Over the years it has now become a routine that staff members of World most followed cricket website ESPNCricinfo.com formerly Cricinfo.com, come together and chose this or that all time best side.
This time the members of most respectable cricket website, have again come together to decide their best all time cricket World Cup-XI. The side they have chosen can’t be argued much as it has almost all the stars who did come good on World stage of cricket during their time.
While there is only one India cricketer in the side which is none other than maestro Sachin Tendulkar himself, there are two Pakistani’s. One is Imran Khan and other is sultan of swing Waseem Akram. There are four Aussies in the side, starting with Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting,Shane Warne and Glenn Mcgrath. From West Indies there is King Viv while as from South Africa Lance Klusener. From Sri Lanka Kumara Sangakara and Mutiah Murlitharan have found place in the side.
The most fascinating part of the side chosen is that Pakistan’s current Prime Minister Imran Khan has been chosen as the man to lead the all time great side. Khan who his initial days was nightmare for batsman slowly turned himself into a reliable all-rounder. He then during his Swang song tournament lead Pakistan to the only ODI World Cup title they have got.
Here is the screipt and the details on the basis of which ESPNCricinfo.Com chose the all time great World Cup-XI.
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Twenty-two members of our staff picked their alI-time World Cup XIs, from which we compiled a composite team. A total of 39 players featured in at least one of those 22 individual teams.
Ten players featured in half or more of the sides. Of these, Wasim Akram was the only unanimous choice. The battle for the final spot was a close one: Kumar Sangakkara pipped the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Steve Waugh, Kapil Dev and AB de Villiers. Only two of the players in the final XI featured in a World Cup before 1992, both a reflection of how the ODI game has evolved and the average age of the selectors.
Adam Gilchrist (wk)
Matches 31 Runs 1085 Average 36.16 Strike Rate 98.01 Dismissals 52
The destructive keeper-batsman has three World Cup titles. His finest moment came in his final World Cup match, when his 149 (aided by a squash ball in his glove) clinched the third of those title wins.
Sachin Tendulkar Matches 45 Runs 2278 Ave 56.95 SR 88.98 100s/50s 6/15 In the three World Cups where he opened throughout, Tendulkar topped the run-scoring charts twice, in 1996 and 2003; he was second in 2011, when India won the title in his record-equaling sixth World Cup.
Ricky Ponting Matches 46 Runs 1743 Ave 45.86 SR 79.95 100s/50s 5/6 Part of a record 34-match unbeaten World Cup streak during which Australia won a hat-trick of titles, two under his captaincy. Ponting’s best was a stunning 140 not out in the 2003 final. Also a gun fielder, with the most World Cup catches for an outfielder.
Viv Richards Matches 23 Runs 1013 Ave 63.31 SR 85.05 100s/50s 3/5 Two-time World Cup champion (and nearly a third). A trendsetter with the bat, who was voted the greatest ODI player by a jury in 2015. And don’t forget his electric fielding.
Kumar Sangakkara Matches 37 Runs 1532 Ave 56.74 SR 86.55 100s/50s 5/7 Hundreds in four consecutive World Cup innings in 2015 – an ODI record. The leading run scorer among left-handers. Also the most dismissals for a keeper, though Gilchrist is first choice for that role in this XI.
Imran Khan (c) Matches 28 Runs 666 Ave 35.05 Wickets 34 Ave 19.26 The man who delivered Pakistan’s 1992 triumph. Steady with the bat (he didn’t bowl in the 1983 edition) and deadly with the ball, Imran is also our pick to lead this side.
Lance Klusener Matches 14 Runs 372 Ave 124.00 Wickets 22 Ave 22.13 The least experienced member of this side makes it on the back of his legendary showing in the 1999 edition. The stunning numbers reflect how awe-inducing his finishing was. Also a handy fast-bowling option.
Wasim Akram Matches 38 Wickets 55 Ave 23.83 Economy Rate 4.04 4s/5s 2/1 The greatest left-arm bowler of his generation, and perhaps of all time. He swung the 1992 World Cup final his team’s way with bat and ball, and led them to the final in 1999.
Shane Warne Matches 17 Wickets 32 Ave 19.50 ER 3.83 4s/5s 4/0 The wizard who cast memorable World Cup spells. He came up with Man-of-the-Match performances in the thrilling 1996 and 1999 semi-finals, and in Australia’s dominating win in the 1999 final.
Muttiah Muralitharan Matches 40 Wickets 68 Ave 19.63 ER 3.88 4s/5s 4/0 His first World Cup was Sri Lanka’s remarkable 1996 victory, and he played a key role in their 2003, 2007 and 2011 campaigns, a constant menace to opposition batsmen.
Glenn McGrath Matches 39 Wickets 71 Average 18.19 ER 3.96 4s/5s 0/2 The leading wicket-taker in World Cup history improved his performance with each edition, finishing with a record 26 wickets, the Player-of-the-Tournament award, and a hat-trick of titles in 2007.
(With inputs from ESPNCricinfo.Com)