Picking a Best XI of Players Not Selected for the 2015 Cricket World Cup
Who are the best players who won't be taking part in the 2015 Cricket World Cup?
With all of the 15-men squads now announced, we've picked through the selectorial bones to come up with a best XI of those unfortunate players who won't be heading to Australia and New Zealand next month.
The XI includes global superstars, rising stars and victims of board politics. On their day, they could give many international sides a real challenge.
Selection in the team was based on prior performance in the 50-over game, form and entertainment factor.
Read on to see who has made the cut.
Stats come courtesy of ESPNCricinfo.com and Howstat.com.
Honourable Mentions
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Up-and-coming players who will have to wait for their big international chance include the likes of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sean Abbott and Jason Roy. They missed out in our team too.
At the other end of the spectrum were veteran players hoping for one last one-day hurrah. Cameron White, Ajantha Mendis, Robin Peterson and Alastair Cook didn't make the cut here either.
Neither did the talented but erratic Kamran Akmal or Sri Lanka's Upul Tharanga.
1. Shaun Marsh (Australia)
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A year ago, Shaun Marsh scored 177 runs at an average of 59 in the ODI series against England. Surprisingly, the left-hander hasn't played for Australia in the 50-over game since.
The 31-year-old's career has been blighted by injury so it's perhaps understandable that the selectors have opted to look elsewhere.
Marsh is undoubtedly a talented performer. If he can prove his fitness, he looks next in line if Michael Clarke fails to meet his injury deadline.
Cricket Australia report that if the captain isn't available for Australia's match against Bangladesh on 21 February, he'll be ruled out of the competition.
2. Matthew Wade (Australia)
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Once Brad Haddin regained his fitness, he was always a certainty to return to the Australian squad.
His replacement against South Africa in November, Matthew Wade, certainly didn't disgrace himself. Indeed his 52 in the fourth ODI went a long way toward Australia winning the match and series.
Wade has a decent record at the top of the order, averaging 28.33 when going in first. If Haddin does suffer further injury problems, the 27-year-old is a capable substitute.
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3. Kevin Pietersen (England)
4 of 12With two 50s and a 49 to his name in six innings in the Big Bash, Kevin Pietersen has given Australian crowds glimpses of his imperious best.
It will seem absurd to many then that he won't be joining the England World Cup squad.
Pietersen's one-day form had been pretty ordinary prior to his axing from the England side. He passed 50 just twice in his last nine innings, averaging 28.44.
He remains a player with an eye for the big occasion, though, and if based purely on cricketing ability, he would walk into England's middle-order.
4. Yuvraj Singh (India)
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The Indian selectors' decision not to pick Yuvraj Singh was no great surprise. It's over a year since the all-rounder played his last one-day international.
The 33-year-old has been in excellent touch in the domestic first-class game, though, with scores of 130, 136 and 182 in his last four appearances.
Yuvraj was man of the tournament when India won the 2011 World Cup. A canny performer with bat and ball he is always up for a scrap. India may yet miss his experience during their title defence.
5. Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
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All-rounder Kieron Pollard was one of the surprise absentees when Clive Lloyd announced the West Indies World Cup squad on Sunday.
The 27-year-old's statistics aren't especially impressive. He averages 25.21 with the bat and 38.11 with the ball. He is capable of some spectacular hitting when the mood takes, though.
Pollard has enjoyed plenty of success in Australia, too, averaging 41.80 Down Under, including a fine century at the SCG.
6. Dwayne Bravo (West Indies)
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Like his colleague Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo appears to be a casualty of the recent West Indian debacle in India.
If selection was based purely on playing reasons, then surely Bravo would be in the 15-man squad. The experienced Trinidadian has a good record in the 50-over game, averaging 25.37 with the bat and 29.55 with the ball.
Bravo has experience of winning big tournaments, too. The 31-year-old was a member of the West Indian sides that won the 2004 ICC Trophy and the World T20 in 2012.
Alongside Kevin Pietersen, Bravo will be the most high-profile absentee from this year's competition.
7. Ben Stokes (England)
8 of 12Ben Stokes' recent ODI form has been pretty wretched. The Durham all-rounder has reached double figures just three times in his past eight ODI innings. In that time he has taken just four wickets at an average of over 80. Not exactly a compelling case for selection.
The 23-year-old has shown signs of life in the recent Big Bash, though, giving the selectors a reminder of his undoubted talents with his 77 from 37 balls for the Melbourne Renegades against Hobart.
He followed that with two wickets against the Melbourne Stars.
Stokes was the one bright spot of England's disastrous Ashes tour last year. James Whitaker and Co. may yet rue not taking a punt on the talented, if erratic youngster.
8. James Neesham (New Zealand)
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The one major surprise in the New Zealand squad was the recall of 35-year-old Grant Elliott. The unlucky player to make way was James Neesham.
The 24-year-old has become an established member of the Black Caps' squad in all forms of the game but an economy rate of 6.42 in ODIs counted against him.
Coach Mike Hesson told TVNZ.co.nz, "Look, it's a disappointing message but, look, it's still five weeks away, before the first game, and James will still play a part for the Black Caps in the future, as will other players."
9. Ryan Harris (Australia)
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As expected, the Australian selectors opted to wrap Ryan Harris up in cotton wool prior to the Ashes, rather than risking him in the World Cup.
Opposition batsmen will be delighted at that decision as Harris is one of the best fast-bowlers plying his trade in the world game today.
A decent lower order batsman, too, if his body wasn't so fragile he'd have been an automatic pick for the home side.
10. Umar Gul (Pakistan)
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Following in the tradition of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Umar Gul's swinging yorkers and devastating slower balls made him one of the best death-bowlers in the one-day game.
Fitness concerns mean that he won't be showing those talents to the world this time round.
The 30-year-old has struggled since coming back from a knee injury. Pakistani selectors decided not to take a chance on a less than fully fit Gul.
11. Nathan Lyon (Australia)
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Despite being the leading wicket-taker in the recent Test series against India, Nathan Lyon has been overlooked for Australia's World Cup squad.
Instead, the selectors have opted for Xavier Doherty and a selection of part-time dobbers.
Lyon has won only eight ODI caps, taking 11 wickets at an average of 30. He's yet to play a 50-over match for Australia on home soil.
The 27-year-old has confounded the critics to become a more than respectable Test bowler. There's no reason to think he couldn't do the same in the one-day game.
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