Ellyse Perry, Natalie Sciver and other all rounders to watch out for in World Cup 2022

Rupesh Kumar

05 Mar 2022 00:00 IST

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Ellyse Perry, Natalie Sciver and other all rounders to watch out for in World Cup 2022 — Amelia Kerr, Marizanne Kapp, Ellyse Perry, Nat Sciver and Ashleigh Gardner © Getty Images

What springs to your mind when you hear the word 'allrounder'?

An amalgamation of someone who could send the stumps cartwheeling or simply peg it back with the ball in hand and who could send chills in opposition bowling ranks while wielding her bat in the middle, right?

They are the crowd pullers, the life of the sport, and the breed that just doesn't cease to amaze you come what may.

With the World Cup 2022 upon us already, there will be a plethora of allrounders who will struggle to win the silverware for their respective sides. But there are a few who sit at the helm and will compel people to take notice as and when they turn up on the field.

Ellyse Perry - ICC ODI Ranking 1

Career stats:

Matches: 122

Runs: 3220

Average: 50.31

Wickets: 156

Average: 25.00

From a young fast bowler trying to humble batters to one of the most accomplished all rounders in the game, Ellyse Perry has come a long way ever since her ODI debut in July 2007. Those who haven't followed Perry since her debut won't believe that her batting prowess was nowhere close to what it is today when she first burst onto the scene. But by virtues of rigorous batting drills and countless games, she transformed herself into a capable batter who possesses the ability to inflict severe damage on opposition bowling attacks.

'Pez', as she is commonly referred to in the Aussie dressing room, could have had an illustrious career as a footballer too but she chose cricket and has emerged as one of the biggest names in world cricket. She has led the Aussie bowling as a fast bowler and has also taken up the mantle of a finisher and done justice to it on innumerable occasions.

Perry was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade in 2020 for her outstanding performance since the turn of the decade. In addition to that, she also won the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Decade and bagged the ICC T20I Cricketer of the Decade too.

Natalie Sciver - ICC ODI Ranking 2

Career stats

Matches: 81

Runs: 2384

Average: 40.40

Wickets: 57

Average: 28.75

Natalie Sciver epitomizes the modern-day allrounder, who can take up any challenge that is thrown her way. She can deceive batters with subtle variations in pace and can also unleash her repertoire of jaw-dropping strokes and catch the bowlers off guard. She has risen up the ranks in no time and has now become one of the most consistent batters in the English middle-order and is always the first one to come to the side's rescue.

Having already scored a magnificent century in the ongoing World Cup against arguably the best bowling attack in the world, she has already shown her intent to make the tournament her own. And the way the 29-year old is playing, it shouldn't surprise you if she transforms into England's biggest match-winner in the coming days.

Marizanne Kapp - ICC ODI Ranking 3

Career stats

Matches: 119

Runs: 2059

Average: 29.00

Wickets: 135

Average: 23.97

'Indomitable' is what best describes this 32-year old veteran from South Africa. Marizanne Kapp is arguably the greatest ever all rounder that South Africa has produced. Having made her ODI debut in March 2009, Kapp started off as a batting allrounder but then had to change her role due to the demands of the team and focus more on her bowling.

Kapp has been at the forefront of South Africa's resurgence since the 2017 World Cup and has been the focal point of the team's success. Her stature has increased to a great extent and the fact that she is one of the most sought-after players in leagues around the world is a testimony to that. Her success as one of the leading allrounders in the game has rubbed off well on the team and in the absence of Dane van Niekerk, she will be the team's main all-rounder in the World Cup.

Amelia Kerr - ICC ODI Ranking 4

Career stats

Matches: 47

Runs: 1052

Average: 38.96

Wickets: 68

Average: 26.45

Well if you are someone who follows the game closely then you won't be surprised to see Amelia Kerr make this list. While it is still early days in her career, Amelia has already made headlines big enough for people to take notice. As a batter, she bats high up the order for the White Ferns and showcases her ability to find the gaps to perfection. Amelia's game against spin bowling has improved drastically as she not only uses her feet to get to the pitch of the ball and neutralize the turn but also unleashes a variety of sweep shots to put the spinners off their game.

While her batting alone can help her secure a place on the team sheet, it is her bowling that makes her a cut above the rest. A leg spinner by style, Amelia is one of the most brilliant exponents of the 'googly' (Wrong'un), a delivery that she uses to bamboozle batters. She was in phenomenal form in the recently culminated bilateral series against India and will look to take it ahead in the World Cup.

Ashleigh Gardner - ICC ODI Ranking 9

Career stats

Matches: 42

Runs: 571

Average: 24.82

Wickets: 43

Average: 27.02

The most destructive of them all, Ashleigh Gardner biffs the ball like no one else. Gardner is arguably the most feared batter going around in the world at the moment. In just 42 ODI games, Gardner has made a name for herself in an Australian line-up that comprises numerous superstars who are capable of changing the complexion of the game on any day.

Far more than just another batter rolling her arm over, the 24-year old has shown the kind of control that is beyond a part-timer. It is just that Gardner - the bowler, needs a bit more game time to be in the same league as the batter.

Ellyse Perry Amelia Kerr Cricket World Cup 2022 Ashleigh Gardner Marizanne Kapp ICC Cricket World Cup, 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup