Cricket World Cup 2015 Squads: Power Ranking Every Roster
Welcome to Bleacher Report's power rankings for the 14 squads set to enter the imminent 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Across the following slides, we rank the world's elite cricketing nations using five criteria:
- ICC ODI Ranking
- Squad strength
- One-day international record in the last 12 months
- Recent one-day records compiled in Australia and New Zealand
- World Cup pedigree
As always, whether you believe we've got it spot on or slightly off, add your thoughts in the comments section below.
14. United Arab Emirates
1 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 13th (first in Associate rankings)
Squad: Khurram Khan (c), Mohammad Tauqir (vc), Amjad Ali, Amjad Javed, Andri Berenger, Fahad Alhashmi, Manjula Guruge, Kamran Shazad, Krishna Chandran, Mohammad Naveed, Nasir Aziz, Swapnil Patil (wk), Rohan Mustafa, Saqlain Haider, Shaiman Anwar
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): The United Arab Emirates enter this World Cup with the smallest number of matches (six) at the one-day international level in the last year. But of those six, the emirate has won four and claimed a 3-1 series victory over Afghanistan in Dubai recently.
Like other Associate nations, the bulk of the UAE's 50-over cricket has come in unofficial ODI series, in the World Cup warm-up series for the Associates last year and in the Asian Cricket Council Premier League.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: The UAE's only cricket in this region came in last year's World Cup qualifiers among the game's minor nations. The emirate lost the final to Scotland.
World Cup Pedigree: The UAE haven't been involved in a Cricket World Cup since 1996. Obviously, none of the current squad have ever taken part in a World Cup match.
13. Scotland
2 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 14th (second in Associate rankings)
Squad: Preston Mommsen (c), Kyle Coetzer (vc), Richie Berrington, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross (wk), Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Like a number of the other Associates, Scotland have played a very limited amount of one-day international cricket in the last 12 months, with just eight matches at this level since this time last year.
Seven of those have come against other Associate nations in Ireland and Afghanistan, and the Scots have recorded only two victories—one against each opponent.
The bulk of country's 50-over cricket has come in unofficial one-day internationals in the World Cup warm-up series for the Associate nations, against a touring New Zealand A side and in a short series against the Netherlands.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Scotland will have fond memories of this region after winning the World Cup qualifying tournament at the beginning of 2014.
But outside of that, the nation have never contested a 50-over match in Australia or New Zealand against a major side.
World Cup Pedigree: Scotland have only ever been to two World Cups (1999 and 2007) and missed the last tournament in India in 2011. Only one player in the current squad, Majid Haq, has ever played a World Cup match.
12. Afghanistan
3 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 11th
Squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Afsar Zazai (wk), Aftab Alam, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Javed Ahmadi, Mirwais Ashraf, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Nawroz Mangal, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Afghanistan have been the busiest of the Associates at this World Cup in the last year, contesting 18 ODIs for eight wins and 10 losses.
Among the victories have been triumphs over ICC full members Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, while the Afghans also took on Pakistan and India in the 2014 Asia Cup, giving them a good taste of the 50-over game at the highest level.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Afghanistan have never contested a one-day international in this region.
World Cup Pedigree: This is the first time Afghanistan have ever been to a World Cup.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
11. Ireland
4 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 12th
Squad: William Porterfield (c), Andy Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andy McBrine, John Mooney, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien (wk), Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson (wk), Craig Young
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Ireland have completed eight one-day internationals in the last year, winning four. But unlike two of the other three Associates, the Irish have met top-eight sides such as the West Indies and Sri Lanka in that period, enhancing their experience against the world's elite sides.
The country's other one-day cricket has come in the World Cup warm-up series for the Associates and against Sri Lanka A and New Zealand A.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Ireland have never contested a one-day international in Australia or New Zealand.
World Cup Pedigree: Of all the Associates, Ireland have the strongest World Cup pedigree, having contested the 2007 and 2011 editions of the tournament. On both occasions, the men in green won two matches, with their most memorable victory coming against England in Bangalore in 2011. Nine of the current squad have been to a World Cup before.
10. Zimbabwe
5 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 10th
Squad: Elton Chigumbura (c), Regis Chakabva (wk), Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (wk), Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Zimbabwe have endured a miserable 12 months on the international stage, and their ODI form has been no different: sixteen matches for just three wins, two of which came against Afghanistan.
Hammered by both South Africa and Bangladesh, the Africans' only bright spot was the incredible, three-wicket victory over Australia in Harare.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Since the nation's decline amid disputes with the team's board and political difficulties in the middle of the last decade, Zimbabwe have only visited the region once since 2004.
Against New Zealand in 2012, the Zimbabweans were hammered in three ODIs by 90 runs, 141 runs and 202 runs, respectively.
World Cup Pedigree: Zimbabwe have been present at every World Cup since 1983, but haven't won a match against top-eight opposition since victory over South Africa in 1999.
Ten members of the squad have played a World Cup match previously.
9. Bangladesh
6 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 9th
Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Al-Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Prior to Zimbabwe's visit of the country in November, 2014 was a disastrous year for Bangladesh, defined by internal turmoil.
Winless ODI series against Sri Lanka and India sandwiched a winless campaign at the Asia Cup in the first half of the year, before three straight losses to the West Indies followed in August.
But Zimbabwe's visit brought with it five straight victories, snapping an awful stretch in Bangladesh's short history.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Bangladesh have contested 12 ODIs in this part of the world since first visiting Australia in 2003. They've lost all 12 and were beaten convincingly in all three games by New Zealand in 2010—their last ODI trip to this region.
World Cup Pedigree: Bangladesh have been ever-present at the World Cup since first appearing in 1999 and have enjoyed strong runs in the last two editions.
In 2007, the newest ICC full member progressed to the Super Eight stage and claimed victories over India and South Africa, while they were only denied a quarter-final place in 2011 by net run rate.
However, only six members of the current squad have ever been to a World Cup.
8. West Indies
7 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 8th
Squad: Jason Holder (c), Marlon Samuels (vc), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): The West Indies' recent form line in this format doesn't make for pretty reading: A 4-1 hammering at the hands of South Africa, one abandoned tour of India and a 2-1 loss to a reeling England in early 2014.
The only ODI series triumph for the men from the Caribbean in the last year came against Bangladesh.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: The West Indies split their last series in New Zealand 2-2 with the hosts in 2013-14, but they were thrashed 5-0 last time they visited Australia just under a year earlier.
It's now been 10 years since the West Indies last won a ODI in Australia.
World Cup Pedigree: Despite being two-time champions, the Caribbean side have been woeful at the last two World Cups. In 2007, they didn't make the Super Eight stage at the event they hosted, while their 2011 campaign ended with a 10-wicket quarter-final loss to Pakistan (they were lucky to get that far, only beating the three minor sides in Group B).
7. Pakistan
8 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 7th
Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Ahmed Shehzad, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohail Khan, Umar Akmal (wk), Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Aside from a strong run in the 2014 Asia Cup, Pakistan's last 12 months in the one-day international arena have been rather barren.
Series losses to Sri Lanka and Australia arrived in August and October, before the men in green lost both home and away to New Zealand.
So while beating India during the Asia Cup might have been a high point, it's been downhill since.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Pakistan's recent two-match tune-up in New Zealand was the first time they've visited the region in four years, after clinching a six-match series 3-2 against the Kiwis in 2011.
However, Pakistan haven't played a one-day international in Australia since 2010 and haven't won there since 2005.
World Cup Pedigree: Of course, the last time Pakistan lifted the World Cup trophy was in Australia and New Zealand back in 1992.
More recently, the Pakistanis have endured wildly fluctuating fortunes, making the final in 1999 and the semi-final in 2011, while bowing out early in 2003 and 2007.
Also a concern is the fact that only six members of the current squad have ever been to a World Cup.
6. England
9 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 5th
Squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): After edging past the West Indies 2-1 last March, it's been a miserable 12 months for England.
First, they were beaten at home by Sri Lanka, then thrashed at home by India, then dismantled in a return series in Sri Lanka, before being thumped by Australia in the recent triangular series.
Of 25 ODIs played in the last year, England have won just 10.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Despite claiming a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in 2013, England's recent record in this region is extremely poor.
In their last 17 ODIs on Australian soil, England have been victorious on just four occasions, with two of those coming against India—who also struggle in Australia—in the recent tri-series.
World Cup Pedigree: Since making the final in 1992, England haven't even come close to pushing for a World Cup title, with quarter-final appearances in 1996 and 2011 the closest they have come.
With a new-look squad, England's team also possess very little World Cup experience—something that could be considered a positive, given that the current group enter the tournament carrying few scars from previous failures.
5. Sri Lanka
10 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 4th
Squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Lahiru Thirimanne (vc), Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sachithra Senanayake
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Sri Lanka have played an extraordinary amount of one-day cricket over the last year, contesting 39 matches in a 12-month period.
In the first half of 2014, the Sri Lankans looked like the world's premier 50-over side, claiming series victories over Bangladesh and England, while also lifting the Asia Cup trophy.
But it's been topsy-turvy since, with series victories over Pakistan and England wedged among heavy losses to South Africa, India and New Zealand.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Despite succumbing 4-2 to New Zealand in January, Sri Lanka's recent record in this part of the world is quite strong.
In 2013, the Sri Lankans drew 2-2 with a strong Australian outfit in 2013 and pushed the hosts all the way in the 2012 triangular series that also featured India.
Two years earlier, the men in blue also edged out Australia 2-1 in a three-match series before the 2010-11 Ashes.
World Cup Pedigree: Sri Lanka's record in World Cups is as strong as any. Winners in 1996, semi-finalists in 2003 and finalists in 2007 and 2011, the men from the tiny island nation have proved themselves an excellent tournament outfit time and time again.
4. India
11 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 2nd
Squad: MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Until very recently, India's ODI record across the last year had looked extremely strong.
After a series victory over Bangladesh in June, India thumped England after their difficult Test series and then completely demolished Sri Lanka on home soil after the West Indies withdrew from their tour early.
But since arriving Down Under late last year, the team have endured a miserable time, with their winless campaign in the triangular series against England and Australia causing plenty of headaches.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: India, undoubtedly, will want to forget their form line in this part of the world. For the team's difficulties stretch back a lot further than the recent triangular series.
In early 2014, the team were hammered 4-0 by New Zealand, and in 2012, missed the triangular series final in Australia that also featured Sri Lanka.
World Cup Pedigree: India have been to the final of two of the last three World Cups and are the defending champions, lifting the trophy on home soil in 2011.
But only four members of that victorious squad remain in the current group, leaving the Indian side with little World Cup experience.
3. New Zealand
12 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 6th
Squad: Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi (wk), Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): New Zealand's recent ODI record is strong, and the side have been building across all formats for 18 months now.
In December, the Kiwis edged out Pakistan 3-2 in the UAE despite the conditions suiting the hosts.
And since returning home, New Zealand have claimed emphatic series triumphs over both Sri Lanka and Pakistan to enter this World Cup high on confidence.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Though it's been six years since New Zealand last contested a one-day international in Australia, the Kiwis recent record at home is imposing, winning 12 of their last 18 completed matches since the beginning of 2014.
World Cup Pedigree: Semi-finals have been cruel to New Zealand in recent World Cups, with the country's campaigns ending at that stage in three of the last four tournaments. In 1999, it was Pakistan who defeated them en route to the final, while Sri Lanka did the damage in 2007 and 2011.
Only six members of the current squad were present last time around.
2. South Africa
13 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 3rd
Squad: AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla (vc), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Aside from a hiccup against Australia in November, South Africa have been dominant in 50-over cricket across the last 12 months.
With 16 wins from 23 completed matches, the Proteas have claimed series victories over Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and the West Indies, while also lifting the triangular series trophy in Zimbabwe that also featured Australia.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Prior to their 4-1 series defeat to Australia in November, South Africa had enjoyed a stretch of nine wins from 10 matches played in Australia and New Zealand across three series from 2009 to 2014.
World Cup Pedigree: South Africa won't want to talk about their World Cup past, so we won't either. It's been truly forgettable.
1. Australia
14 of 14
ICC ODI Ranking: 1st
Squad: Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey (vc), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson
One-Day International Record (Last 12 Months): Australia have lost only four times in this format in the last 12 months and have cruised to series victories against Pakistan, South Africa and in the triangular contest against England and India.
Only an underwhelming tri-series in Zimbabwe after an extremely long layoff in the middle of 2014 prevented a perfect record.
Recent Record in Australia and New Zealand: Since the beginning of 2011, Australia have won 31 of their 41 completed ODIs on home soil.
More ominous again is that Australia have won 18 of their last 20 when playing at home and haven't lost a series on home soil in five years.
World Cup Pedigree: Four-time champions and six-time finalists, no nation can match Australia's record at the Cricket World Cup.
Though the country's bid for four straight titles was halted by India in 2011, the hosts can make it four triumphs from their last five attempts with victory once more in 2015.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
