It's a new year, but in cricket we see a continuation of two Test series, with Australia playing their third Test at home against New Zealand and South Africa taking on England in the second Test of the series. We have a new series in the T20 World Cup year with India and Sri Lanka playing three T20Is.
For Moneyball fantasy managers, this is a good week to bring in some cash early in the year. Here's a list of players to bank upon this week
KL RAHUL
Country: India
Match/Series: India vs Sri Lanka, T20I
KL Rahul has scores of 59, 47, 20, 15, 8*, 52, 62, 11 and 91 in T20Is in 2019. After his exploits against the Windies, India have all but zeroed in on him as the opening partner to Rohit Sharma although a final showdown with Shikhar Dhawan is inevitable this series with Rohit resting. Rahul averages 43.76 in T20Is with two hundreds and eight half-centuries and should be a no-brainer in this Indian side as much as he should be in your fantasy team.
VERNON PHILANDER
Country: South Africa
Match/Series: South Africa vs England, Tests
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje stole the show at Centurion, but the action now shifts to Newlands, Cape Town, a happy hunting ground for Vernon Philander. In 10 Tests at Newlands, Philander has 51 wickets at an average of 17.6 and a strike rate of 37.2. His incredible 5/15 at the venue on his debut against the Aussies remain one of the most intriguing spells of the decade. Before a final bow, Philander will want to make a lasting impression on a ground where his track record is spotless.
STEVEN SMITH
Country: Australia
Match/Series: Australia v New Zealand, 3rd
Test
Steven Smith's 2019 has gone from high to low, but he ended the year with 85 and 7 in two innings at MCG. What will worry him, though, is that Neil Wagner dismissed him all four times this series, the first bowler to do that four times consecutively against him in his Test career. Smith will be well aware of what he needs to do to get back at him and it'd be stupid to not rely on him this week when he is known to come out on top of challenges with aplomb. After all, he's the best Test batsman in the planet currently.
QUINTON DE KOCK
Country: South Africa
Match/Series: South Africa vs England, Tests
There's daylight between Quinton de Kock and the next best South African batsman in 2019 in Tests. The wicket-keeper batsman made 713 runs in 8 Tests in 2019, averaging 47.53 with two hundreds and five half-centuries. Importantly, he has struck at a rate of 78.95 and looks set to continue his form with his mentor, Mark Boucher, now being the head coach of the side. De Kock also snared eight catches at Centurion and is a good pick even if you think his batting won't click.
VIRAT KOHLI
Country: India
Match/Series: India vs Sri Lanka, T20I
Virat Kohli is now consistently playing T20Is with the World Cup approaching and the Indian skipper will be up against a favourite opposition of his this week. In 2019, Kohli has 466 runs in 10 matches at an average of 77.66 and a strike rate of 147.93 with five half-centuries. Expect him to be in top form this series against Sri Lanka, a team against whom he averages 94.33 in T20Is with four half-centuries in all four innings.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / William West
