5 great players who never featured in a World Cup match and why
England's controversial ICC World Cup win raised the bar of expectations for every future final of an ICC tournament. In the last 5 overs of England's innings, the pendulum swung back and forth after every ball. Even the 'Super Over' couldn't separate the two sides and the English were handed their first-ever World Cup victory due to a rather bizarre ' boundaries' rule.
One has to feel for New Zealand. They gave their everything and didn't come up short as they matched England for every stat but for the one that was to decide the game.
Growing up, it is the dream of any budding cricketer to represent his / her country and to play in and if one is lucky enough, to win the World Cup. However, not every fine cricketer is lucky enough to get an opportunity to play in a World Cup. Let's take a look at five such unlucky players.
#5 Matthew Hoggard
Matthew Hoggard's credentials as a Test Bowler for England are imperious. He is the ninth highest wicket-taker for the country which invented the game with 248 scalps including a hat-trick against the West Indies at the Kensington Oval at Barbados. He claimed a career-best haul in Test Cricket of 12 for 205 against South Africa at The Wanderers in Johannesburg. He played a stellar role in England's triumph in Ashes 2005, dubbed the series of the century by many. He was on the receiving end of the 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle's fury, becoming the first bowler to be hit for six fours in an over
Analysis of ODI Career: The Yorkshire man did not have a successful ODI career. He made his debut in the shorter format of the game in 2001 under the tutelage of England captain Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher. He could muster only 26 matches picking up 32 wickets at an average of 36 in the process. Being a swing bowler, he usually was the target of opposition batsmen when the ball stopped swinging or in conditions not conducive to swing bowling. He would also be taken apart at the death due to lack of variety and over-dependence on line and length bowling. His ODI career came to an abrupt end in 2006 against India.
Why he missed out on a World Cup match: Hoggard was included in the England squad for the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup but never got a game, with England preferring Steve Harmison and Andrew Caddick to go along with the all-round abilities of Andrew Flintoff and Ronnie Irani. By the time the 2007 edition came calling, he had already played his last ODI for England.