5 England Cricket Players with the Most to Prove Before the 2015 ICC World Cup

With the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand approaching, England face a trip to Sri Lanka before a tri-series against Australia and India. A recent 3-1 ODI home series defeat to India has left many questions unanswered.

Can Steven Finn rediscover his rhythm? Can Ben Stokes rediscover his form? And can Alastair Cook silence his detractors with some runs at a decent strike rate?

Here are the five England players with the most to prove in the coming months are named.

Honourable Mentions

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Joe Root: Still needs to show he can score steadily in the middle overs.

Chris Jordan: His bowling was particularly wayward in the series against India.

Ian Bell: Has passed 50 just once in his last seven ODI innings.

5. Alex Hales

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The Nottinghamshire opener impressed in two innings against India in the most recent ODI series, making fluent 40s, but went for single figures in his two other innings.

Hales has long been touted by fans and pundits as an England opener; he is an aggressive batsman by nature, particularly strong through the offside and quick to deposit anything short over the rope.

He now simply needs to establish himself at the top of the order with some assured innings. Everyone has seen his destructive qualities, evidenced by his magnificent 116* in the World Twenty20 against Sri Lanka earlier this year, but he needs to prove he can occupy the crease as well.

If he can marry his natural attacking instincts with staying power, he could provide the perfect remedy for England’s lacklustre batting.

With some affirmative runs under his belt in the coming months, expect to see Hales at the top of England’s teamsheet at the World Cup.

4. Jos Buttler

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Since smashing one of the finest-ever ODI centuries, 121 from 74 balls against Sri Lanka at Lords in May, the wicket-keeper has struggled for consistency with the bat.  Coming in late in the innings and often left to captain a sinking ship, Buttler has misplaced his magic touch.

His mixture of innovative touch shots and brutal bat speed can provide an ace in the pack, and his form going into the World Cup could be key for England’s chances.

Although under little immediate pressure for his place in the team Buttler, will no doubt be hoping to improve his form and cement his position in the side.

3. Steven Finn

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A fast bowler of enormous potential, Finn lost his way in the Ashes tour of Australia in the winter. He has returned to the fold recently and showed glimpses of his talent against India. It is just a question of showing his talent when it really matters for England. The fact that he has retained his central contract shows that the England top brass believe he can do it.

If the Middlesex fast bowler can rediscover the rhythm, confidence and aggression that have seen him take 48 wickets for his county this season then he can be a real asset for England at the World Cup.

2. Ben Stokes

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The Durham all-rounder has endured a patch of terrible form with the bat for England recently and seems to have been moved down the pecking order as a result. The performances of Chris Woakes in particular and Chris Jordan will hopefully spur Stokes on to reclaim his undoubted talent.

His ODI batting average for England is just 16.25 in 21 matches, and to justify his place in the team as an all-rounder, he needs to improve dramatically.

His form for Durham is impressive with two centuries in the One-Day Cup this season and an average of 62, so if he can replicate county form he may get back into the England side.

A confident Stokes is capable of aggressive, wicket-taking fast bowling, lower-order run scoring and excellent fielding. With a glut of ODIs to come, Stokes should get his chance to shine.

1. Alastair Cook

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Under fire from all angles the England captain represents the outdated ODI method England has stuck to. Opening the innings, Cook often struggles to score quickly and lacks the impetus to get the side off to a flyer. His international strike rate of 77.57 simply does not add up while the best in the world hover around 100.

But it is not just his batting that has put him under pressure. Cook and the regime that employs him are way behind the curve in ODI cricket. The method of gradual accumulation and keeping wickets in hand that worked 10 years ago is no longer current.

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan, among others, has called for him to step down and focus on the Test captaincy, as reported in The Telegraph.

Cook faces an uphill battle to regain form and silence his critics, but if he scored runs in a positive manner in the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, he could go some way to restoring confidence. That will not be easy—the Sri Lankans are an excellent one-day side, and conditions will not be favourable.