As the T20 World Cup arrives connected our TV screens, these are immoderate of the names you mightiness not cognize overmuch astir who are acceptable to instrumentality the contention by storm.
By Chris De Silva|9:09pm Oct 16, 2021
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Gareth Delany (Ireland)
In a format wherever all-rounders are arsenic a captious a commodity arsenic immoderate player, Ireland's Gareth Delany is arsenic unsafe arsenic they come.
The 24-year-old has firmly established himself arsenic a T20 specializer and has thrived aft an English region stint with Leicestershire.
"He hits the shot arsenic cleanable arsenic anyone that I've ever seen successful an Irish jersey," seasoned teammate Kevin O'Brien said of Delany.
"Being a young feline he's lone going to get better. Plus he's a utile legspin bowler and a bully fielder, truthful he's a three-in-one cricketer: that's thing that we're crying retired for, radical who tin bash each three."
Delany averages conscionable 23.25 with the bat successful T20s but it his onslaught complaint of 140.48 that highlights his existent value. Couple that with a bowling mean of 25 and you've got a useful cricketer.
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Richard Berrington (Scotland)
At 34 years of age, this year's T20 World Cup is surely not Scotland vice-captain Richard Berrington's archetypal rodeo.
The South African-born all-rounder has been a mainstay successful Scotland's line-up implicit the years comes to the World Cup successful good form.
He is presently ranked 3rd connected the ICC's men's T20 all-rounder rankings, lone down Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan.
All-rounders are particularly invaluable successful the shortest format of the crippled and Berrington is relied upon heavy with some the bat and the ball.
The seasoned boasts an awesome batting mean of 32.27 and a onslaught complaint of 128.12 portion besides averaging conscionable 23.33 with the shot astatine a respectable system complaint of 7.56.
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Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan)
Hazratullah Zazai is 1 of the brightest stars successful what's go a aureate procreation for the Afghanistan team.
While the 23-year-old opener is yet to marque a Test quality for his country, helium has go a fearsome batsman successful the shorter format.
The left-hander holds the second-highest people by an opener successful an planetary men's T20 aft slamming an unbeaten 162 disconnected conscionable 62 deliveries against Ireland successful 2019.
That sound was hardly a one-off either arsenic evidenced by Hazratullah's vocation onslaught complaint of 155.31, which is lone bettered by the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Evin Lewis and Andre Russell.
He comes into the T20 World Cup arsenic the 10th ranked men's T20 batsman successful the world.
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Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)
Rashid Khan whitethorn person claimed each the headlines arsenic Afghanistan's wonder-spinner, but his protege mightiness beryllium better.
At conscionable 20 years of age, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has already amassed an unthinkable 150 Twenty20 appearances arsenic a specializer successful the shorter signifier of the game.
While his exploits are acquainted successful competitions astir the world, helium has lone played successful 19 T20s for Afghanistan.
The digit spinner already has 25 wickets successful that clip astatine an unthinkable mean of 17.72 and a stunning system complaint of conscionable 6.15.
Between Mujeeb and Rashid, Afghanistan person a brace of spinners that volition marque beingness hard for adjacent the champion successful the world.
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Mark Chapman (New Zealand)
Mark Chapman's way to the T20 World Cup really began by playing for Hong Kong, his state of birth.
After making his debut for Hong Kong successful 2014, Chapman was capable to suffice for New Zealand done his begetter and made his debut for the Black Caps successful aboriginal 2018.
The left-hander lone has humble T20 numbers aboriginal connected successful his planetary career, but a look astatine his List A batting mean of 51.08 astatine a onslaught complaint of 97.75 tells you that helium could detonate precise soon.
Chapman has amassed a important magnitude of T20 acquisition successful home leagues and boasts a batting mean of 24.91 astatine a onslaught complaint of 132.85 and a bowling mean of 25.10 with an system complaint of 7.69.
Could this year's World T20 beryllium the tourney wherever Chapman announces himself to the world?
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Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
Pakistan fans volition beryllium utilized to seeing the No.10 with 'AFRIDI' connected the backmost moving astir astatine tournaments implicit the years, but the celebrated garment present has a antithetic owner.
Unlike it's erstwhile owner, legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Shaheen is simply a near limb opening bowler.
At conscionable 21 years of age, Afridi has already established himself arsenic 1 of the amended bowlers successful each 3 formats of the game, but could detonate successful a planetary tournament.
Afridi has been truthful prolific to commencement his career, helium has earned comparisons to legendary Pakistani speedy Wasim Akram having claimed 76 wickets successful his archetypal 19 Tests.
The left-arm speedy has 32 wickets to his sanction successful 30 T20 appearances for Pakistan astatine an system complaint of 8.17.
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Wiaan Mulder (South Africa)
South African cricket is undergoing a modulation play aft the status of immoderate behemoths, and paceman Wiaan Mulder is 1 of the youngsters coming through.
The 23-year-old has already debuted for the Proteas successful each 3 formats of the crippled and is acceptable to blossom.
After earning immoderate aboriginal Jacques Kallis comparisons with his batting astatine the home level, Mulder has settled into much of a bowling all-rounder astatine the planetary level.
Having played conscionable 5 T20s for South Africa, it's hard to work excessively overmuch into his numbers, but his home stats archer a amended tale.
He has averaged 25.75 with the bat astatine a onslaught complaint of 127.47 and has 26 wickets astatine an mean of 26.96 successful 43 appearances.
For a state crying retired for a caller prima man, Mulder mightiness conscionable acceptable the bill.
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Anrich Nortje (South Africa)
Anrich Nortje's meteoric emergence to prominence has been highlighted by him being named Cricket South Africa's newcomer of the twelvemonth and men's cricketer of the twelvemonth successful successive years.
With the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander retired, Nortje has risen to spouse Kagiso Rabada arsenic the Proteas' latest fearsome quick.
The right-arm paceman possesses a mean abbreviated transportation and regularly pushes the velocity weapon successful excess of 150 km/h.
Having been described arsenic "extremely exciting" by Steyn himself, Nortje has gotten important T20 acquisition successful the IP for the Delhi Capitals.
The 27-year-old volition privation to amended connected his existent planetary grounds of conscionable 9 wickets successful 11 T20s astatine an mean of 32.22.
What amended clip to bash it than astatine the World Cup.
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Fabian Allen (West Indies)
The West Indies person ne'er been shy to unearth a destructive all-rounder with the likes of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and, retrieve the name, Carlos Brathwaite laying discarded to attacks implicit the years.
Now, Fabian Allen has assumed immoderate of that role.
"I deliberation it's a earthy West Indian thing," helium says astir the quality to wide fences. "You don't request to bash nothing, conscionable basal decently and get bat connected ball. Yes, we practise our strengths. That's the large facet of the game."
The 26-year-old's averages are modest, possibly an denotation of his deficiency of consistency, but his onslaught rates are frightening.
The right-hander boasts an planetary T20 onslaught complaint of 138.88, which balloons retired to 149.59 astatine the home level.
Allen is besides useful with the ball, having taken 20 wickets successful 28 matches astatine an mean of 27.05.
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Evin Lewis (West Indies)
Teams are utilized to the West Indies having a fearsome left-hander astatine the apical of the bid successful Twenty20s.
When that antheral is talented capable to nonstop Chris Gayle to No.3 and beats Caribbean Premier League records acceptable by the 'Universe Boss', you cognize he's the existent deal.
That's precisely what Evin Lewis has done successful caller years.
The 27-year-old is arsenic destructive arsenic they travel successful the shortest format of the game, evidenced by his phenomenal onslaught complaint of 158.03 successful 45 T20s for the Windies.
Lewis was insane successful the 2021 CPL, pounding a league-record 38 sixes successful 11 innings en-route to 426 runs.
Much similar Gayle, Lewis has go a weapon for prosecute successful home T20 competitions each implicit the world, with a stint successful the IPL with the Mumbai Indians.
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Tymal Mills (England)
Tymal Mills earned a callback to England's squad for the T20 World Cup aft four-and-a-half years successful the wilderness.
The 29-year-old's once-promising vocation has been threatened by injuries, but helium could present beryllium acceptable to acceptable the planetary signifier alight.
The left-armer isn't the tallest antheral successful the world, but don't fto that marque you deliberation helium doesn't travel with serious, superior pace.
Mills is 1 of the astir explosive pacemen successful English cricket and a proven T20 specializer each implicit the world, having played domestically successful Australia, India and New Zealand arsenic good arsenic astatine location successful the UK.
He has 156 home T20 wickets successful 142 appearances with an awesome mean of 24.23 and a onslaught complaint of 7.77.
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Shamim Hossain (Bangladesh)
The young left-hander hasn't truly had a afloat accidental to stamp his people connected the planetary signifier conscionable yet, but the powerfulness is determination to see.
The batting all-rounder has a steadfast onslaught complaint of 144 astatine T20 planetary level and 145.97 successful different T20 competitions.
At conscionable 21 years of age, his spot successful squad comes with a look to the future, but they'll beryllium looking to him for immoderate aboriginal contributions successful the opening round, with Bangladesh needing to navigate immoderate tricky ties successful bid to scope the Super 12.
He made his planetary debut earlier this twelvemonth against Zimbabwe, aft archetypal appearing successful the Dhaka Premier Division arsenic a teen successful 2019.
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Afif Hossain (Bangladesh)
No narration to Shamim Hossain, Afif has been a mainstay successful the squad for respective years now.
Also a left-handed batting all-rounder, Hossain has enjoyed easy his champion twelvemonth to day successful 2021.
The 22-year-old has scored 260 runs successful 14 innings astatine planetary level this twelvemonth astatine an mean of 23.93 - his champion people of 49* coming against New Zealand.
When helium was conscionable 17 years old, helium became the youngest to instrumentality a T20 five-for connected debut portion playing for the Rajshahi Kings successful the Bangladesh Premier League.
His 5 for 21 against the Chittagong Vikings included the prize wicket of Chris Gayle.
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Mitchell Swepson (Australia)
The leg-spinner has enjoyed tiny amounts of occurrence successful the Australian nationalist squad implicit the past fewer years since his debut successful 2018, and volition beryllium looking to marque his people successful Qatar.
A imperishable fixture for the Brisbane Heat implicit the past six years, Swepson comes into the World Cup with 7 caps for Australia and champion bowling figures of 3-12.
He has chipped successful valuably for the Aussies successful that time, taking 11 wickets astatine an mean of 15.71.
Swepson besides has 1 archetypal people chapeau instrumentality to his name, for Queensland successful the 2019-20 Sheffield Shield against Victoria.
It's not wide however overmuch crippled clip he'll get arsenic the 3rd spinner down behind Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar, but his inclusion successful the squad is well-earned aft a coagulated BBL career.
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Josh Inglis (Australia)
Inglis volition beryllium the back-up wicketkeeper down Alex Carey, and is yet to correspond Australia.
The 26-year-old debuted for the Perth Scorchers conscionable aft Christmas successful 2017, and past twelvemonth notched his maiden Sheffield Shield century, scoring 153* for WA against South Australia.
Inglis has spent sizeable clip successful the English T20 Blast arsenic well, and recorded his archetypal T20 period successful June, scoring an unbeaten 103 for Leicestershire.
A period later, helium smashed a superb 118 not retired from 61 balls against Worcestershire, hitting 10 fours and 8 sixes successful a sparkling performance.
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Liam Livingstone (England)
The big-hitting Englishman has made the astir of his caller tally successful the English team, plundering 206 runs successful 7 digs, with a onslaught complaint of 167.47.
He averaged 43 successful the T20 bid against Sri Lanka earlier this year, and picked up a antheral of the lucifer grant successful the 2nd game.
A period aboriginal against Pakistan helium celebrated his maiden planetary period successful the format, scoring 103.
Given they are already without Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, eyebrows were raised erstwhile Livingstone was near retired of the England squad for the Ashes.
In Qatar, he'll beryllium looking to amusement the selectors what they missed retired on.
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Ishan Kishan (India)
Kishan volition service arsenic the backup glovesman to Rishabh Pant, having posted a fractional period successful 1 of his 3 appearances for India successful T20s truthful far.
The 23-year-old near hander was the Mumbai Indians' highest tally scorer successful the 2020 IPL and besides deed the astir sixes of immoderate player.
His astir caller quality for Mumbai successful this year's IPL was incredible, erstwhile helium opened the batting against Sunrisers Hyderabad and posted 84 from conscionable 32 balls.
The blistering sound included 11 fours and 4 sixes.
He was the skipper of the Indian squad astatine the 2016 under-19s World Cup, wherever they mislaid the final.
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Suryakumar Yadav (India)
One of the oldest players successful this list, he's a delightful communicative - aft making his IPL debut each the mode backmost successful 2012, Yadav's decennary of patience was rewarded earlier this year.
The 31-year-old was called up to some the T20 and ODI squads for India earlier successful 2021, and scored a fractional period successful each format of the crippled this year.
In fact, his archetypal shot faced successful a T20 planetary against England was deed for six - a feat not galore players tin accidental they've acheieved.
Yadav's most-recent IPL show was astir arsenic bully arsenic Kishan's.
He really came to the crease to regenerate the young gun, and smashed 82 from 40 balls en way to a staggering full of 235.
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Haider Ali (Pakistan)
Vice-captain of Pakistan's under-19 World Cup squad past year, Ali has taken his chances astatine the highest level eagerly truthful far.
The 21-year-old was handed an emerging stars declaration by the Pakistan Cricket Board successful 2020, and that determination has paid disconnected truthful far.
The large right-hander made his debut for some the T20 and ODI planetary teams precocious past year, and has 2 fractional centuries truthful acold successful 14 T20 innings.
In March of 2020, helium became the youngest subordinate to people a fractional period successful the Pakistan Super League.
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Devon Conway (New Zealand)
The past twelvemonth has been a whirlwind for Conway, representing New Zealand successful each 3 formats of the sport.
The South African-born left-hander moved to New Zealand to prosecute a cricket vocation erstwhile helium was 26, and conscionable 4 years aboriginal has achieved a database of goals that astir could lone imagination of.
His archetypal T20 planetary was past November, and helium has blasted 473 runs successful conscionable 11 innings truthful far.
He had a imagination Test debut successful June, becoming conscionable the seventh antheral ever to people a treble period successful his maiden appearance.
Right present Conway has planetary averages of 63.16 successful Test cricket, 75.00 successful ODIs, and 59.12 successful T20s. Absolutely staggering stuff.
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Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
You whitethorn retrieve Hasaranga from a fewer years ago, erstwhile helium became the youngest ever subordinate to instrumentality a chapeau instrumentality connected debut successful a One Day International backmost successful 2017.
He recovered his mode into the T20 setup 2 years later, and into the Test broadside connected Boxing Day of past twelvemonth arsenic well.
A existent all-rounder, Hasaranga has fractional centuries successful some Test and ODI cricket, and a apical people of 44 successful T20 internationals.
His bowling is wherever he's truly sparkled successful T20 cricket, nevertheless - sporting a precise tidy mean of 15.47 with 557 balls bowled successful that format for Sri Lanka.