ICC World Cup 2019 | Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler included in Michael Vaughan's World Cup XI
Michael Vaughan, in a video for the twitter account ‘Mr Green Sport,’ has picked up his World Cup XI for the current edition. Even though it saw the likes of Ross Taylor and Joe Root missing out, Vaughan claims that the side is ‘unbeatable,’and contains players from six different countries.
A former England captain in all the three formats, Michael Vaughan released a video on twitter stating the best combination of XI players along with a substitute from the 150 odd ones that would be participating in the cricketing fest.
For the opening spot, he picked fan favourite and the current world number one Rohit Sharma, partnering with Australia’s comeback hero David Warner. While Rohit Sharma has been in scintillating form, David Warner is returning from a 12 month ban and ended the recently concluded IPL as its top-scorer.
“[Rohit Sharma] hasn’t just scored centuries, he has scored double centuries,” Vaughan said on Twitter.
"David Warner gets in all my format teams- tests, ODIs and T20s,” he added.
However, the words he picked to describe Virat Kohli made the compliments he gave to all others pale in comparison.
“The greatest ever white ball batsmen,” Vaughan said about skipper Kohli.
In a surprise inclusion, Pakistan’s 24 year old batting sensation Babar Azam, whose batting style and world class performances have drawn comparisons with some of the all time greats, was picked over the likes of established batsman Joe Root and Ross Taylor, who sits in the third spot in the world rankings and was described by Vaughan as “unlucky” to miss out on a spot.
With the top order wrapped up, the English legend picked his nation’s present vice-captain Jos Buttler for the next spot who he described as not only a “hard-hitting’ solid player but also the one who would don the wicket keeping gloves for his team.
“High class all-rounder, always in the game, whether with the bat in hand, the ball in hand or in the field. He’ll always create an impact,” these are the words Vaughan used to describe versatile all rounder Ben Stokes as he consolidated his explosive middle order.
Pakistani all-rounder Shadab Khan was his next choice, as he described him as a dynamic cricketer who could contribute with both the bat and the bowl. Bowling all-rounder Pat Cummins rounded off his middle order. “An incredible new ball bowler, in the middle with some strong hitting with the bat and high class in the field,” he said explaining his choice.
Wrist spinner Adil Rashid was called a “revelation for team England over the past 4 years.”
“[He picks] up key wickets and can bowl in the start, the middle and also in the death overs,”Vaughan added.
World number one Jasprit Bumrah was his penultimate pick for the starting XI.
“The best white ball bowler in the world, quality at the start and outstanding at the death. Probably the best yorker bowler in world cricket as we speak,” Vaughan said about the high flying Indian.
For his last pick in his playing XI, he went with Trent Boult whose new ball skills, excellent variations and ability to handle pressure were regarded in good light by Vaughan. As a 12th man, Afghanistani all-rounder Rashid Khan was selected, who has 123 wickets at an average of 15 to his name at the tender age of 20.
“6 bowling options, plenty of variations, 2 leg spinners, some high class seam bowlers, some pace, a different angle with Trent Boult, combinations with the bat in hand, no one’s beating that,” concluded Vaughan.
Michael Vaughan XI: Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Jos buttler, Ben Stokes, Shadab Khan, Pat Cummins, Adil Rashid, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult.
