ODI XI: Lisa Sthalekar, a two-time World Cup winner and ICC Hall of Famer from Australia, recently revealed her dream ODI XI composed of the first five players she would select. Here are the players she chose and her reasons for selecting them:
Jasprit Bumrah – India
Sthalekar emphasizes the importance of an opening bowler who can pick up wickets early in the innings and also bowl effectively at the death when batsmen are going hard. She praises Bumrah’s versatility in being able to perform across all three phases of the game: early, middle, and death overs.
Virat Kohli – India
For the batting position, Sthalekar opts for Virat Kohli, highlighting his prowess as a consistent run-scorer on the big stage. She mentions that with the World Cup taking place in India, Kohli has an opportunity to bid farewell to the tournament in front of his home crowd and make his country proud.
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Babar Azam – Pakistan
Sthalekar believes that Babar Azam will excel in the World Cup due to his ability to adapt to the conditions and the 50-over format. She describes him as a player who leads from the front and acts as the glue in Pakistan’s batting lineup. Babar’s style allows him to accumulate runs steadily, even reaching triple figures without much notice.
Steve Smith – Australia
Sthalekar appreciates Steve Smith’s adaptability to different conditions and his skill against spin bowling. She considers his ability to control the innings from the middle overs crucial, particularly in managing the game during that phase.
Shaheen Afridi – Pakistan
Sthalekar’s final pick is left-arm quick bowler Shaheen Afridi from Pakistan. She lauds his effectiveness with the ball, mentioning his pace and movement as key strengths. She sees him as a bowler capable of thriving at the death and notes that his experience in T20 cricket will contribute to his impact in the 50-over World Cup.
These selections reflect Sthalekar’s assessment of players who possess the qualities she values in their respective roles, based on their performances and abilities in different cricketing situations.
