Top Ten Finds in International Cricket from 2017-18 Season

The season of 2017-18 gave us exciting cricketing action from all parts of the globe. Be it home season for South African cricket, or the Trans-Tasman T20I action, viewers have been thoroughly entertained by all top teams in the world.

2017-18 also saw the highs and lows of several players, coupled with the ecstasy of victory and agony of defeat. Last six months of cricket also saw the birth of possibly glorious international careers for their respective countries.

Here, we try to look at some of the finds in international cricket from the season of 2017-2018.

Dawid Malan

One of the major finds for England this season across all formats is Middlesex captain Dawid Malan. The southpaw was only one of the two batsmen from England who managed to reach the three-figure mark in the Ashes series.

Furthermore, he displayed his versatility in T20I cricket when he replaced Joe Root during Trans-Tasman Tri-series. Malan holds the record for scoring four consecutive half-centuries in his first four games in T20I cricket.

D’Arcy Short

Powerful left-handed opener from the Hobart Hurricanes had a breakthrough season in the Big Bash League. Short scored the most number of runs in the tournament and forced his way into the national side with his explosive batting.

The Tasmanian then brought his BBL form internationally during the Trans-Tasman T20I series. He played a couple of blinders against New Zealand in the series, keeping number one T20I batsman Aaron Finch out of the opening slot.

Billy Stanlake

Yet another product from the Big Bash, Billy Stanlake, bowled at express pace throughout the league and terrorized batsmen by constantly hitting the 150-kmph mark. He earnt his Australian cap on the basis of his performances in the T20 league for Adelaide Strikers.

6’7”, Stanlake, holds tremendous potential for Australia in all format, giving a stiff competition of famous trio of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins.

Lungi Ngidi

Replenishing the South African pace attack post-Morne Morkel’s retirement will be speedster Lungi Ngidi. The pacer made a sensational debut against India at Centurion by picking up six wickets in the second inning.

He followed it up with impressive performances during the ODIs against India to display his versatility in all formats. He was then bagged by IPL giants CSK during the recent auctions.

Heinrich Klaasen

With the torrid form of SA’s premier wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock, one man who is giving the left-hander run for his money is Heinrich Klaasen. His explosive batting became a talking point during the recently concluded ODI and T20I series.

His knocks in Jo’Burg and Centurion upset the terrific duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep. Klaasen’s knocks will now keep De Kock on his toes in the upcoming series against Australia.

Roshen Silva

With knocks of 109, 56 and 70* against Bangladesh in the 2-match Test series, Roshen Silva, only in 3 Tests, strengthened the once fragile looking batting unit of Sri Lanka. Silva becomes one of the major finds for a desperate looking Sri Lankan cricket.

Dhananjaya de Silva

Another find for Sri Lanka in Test cricket, Dhananjaya de Silva, with his performances in the 2017-18 season, went on to state that he is here to stay for the long run.

He scored an impressive century in the second innings of Delhi Test match to salvage a draw for his side. The 119 against the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja denied an inevitable white-wash in front of a superior looking Indian side.

Dhananjaya de Silva, then, carried on his form against Bangladesh in at their fortress where he scored a mammoth 179. De Silva already averages above 46 in the purest format of the game with four centuries already to his name.

Mominul Haque

Bangladesh has found a reliable number three batsman in Mominul Haque. Haque, prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket this season, scored a monumental 176 at a strike rate of 82 on a batting paradise at Chittagong. He was also the lone man standing for the Bangladeshis during the second match at Dhaka.

Christiaan Jonker

31-year old, Christiaan Jonker finally got his opportunity on the international stage and lived up to his reputation for being a big-hitter in domestic cricket. Even though his 49 off just 24 deliveries ended up in vain, he brought South Africa closer to an improbable victory. Jonker went on to become one of the finds for South Africa apart from Junior Dala.

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur, in only 5 limited overs outing clinched 7 wickets to show for, with the best of 4/52 at Centurion. Shardul undoubtedly is the find for the Indians in the fast bowling front. Shardul replenishes the already large reservoir of exciting fast bowlers eager to represent the country.