If there was one West Indian batsman who couldn't have been under scrutiny heading into the World Cup it was Shai Hope. The elegant batsman had nearly double the number of runs than the next best West Indian batsman after the Champions Trophy and was their saviour in a faltering batting line-up.
They live in a right-handed world, historically stigmatised and challenged by tasks as simple as using scissors -- but when it comes to taking wickets at the World Cup, being a southpaw seamer is a distinct advantage.
England's Jos Buttler said he felt a sense of relief as well as excitement after the tournament hosts booked their place in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Beyond the headline makers, the supporting acts have played key roles too, often slipping under the radar but doing just about enough to allow the main guys to do their thing.
It might have been the high-point of their campaign but now Pakistan enter their final game of the ICC World Cup against Bangladesh at Lord’s on Friday (July 5) with a near-impossible chance of reaching the semifinal
West Indies legend Brian Lara on Thursday (July 4) likened Virat Kohli to a run machine, saying that the Indian skipper is way ahead of rest of the world when it comes to batting across formats.
If history is anything to go by, Australian batsman David Warner’s performances on the cricket field tend to get better after the birth of his child, it’s happened twice; will he be third time lucky? South Africa beware!