In the Cricket World Cup 2023, some players are doing their jobs excellently and receiving appreciation for their stunning performances while a lot of players are lacking discipline which is preventing them from doing well for their teams consistently in the tournament. These players’ non-performances have become a headache for their teams.
However, the fourth week of the tournament has been exceptional for cricket supporters as they witnessed some unprecedented cricketing action. After watching the matches last week, it’s time to prepare the team of flop XI players who failed to do their jobs efficiently in those seven days.
Here is the flop XI of the tournament’s fourth week
1. Temba Bavuma
South Africa are performing exceptionally in this tournament but their captain Temba Bavuma’s dismal form is a huge concern. On one side, De Kock is delivering scintillating starts to the side while on the other hand, Bavuma is consistently failing to support his in-form opening partner.
In his five outings, the right-handed batter has scored only 111 runs at an average of 22.20. Against Pakistan, he exuded confidence from his bat, hitting some boundaries but he failed to take his innings ahead. The Protea skipper went back to the pavilion after scoring 28 off 27.
South Africa hammered New Zealand by 190 runs in Pune but Bavuma again looked ineffective. This time, he fell to Trent Boult after scoring 24 runs off 28 deliveries. In the upcoming weeks, the Protea skipper will have to be among the runs to help his team lift the trophy.
2. Will Young
New Zealand ignored veteran Martin Guptill and trusted the 30-year-old Will Young to open the innings for them in this World Cup. Young has scored only 206 runs in six matches of the competition, at an average of 34.33. His underwhelming numbers are giving a headache to the New Zealand team management.
The fourth week was difficult for the Kiwis as they lost crucial games against the quality sides Australia and South Africa. In both matches, Young failed to produce big from his bat. The Kiwi side was following a target of 389 runs against Australia in Dharamshala’s batting surface and Young’s responsibility was to give a blistering start to his team.
Pursuing the massive total, Young went back to the dugout after playing a lethargic 32-run innings off 37 deliveries. Against South Africa, New Zealand were chasing 358 and the opener again looked timid with his bat, giving away his wicket to Gerald Coetzee after amassing 33 off 37.
3. Joe Root
England have produced their one of the worst performances in the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments in nine years. Their batters were expected to have a blast on Indian pitches known for being batting-friendly but all their key names have failed to showcase their best with their bats.
Joe Root’s job is to reinforce England’s top-order, batting at number three but he has failed to justify his role. Playing six games, Root has accumulated only 175 runs in six matches at a disappointing average of 29.16. In the must-win game against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, England failed drastically to handle pressure and registered a humiliating eight-wicket defeat.
Root, one of the most experienced players in the squad, lost his wicket on score of three while stealing a run. England were tasked to chase 230 runs against India in Lucknow and the veteran batter got dismissed on a duck against Jasprit Bumrah.
4. Najmul Hossain Shanto
Bangladesh have emerged as one of the worst-performing sides in this World Cup. After seven matches, they have won only one game and are the first team to get knocked out of the competition. On India’s batting-friendly pitches, Bangladesh’s batting line-up has performed horrendously.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh’s vice-captain, has scored only 87 runs in seven matches at an extremely poor average of 14.50. The Bangla side lost to the Netherlands by 87 runs at Eden Gardens and Shanto added another failure to his profile, scoring only nine off 18 balls.
Bangladesh got a seven-wicket hammering from Pakistan in Kolkata. Batting first, they posted only 204 runs in 45.1 overs. Shanto, who came to bat at number three, got dismissed on four runs off Shaheen Afridi’s delivery.
5. Jos Buttler (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
The England cricket team had kept their expectations high from Jos Buttler. Holding the reins of the team, the veteran is struggling to take his team to the knockout stage. With just one win in six contests, the English side is sitting at the bottom of the points table. It’s not just captaincy, Buttler is struggling with his bat as well.
Buttler has scored only 105 runs in six outings at a sub-par average of 17.50. In the must-win contest against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, England got folded on 156 runs. With the collapse of top-order batters at a score of 68, Buttler’s responsibility was to rescue his team but he also failed to counter Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling and fell on eight to Lahiru Kumara.
In the big contest against the hosts India, Buttler used his bowling well to restrict India to 229 runs. However, England’s batters failed to stand with courage against India’s quality bowling and lost the game by 100 runs. Buttler got cleaned up on 10 off Kuldeep Yadav’s spectacular delivery.
6. Bas de Leede
After beating South Africa, the Netherlands vanquished Bangladesh at Eden Gardens and registered their second victory in the tournament. For the Dutch side, the fourth week went well with this triumph but their one of the essential stalwarts Bas de Leede failed as a batter.
With the ball, he took two wickets in his seven-over spell but earlier, he played slow innings of 17 off 32. The right-handed batter went into the middle when the Orange Army was four down and struggling to score runs. In that situation, the youngster had a chance to take on Bangladesh’s bowlers with spunk and rescue his side.
7. Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali is one of the England players who is accustomed to Indian conditions. The veteran all-rounder has played a lot of cricket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and noting his experience, England cricket team supporters were expecting him to make a solid contribution to their side in this World Cup.
Moeen has disappointed his team’s supporters with his ineffective performances. The 36-year-old has racked up 41 runs with his bat in three matches at a miserable average of 13.66. He was part of England’s playing XI in the crucial game against Sri Lanka to reinforce the English team in all departments of the game.
In this game, Moeen couldn’t do much for the defending champions. As a batter, he scored only 15 runs while with the ball, he bowled three overs and gave away 21 runs. After Sri Lanka, India handed England a 100-run beating in Lucknow and Moeen’s struggle also continued as he looked nervous while batting and lost his wicket on 15 against Mohammed Shami, who wreaked havoc on England that day.
8. James Neesham
New Zealand aren’t looking confident in this competition despite starting their tournament with four consecutive victories. The Kiwi side lost their important games against Australia and South Africa in the fourth week and with these defeats, they accumulated three losses in a row.
In both matches, James Neesham put up terrible bowling shows for the Black Caps. Against Australia, he splurged 27 runs in his second over which helped the Aussies to post 388 runs on the board. In his two-over spell, he gave away 32 runs which included four maximums from Pat Cummins in the 48th over of the game.
Neesham looked disastrous with the ball against South Africa as well. Against the Protea side, the pacer picked up David Miller’s wicket but leaked 69 runs in 5.3 overs. After failing with the ball, the all-rounder delivered an eight-ball duck to his team with the bat.
9. Mohammad Nawaz
Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in this tournament has put their World Cup campaign in danger. With three victories in seven matches, the Men in Green are in the sixth position on the points table and to qualify for the knockout round, they need to win their remaining contests.
In week four, they lost to South Africa by one wicket in Chennai due to their poor batting show. Like their previous matches, Pakistan’s batters failed to bat for 50 overs against the Protea side as well. In this game, Pakistan included Mohammad Nawaz in their playing XI to add strength to their batting and spin department.
The 29-year-old came to bat at number eight and his responsibility was to accumulate runs at a brisk pace in the final overs. However, he could score only 24 runs from his bat and his dismissal cost Pakistan as they got bundled out on 270 with 20 balls remaining in their innings. Nawaz failed to create an impact for his team with the ball as well. Bowling 6.2 overs, he gave away 40 runs without picking up any wicket.
10. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc delivered standout performances to Australia in the 2015 and 2019 World Cup editions but in this World Cup, he is struggling to be among the wickets. Indian pitches are known for assisting batters and in these conditions, the pacer is consistently failed to produce effective spells for his side.
In the big game against New Zealand, the five-time champions defended 388 runs successfully, restricting the opponents to 383 but Starc got beaten up by the Kiwi batters. In his nine overs, New Zealand’s batters took advantage of his poor form and plundered 89 runs. The speedster went back to the dugout without getting any wickets in the match
His terrible bowling numbers in the contest also became the most expensive spell for the Aussies in World Cup games. The 33-year-old paceman bettered his infamous record of 74 runs (10 overs) given against India at the Oval in the 2019 World Cup edition.
11. Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson is one of the pivotal players in the New Zealand team. His role is to bolster the Kiwi side’s fast-bowling unit, along with the pace-bowling spearhead Trent Boult. However, Ferguson hasn’t been impactful for the Black Caps despite possessing a lot of experience in these conditions.
Against Australia, he bowled three overs and splurged 38 runs. As a senior player in the team, the speedster was expected to step up in crisis and rein in the Aussie batters but he also lacked discipline and came out as one of the expensive bowlers. After bowling three overs, he left the field due to a niggle in his right Achilles.
His injury also forced him to stay out of New Zealand’s playing XI against South Africa. The pacer was set to return in the important game against Pakistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium but that couldn’t happen.