With the ICC World Twenty20 fast approaching, many players will be looking to make their mark on the landscape of international cricket for the first time. Here are a few players to keep an eye out for while watching the tournament.
Alexei Kervezee (The Netherlands)
19-year-old batting starlet Alexei Kervezee is at the forefront of The Netherlands' drive to become a force in world cricket. His appearances at the 2007 World Cup as a mere pup at 17 were a taster of the international scene for him, and after securing himself a county contract with Worcestershire in 2008, the elegant right-hander will be looking to make a name for himself in front of a wider audience. Whatever his achievements in this tournament, he will surely be the lynchpin of the Dutch batting lineup in a few years' time.
Ravi Bopara (England)
Centuries in three consecutive Test matches in 2008 and 2009 have brought Ravi Bopara to the attention of many of his opponents, and they will surely be paying him close attention throughout the ICC World Twenty20. Opening the batting for England in the shorter forms of the game, he possesses excellent technique and a cool head - his partnership with Luke Wright at the top of the order will be key if England are to post big totals.
David Warner (Australia)
Warner's explosion onto the international scene in January 2009, before he had ever played a first-class match, was marked by a stunning innings of 89 off only 45 balls against South Africa. Since then he has found the going slightly tougher, but this aggressive left-hander's immense talent is obvious. If he is given another chance at the top of the Australian order, expect him to come out all guns blazing.
Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
While the West Indies have not enjoyed a successful tour of England thus far, and while Pollard's international record to date does not stand out, his potential as an important member of the West Indies' middle order has been evident in recent weeks. His ability to clear the boundary with his hard hitting, coupled with his handy medium-pace bowling, could be the glue that holds a shaky West Indian side together during the ICC World Twenty20.
Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)
The most unfathomably bizarre spin bowler since his team-mate Muttiah Muralitharan first laced up his spikes, Ajantha Mendis has bamboozled batsmen worldwide over the past year with his variations in flight, pace and spin. He has no 'stock' delivery, an attribute that leaves batsmen at a complete loss as to what to expect from his bowling. With a current international Twenty20 record of 11 wickets at an average of 5.00, he will be a threat to any of Sri Lanka's opponents.
Rohit Sharma (India)
This classy right-hander has shown typical Indian flair in cementing his place in his side's batting lineup for the competition with a series of impressive performances for the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League. He looks set to take a place in the Indian side for the foreseeable future, and could be a handful for opposition bowling attacks more concerned with avoiding a mauling at the hands of Virender Sehwag or MS Dhoni.
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Matthew Pitt - Matthew Pitt is a 21-year-old writer from Dorset, in Southern England. He is currently studying for an MA in Transnational Studies at the ...
