2007 Cricket World Cup Squad Preview - Canada
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by user Alex Holowczak
| 2007 Cricket World Cup | |
| Australia | |
| Bangladesh | |
| Bermuda | |
| Canada | |
| England | |
| India | |
| Ireland | |
| Kenya | |
| Netherlands | |
| New Zealand | |
| Pakistan | |
| Scotland | |
| South Africa | |
| Sri Lanka | |
| West Indies | |
| Zimbabwe | |
Canada caused a shock at the 2003 World Cup when they beat Bangladesh, a Test nation. They performed admirably, and improved on their only other World Cup appearance – when they made the lowest score ever in One Day International cricket (at the time).
They have an almost impossible task in the group however. England and New Zealand have recently thumped Australia in One Day games, and Kenya always seem to produce a shock along the way.
Jon Davison
Type: All Rounder, Captain
Davison has spent a lot of time in Australia, where he played first-class cricket for a period, and as such brings a lot of experience to the role. He is likely to be their best player, and his final World Cup will need to be his best. A good batsman and off-spinner.
Ashish Bagai
Type: Batsman, Wicketkeeper
Bagai has become the Canadians best batsman, and at just 25 could have a good career in the first-class game ahead of him. He has always been a consistent performer for Canada.
Geoff Barnett
Type: Batsman (opener)
Barnett is a young opener who has managed to forge a first-class career in New Zealand. He hasn’t demonstrated his full potential yet for Canada having only played 4 games.
Umar Bhatti
Type: All Rounder
Bhatti is a proven bowler in his limited first-class play so far, and he will hope to bring that to the International stage.
Ian Billcliff
Type: Batsman
A batsman that had a first-class career at one point is now past his best. But he is still one of the most capable batsman the Canadians have.
Desmond Chumney
Type: Batsman
Despite never really succeeding, Chumney is still a feature of the Canadian team at the age of 39.
Austin Codrington
Type: Bowler
A fairly successful seamer that can bat a bit. Codrington is a great natural leader, and his fielding in particular is World Class.
George Codrington
Type: Bowler
Another decent seamer that can bat a bit, George Codrington brings experience to the side at the age of 40.
Anderson Cummins
Type: Bowler
Another 40 year old that is past his best, Cummins was surprisingly recalled after 11 years. Bad recent form suggests this might have been an error. Has played Test cricket for the West Indies.
Sunil Dhaniram
Type: All Rounder
A decent spinner with a decent record to his name, Dhaniram will be a dependable player in the World Cup.
Ashif Mulla
Type: Batsman, Wicketkeeper
A worthy understudy to Bagai, Mulla is a good backup for their Number 1 wicketkeeper.
Henry Osinde
Type: Bowler
Ugandan born, Osinde is a late comer to the game of cricket, but he will be a welcome inclusion to this Canadian team. He is one of their best bowlers.
Qaiser Ali
Type: Batsman
Ali is a good batsman, but he is yet to perform in One Day cricket for Canada.
Abdool Samad
Type: All Rounder, Wicketkeeper
A jack of all trades, Samad is a competent batsman and bowler, that can even keep wicket if required. A good player to have in a squad.
Kevin Sandher
Type: Bowler
A slow bowler, Sandher will be competing with Dhaniram for the spinners role in the World Cup.
Strengths
- Davison and Bagai are top batsmen
- Good form
- Good depth to wicketkeeping
Weaknesses
- Few of the side were born in Canada
- Bowling-biased squad
- Aging squad – two over 40s
Verdict
The Canadians will do well to win a game at the World Cup. If they are to do anything to get to the later stages it will need to rain a lot. Bagai and Davison are top quality players, but the cast around them may lack the experience to dominate on the top stage. Victory against Kenya would make the Canadians ecstatic.
