Chad Soper

Chad Soper's style of play, perhaps his entire career, is symbolic of most things to do with Papua New Guinea's national team. He does not have eye-popping talent, bowling stump-to-stump, often with the keeper standing up to the stumps, but his blue-collar work ethic has made him a staple of the national team.

Born in Port Moresby to a Papuan mother and Kiwi father, Soper grew up in New South Wales, and played the 2012 ICC Under-19 World Cup for PNG, taking a five-wicket haul against eventual champions India, ensuring he would remain in the minds of senior team selectors going forward.

Afterwards, he continued to toil away in Sydney grade cricket, finally getting his chance with the PNG senior team in 2015 on tour in the Netherlands. A year later, he produced PNG's best ever ODI figures, taking 6 for 41 in a win over Hong Kong. On seaming tracks, his nippy seamers can be a nuisance.