ICC’s World XI

New Zealan­d-domina­ted the ICC dream team with Brendo­n McCull­um as the captai­n

Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)



Overall: 328 runs in nine matches at an average of 36.44 and a strike-rate of 188.50.

Tournament highlight: McCullum made 59 off 26 balls in the semi-final against South Africa, which helped bring the required run-rate down from around seven to under six as New Zealand completed the highest run chase in a World Cup knockout match.

Martin Guptill (New Zealand)



Overall: Tournament’s top-scorer with 547 runs in nine matches at an average of 68.37 and a strike-rate of 104.58.

Tournament highlight: Scored 237 not out against the West Indies in the quarter-final, the highest ever individual score in a World Cup to guide New Zealand to 393 as he played both the first ball and the last.

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)



 

Overall: 541 runs in seven matches at an average of 108.2 and a strike- rate of 105.87.

Tournament highlight: Became the first person to score four consecutive centuries, starting from the third group match to the sixth, with all his tons coming at better than run-a-ball, guiding Sri Lanka to a third-place finish in Pool A.

Steven Smith (Australia)



Overall: 402 runs in eight matches at an average of 67 and a strike-rate of 91.57.

Tournament highlight: Scored 105 off 93 balls against India in the semi-final after David Warner was dismissed early to take Australia to 328-7 and hence guide them to the final with a man-of-the-match performance.

AB de Villiers (South Africa)



Overall: 482 runs in eight matches at an average of 96.4 and a strike-rate of 144.31. Also took four wickets at an average of 21.5.

Tournament highlight: Made the fastest-ever 150 as he scored 162 off 66 balls against the West Indies to guide the Proteas to 408 runs and the tournament’s biggest ever win of 257 runs.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)



Overall: 324 runs in eight matches at an average of 64.8 and a strike-rate of 182.02. Also took six wickets at an average of 36.3.

Tournament highlight: Made his maiden century — the second-fastest in the tournament’s history — with a 53-ball 102 against Sri Lanka to ensure that Australia finished second in their group.

Corey Anderson (New Zealand)



Overall: 14 wickets in nine matches at an average of 16.71 and a strike-rate of 15.5. Also made 231 runs at an average of 33 and a strike-rate of 108.45.

Tournament highlight: Took three wickets against South Africa in the semi-final and followed it up with a 57-ball 58 to help New Zealand to the final.

Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)



Overall: 15 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.45 and a strike-rate of 30.3. Also made 50 runs at an average of 25.

Tournament highlight: Came on to curtail the Australian onslaught in the group stages. Dismissed Shane Watson and Steven Smith to start off a batting collapse that was finished off by Trent Boult.

Mitchell Starc (Australia)



Overall: The player of the tournament and the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets in eight matches at an average of 10.18 and a strike-rate of 17.4.

Tournament highlight: Took 6-28 against New Zealand as Australia almost defended a woefully small target of 152.

Trent Boult (New Zealand)



Overall: 22 wickets in nine matches at an average of 16.86 and a strike-rate of 23.1.

Tournament highlight: Took 5-27 against Australia to dismiss them for 151 and claim the man-of-the-match award. He also survived two deliveries from Mitchell Starc as the last batsman to allow Kane Williamson the strike in the next over.

Morne Morkel (South Africa)



Overall: 17 wickets in eight matches at an average of 17.58 and a strike-rate of 24. Also made eight runs in the tournament at an average of eight.

Tournament highlight: Claimed three wickets in the semi-final against New Zealand, including Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson, to bring South Africa back in the match but ended up on the losing side.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2015.

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