ODI World Cups: How position of all-rounders has developed from 1975 to 2019

Lance Klusener and South Africa will always remember the occasions of June 17, 1999, in Birmingham.

Four days after conceding a victory to Australia within the Super Six stage of the ODI World Cup, the Proteas had whipped up an excellent bowling efficiency within the semifinal in opposition to the identical opposition. However, a 214-run chase progressively started to slide out of their arms earlier than Klusener constructed a climax for the ages, arguably among the many biggest sporting finishes in historical past.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is totally essential to Team India’s steadiness heading into this 12 months’s ODI World Cup.
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BCCI Twitter

With 38 required off 31 balls and 4 wickets to spare in opposition to a spotless Aussie bowling lineup, the match was solely headed a method till Klusener, in blazing kind, got down to fireplace as soon as once more. A barrage of boundaries helped ‘Zulu’ tie the scores within the ultimate over. He dared to cross the road single-handedly. However, his lesser-gifted batting accomplice, Allan Donald, stood petrified within the face of a fast single, one that might have put South Africa in its maiden World Cup ultimate. Klusener had one look behind after he waltzed via to the non-striker’s finish. Adam Gilchrist had shattered the stumps and a booming yellow brigade thickened pitchside in jubilation.

“Donald did not go, Klusener came,” and Australia was via to the ultimate based mostly on earlier outcomes.

If not for Klusener, it’s laborious to image an incarnation of that fiercely fickle second — exhilarating and heartbreaking at two ends on the similar time. That his unbeaten 31 off 16 deliveries got here on the again of a uncommon wicketless exhibiting in that World Cup illustrated Klusener’s class and the may of cricket’s pedigreed all-rounder.

Klusener ended the marketing campaign with 281 runs (Eleventh-highest), unbeaten on six events whereas clocking runs at a strike-rate of 122.17 — years forward of the instances. His 17 wickets ranked him fourth, with a 26.76 strike-rate at par with the most effective of the event. While he didn’t high the charts in both division, Klusener bagged the Man of the Tournament award, as Sanath Jayasuriya did within the 1996 World Cup together with his fascinating evolution as a hard-hitter and left-arm spinner.

In his first World Cup as an all-rounder who opened the batting, Jayasuriya fired with the blade within the preliminary rounds earlier than chipping in with three essential wickets within the semifinal win in opposition to India on the Eden Gardens. Though the ultimate belonged to a different champion, Aravinda de Silva (107 n.o., three for 42), Jayasuriya’s haul of 221 runs and 6 wickets was acknowledged for its belligerence.

Specialists win you matches, however all-rounders can unlock riveting passages of play. Pure all-rounders are more and more uncommon within the trendy recreation. One can not count on to see somebody conjure an unbeaten 175 off 134 balls at quantity six and comply with it up with 11 overs for a wicket or two, not to mention marshalling the aspect to the World Cup title anymore.

The feats of true-born all-rounders like Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Ian Botham and Klusener are to not be replicated readily on the World Cup stage.

Pakistan captain Imran Khan in motion in the course of the 1992 World Cup.
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The Hindu photograph library

Perhaps, the 2011 World Cup, the final earlier than a brand new set of ODI guidelines led to increased scores, was the final time cricketers constructed on their major ability. Yuvraj Singh added 15 wickets to his important 362 runs and was adjudged the Player of the Tournament, whereas Shahid Afridi, the lower-order marauder, ended up because the joint-highest wicket-taker with 21 scalps.

ODI cricket has since been fast-tracked into a brand new realm. England’s bohemian revolution of the format has thrown gentle on the trendy all-rounder. Confined to their elemental traits and but chipping in via different abilities, gamers like Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes have added immeasurable depth. No marvel then that Stokes can come out of retirement for the 2023 version as a specialist batter, having been restricted from bowling as a consequence of a nagging knee damage.

Kapil Dev sends Bob Willis’ stump for a stroll within the semifinal match in opposition to England within the 1983 World Cup.
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THE HINDU PHOTO LIBRARY

All-rounders throughout sides now play an identical position. Australia primarily will depend on Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis for bludgeoning the ball within the top-order and the loss of life, respectively. They act as a cushion for a surging tempo trio led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, not part of the lead solid of a lineup like Shane Watson and Jacques Kallis of yore.

From the start of 1990 up till the 2011 World Cup ultimate, 12 gamers amassed runs in extra of 2500 with a 30-plus common and likewise bagged greater than 100 wickets with averages akin to specialists — Kallis being the one recurring title to realize the mark twice throughout each a long time.

The numbers have dwindled drastically after the 2011 World Cup, with just one participant — Shakib Al Hasan — qualifying for a similar requirements. Genuine seam bowling all-rounders have seen a serious slide too, with simply 5 gamers attaining the double of 1000-plus runs and 50-plus wickets for the reason that 2011 World Cup; India’s Hardik Pandya, Stokes and Marsh being the one energetic gamers to the mark.

However, because the World Cup returns to spin-friendly situations in India after 12 years, the definition of an all-rounder could possibly be repurposed, with spinners gaining momentum once more.

Regulars equivalent to Ravindra Jadeja and Shakib will likely be integral to their groups’ steadiness, whereas part-timers like Glenn Maxwell, Aiden Markram, and possibly even Joe Root will increase the depth of their respective sides to maintain the clan of the all-rounders alive.