The biggest teams in the world get plenty of shine, and we all know who their best players are, but there are plenty of stars who ply their trade for middling to decent international sides, who get less attention. Some of these players star in domestic leagues around the world, some are almost entirely unheard of, but they make up a pretty solid ‘associate nation’ eleven.
- Tony Pala Ura (WK) – Papua New Guinea
Our opener and wicket-keeper is also a candidate to captain the side, definitely getting the vice-captaincy. Ura has an excellent short-form record, with his international record being positively Chris Gayle-esque (ave 37, s/r 141). Here is a video of him smashing the Philippines en route to a T20I century.
- Kushal Bhurtel – Nepal
With four half-centuries in his first six T20I matches, Bhurtel has made quite the impression during his fledgling career. Averaging 69 with a strike rate in the 140’s, Bhurtel is extremely strong square of the wicket, sweeping well, and improvising behind square neatly.
- Colin Ackerman – Netherlands
Ackermann has a solid record in South African and English domestic record, earning him a Hundred contract with the Manchester Originals. Whilst he is yet to set the world alight for the Netherlands, he has had a decent start, and can anchor this team whilst surrounded with more, um, adventurous stroke-makers. He also bizarrely, for a part time bowler, holds the record for the best T20 figures of all time, taking 7-18 against Birmingham.
- George Munsey – Scotland
There is not much more to say about Munsey than, he hits the ball very hard and very far. In his 57 career T20 matches, he has maintained a strike-rate in the 150’s, and has one century to his name. In this century, against the Netherlands, Munsey struck 14 sixes, as his carnage led Scotland to a score of 252.
- Tim David – Singapore
Tim David’s status as an associate member player is currently up in the air, which is why I am getting this list published now. David is one of the strongest hitters in world cricket and has had an eventful past year. Scoring a massive century for Surrey, getting the key run-out of Liam Livingstone in the inaugural Hundred final, a CPL final, a season of PSL action and his first IPL gig for RCB. Pretty impressive. David currently plays for Singapore, where he was born and raised before moving to Australia, for whom he is qualified to play. Many, myself included, believe David to be among Australia’s top T20 players, and that he should be called up immediately, should he choose to play, for the imminent World Cup. David has some unreal stats (shown below) and can hit the ball as far as anybody in the world right now.
- Ryan Ten-Doeschate (c) – Netherlands
Any County Championship fan will instantly recognise this name as a stalwart of Essex’s side for the last 18 years. Ten-Doeschate has probably scored runs, taken wickets or at least captained his side to victory against yours at least once, if not multiple times. His record across formats is truly exceptional and is so impressive it is better shown in full than listed:
His career statistics hardly fit onto one browser tab, therefore it is pretty easy to see why he is held in such high regards by fans across the world. Oh, and that ODI average? It’s the highest of all-time. Undoubtedly the Netherlands’ greatest cricketer, and one of county cricket’s ‘goats’ will call time on his career after the T20 World Cup, where the Netherlands will be hoping to make it into the final 12 as a fitting send-off.
- David Wiese – Namibia
Picking David Wiese feels slightly like cheating since he has played over 20 international matches for South Africa, but in the twilight of his career, Wiese will play for Namibia, the country of his father’s birth.
Wiese will, again, be most familiar to English county fans due to his all-round excellence for Sussex over a number of seasons. With a T20 batting strike rate of 142 and 208 wickets, Wiese is the perfect man to balance this side.
His best cricket may have come in the PSL where he has performed some astonishing match winning feats, like the one below. In the UAE later this month, Wiese will complete a niche category by playing back-to-back World Cups (2016 and 2021) for different teams.
- Norman Vanua – Papua New Guinea
Vanua is picked for this side, through statistical weight alone, due to the fact that there is very little information about this Papua New Guinea bowler. Vanua has a bowling average of 14 allied with an economy of less than 6.5 in the shortest format, which is extraordinary. He can also bat, with one half-century coming in rapid time (s/r 150).
- Josh Davey – Scotland
Another player who will be familiar to English county fans, Josh Davey has been a mainstay in perennial contenders Somerset’s recent championship exploits. Davey’s bowling averages across formats are fantastic, providing real powerplay threat, and he can also bat, leading Somerset to an unthinkable victory against Hampshire in this season’s T20 Blast.
- Ali Khan – USA
Ali Khan has had a bizarre career. Moving to the USA as a late teen, Khan played in various competitions in the States before gaining the attention of Courtney Walsh, no less. The West Indian great saw potential in Khan’s pace and brought him a contract with Guyana for the Caribbean Premier League. Whilst USA cricket is in fairly early stages, Khan is an impressive bowler to hang their hat one as they search for wider global cricketing respect.
- Sandeep Lamichhane – Nepal
Nepalese leg-spinner Lamichhane is one of the best young bowlers in the world, and was robbed of a Hundred gig by some awful organisation from the ECB who left him disappointed by giving him seemingly incorrect visa information.
Had he been able to play however, he surely would have been a success. Lamichhane is just 21 years old but already has 138 T20 wickets, taken at 18 apiece, with an economy of less than seven. These numbers are up there with the very best in the world, putting him in a bracket (perhaps just below) with Adil Rashid and Imran Tahir.
He has plied his trade in almost every T20 competition in the world, having success across the T20 circuit, and is a bowler who we can very much expect to see for the next 10 years. With the growth of Nepalese cricket, Lamichhane is perfectly suited to put them on the map.
From this side, Tim David, Ryan ten Doeschate and Sandeep Lamichhane would be an asset to most teams in the world, offering leadership, power-hitting and mystery spin. These three are ably supported by some solid players who offer enough of a balance in style to make this a relatively formidable team, who could surprise some full-members on their day.
Photo credit: Krish Dulal creative commons 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
Michael Vince on Sport 
Really enjoyed this piece and appreciate the the research that has gone into it. I have not heard of many of these players so it nice that Mike has taken the time to research and write this piece.
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Thank you!
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