Waiting for the World Cup
Batsmen who have been around for plenty of time but haven't played in cricket's biggest show
10-Dec-2014
Barring injury, Hamilton Masakadza is nailed on for the 2015 World Cup. • AFP
Hamilton Masakadza
ODI runs: 3961
Debut: 2001
Maskadza has been out of form at just the wrong times when it comes to World Cups. He played in virtually all of his side's matches for about a year in the lead-up to both the 2007 and 2011 events, but missed out on both. He was back in the Zimbabwe team for the very next match after the marquee tournaments, though. He was absent in 2003 for a different reason - focusing on his studies at the University of the Free State.
ODI runs: 3961
Debut: 2001
Maskadza has been out of form at just the wrong times when it comes to World Cups. He played in virtually all of his side's matches for about a year in the lead-up to both the 2007 and 2011 events, but missed out on both. He was back in the Zimbabwe team for the very next match after the marquee tournaments, though. He was absent in 2003 for a different reason - focusing on his studies at the University of the Free State.
Rohit Sharma
ODI runs: 3752
Debut: 2007
Rohit wouldn't have been without a World Cup game to his name this long if he had seized his chance in the South Africa series immediately before the 2011 World Cup. However, he floundered then, extending his World Cup wait by four years.
ODI runs: 3752
Debut: 2007
Rohit wouldn't have been without a World Cup game to his name this long if he had seized his chance in the South Africa series immediately before the 2011 World Cup. However, he floundered then, extending his World Cup wait by four years.
Alastair Cook
ODI runs: 3151
Debut: 2006
Cook is yet to turn 30 but already has more than 8400 Test runs. His one-day record is less stellar, though, and the debate rages over whether he deserves a spot in the ODI side. In 17 innings this year, he has a sub-30 average and his strike rate is in the low 70s. Still, he is set to lead England in next year's tournament.
ODI runs: 3151
Debut: 2006
Cook is yet to turn 30 but already has more than 8400 Test runs. His one-day record is less stellar, though, and the debate rages over whether he deserves a spot in the ODI side. In 17 innings this year, he has a sub-30 average and his strike rate is in the low 70s. Still, he is set to lead England in next year's tournament.
Shikhar Dhawan
ODI runs: 2046
Debut: 2011
Dhawan played only one ODI before the 2011 World Cup, getting a golden duck against Australia in 2010. He got another chance when the senior players rested after the victorious 2011 campaign, but it wasn't till 2013 that he established himself in ODIs with a Man-of-the-Series performance in the Champions Trophy.
ODI runs: 2046
Debut: 2011
Dhawan played only one ODI before the 2011 World Cup, getting a golden duck against Australia in 2010. He got another chance when the senior players rested after the victorious 2011 campaign, but it wasn't till 2013 that he established himself in ODIs with a Man-of-the-Series performance in the Champions Trophy.
Dinesh Chandimal
ODI runs: 1962
Debut: 2010
Still only 25, Chandimal has already had a rollercoaster ride in ODIs. Two centuries, including one at Lord's, in his first six ODIs seemed to signal the arrival of a player for the long run. Two years on, he was stand-in captain of the side. However, there have been no more hundreds since, and Chandimal is now on the fringes of Sri Lanka's one-day team.
ODI runs: 1962
Debut: 2010
Still only 25, Chandimal has already had a rollercoaster ride in ODIs. Two centuries, including one at Lord's, in his first six ODIs seemed to signal the arrival of a player for the long run. Two years on, he was stand-in captain of the side. However, there have been no more hundreds since, and Chandimal is now on the fringes of Sri Lanka's one-day team.