• What an enigma. He spends most of his time on social media filing pictures of himself cuddling babies, or big scary animals, or imploring people to save the rhinos. If only honey was so sweet. Then put a cricket ball in his hand, and say your prayers. Crossing the white line transforms him from the boy next door to a loony with a 5.5 ounce missile. And it is thrilling to watch. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    What an enigma. He spends most of his time on social media filing pictures of himself cuddling babies, or big scary animals, or imploring people to save the rhinos. If only honey was so sweet. Then put a cricket ball in his hand, and say your prayers. Crossing the white line transforms him from the boy next door to a loony with a 5.5 ounce missile. And it is thrilling to watch. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • The Big Show. Glenn Maxwell has dipped just a little from the phenomenal form fans in the UAE would have witnessed when part of the IPL was played here in 2014. But he is still easily one of the biggest hitters around in world cricket. Few batsmen can hit sixes in as many styles as Maxwell either. The reverse sweep, the reverse pull, the ramp, the scoop, the switch hit – he has every modern-day bling shot in the bag. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    The Big Show. Glenn Maxwell has dipped just a little from the phenomenal form fans in the UAE would have witnessed when part of the IPL was played here in 2014. But he is still easily one of the biggest hitters around in world cricket. Few batsmen can hit sixes in as many styles as Maxwell either. The reverse sweep, the reverse pull, the ramp, the scoop, the switch hit – he has every modern-day bling shot in the bag. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • The ice-man they call him but it is only now, with the heat on him as England’s captain, will we know the full extent of his iciness. Morgan has been, for some years, the best batsman in the England ODI side, a master judge of an innings and its perfect pace. He has finished games and he has set them up. He has more shots than Cristiano Ronaldo on his more selfish days. Until recently he had been in mystifyingly poor form but taking over from Alastair Cook has turned things around. It should not be a surprise: he averages nearly 69 in the ODIs he has captained. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    The ice-man they call him but it is only now, with the heat on him as England’s captain, will we know the full extent of his iciness. Morgan has been, for some years, the best batsman in the England ODI side, a master judge of an innings and its perfect pace. He has finished games and he has set them up. He has more shots than Cristiano Ronaldo on his more selfish days. Until recently he had been in mystifyingly poor form but taking over from Alastair Cook has turned things around. It should not be a surprise: he averages nearly 69 in the ODIs he has captained. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • For the heavy burden of keeping Bangladesh afloat on a cricket field, Shakib Al Hasan is the perfect Atlas. He has had his run-ins with the board and some might say he has become too big for the sport in the country. But can anyone doubt that he is their leading player, that most hopes in any given game, rest on his shoulders? And by the by, he is also the world’s top-ranked Test and Twenty20 allrounder and third in the ODI rankings. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    For the heavy burden of keeping Bangladesh afloat on a cricket field, Shakib Al Hasan is the perfect Atlas. He has had his run-ins with the board and some might say he has become too big for the sport in the country. But can anyone doubt that he is their leading player, that most hopes in any given game, rest on his shoulders? And by the by, he is also the world’s top-ranked Test and Twenty20 allrounder and third in the ODI rankings. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • If the category is “wild card” then Pakistan is usually the first place to look. And this presumes Yasir makes the Pakistan starting XI – which is far from a given seeing as he has only played a lone one-day international to date. Yasir probably made the World Cup squad largely because of the ringing endorsements that have come his way from Shane Warne in recent times. Now he has the chance to deliver on the prophesies of his chief cheerleader, and in his own back yard, too. Warne loved playing in Brisbane, where Pakistan face Zimbabwe in their third match, because of the extra bounce it afforded his leg-breaks. Other than that, Yasir will have to make do with the low-bouncing tracks of Adelaide and then New Zealand. Not that that should be a problem. He was outstanding in Test matches in the UAE on slow, low wickets, which propelled him to where he is now. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    If the category is “wild card” then Pakistan is usually the first place to look. And this presumes Yasir makes the Pakistan starting XI – which is far from a given seeing as he has only played a lone one-day international to date. Yasir probably made the World Cup squad largely because of the ringing endorsements that have come his way from Shane Warne in recent times. Now he has the chance to deliver on the prophesies of his chief cheerleader, and in his own back yard, too. Warne loved playing in Brisbane, where Pakistan face Zimbabwe in their third match, because of the extra bounce it afforded his leg-breaks. Other than that, Yasir will have to make do with the low-bouncing tracks of Adelaide and then New Zealand. Not that that should be a problem. He was outstanding in Test matches in the UAE on slow, low wickets, which propelled him to where he is now. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • The answer to the perennial what-if of Shane Bond’s career could be Adam Milne. On his day, when he was fit, Bond was probably the quickest and most beautiful fast bowler in the world to watch and one of their stars in their 2007 World Cup semi-final run. As bowling coach now, he is charged with turning the young, precocious Milne into a more durable prospect than he was himself. Milne has a lot going for him. He is young, he has Bond, he has a solid action and he has pace. Lots and lots of pace. Already in his short career he has impressed. Most recently he has troubled Younis Khan and Kumar Sangakkara, dismissing the latter three times in three games in New Zealand. A side strain ruled him out of the rest of that series but those are the risks New Zealand will have to take. The rewards that he potentially brings, in a strong pace attack, are easily worth it. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    The answer to the perennial what-if of Shane Bond’s career could be Adam Milne. On his day, when he was fit, Bond was probably the quickest and most beautiful fast bowler in the world to watch and one of their stars in their 2007 World Cup semi-final run. As bowling coach now, he is charged with turning the young, precocious Milne into a more durable prospect than he was himself. Milne has a lot going for him. He is young, he has Bond, he has a solid action and he has pace. Lots and lots of pace. Already in his short career he has impressed. Most recently he has troubled Younis Khan and Kumar Sangakkara, dismissing the latter three times in three games in New Zealand. A side strain ruled him out of the rest of that series but those are the risks New Zealand will have to take. The rewards that he potentially brings, in a strong pace attack, are easily worth it. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • Once his action was found to be illegal and he was suspended, it would have been easy to assume that Sachithra Senanayake’s meteoric rise was at an end. That he may even struggle to return. It would have been wrong. Senanayake has not only remodeled his action, but he has come back with some success. His height is a natural advantage but nine wickets from seven ODIs after a re-jigged action bode well. He may not ever reach the heights he once did, but he will be a threat. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    Once his action was found to be illegal and he was suspended, it would have been easy to assume that Sachithra Senanayake’s meteoric rise was at an end. That he may even struggle to return. It would have been wrong. Senanayake has not only remodeled his action, but he has come back with some success. His height is a natural advantage but nine wickets from seven ODIs after a re-jigged action bode well. He may not ever reach the heights he once did, but he will be a threat. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • On his Twitter avatar, Kemar Roach is posing next to a sports car. The picture says all you need to know about his love of speed. He may not push the speedgun quite as far as the likes of Dale Steyn, Adam Milne or Mitchell Johnson, but his return after injury adds much missed potency to the West Indies attack. And he likes World Cups. He took a hat-trick against the Netherlands four years ago. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    On his Twitter avatar, Kemar Roach is posing next to a sports car. The picture says all you need to know about his love of speed. He may not push the speedgun quite as far as the likes of Dale Steyn, Adam Milne or Mitchell Johnson, but his return after injury adds much missed potency to the West Indies attack. And he likes World Cups. He took a hat-trick against the Netherlands four years ago. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • When the UAE took their first steps back onto the big stage after an 18 year absence, at last year’s World Twenty20, they had a brief chance of causing a shock. They had Zimbabwe 24 for 3, then 34 for 4 in Sylhet. Then Elton Chigumbura came in, blazed 53 in 21 balls, and the match was over. Zimbabwe are light on household names. But sides would be foolish to neglect the threat of Chigumbura. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    When the UAE took their first steps back onto the big stage after an 18 year absence, at last year’s World Twenty20, they had a brief chance of causing a shock. They had Zimbabwe 24 for 3, then 34 for 4 in Sylhet. Then Elton Chigumbura came in, blazed 53 in 21 balls, and the match was over. Zimbabwe are light on household names. But sides would be foolish to neglect the threat of Chigumbura. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • The fact O’Brien has never been snapped up by an Indian Premier League franchise says much about the lack of exposure Associate players get. He demolished the record for the fastest World Cup century with his 50-ball effort against England in India four years ago. A former hockey player, he is a brutal hitter of the ball. If he gets going for Ireland, there might be some lost balls around the grounds of Australia and New Zealand. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    The fact O’Brien has never been snapped up by an Indian Premier League franchise says much about the lack of exposure Associate players get. He demolished the record for the fastest World Cup century with his 50-ball effort against England in India four years ago. A former hockey player, he is a brutal hitter of the ball. If he gets going for Ireland, there might be some lost balls around the grounds of Australia and New Zealand. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • It is difficult to think of any player anywhere in the sport who has been more relied upon, and delivered more often, than the UAE’s recently deposed captain. The World Cup should be a fitting send off for a player who has enjoyed one of the finest international careers of anyone beyond the Test sphere. Looking at his age, 43, it would be easy to think his best years are behind him and he has been clinging on for this chance. Then check the statistics, and that is a complete nonsense. It is tempting to suggest he is cricket’s Benjamin Button, and is getting better and more sprightly with age. But that would bely the achievements which have remained more or less stable throughout well over a decade of service for the national team. “He is a fantastic player, the glue that everybody bats around,” said Paul Franks, the UAE’s assistant coach. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    It is difficult to think of any player anywhere in the sport who has been more relied upon, and delivered more often, than the UAE’s recently deposed captain. The World Cup should be a fitting send off for a player who has enjoyed one of the finest international careers of anyone beyond the Test sphere. Looking at his age, 43, it would be easy to think his best years are behind him and he has been clinging on for this chance. Then check the statistics, and that is a complete nonsense. It is tempting to suggest he is cricket’s Benjamin Button, and is getting better and more sprightly with age. But that would bely the achievements which have remained more or less stable throughout well over a decade of service for the national team. “He is a fantastic player, the glue that everybody bats around,” said Paul Franks, the UAE’s assistant coach. - Paul Radley (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • Scotland, it is likely, will struggle to make an impression in this tournament. They will be happy enough to break their World Cup duck and win a first-ever game at the tournament. But one man likely to shine is Kyle Coetzer, a former captain and among their most-established top-order batsman. Coetzer has a pretty established county record for Durham and Northamptonshire and though removed as Scotland captain after an injury, it has hardly mattered. He was the leading run-getter from four Associates in a World Cup acclimatisation tour, with 333 runs at over 55. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    Scotland, it is likely, will struggle to make an impression in this tournament. They will be happy enough to break their World Cup duck and win a first-ever game at the tournament. But one man likely to shine is Kyle Coetzer, a former captain and among their most-established top-order batsman. Coetzer has a pretty established county record for Durham and Northamptonshire and though removed as Scotland captain after an injury, it has hardly mattered. He was the leading run-getter from four Associates in a World Cup acclimatisation tour, with 333 runs at over 55. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
  • There are better and faster bowlers in the world but no bowler running in creates as much awe as Shapoor Zadran. He has a Shoaib Akhtar-esque run-up for a start, in terms of distance. But he runs in with greater abandon and a kind of menace as well. Throw in the long hair on top of a big, well-built body and he will be, if nothing else, one of the great sights of the tournament. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)
    There are better and faster bowlers in the world but no bowler running in creates as much awe as Shapoor Zadran. He has a Shoaib Akhtar-esque run-up for a start, in terms of distance. But he runs in with greater abandon and a kind of menace as well. Throw in the long hair on top of a big, well-built body and he will be, if nothing else, one of the great sights of the tournament. - Osman Samiuddin (Illustration: Mathew Kurian / The National and Kevin Jeffers / The National)

Sport

Virat Kohli, Dale Steyn and the personalities of the Cricket World Cup – Illustrations

Kevin Jeffers

February 11, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

A look into each team at the Cricket World Cup through the lens of a player who embodies something he – and his team – may bring to the quadrennial cricket showcase starting on Saturday in New Zealand and Australia. Text by Paul Radley and Osman Samiuddin. Click the arrows above to scroll through the images. To see the illustrations unobstructed by the captions, click “Hide caption” in the toolbar at the bottom of the photos.

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