5 cricketers who won the World Cup without playing a single match

Many a time we may feel that every player of the side which has won an ICC World Cup in the cricketing history might have made a lot of effort. The team must have witnessed an equal contribution from every single player in the 15 men squad.

However, it is not valid for all the players, as few cricketers were initially selected in the team but didn't play a single match and ended up winning the World Cup. 

The Business Standard (TBS) lists out five players that didn't play a single game but still managed to win the World Cup.

5) Nathan Bracken (2003)

Nathan Bracken was included in the middle of the ICC Cricket World 2003 as the Australian pacer Jason Gillespie was ruled out of the tournament just after playing four matches due to an injury.

Despite that, he didn't succeed in playing even a single game as the side was already filled with experienced pacers.

4) Brad Haddin (2007)

Brad Haddin was picked in the squad as a backup wicketkeeper in the squad for Adam Gilchrist, who was playing his last 50-over mega-event. At that Australian side looked invincible as they had already won consecutive World Cups by that time.

Now, the question was if they can lift their third title in a row or not.

It was very difficult for fringe players in the squad to get into the XI due to the formidable lineup of the team. The only chance that the player warming the bench could get was when a player gets injured. However, it never happened in World Cup 2007 due to which Haddin never got an opportunity to take the gloves behind the stumps.

But, Haddin had a bit of golden luck and his name was among those 15-player squad that helped Australia in clinching their third World Cup trophy.

3) Tom Curran (2019)

Tom Curran from England is one of the prolific all-rounders that is making his name in international cricket. He made his debut back in 2017 against West Indies. It took some time for him to showcase his talent with the bat and ball.

The 25-year-old came into the spotlight after he took a five-wicket haul against Australia in the ODI series. In the very next year, he was picked as an all-rounder in England's World Cup 2019 squad.

The mega-event was hosted by England itself, who managed to get their hands on their maiden World Cup win in the history of cricket. Each and every player in the team performed exceedingly well in their respective roles.

It was almost confirmed that he would get to play as his ability to smack runs in the lower middle-order and quick bowling will play a vital role.

But, the addition of Jofra Archer denied Curran a place in the playing XI. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old would be happy all his life as he is one of the players to have a World Cup medal without playing role in a single game.

2) Marvan Atapattu (1996)

Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lankan skipper is one of the best batsmen that Islanders. He scored more than 13,000 runs across all the formats for his national team.

But, there was a time when he was not getting a place in the XI of Sri Lanka. Actually, he didn't get off to a great start to his international stint as he got out for a duck in his first five innings in Test cricket back in 1990. Later on, he went onto make his debut in ODIs but in that also, he failed to leave his mark with the bat.

However, he managed to regain his form with the bat due to which he was picked in the 1996 World Cup squad that was led by Arjun Ranatunga.

But, due to the presence of players like Sanath Jayasuriya and other settled batsmen in the team, Atapattu didn't get a single game to play in the mega-event.

Atapattu might have felt bad over the same but one best thing that happened with him was that he became part of the team that managed to win the maiden World Cup for their country. And, what best he could have asked for as a cricketer.

1) Mitchell Johnson (2007)

Mitchell Johnson, the left-arm former pacer from Australia is reckoned as one of the best fast bowlers in the history of cricket. His slingy action and bowling speed of 140 km/hr plus used to trouble any big batsmen of his time.

He was one of the aggressive bowlers that batsmen never liked to face. But, before emerging as a threatening bowler, he had to face lots of struggle on his way to glory.

It is known that Australia is a mill of producing the finest fast bowlers in international cricket. In the 2007 World Cup that was hosted by West Indies, he was picked by the selectors in the 15-member squad that comprised of bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait, and Stuart Clarke.

It was known that the chances of Johnson getting a game will be quite slim and the same happened.

However, his team managed to win the World Cup 2007 in West Indies and he got an honour to be part of the same.