Happy Halloween is here! The world is celebrating Halloween with spooky costumes and makeups that can send cold, fearsome vibes to anyone. Halloween is mainly celebrated to dedicate the day to the dead, including martyrs, saints and all the faithful departed, according to ancient tradition. To make this event special for the cricketing world, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has put together a Cricket World Cup Halloween XI, that includes some fearsome players that have terrorised their oppositions for a long-long time.
The XI assembled by the ICC has legendary names from the past and present that would scare any team they meet, and a special gift by the cricket council – the players come with extra-special names.
ICC has even thrown up a challenge for the cricketing fans to throw in names of players who could be in the line-up of the Cricket World Cup Halloween XI.
Here is Cricket World Cup Halloween XI by the ICC:
Openers
Sourav GANGHOULY (Sourav Ganguly) pairs up with GRIM Smith (Graeme Smith) for the opening slot as the former Indian skipper alongside the former South African skipper get ready to send shivers down the body of the bowlers they face.
Middle Order
Laura WEREWOLVAARDT (Laura Wolvaardt) – The women South African opener takes the No.3 spot in the Halloween XI as her average of 48.05 in 25 Women ODI matches is enough to turn the bowlers blue in fear.
Joe RoOoOoOoOoOot (Joe Root) – The classy skipper of the England Cricket team, who is also one of the most highly rated batsmen in the world comes in for the No.4 spot.
All Rounders
JACK O-LANTERN Kallis (Jacques Kallis) – The legendary South African all-rounder comes in with a spooky lantern in his name and is ready to terrify the bowlers and the batsmen with his all-round quality.
Kapil DEVIL (Kapil Dev) – The World Cup winning, former Indian captain Kapil Dev is special to Indian cricket fans as he was the one who spearheaded the team who lifted the Cricket World Cup for India for the first time ever in 1983. His quality with both the ball and the bat was special and the name devil is so apt for his oppositions.
Shahid AFRAIDI (Shahid Afridi) – The former Pakistani all-rounder has been a special name to the fans of cricket. His sixes were memorable and his ability to play quick-fire innings could dominate any bowler. His wicket-taking ability added that extra spark, enough to terrorise any opposition.
Cameron FRIGHT (Cameron White) – The Aussie all-rounder was known for his game-changing ability and his fearless cricket with both bat and the ball gets him the place in Halloween XI – with a bit of ‘fright’.
Bowlers
Dale FRANKEN-STEYN (Dale Steyn) – One of the quickest bowlers that the world has ever witnessed – Dale Steyn spearheads the pace battery of the Halloween XI.
GHOULAN Goswami (Jhulan Goswali) – The legend of the Women’s cricket, the highest wicket-taker in Women’s cricket and the superlatives won’t end. She has terrorised the batters for more than a decade and rightfully earns a place in the Halloween XI.
SHREIK – A Pandey (Shikha Pandey) - After Dilip Sardesai, she is the first player from Goa to play for any Indian national team and have scalped 45 wickets in the 32 WODIs that she has played. She takes the last spot in the Halloween XI.
Now that's a fearsome XI! 👻#HappyHalloween pic.twitter.com/N5mYcsBetq
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 31, 2018