Tym Glaser, Associate Editor- SportsTHERE HAVE been some utterly stupendous individual performances at this World Cup and there's a pretty good likelihood we'll see a few more when the Big Four get stuck into it during the semis and final next week.
However, for every Yin there must be a Yang or, to put it in cricket terms, for every Matty Hayden there's a Habibul Bashar.
Now, I know some of you guys get squeamish at the sight of criticism (that means you, Mr. Ken Gordon), so I want you to avert your eyes now as I name the official Biggest Underperfomers and Mediocre Sportsmen's XI, or BUMS for short.
It would have been easy just to name the Pakistan, Indian, West Indian or English teams and been done with it, but that wouldn't be any fun now, would it?
So, hey ho, here we go. The worst performers at CWC 2007 are, starting at the top of the order:
Chris Gayle (WI): Absolute shocker of a performance from the lynchpin of the West Indian side. In eight innings he's made 149 runs at an average of less than 19. In the Super Eights, against the big boys, he's made two, 44, 10, 32 and one. As for his bowling, which is supposed to tighten up the middle period of opponents' innings, it's 54 overs, five wickets at an average of 49.8 - and four of those wickets came against the might of Bangladesh and Ireland!
Michael Vaughan (Eng): The longest-serving worst top three ODI batsman in the world. The England captain just doesn't seem to get the one-day game. In 85 matches he's never made a century batting in the prime positions and averages 26.4. At the Cup it's been oh so much worse with eight innings at an average of 16.25. I'm no rocket scientist, but maybe it's time for a change there.
Younis Khan (Pak): Just pips his teammates Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan's Big Three for this spot, mainly because they captained or at least wanted to skipper this under-performing side and were willing to take some responsibility. Made 37 runs in three innings at an average of 12.33 - and 28 of those came against Zimbabwe in a dead rubber. Pakistan should say: 'Hey, who needs you as captain anyway? Go ride a donkey (apparently that's quite a cuss in Karachi)'.
Sachin Tendulkar (Ind): The man who seems to wake up each day with 40 runs already on the board had a nasty time in the Caribbean with a mere 64 runs in his three innings and 57 of them came in one undefeated knock. He's a fair part of the reason why effigy sales soared in India. Maybe he should think about following fellow legend Brian Lara into the sunset.
Habibul Bashar (Bang): The veteran leader of a young and promising side has been just terrible. Despite his meagre 105 runs from eight innings at 13.12, the team still managed to beat heavyweights India and South Africa and have a reasonable Cup campaign. His farcical run out against England was so bad, I'm still laughing. If you like Charles Chaplin, you'll love that.
Mahendra Dhoni (Ind): The Bollywood-style 'keeper came up a real turkey at the Cup. Instead of belting opponents into submission after they had been worn down by the best batting line-up never to fire, he fizzed. Three innings, 29 runs, top score 29, average 9.66. Maybe he should look to the silver screen for a hit.
Andrew Flintoff (Eng): I'd love to make him the captain of this team but he can't even skipper a pedal boat. Touted only two years ago as the best all-rounder going around, he's a mere shadow of that Ashes hero now. His bowling is still good but he's simply lost it with the bat. Six innings, 77 runs at 12.83 makes him just a bowler now. Ahoy, ahoy.
Dwayne Smith/Bravo (WI): Take your pick, they've both been equally ineffective as all-flounders in a team that rarely picks more than two strike bowlers and is prone to collapses; hence, necessitating a couple of guys that can bat and bowl. Not these two. Bravo's taken wickets (11) but runs simply pour from his bowling (5.7 an over). He's also made some runs (116 at 23.2) and even opened, but much more is expected from the Golden Boy. Smith, after a fine first game, was dreadful and played himself out of the team. Batting average 12.25 and four wickets, those figures keep his fellow Dwayne in a job.
Harbhajan Singh (Ind): Only played two matches, so this may be a harsh call but he failed to pick up a single wicket in 20 overs. That's not good enough for a team that relies on its spinners to win as many matches as its vaunted batting line-up. The 'Turbanator' was a non-factor at the Cup.
Danish Kaneria (Pak): Like his sub-continental spin pal, Harbhajan, the Pakistan leggie had no influence whatsoever at the Cup. Was only chosen for two of three games and bowled a mere 13 overs. Claimed three wickets but conceded a whopping 7.15 runs per over. He failed to supply any bite to an attack that lacked teeth.
Makhaya Ntini (SA): The only player from a semi-final team to make the BUMS. Take a bow, Makhaya. Much was expected of the Proteas' paceman but he just couldn't get it right here and has now lost his place in the side. Claimed only six wickets in seven games and just couldn't make those early breakthroughs against the big teams. Maybe his mind is back in SA with his new-born babe.
So there you have it, the BUMS - the team that won't make a run or take a wicket when you need it most.
You can resume reading now, Mr. Gordon.
Feedback: tym.glaser@gleanerjm.com
