Opening the batting is one of the important tasks in ODI cricket. It sets the tone for the rest of the innings. Teams usually do not make a big change to this slot before the World Cup. However, a few nations have been experimenting with just a few weeks to go before the competition. On that note, here, we take a look at two middle-order batters who have been promoted as openers before the 2023 ODI World Cup.
1) Harry Brook (England)
Harry Brook has not been selected for the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, he is quite close to getting selected. Jason Roy has had injury problems and it is almost the same with Dawid Malan, as well. In this context, for the ODI series against New Zealand, Harry Brook has been opening the batting.
He did the job recently in IPL 2023. Brook was decent in the role before he came back to the middle-order. Now, he is getting a similar opportunity and this time around, there is a World Cup spot on the line. If he does well and if there is an injury, he is sure to come in as the replacement.
2) Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh)
Mehidy Hasan Miraz is one of the middle-order batters who have been promoted as openers before the 2023 ODI World Cup. The Bangladesh all-rounder is more of a lower-order batter. Yet, he is opening the batting for Bangladesh right now.
His returns with the bat have been steadily increasing in recent months. This is one of the main reasons why the player has got a chance at the top of the order. He repaid the faith with a century as an opener recently. However, it needs to be seen if Bangladesh will stick with the change once the likes of Tamim Iqbal return from the injury.
