Tillakaratne Dilshan

With his relentless aggression, strong wrists and natural timing, Tillakaratne Dilshan is one of the most exciting batsmen in the game today. He is technically sound, but, much like Virender Sehwag, he uses the defensive option only as a last resort, after all the attacking alternatives have been explored. He loves to make room and thrash the ball through the off side, but the stroke that bears his signature more than any other is the one he developed for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 - the eponymously named "Dilscoop" shot over his head, which confounded bowlers and experts alike.

Playing role: Allrounder
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak
Fielding position: Wicketkeeper

Current ODI Ranking: 5
Highest Ranking: 3
Highest score: 193 (Tests) 160* (ODIs) 104* (T20Is)
Best bowling: 4/10 (Tests) 4/4 (ODIs) 2/4 (T20Is)
Last three performances: 44 runs – 1/35, 161* runs – 2/35, 0

David Warner

A diminutive and dangerous opening batsman, David Warner exploded onto the international scene in 2008-09. His breathtaking effort of 89 from 43 balls in his Twenty20 debut against South Africa at the MCG was all the more remarkable as he was the first man to walk out for Australia before playing first-class cricket since 1877. His call-up had been a surprise and it capped off an eventful couple of months in which he also earned an IPL contract with Delhi Daredevils and a deal to use a two-sided bat.

Playing role: Opening batsman
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak

Current ODI Ranking: 28
Highest Ranking:  24 - (23/01/2015)
Highest score: 180 (Tests) 163 (ODIs) 90* (T20Is)
Best bowling: 2/45 (Tests)
Last three performances: 178 runs, 34 runs, 22 runs

Brendon McCullum

Brash, brutal and brilliant to watch, Brendon McCullum can bruise bowling attacks like few other men in international cricket. A wicketkeeper-batsman, McCullum has been used throughout the New Zealand batting order, but whenever he arrives at the crease it's impossible to look away. He muscles balls over both sides of the field and was responsible for getting the IPL off to an electrifying start, lighting up the tournament's first match with 158 and showing what the format had to offer.

Playing role: Wicketkeeper batsman
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Fielding position: Wicketkeeper

Current ODI Ranking: 30
Highest Ranking:  9 - ( 23/02/2013 )
Highest score: 302 (Tests) 166 (ODIs) 123 (T20Is)
Best bowling: 1/13 (Tests)
Last three performances: 50 runs, 77 runs, 15 runs

Mohammad Nabi

Mohammad Nabi hails from a well-to-do family that moved to Peshawar in Pakistan, seeking a safe haven from the Soviet War in Afghanistan. An efficient allrounder - a strong middle-order batsman who can bowl flighted offspin - Nabi's rise, like Afghanistan's, has been staggering. He has been at the centre of the side since their time in the ICC's World Cricket League Division Five, from where Afghanistan began their rise to the international stage.

Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak

Current ODI Ranking: 31
Highest Ranking: 30 - ( 10/01/2015 )
Highest score: 7 77 (ODIs) 46 (T20Is)
Best bowling: 4/31 (ODIs) 3/23 (T20Is)
Last three performances: 2 runs – 0/84, 1 run – 1/38, 21 runs – 0/28