World Cup 2019: Five big stars who have disappointed at the tournament

With just five games left in the group stage, the teams other than Australia and India who will qualify for the knock-outs are pretty obvious. Australia, India, England and New Zealand will be the four semi-finalists barring a spectacular series of events unfolding. Teams have struggled in this World Cup because of the poor run of their star players on the biggest stage. It is one of the reasons but not the only reason. Australia (already qualified) and New Zealand who have are almost certain to qualify also have issues in their batting department. In the following sides, we have discussed 5 star players who have not tasted enough success in the twelfth edition of the World Cup.

#5 Martin Guptill:

Martin Guptill

New Zealand, one of the most consistent teams in the World Cup with the second best win percentage would have hoped a lot from Martin Guptill. The attacking opener who is the second leading run-scorer for the Blackcaps in the World Cup has let down his team in the tournament so far.

The highest run-getter of World Cup 2015, Guptill has accumulated only 158 runs with an average of less than 27 and two golden ducks in 7 matches so far. He has always been a match-winner for his country and the fans expect Guptill to perform in the same way. The 32-year-old batsman has been so poor that James Neesham, their middle-order batsman has outscored him. Also, Guptill is just three runs ahead of Colin de Grandhome who plays as a finisher. The dashing opener has failed to solve the batting woes of the Kiwis as he has got out in Powerplay four out of seven times.

New Zealand, the second worst batting team in this tournament are only better than Sri Lanka. They have been almost one-man army - Kane Williamson with the willow. The Blackcaps need the services of their star players like Guptill to do well moving ahead in the tournament.

#4 Andre Russell:

Andre Russell

West Indies, who entered the World Cup as dark horses, are already knocked out after blistering start in the tournament against Pakistan. The Jamaican all-rounder Russell had copious responsibility on his shoulders for the 'Men in Maroon'. Russell, who was the 'Most Valuable Player of the tournament' in IPL 12, suffered from fitness issues in this World Cup and got ruled out due to a knee injury. 'Dre Russ' carried KKR's batting unit in IPL 2019 but managed an aggregate of just 21 runs with a terrible average of 12 in the WC.

The right-handed batsman got out to Mitchell Starc when his team required 71 runs off 68 balls against Australia. The big man had an excellent opportunity to stitch a good partnership with Jason Holder and take his team home. Russell might have struggled with the bat, but he did have a decent time with the ball. Averaging less than 21, he bagged 5 wickets in 4 matches with an economy of less than 6. The unavailability of Dre Russ has obviously affected the team balance of the West Indies. The Men in Maroon would want to have a happy ending with victories in the remaining games.

#3 Hashim Amla:

Hashim Amla

The ever-reliant Hashim Amla has looked out of touch for the last couple of years. There were a lot of questions on his place in the first-choice playing eleven of his team before the World Cup 2019. Lack of reliable options at the top has forced the team management of South Africa to open with Amla. The 36-year-old veteran has managed to amass 203 runs with an extremely poor strike-rate of less than 65.

The most successful South African opener Hashim Amla boasts of only two half-centuries in this World Cup which he scored against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The Proteas, who are only placed above Afghanistan and West Indies in the points-table, have miserably failed with the bat. None of the South Africans have reached the three-digit figure with the highest individual score of 96 by the skipper Faf du Plessis. The Durban-born Amla has not helped the cause for his team and failed to play a big knock.

#2 Kagiso Rabada:

Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada is the second South African in the list which completely describes their campaign in the World Cup 2019. Kagiso Rabada, the premier pacer of South Africa stole the limelight in IPL 2019 as he was the second highest wicket-taker with just one wicket less than his teammate Imran Tahir. There was a lot of responsibility on Rabada to lead the bowling attack of the 'Men in Green'. The injury to Dale Steyn and lack of support from other bowlers have not helped Rabada either.

Kagiso, who is the leading wicket-taker for South Africa since World Cup 2015, has only 8 scalps to his name in the mega event so far. His average (42.62) and strike-rate (51) are only better than those of Aiden Markram, a part-time bowler. The 24-year-old had bowled wicketless spells against Bangladesh and Pakistan and the Proteas lost both the matches.

South Africa are already out of the race to qualify for the semi-finals and will lock the horns with the table-toppers Australia on 6 July at Manchester.

#1 Glenn Maxwell:

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell, the star T20 player was in good form before the Cricket World Cup 2019 as he scored three half-centuries against Pakistan in a bilateral ODI series. The 30-year-old batting all-rounder plays the finishing role which is a tough and important job. The hard-hitting batsman has played small cameos against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka but he is yet to play a big knock in the tournament. This was the case even though the fearless batsman had enough time to play big knocks against West Indies, India, Pakistan, England and New Zealand. Maxwell failed to make the most of these golden opportunities.

The Victoria-born batsman has faced 25+ balls only one innings. Although he is striking at 190.67 with the willow, his average is less than 24. Despite bowling 39 overs so far, the off-break bowler has failed to pick any wicket and conceded runs with a poor economy of more than 6.

Defending champions Australia have already qualified for the semi-finals but their middle-order looks fragile. Maxwell who is a match-winner should take the responsibility and step-up in the biggest cricket event.