently, he went on to score 150, breaking Kapil Dev’s 36-year-old record as the youngest player to slam over 150 runs in a 50-over match. The Pakistani opener was 23 years and 153 days old when he achieved this feat. Before him, Kapil Dev had scored a record unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe in 1983 at the age of 24.

Imam-ul-Haq cricket record
 

	Matches	Innings	Not Out	Runs	Highest Score	Average	Ball faced	Strike Rate	Hundreds	Fifties	Fours	Sixes
ODIs	28	28	5	1387	151	60.3	1700	81.58	6	5	103	14
Tests	10	19	2	483	76	28.41	1017	47.49	0	3	59	3
T20Is	1	1	0	7	7	7	10	70	0	0	0	0
First-class	46	83	12	2403	200 no	33.88	5381	44.71	4	14	268	5
List A	60	60	5	2509	151	45.61	3204	78.3	7	13	207	18
T20s	43	40	6	1201	67	35.32	1013	118.55	0	12	112	18

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah, India
 
When the Indian cricket team lifted the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy in 2011, they had much to thank the experience of Zaheer Khan for it. This time around, Virat Kohli will be trusting the skills of Jasprit Bumrah to restrict the opposition in powerplays and death overs. Regarded the ‘world’s best bowler’ at present by many experts, Bumrah should be India’s answer to the batting-friendly pitches in England. Though these pitches are often seen as a nightmare for bowlers, Bumrah’s unique action and capability to mix yorkers with slower balls and well-directed bouncers should do the trick. Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri will be heavily banking on Bumrah to provide crucial breakthroughs in ICC cricket World Cup 2019.
 
Jasprit Bumrah cricket record
 

	Matches	Innings	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling Innings	Best Bowling match	Average	Economy	Strike rate	4 Wickets	5 wickets
ODIs	49	49	2505	1883	85	5-27	5-27	22.15	4.51	29.4	4	1
Tests	10	20	2416	1073	49	6-33	9-86	21.89	2.66	49.3	0	3
T20Is	42	42	919	1029	51	3-11	3-11	20.17	6.71	18	0	0
First-class	36	62	7430	3328	138	6-29	9-86	24.11	2.68	53.8	3	9
List A	74	74	3860	2784	137	5-27	5-27	20.32	4.32	28.1	7	2
T20s	149	149	3324	3932	174	3-7	3-7	22.59	7.09	19.1	0	0

 
 
 

Adam Zampa (photo: ICC)

Adam Zampa, Australia
 
Adam Zampa, with his boyish looks and a round-arm leg-break action, is often compared with legendary leggie Shane Warne. He may not have a vast experience in ODI cricket but his old-school technique of tossing the ball above the eye-line has helped him immensely. Zampa, who has in recent past gone deceived even the likes of Virat Kohli with his leg break and googly, will be crucial for Australia’s World Cup defence. It has also been seen lately that finger spinners have not been as useful on batting-friendly tracks like those in England, especially since the ICC Champions trophy 2017. So Adam Zampa should have the added responsibility because of being the only wrist spinner in the Australian squad.
 
Adam Zampa cricket record 

Bowling	Matches	Innings	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling Innings	Best Bowling match	Average	Economy	Strike rate	4 Wickets	5 wickets
ODIs	44	44	2282	2127	60	4-43	4-43	35.45	5.59	38	1	0
Tests	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
T20Is	22	21	444	447	23	3-16	3-16	19.43	6.04	19.3	0	0
First-class	36	63	7348	4804	102	6-62	10-119	47.09	3.92	72	3	2
List A	78	77	4173	3734	113	4-18	33.04	5.36	36.9	4	0	0
T20s	115	112	2319	2780	127	6-19	6-19	21.88	7.19	18.2	0	1

 

Rashid Khan. Photo: @ICC

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan
 
Rashid Khan is one of the important factors that have helped Afghanistan in qualifying for the ICC World Cup 2019, despite the marquee event being reduced to just 10 participants this year. If you are chronicling the factors that have led to the success of Afghanistan, you just cannot miss Rashid’s wicket-taking skills. Rashid Khan, with his quick leg breaks, has deceived world-class batsmen across cricket-playing nations, particularly in T20 leagues. In the ICC ODI bowling rankings, he is placed at number 3 ahead of Imran Tahir and Kasigo Rabada, and that should be a proof of his prowess in recent months. Few would be expecting Afghanistan to qualify for semis, but none would deny that they have the goods to inflict a few upsets, with Rashid Khan playing a crucial role.

Rashid Khan cricket record

Bowling	Matches	Innings	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling Innings	Best Bowling match	Average	Economy	Strike rate	4 Wickets	5 wickets
ODIs	58	55	2893	1886	125	7-18	7-18	15.08	3.91	23.1	4	4
Tests	2	3	485	256	9	5-82	7-102	28.44	3.16	53.8	0	1
T20Is	38	38	864	867	75	5-3	5-3	11.56	6.02	11.5	3	2
First-class	6	11	1664	783	44	8-74	12-122	17.79	2.82	37.8	1	5
List A	60	57	3000	1974	129	7-18	7-18	15.3	3.94	23.2	4	4
T20s	170	169	3947	4021	254	5-3	5-3	15.83	6.11	15.5	5	2
Batting
	Matches	Innings	Not Out	Runs	Highest Score	Average	Ball faced	Strike Rate	Hundreds	Fifties	Fours	Sixes
ODIs	58	43	9	798	60 no	23.47	787	101.39	0	4	70	24
Tests	2	3	0	29	12	9.66	31	93.54	0	0	3	1
T20Is	38	17	8	123	33	13.66	99	124.24	0	0	8	8
First-class	6	7	1	154	52	25.66	198	77.77	0	1	21	1
List A	60	44	9	819	60 no	23.4	801	102.24	0	4	75	24
T20s	170	78	29	606	56 no	12.36	399	151.87	0	1	37	45

 
 
 

Ben Stokes. Photo: PTI

Ben Stokes, England
 
A genuine all-rounder who can add fire power lower down the order, Ben Stokes bowls with a pace of over 140 kmph and is an exceptional fielder. He has proved himself as one of the factors that make the England cricket team favourites to win the ICC World Cup 2019. He is extremely passionate in everything he does and his aggression ensures there is seldom a dull moment with him around on the field. He can provide crucial breakthroughs while bowling in the middle overs and change the complexion of the game with a brilliant run-out or a catch at the boundary. Recently, he steered his side to a series win while chasing 340 against Pakistan, even as wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

Batting	Matches	Innings	Not Out	Runs	Highest Score	Average	Ball faced	Strike Rate	Hundreds	Fifties	Fours	Sixes
ODIs	84	71	12	2217	102 no	37.57	2356	94.1	3	15	179	64
Tests	52	95	2	3152	258	33.89	5370	58.69	6	17	399	48
T20Is	23	20	5	232	38	15.46	178	130.33	0	0	20	9
First-class	127	215	10	6942	258	33.86	NA	NA	14	36	NA	NA
List A	155	135	21	4118	164	36.12	4247	96.96	7	22	351	126
T20s	120	110	18	2257	103 no	24.53	1671	135.06	1	8	175	98
Bowling
	Matches	Innings	Balls	Runs	Wickets	Best Bowling Innings	Best Bowling match	Average	Economy	Strike rate	4 Wickets	5 wickets
ODIs	84	69	2607	2674	63	5-61	5-61	42.44	6.15	41.3	1	1
Tests	52	89	7328	4054	127	6-22	8-161	31.92	3.31	57.7	5	4
T20Is	23	18	334	496	10	3-26	3-26	49.6	8.91	33.4	0	0
First-class	127	199	15101	8719	296	7-67	10-121	29.45	3.46	51	14	7
List A	155	115	4282	4161	127	5-61	5-61	32.76	5.83	33.7	3	1
T20s	120	84	1483	2081	64	4-16	4-16	32.51	8.41	23.1	1	0