Four Veterans Who Have Sealed Their Spot in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup

The upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales will be the biggest cricketing carnival throughout the calendar year. This is the biggest stage for the cricketers to make a name for themselves in front of the audience across the world. While this showpiece event will boast many youngsters, veterans like MS Dhoni will also grace this year’s event.

The team across the world will pin their hopes on the experienced players to perform during this nerve-wracking tournament. They are likely to play a big part as it has been evident over the years. From Zaheer Khan for India in 2011 to Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Brad Hogg in 2007; the veteran cricketers have always made a mark.

Meanwhile, there are many cricketers whose talent have started to fade with age on the wrong side. While some of them decided to bid farewell many stuck to doing what they do the best. Although they have witnessed a dip in the form in the last year or so but has picked up at the right moment.

Let us look at four veteran cricketers who looked out of socks a year ago and now have sealed their spot in the World Cup:

MS DHONI

The former Indian National Cricket team skipper had a sloppy 2018 which raised questions on his participation in the ICC World Cup. MS Dhoni managed to score only 275 runs from 13 games in 2018 with only one half-century. While many questioned Dhoni’s place in the playing XI, skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri backed the veteran cricketer.

And with the start of 2019, MS Dhoni has made a scintillating comeback. He scored three back-to-back half-centuries against Australia to win the man of the series award. He was the pivotal cog in the line-up as the men in blues registered their first-ever bilateral series win Down Under.

However, with those two match-winning knocks, MS Dhoni has put all the speculations to an end and thus cementing his place for the showpiece event in England and Wales.

DALE STEYN

One of the best fast bowlers of this generation, Dale Steyn’s international career didn’t prolong due to a lot of injuries. However, the worse of all came in 2017 when he had to miss all international games throughout the year. After breaking his shoulder bone during the Test series in Australia in 2016-17, Steyn came back to international cricket after a year in November 2017. However, his comeback was shortlived as he played only one Test against India at Cape Town in January 2018.

However, he cemented his place in the ODI squad with his blistering pace during the series against Australia. He picked up seven wickets in just three matches in the series, coming at an average of 13.42. Steyn will add a lot to South Africa’s bowling unit that already boasts Kagiso Rabada.

LASITH MALINGA

Lasith Malinga is regarded as one of the most lethal fast bowlers of the 20th century due to his varied variations. In addition to, his side-arm action makes it even more difficult for the batsmen to read him.

After an averaging outing throughout the early part of 2017, the selectors dropped the veteran bowler for the series against Pakistan in the UAE. They tried many combinations for the spot but they all failed to make a mark and the selectors had to go back to the old warhorse.

Making a comeback during the Asia Cup, Lasith Malinga impressed in his very match returning with 4 for 23 against Bangladesh. He continued his good form in the subsequent series against top-ranked ODI side England. He also finished as one of the leading wicket-taker during the subsequent ODI series in New Zealand.

With his eye-catching performances in the recent series, Maling will be a key component in the Sri Lanka team for the ICC World Cup.

SHAUN MARSH

One of the good left-handed batters in the current days, Shaun Marsh, has finally got an extended run with the suspension of Steven Smith and David Warner in the limited-overs format and he has capitalised it too full effect.

Making his ODI debut in 2008 on the back of a terrific performance in the Indian Premier League. He played an elegant knock of 81 runs on his debut and did little wrong whenever he went out to the bat. Gradually he faded away from the ODI setup, making him a Test specialist.

However, a ban on Warner and Smith forced the selectors to recall him for the ODI series against England. Although Australia lost the series 5-0, Shaun Marsh smashed two beautiful centuries. He continued his good form to score two centuries more, one against South Africa and one against India. With over 600 runs in ten innings since his return, Marsh is certainly to be on the plane to England.