10 International Batsmen with Much to Prove in 2016
Cricket's international stars have been busy of late, and with the schedule showing no sign of letting up, there are plenty of batsman who have something to prove over the next few months.
Take England's Alex Hales for example.
He was a stuttering shadow of himself in four Tests against an injury-hit South African attack, where he scored just 130 runs.
A few weeks later, the bombastic opener has registered five consecutive 50+ scores, including a century, in the ODI Series.
Thus, while his international white-ball future is secure, Hales will need a flying start to the English domestic season if he's to find his name in the next England Test squad.
Here, ranked in loose ascending order in terms of what's at stake, are 10 other international batsmen with plenty to prove over the rest of the year.
10. Mominul Haque
1 of 10
Challenge: Earn a place in Bangladesh's limited overs teams.
While he remains relatively unknown outside of Bangladesh, Mominul Haque has the potential to become a top international batsman.
However, his growth has been slowed due to the 24-year-old seemingly being pigeonholed as a red-ball specialist.
This is perhaps no surprise when viewing his numbers—an average of 53 from 30 Test innings including an incredible run of 11 consecutive half centuries.
But surely, someone capable of feats like these can adapt his game to the limited overs arena?
In reality, when compared to some of his international colleagues, Mominul's current ODI and T20i records are far from shabby with strike rates of 74.58 and 120.00, respectively.
9. Umar Akmal
2 of 10
Challenge: Resume his international career on three fronts.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Umar Akmal has a great stage to put his name in lights and fulfil the promise he showed when he burst onto the international stage in 2009.
Since then, the 25-year-old has had plenty of ups and downs, but despite posting decent numbers—he averages 35.82 in Test cricket—he's currently only a regular in Pakistan's T20 side.
Mainly thanks to Sarfraz Ahmed, who doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon.
But with his sumptuous timing and wide array of shots, if Akmal can produce some significant scores, his country could certainly do with an injection of youth in an often veteran-heavy batting line up.
8. Kraigg Brathwaite
3 of 10
Challenge: Push average over 40 and play some international white ball cricket.
Times have been hard for the West Indies of late, but the form of Kraigg Brathwaite has been one of the few rays of light.
A traditional type of opener by trade, the Barbadian has managed to post a Test average of 34.40 in a difficult era for his side that includes four centuries and one huge double ton against Bangladesh.
What's more, at just 23 years old, Brathwaite already has 27 Test caps to his name.
If the youngster can start to increase his own personal statistics, this will only help the West Indies become a much more competitive side.
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7. Jos Buttler
4 of 10
Challenge: Show more consistency and regain his place in the England Test team.
Not too long ago, Jos Buttler was seemingly nailed on to be his country's wicketkeeper in all three formats of cricket for many years to come.
However, the 25-year-old's form and confidence nosedived during the Ashes, culminating in Jonny Bairstow taking the gloves for the Tests in South Africa.
While he remains in the white-ball teams, a propensity for inconsistency—his last seven internationals innings produced scores of 0, 1, 0, 48*, 105, 20, 2—can be frustrating.
Buttler needs a big T20 World Cup and then a successful IPL stint to help get his game firing on all cylinders once more.
6. Dinesh Chandimal
5 of 10
Challenge: Usher Sri Lanka into a new post-Sangakkara and Jayawardene era.
Australian newspaper the Herald Sun (via Rajasthan Royals) labelled Dinesh Chandimal as "the next big thing" when he broke on to the scene, and as evidenced by an average of over 45 in Test cricket, he can clearly play.
What's more, the 26-year-old has even captained his country's T20 side on occasion.
However, Chandimal still has plenty of doubters and lackluster statistics, such as his run-a-ball T20i strike rate. Furthermore, he's only scored one of his five Test centuries overseas.
A strong year, including plenty of runs in the World Cup and on Sri Lanka's tour of England, would do this talented performer's confidence no harm at all.
5. Usman Khawaja
6 of 10
Challenge: To prove he's the real deal and cement his place in the Australian side.
It's taken a while, but there is a feeling that Usman Khawaja has finally arrived after posting a staggering run of scores, including three tons for the Baggy Greens, over his last 10 innings.
The silky left-hander has always been an aesthetically pleasing batsman at the crease, however, since making his Test debut in 2011; he's been dropped and recalled multiple times.
This comeback seems different, though, and Khawaja certainly looks the part.
Can he maintain these levels and make himself an irreplaceable part of the Australian team across all formats?
4. Martin Guptill
7 of 10
Challenge: Prove once and for all he can play Test cricket for New Zealand.
When the ball is white, Martin Guptill is a dangerous batsman whose ferocious hitting regularly helps New Zealand get off to flying starts in ODI cricket.
When the ball changes colour to red, however, the 30-year-old averages just 30.48 from 75 Test innings.
What's more, opponents are fully aware of this uncertainty.
With Brendon McCullum's retirement from international cricket nearly complete, the Black Caps need the experienced Guptill to finally prove he belongs in the sport's most demanding format.
3. Shikhar Dhawan
8 of 10
Challenge: Become one of India's batting pillars.
Amazingly, Shikhar Dhawan's recent half century against Sri Lanka at Ranchi was his first score of 50 or more in international T20 cricket.
Perhaps even more surprising, though, is that the 30-year-old has played only 19 Test matches despite being on the international scene since 2010.
Sure, he was a latecomer to the top level, not making his Test debut until he was 27, but given his natural talent, Dhawan is capable of achieving much more.
With some promising young Indian batsmen starting to break through, it's a big year for the left-hander if he wants to play at the top for some time to come.
2. Glenn Maxwell
9 of 10
Challenge: Break into the Australian Test team.
The big question for the Big Show is whether he's happy being seen as a white-ball mercenary or if he's going to become an accomplished cross-format cricketer?
Glenn Maxwell still has time on his side and possesses enough natural talent; however, he hasn't played a five-day game for his country since 2014.
And doubts remain that the 27-year-old has the necessary application and patience to occupy the crease and also chip in with wickets against quality attacks.
But with the T20 World Cup an ideal launching pad, can Maxwell put his name back in contention?
1. Quinton De Kock
10 of 10
Challenge: Prove he belongs at the top across all formats.
And finally, as England's bowlers have recently discovered, Quinton de Kock is a serious performer with the bat who, at the age of just 23, has already scored 10 tons in ODI cricket.
What's more, as well as registering two tons in the ODI series against Eoin Morgan's men over the last few weeks, the left-hander also recorded his first triple-figure score in Test cricket in January.
Is this cricket's next superstar who's about to flourish, or is it a false dawn?
De Kock needs to perform at the T20 World Cup and then sustain this form for the rest of the year to help lead South Africa into their next cricketing era.
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