© by NAPARAZZI
While there are many established stars of One Day Internationals on show at the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales this summer, it is also an opportunity for fresh faces to make their names.
With cricket action coming thick and fast in this 50 overs per side format throughout June and the first week in July, which tournament debutants should we keep an eye on? We've picked out three in particular here...
Rassie van der Dussen
South Africa have something of a late-bloomer up their sleeve for the Cricket World Cup in Rassie van der Dussen. After just a handful of caps, he's been thrown in at the deep end by the Proteas as he prepares to play at an international tournament for the first time.
Van Der Dussen, 30, has impressed in one-day international series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, so he is well worth his place at the World Cup. He may not be as established in the South Africa setup as Hasim Amla, Quinton de Kock or Faf du Plessis, but he can certainly supplement those household names.
After already recording four scores of 50 plus, and a best of 93, Van Der Dussen has a hugely impressive ODI batting average in the high 80s. While maintaining that is going to be tough, he will play at the World Cup with no fear if given chances by the Proteas.
Odds of 50/1 for one of the South African cricketers of the year for 2018 are huge in the top runscorer market, while Van Der Dussen is equally big value at 8/1 to be best batsman for his country.
Imam-ul-Haq
Cricket really does run in the family in this case. Imam-ul-Haq is the nephew of Pakistan batting legend Inzi, who is the country's all-time leading runscorer in one-day internationals.
The apple hasn't fallen far from the tree with Imam, who will be out to emulate his uncle's World Cup win from 1992. He made a great start to his international career scoring a maiden century against Sri Lanka on his ODI debut in October 2017.
Only one other Pakistan batsman had done that before, and 23-year-old Imam has since become the second fastest player ever to reach 1,000 runs after doing so in just 19 innings. A top score of 151 recently recorded during the One Day warm-up series against England shows he is getting better and better.
As Imam has one of the highest ODI batting averages on show of any player at the World Cup, the 40/1 available for him to be tournament top runscorer is cracking each-way value and among cricket betting tips on Betting.Betfair. He is also 7/2 to be Pakistan's best batsman.
Kagiso Rabada
Returning to South Africa, yet another World Cup debutant is Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada. He has already taken over 100 ODI wickets, reaching the landmark against Sri Lanka earlier this year, and doesn't turn 24 until the eve of the tournament.
The mighty Wisden Cricketers' Almanack named Rabada the best young player in the world last summer. They did so with good reason as his quick bowling makes him an integral part of the South African attack in all forms of the game.
Rabada has already topped both the one-day and Test bowling rankings as statistically the most dangerous man with the ball in the world. It comes as no surprise, then, to find him the 5/2 favourite to be South Africa's leading wicket taker at the World Cup and a joint market leader to best bowler of the tournament.
When South Africa last toured England, the name on everyone's lips when talking about the visitors was Rabada. His rapid bowling is going to cause even the most experienced of batsmen real headaches during the World Cup.
