ICC T20 player rankings excellent predictor of success at World Cup

The world rankings of any sport are often the source of much debate and controversy – they don’t always tell the whole story and don’t allow for regional variations in form.

However, the same accusation can’t be levelled at the ICC’s T20 player rankings, which have been an excellent predictor of success at the World Cup.

As the Super 8 section got underway, a stack of bowlers and batters high up in the ICC standings have delivered match-winning performances for their countries.

Rank and File

A betting market is often an accurate portent of what’s to come, too, and the ICC World T20 2024 odds proved to be no exception. England, Australia, and India – the pre-tournament favorites – all made it safely to the Super 8 stage, as did host nation West Indies in another show of support for the wagering lines.

There weren’t many cricket bets placed on the United States before the off – they could be backed at odds of +50000, but they were the only true anomaly in an otherwise predictable yet entertaining event.

The players that you would expect to perform, as per the ICC T20 rankings for 2024, have well and truly delivered too. Deep into the tournament, the list of leading wicket-takers at the World Cup has been dominated by players considered to be amongst the best in the business by the sport’s governing body.

Akeal Hosein, Anrich Nortje, Adam Zampa, and Alzarri Joseph – despite their eclectic bowling styles – share a number of things in common. Yes, their first names all begin with the letter A, but they’re also ranked second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh in the ICC T20 rankings, and each has performed admirably for their country.

Adam Zampa has not been wicketless in a T20WC match since almost 3 years!#AUSvsBAN pic.twitter.com/17OHwNdh7x

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) June 21, 2024

Zampa’s first 20 overs at the World Cup yielded eleven wickets at an average of 10.72, while an economy rate of 5.90 reveals how difficult the mystery spinner is to score off.

Nortje’s ten wickets from his opening five games put him in contention for leading wicket-taker honors, while Hosein’s economy rate of 5.10 was outstanding in the context of this big-hitting format. Joseph, meanwhile, boasted a strike rate of 11.0.

Given the accuracy of ICC ratings, this doesn’t come as a surprise. 

Runs for Fun

There’s a similar tale in the batting department.

Of the ICC’s top-ten ranked male batters in the T20 format, five were amongst the World Cup’s top run scorers, or had played a vital innings for their country.

After five innings, Travis Head had accumulated 179 runs at an average of 44.75, Phil Salt’s 87 not out against the West Indies was one of the highest individual scores of the competition, and Suryakumar Yadav got the better of the number four ranked bowler, Rashid Khan, in India’s crucial Super 8 victory over Afghanistan.

Innovation and excellence 🔥Suryakumar Yadav is awarded the @Aramco POTM after his half-century proved to be the pivotal knock in the match 🏅#T20WorldCup #AFGvIND pic.twitter.com/wATIDvqNkO

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 20, 2024

The Pakistan duo, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, also came to the party, with the former averaging over 40 with the bat and the latter posting a fine 53 not out against Canada.

So the next time a big tournament comes around, check the ICC rankings for that format first. It might just reveal the star names likely to deliver huge performances.

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