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Follow UsThe transfer window is a concept that football fans are well aware of. However, in cricket, the transfer window is a concept that has been rarely used. But what if that concept came to cricket for the ODI World Cup?
Don’t worry, we got you covered. There are some basic rules: the cricketers traded should have played two or fewer games for their respective teams in the World Cup. Any cricketer who has played more than that wouldn’t be eligible for a trade.
Afghanistan
What do they lack: New ball bowlers, all-rounders
Options: Mohammad Wasim Jr or Tanzim Hasan
Afghanistan’s cricket is in good stead, with two wins out of five games. Despite the two wins - one coming against Pakistan and the other against England - they still have an XI with a lot of chink in its armour.
For starters, they don’t have a pace-bowling all-rounder apart from Azmatullah Omarzai and don’t have an out-and-out pacer to bowl well in the powerplay, barring Fazalhaq Farooqi. In that aspect, they have two prime options: Mohammad Wasim Jr and Tanzim Hasan.
While Wasim will solve one of Afghanistan’s long-standing problems, death-over bowling, the inclusion of Tanzim Hasan will help Afghanistan solve one of their other problems in the World Cup, new-ball bowling. Their bowling average of 57.8 in the powerplay could be solved.
Australia
What do they lack: Spinner
Options: Nasum Ahmed
Australia lack one thing, and that’s already costing them big time. The lack of a secondary spinner is a big talking point from Australia’s setup, with the untimely injury to Ashton Agar.
But one left-arm spinner solves the bill: Bangladesh’s Nasum Ahmed. Had Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage played one game fewer, he would have been eligible to be part of this trade. But as it stands, Nasum solves a lot of Australia’s problems.
The left-armer is also very economical, with a career economy of 4.12, picking up 12 wickets in 12 innings. Australia will benefit from the left-arm spinner’s knowledge of Asian conditions as well.
Bangladesh
What do they lack: Wrist spinner
Options: Tabraiz Shamsi or Ish Sodhi
Bangladesh are perhaps the only team in the competition who don’t have a wrist spinner. Barring that, they have variety in their bowling attack that other teams could only dream of, and there are two left-arm pacers, two off-spinners, two right-arm pacers, and two left-arm spinners, amongst others.
In that regard, the only type of bowling style that is missing in their arsenal is a wrist spinner. And who better than Tabraiz Shamsi and Ish Sodhi to fill that void? Sodhi might suit Bangladesh, given that he also adds more batting depth, with the leg-spinner picking up 13 wickets in the year, alongside the 64 runs he has scored.
England
What do they lack: New-ball bowler
Options: Mohammed Shami
England were really lucky to have Reece Topley in their squad for the World Cup. The left-arm pacer has picked up four out of the six wickets that England have picked in the powerplay. But with no Topley anymore in their setup, they need a new-ball bowler who can solve their issues.
There’s only one name, and England will hugely benefit from that: Mohammed Shami. Shami’s World Cup is insane, and it would be fitting if he was part of the English setup, as they can finally make him Sir Shami. Shami has picked up 36 World Cup wickets, averaging just FIFTEEN. A GOATed World Cup bowler.
India
What do they lack: Back-up pace-bowling all-rounder
Options: Jimmy Neesham
Right now, India don’t have any sort of weakness. But then they had a small scare when Hardik Pandya rolled his ankle during the clash against Bangladesh in Pune. That’s when the value of Pandya was amplified. So, if anything, India would want a pace-bowling all-rounder as a back-up for Pandya.
In that category, there are some names, but none fit the bill as perfectly as James Neesham. Neesham is not just an all-rounder who can roll his arm but also a left-hander, another place India would definitely be interested in. Having someone like Neesham as a back-up is a blessing in disguise, especially considering how valuable an all-rounder is to a setup.
Netherlands
What do they lack: Left-handed middle-order batter
Options: Alex Carey
If there is one team in this entire ODI World Cup that doesn’t have a left-handed batter in the middle-order, that is the Netherlands. The Netherlands have played some great cricket thus far at this year’s event, but even then, a crucial aspect of their game has been exposed multiple times: middle-order batter.
Their middle-order (4-7) average 26.7 in the tournament, the third-worst, only behind England and Australia. In that regard, they would highly benefit from Alex Carey, a solid left-handed batter.
New Zealand
What do they lack: Spin department
Options: Ravichandran Ashwin
Saying New Zealand lack in the spin department isn’t quite accurate. But it is more like it is a department where they wouldn’t mind having someone experienced. There are two left-arm spinners and one off-spinner already in the XI, but someone as experienced as Ravichandran Ashwin might be enticing.
Ashwin is already a World Cup winner, something New Zealand has gotten so close to in the past two editions. Given that they are so close to being a perfect side, Ashwin would only elevate this already strong bowling unit. Their spinners have picked up 18 wickets, which will only improve with Ashwin.
Pakistan
What do they lack: Err, ummm, everywhere
Options: Everyone on the list
Pakistan are one such side that would close their eyes and pick all the players from this list. They would want Mohammed Shami, Ish Sodhi, Tabraiz Shamsi and even Suryakumar Yadav, who could really make their batting unit stand out.
Because they are a special team, we have shortlisted three players that could fit like a glove for Pakistan. They are Ashwin, Moeen Ali and Suryakumar Yadav. One of the things that has haunted Pakistan in this year’s World Cup has been middle-overs - be it with the bat or the ball.
In that regard, a spinner like Ravichandran Ashwin will help them control the bowling in the middle-overs. On the other hand, there is Moeen Ali, a left-hander who can play spin well and an off-spinner who can add value with the ball. Both of them are prime options for Pakistan.
But if they are looking for a batter who solves a lot of their problem at once, it must be Suryakumar Yadav. Yadav is not just great against spin; he is also an able middle-order batter who can accelerate opportunistically. It is the perfect prototype for a middle-order batter and perfect for Pakistan at this point in the World Cup.
South Africa
What do they lack: All-rounders
Options: Sean Abbott
South Africa, like New Zealand, have most of the things sorted in this year’s World Cup.
But if there is one area where they would want some more addition, it would be in the pace-bowling all-rounder section. That’s where someone like Sean Abbott could walk in perfectly in the XI. Not only is Abbott a great first-change bowler, but he is also a proven bowler at the death-overs, with his variety.
Plus, his fielding is unreal. As a package, Abbott is a perfect fit for the Proteas, who can also lengthen their batting unit.
Sri Lanka
What do they lack: Pace department
Options: Tim Southee
Sri Lanka have been screwed over with injuries to their first-choice pacers. Barring Dilshan Madushanka, who has left an indelible mark on the Sri Lankan bowling fortunes, their pacers haven’t had a good outing in this year’s World Cup.
That’s where the experience of Tim Southee will be invaluable. Southee not only offers a good new ball bowling option for Sri Lanka but also has the ability to bowl at the death, two of Sri Lanka’s troubled areas thus far in the World Cup.
Plus, as a mentor, his experience would be invaluable to the setup.
