ICC World T20 2022: Top 5 Rookie Players to watch out for
ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022: Top five rookie players to watch out in T20 World Cup 2022.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 set to be held in Australia fast approaching in less than two weeks’ time, all the teams have either completed or are in the last leg of their preparation for the marquee 16-team event. The hype around the tournament is high and there is expectation for yet another blockbuster T20 World Cup, this time from down under.
In each of the past tournaments, there have been many players who have come of age and many emerging ones were discovered. For instance, the current India skipper Rohit Sharma made a mark in international cricket in the inaugural edition of World T20 in 2007. Similarly, players like Alex Hales, David Warner, Ajanta Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan, Charith Asalanka shined when they played their respective first T20 world cups.
Expect this edition of World T20 to be no different, and we may see many more young players playing their maiden T20 World Cup making a mark of their own.
Let us look at some of the players from different teams who will be making their first appearance in a world event this World Cup and show all the signs of making an everlasting impact on the audiences.
Tristan Stubbs (South Africa)
Tristan Stubbs is one of the most exciting young prospects in the South African ranks and one to watch out for in this upcoming marquee event. The right-hand wicketkeeper batter has a great potential in him to be a true match-winner for the Proteas in the coming years.
When it comes to the World T20 in Australia, Stubbs can lend a great balance to the South African side. He plays in the middle-order and bats at a stunning strike rate; he is a treat to watch when he is in full flow. Sensing his potential, Stubbs was picked by the 5-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2022 auction and attracted the highest bid (ZAR 9.2 million) in the inaugural SA20 player auction before being picked up by Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Though the explosive batter might have not played much international cricket, his 28-ball 72 (including 8 sixes) against England in Bristol earlier this year gave a glimpse of his immense abilities with the bat.
Format | M | Runs | Strike Rate | Average | HS | 50s/100s |
T20I | 9 | 142 | 191.89 | 28.4 | 72 | 1/0 |
T20 | 37 | 807 | 159.17 | 28.82 | 80* | 4/0 |
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Tim David (Australia)
Tim David is another player who has the ability to take world cricket by storm with his sheer hitting power. He is set to represent the defending champions Australia in his maiden World Cup outing having made his debut for the team in the recent series against India. His ability to hit a long ball makes him one of the hottest commodities in cricket and the hosts will benefit largely with his presence in the middle order.
In the five innings David has played for Australia so far, the right-hander has already registered two impressive knocks (54 off 27 vs India and 42 off 20 vs West Indies). The quickfire knock against the West Indies helped Australia secure an easy win in the match played in Brisbane.
David is known to be a fierce striker of the ball and we have seen his capability over the years in the Big Bash League (BBL), IPL and when he played for the Singapore national side for a brief period.
Format | M | Runs | Strike Rate | Average | HS | 50s/100s |
T20I for AUS | 5 | 116 | 170.59 | 23.2 | 54 | 1/0 |
T20I for SGP | 14 | 558 | 158.52 | 46.50 | 92* | 4/0 |
IPL | 9 | 187 | 210.11 | 31.17 | 46 | 0/0 |
T20s | 133 | 2841 | 163.18 | 30.88 | 92* | 12/0 |
*Tim David played both for Singapore and Australia
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Obed McCoy (West Indies)
The lanky tall left-arm pacer from West Indies will be a vital cog for the team in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. Obed McCoy is one of the many bowlers in the West Indies ranks who can consistently click high pace and trouble batters with uncomfortable lengths.
After getting just one game in the last World Cup, McCoy would have to play a more significant role for the West Indies in this campaign as he is set to lead the team’s pace attack. Courtesy of his recent exploits against India (taking 6/17 at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts) and several more notable performances in the year 2022 in T20Is, the seamer is one rookie bowler to watch out for.
Obed McCoy’s numbers in T20 format
Format | M | Wkts | Eco | Average | BBI | 5W/4W |
T20Is | 24 | 37 | 8.49 | 18.59 | 6/17 | 1/2 |
T20s | 69 | 103 | 8.48 | 19.06 | 6/17 | 2/4 |
IPL | 7 | 11 | 9.17 | 21.25 | 3/23 | 0/0 |
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Finn Allen (New Zealand)
The young opener from New Zealand has shown in his short international career his penchant to score big runs and at a rapid pace. Finn Allen’s ability to take on the bowlers and not allowing them to settle makes him an exciting player in the Kiwi top-order.
Allen is likely to open the innings with veteran player Martin Guptill and their combination will make life easier for the classier batters like Kane Williamson and Devon Conway. So, all in all, New Zealand’s top-order looks pretty strong with a stroke-maker like Allen coming in as an opener.
In his brief international career, Finn Allen has a century in T20Is coming against Scotland earlier this year and a match-winning 96 against West Indies in an ODI game. However, he has been largely inconsistent and had a few mediocre outings in his last 5 T20Is, including the ongoing home tri-series featuring Pakistan and Bangladesh apart from the hosts.
Finn Allen’s numbers in T20 format
Format | M | Runs | Strike Rate | Average | HS | 50s/100s |
T20I | 14 | 347 | 169.27 | 24.79 | 101 | 1/1 |
T20 | 69 | 1934 | 172.37 | 29.30 | 101 | 14/1 |
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Arshdeep Singh (India)
India’s newest pace bowling find, Arshdeep Singh, is likely to be a shining star in the team’s T20 World Cup campaign. The left-arm pacer, in the absence of spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, becomes a key bowler in all the phases of the innings for India.
Arshdeep’s returns especially in the Asia Cup 2022 when he was given the huge task to defend 7 runs off the last over on two occasions has given India hopes ahead of the tournament. The way this youngster handled pressure augurs well for the team. So, Arshdeep is one of the five rookie players to watch out for in the T20 World Cup.
Arshdeep Singh’s numbers in T20 format
Format | M | Wkts | Eco | Average | BBI | 5W/4W |
T20Is | 13 | 19 | 8.14 | 19.78 | 3/12 | 0/0 |
T20s | 64 | 75 | 8.01 | 24.71 | 5/32 | 1/0 |
IPL | 37 | 40 | 8.35 | 26.40 | 5/32 | 1/0 |
Apart from the five aforementioned players, there are few more young talents who might have a great tournament. Phil Salt, the England opener, is one among them. Being touted a future prospect for the team, Salt came in as backup opener in the absence of Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy. But with Alex Hales and Jos Buttler being the preferred pair now, the opener may have to wait for his chances. However, his strike rate of over 160 in 23 T20Is and his exploits in the Hundred tournament makes him a compelling choice.
Like Salt, middle-order batter Harry Brooks may not be able to find a place in England’s packed line-up. But his recent performance against Pakistan away from home was exemplary having scored 238 runs at a strike rate of 163, and helping the team win the series.
Harry Tector has a great future ahead of him. Though not being a famous name, the middle order batter from Ireland has made several notable contributions for the team. In the recent series against India held in June, Tector made an unbeaten 64* almost helping the team win the 2nd T20I. Ireland will be banking on Harry Tector to give a good impression of themselves in the tournament.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 begins on October 16 with the first game between Namibia and Sri Lanka in Geelong.
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