Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Cricket World Cup - Hat-trick of Home Wins’. Hall of Fame: Jofra Archer

 Speedy, key element in England’s victory trail of 2019

Jofra Archer was England’s highest wicket-taker in the 2019 World Cup with 20 scalps, and 5 three-wicket hauls.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BOWLING: Matches 11, Balls 605 Maidens 8, Runs 461, Wickets 20, Average 23.05, Best 3/27, Runs/Over 4.57, Catches 2

A lethal paceman capable of generating lightning speed and disconcerting bounce, Jofra Archer’s career has been dogged by injury. He has been in and out of the English team, but when fit is central to their plans with his ability to strike, invariably when needed.

Virat Kohli observed about Archer before the 2019 World Cup, "I think he is probably going to be their X-Factor because he holds a skillset which is probably different from everybody else. He can generate a lot of pace which can be intimidating. You don't expect that because of his run-up but the way he is built...he is a great athlete.”

 

The English batsmen flayed the South African attack to post 311 for eight in the opening faceoff of the 2019 World Cup. Archer caused early damage, hitting Hashim Amla on the grill of the helmet with a vicious bouncer, forcing him to retire hurt. Not long after, he had the new batsman Aiden Markram caught at slip. Soon, he sent back skipper Faf du Plessis with another bumper, edged into the hands of fine-leg. He returned later to end a fighting knock from Rassie van der Dussen (50), having him caught at mid-on. The Proteas were on the ropes at 167 for six, and eventually bowled out for 207 in under 40 overs. Archer returned with a bag of three for 27 from 7 overs. It was a fiery World Cup debut.

 

The Pakistani top-order was in prime form. It was a sobering experience for Archer as he finished with none for 79 in a total of 348 for eight. It was a tall order for England, and battle as they might, ended up 14 runs short of the opponents’ total.

 

There was a course correction as they took on Bangladesh. The opening pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow that served them so well in this tournament strung together a century stand. It enabled them to post their highest World Cup total of 386 for six. Archer bowled a beauty to Soumya Sarkar that sent the off bail flying. He returned later and got Mehidy Hasan Miraj to nick into the gloves of Bairstow. In the same over, he bowled a fierce short one to last-man Mustafizur Rahman who did not have the wherewithal to survive it. He fended and the ball lobbed to Bairstow. Bangladesh were sent packing for 280. Archer had three for 29 this time off 8.5 overs.

 

The English bowlers put the West Indies batting under pressure right from the start. Archer dug one in to top-scorer Nicholas Pooran (63), and had him nicking into the gloves of Jos Buttler. Next ball, he trapped Sheldon Cottrell leg-before. Soon, he had Carlos Brathwaite edging for Buttler to snap up another one. West Indies were gasping at 211 for nine, and were all out a run later. Archer walked off with three for 30 off 9 overs. England breezed to an eight-wicket win.

 

With Eoin Morgan leading the annihilation of the Afghan bowlers with his 148 in 71 deliveries, England recorded their highest total in the World Cup of 397 for six. Archer was once again relentless. Noor Ali Zadran played him on to the stumps for a duck. He castled top scorer Hashmatullah Shahidi (76). Finally he had Rashid Khan caught in the covers. Afghanistan finished on 247 for eight. Archer captured three for 52 in 10 overs.

 

Archer once again made an early breakthrough, getting the Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne to edge to Buttler behind the sticks. Later, he deceived Dhananjaya de Silva with a slower one and had him caught at mid-on. In his next over, he had Thisara Perera caught at third-man with a short one. Sri Lanka posted 232 for nine. Archer again had an analysis of three for 52 in 10 overs. England made heavy weather of the chase, and despite Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 82, lost by 20 runs.

 

The Australian openers Aaron Finch and David Warner put on a century stand. Archer picked up centurion Finch, caught hooking at fine-leg. That was his solitary wicket, conceding 56 runs in 9 overs. Australia posted 285 for seven. Once again, Ben Stokes played a heroic innings of 89, but England were bowled out for 221.

 

The English batsmen made amends by putting up 337 for seven on the board off the Indian bowling. It was a spirited chase by their batsmen with Rohit Sharma hitting his third hundred of the tournament and Virat Kohli his fifth successive half-century. They denied Archer a wicket as he expended 45 runs in 10 overs. But India finished 31 runs short of the English score.

 

With openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow continuing their great form, England logged up 305 for eight against New Zealand. After Chris Woakes had dismissed Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill glanced Archer, and Buttler took a brilliant catch. New Zealand were struggling at 14 for two after 5.2 overs. They eventually folded up for 186. Archer had a return of one for 17 off 7 overs.

 

Archer struck a stunning blow in the semi-final, trapping Finch leg-before first-ball, bringing it in sharply. With Glenn Maxwell on the attack, Archer had him caught in the covers with a slower one. Australia were dismissed for 223. Archer gave away 32 runs for his two wickets in 10 overs. England coasted to an eight-wicket triumph.

 

In the dramatic final, Archer knocked off the furniture of last-man Matt Henry. New Zealand ended on 241 for eight. This wicket cost Archer 42 runs in 10 overs. England were also bowled out for 241 off the last ball of their 50^th over. Defending 15 runs in the Super Over, Archer conceded the same number. The Super Over was also tied. England won the title on higher boundary count.

Archer played a vital part in England’s victory trail of 2019. He was their highest wicket-taker with 20 scalps at 23.05 apiece and an economy-rate of 4.57. He had 5 three-wicket hauls, four of them in a row. Whenever in need of a breakthrough, his side turned to him, and more often than not he delivered.

Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Cricket World Cup - Hat-trick of Home Wins’. Hall of Fame: Shikhar Dhawan

 Belligerent and jovial southpaw opener

How much India missed Shikhar Dhawan in the 2019 semi-final, we will never know, had injury not forced him out of the tournament after a brilliant century.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING: Matches 10, Innings 10, Not Out -, Highest Score 137, Runs 537, Average 53.70, Strike-rate 94.21, 100s 3, 50s 1, Catches 7

Shikhar Dhawan has been Rohit Sharma’s long-time opening partner in One-day Internationals. A study in contrast, they complement each other well. Apart from the obvious left-right combination, while one is belligerent and forthright, the other has a silken touch and is seemingly laidback. Ever ready to break into a smile, the slap on the thigh after taking a catch has become as much of a hallmark as the salute by Sheldon Cottrell after taking a wicket. There is always a sense of fun when Dhawan is around, and he can score serious runs too.

Walking out with Rohit, facing Pakistan on World Cup debut in 2015, it was a quiet start. The partnership did not go further than 34 off 7.3 overs. Rohit fell for 15. There was steady progress with the arrival of Virat Kohli, the fifty of the partnership coming up in 10.1 overs. With the increase in tempo, Dhawan went to his half-century off 54 deliveries. The century of the stand was raised in 18.3 overs. Unfortunately, Dhawan was run out. His splendid 73 had come off 76 balls, having struck a six and 7 fours. The partnership yielded 129 runs in 22.2 overs. There was another century stand between Kohli (107) and Suresh Raina (74). India scored a round 300 for the loss of seven wickets. Pakistan were slow to begin with, then lost quick wickets, and were finally all out for 224.

It was Rohit’s turn to be run out and that, tragically, for a duck as A.B. de Villiers’ throw from the covers hit the stumps. It was again Kohli in tandem with Dhawan. Gradually, they picked up momentum in the face of steady bowling by the Proteas. The fifty of the partnership was posted in 11.5 overs. Dhawan raised his half-century off 70 balls. Dhawan struck Wayne Parnell for two consecutive fours bringing up the century stand in 20.3 overs, a successive one between the pair. Kohli pulled a short one from Imran Tahir into the hands of mid-wicket. His 46 had come off 60 deliveries with the aid of three boundaries. The partnership had realised 127 runs in 24.2 overs. As the new man Ajinkya Rahane got into his stride, Dhawan glided Parnell to the ropes at point to raise his maiden World Cup hundred off 122 balls. Soon the fifty of the partnership was up in 8.1 overs. With runs flowing freely, the century stand in 13.4 overs and Rahane’s half-century off just 40 deliveries came off successive balls. Dhawan was caught at long-leg off Parnell. His 137 was the highest score against South Africa in the World Cup, spanning 146 balls and studded with 2 sixes and 14 fours. It was a 125-run association from 16.3 overs. Rahane scored 79, having faced 60 balls and struck 3 sixes and 7 fours. India, this time, posted 307 for seven. South Africa did not put up much resistance, being bowled out for 177. Dhawan bagged the man-of-the-match prize.

India trounced United Arab Republic by nine wickets but Dhawan was caught at backward-point for 14.

Both Dhawan (9) and Rohit (7) fell early as India made heavy weather of a target of 183 set by the West Indies. They eventually pulled off a six-wicket win.

They were both due for runs, and they duly got them. Ireland scored 259 runs, being bowled out in 49 overs. India’s batting was brilliant. The fifty was registered off 8.2 overs. The century was raised in 14.1 overs. Dhawan was first to his fifty off 54 balls. Rohit hoisted his half-century in style, having faced 49 deliveries. The 150 was up off 20.1 overs. Dhawan was speeding away. Rohit, though, played on to his stumps. His 64 came off 66 balls, having hit 3 sixes and 3 fours. The partnership realised 174 runs, record for India for the first wicket in the World Cup. Dhawan breezed to his century from just 84 deliveries. But he was caught in the covers off the very next ball that he faced, having blasted 5 sixes and 11 fours. Kohli (44 not out) and Rahane (33 not out) carried India to an eight-wicket victory off only 36.5 overs with an unbroken stand of 70. Dhawan won another man-of-the-match award.

A superb century by skipper Brendan Taylor, a consecutive one to boot, enabled Zimbabwe to post a challenging total of 287. India lost four wickets for 92 in 22.4 overs, including Rohit (16) and Dhawan (4), both to Tinashe Panyangara. But a tremendous unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 196 in 26 overs between Suresh Raina (110 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (85 not out) carried India to a four-wicket triumph with 8 balls to spare. It was India’s highest partnership in a run-chase, bettering the 174-run stand between Dhawan and Rohit against Ireland in the previous match. India’s score of 288 was their highest batting second in the World Cup, and they joined New Zealand as the only teams to win all their six pool matches.

Boundaries came regularly at the start in the quarter-final face-off with Bangladesh. Rohit and Dhawan raised the fifty in 9.3 overs. They were cantering along when Dhawan stepped out at the sight of Shakib Al Hasan, was deceived in the air and stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim. His 30 had come off 50 balls with the aid of 3 fours. The partnership had realised 75 runs in 16.3 overs. The platform had been built. Rohit went on to score a brilliant 137 (126 balls, 3 sixes, 14 fours). His fourth-wicket stand of 122 in 15.5 overs with Suresh Raina spurred India to a formidable total of 302 for six. Bangladesh were hardly in the picture with a series of cameos and finally folded up for 193.

A superb century by Steve Smith and his defining 182-run second-wicket partnership with Aaron Finch seized the initiative for Australia. A total of 328 for seven assumes gigantic proportions in a World Cup knock-out encounter. As long as Rohit and Dhawan were together, it looked as though they were making a fight of it. After a cautious start, they picked up pace. They raised the fifty off 9.5 overs. It was all going well, and it all went wrong! Dhawan was caught in the covers off Josh Hazlewood. His 45 was scored off 41 balls with the aid of a six and 6 fours. The stand was worth 76 in 12.5 overs. Wickets began tumbling, Kohli for 1, Rohit for 34, Raina for 7. In the blink of an eye, India were 108 for four in 23 overs. Rahane (44) and Dhoni (65) did put on 70 in 13.2 overs but the momentum had been lost, and too many wickets had fallen. India folded up for 233. A golden streak of 11 consecutive World Cup wins had ended.

It was a fine tournament for Dhawan. He became the fourth Indian to score 400-plus runs in a single World Cup, the others being Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. His 412 runs in 8 matches came at an average of 51.50, and strike-rate of 91.75, with 2 centuries and a half-century.

It was a fine start for India in 2019, restricting South Africa to 227 for nine. Dhawan, though, was caught behind off Kagiso Rabada for 8. Rohit went on to score a splendid 122 (144 balls, 2 sixes, 13 fours), and India sailed to a six-wicket triumph.

Batting first against Australia, Rohit and Dhawan were off to a steady start. A boundary each off Adam Zampa took the score past 50 in 11.3 overs. The boundaries kept coming. Dhawan raised his fifty off 53 balls. The hundred of the innings was up in 19 overs. Rohit was caught at the wicket off Coulter-Nile for 57, having faced 70 balls and hit a six and 3 fours. The partnership had realised 127 runs in 22.3 overs. Joined by Kohli, Dhawan blazed on. The fifty of their stand arrived in 8.3 overs. Dhawan raised his hundred from 94 balls. Trying to hit Mitchell Starc over mid-wicket, he was caught near the ropes. It was a fine 117, spanning 109 deliveries and studded with 16 boundaries. The stand fell short of 100 by just 7 runs, having lasted 14.3 overs. Kohli scored 82, and India piled up 352 for five. It was a tall task, the Aussies were in hot pursuit but produced no really big innings. They finished on 316.

Just as India were celebrating a glorious win over the reigning champions, and complimenting Dhawan for his terrific century, came the sobering news that he had injured his thumb during that innings, and was ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “Feel for you Shikhar. You were playing well & to be injured in the middle of such an important tournament is heartbreaking. I’m sure you’ll come back stronger than ever.” How much his injury affected India’s chances, we will never know. Maybe his presence in the semi-final might have helped, but that broad smile was certainly missed. Dhawan has 537 runs in his 10-match stint in the World Cup with an average of 53.70 and strike-rate of 94.21 runs per 100 balls, with 3 hundreds and a fifty. The combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma provided many a memorable moment at the top of the order.