The best XI from a rain-impacted week at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
1. Shikhar Dhawan (India)
ICC competitions held in England transform this fallible opener into a serial match winner. Peppered with buccaneering stroke play, Dhawan’s 117 laid the foundation for India’s 352-5, a total which proved beyond Australia. The left-hander’s thumb injury, which will likely put him out for three games, will be a blow to India, particularly with Pakistan lying in wait.
2. Jason Roy (England)
Bouncing back from a disappointing game against Pakistan, where he dropped a regulation chance and burnt a review on his way out for 8, Roy was in an unforgiving mood against Bangladesh. His 153 from 121 balls wrenched England’s World Cup back on track and did nothing to quell hopes of an Ashes debut later this summer. The tight hamstring that stopped him batting against West Indies is, however, a worry.
3. David Warner (Australia)
You can boo all you like, but when it matters Warner comes up trumps. A score of 107 and the Player of the Match award against Pakistan followed an uncharacteristically pedestrian 56 from 84 balls against India. As Australia rediscover their ODI mojo, Warner’s batting at the top of the order is central to posting competitive totals.
10. Jofra Archer (England)
With the nervous energy and hype of the first two games subsided, Archer has shown the cricket world what he is all about: consistent 90mph rockets. Six wickets and a miserly sub 3.5 economy rate over two games and Jofra is fast establishing himself as the kingpin of England’s attack – mightily impressive for a man who’s yet to play his eighth ODI.
11. Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)
His 5-30 against the Aussies was arguably the bowling performance of the tournament thus far. A first spell where he went wicketless but bowled tightly, beating the bat regularly, was followed by Amir roaring back to remove the set Aaron Finch and tearing through the Aussie middle-order, restricting them to a sub-par 307.