7.40 AM Tuesday, 19 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 05:07 06:20 12:29 15:54 18:33 19:47
19 March 2024

Team of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Why India, Pakistan missing

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum (C) and Australia captain Michael Clarke (R) lead their team out onto the field for the 2015 Cricket World Cup final in Melbourne on March 29, 2015. (AFP)

Published
By Staff with Agencies

The 2015 World Cup, which ended with Australia's seven-wicket win over fellow co-hosts New Zealand in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, produced several notable performances.

Below AFP Sport picks its team of the World Cup, including four reserve players to make a tournament squad of 15.

1. Brendon McCullum (NZL, capt)

His aggressive approach to opening the innings, including a stunning 25-ball 77 against England, as well as his attacking captaincy in the field were key to New Zealand's run to the final, although his dismissal for a duck against Australia was equally key to their defeat on Sunday.

2. Martin Guptill (NZL)

Often over-shadowed by McCullum, his more flamboyant opening partner, Guptill was the tournament's leading run-scorer with 547 including a remarkable World Cup record 237 not out in the quarter-final win against the West Indies.

3. Steve Smith (AUS)

Cemented his status as Australia's captain-in-waiting with a World Cup record run of five scores of 50 or more in successive innings -- including a decisive 105 in the semi-final victory over defending champions India and an unbeaten 56 in the final.

4. Kumar Sangakkara (SRI, wkt)


The veteran left-hander bowed out of 50-over cricket in style with four successive hundreds -- a World Cup and one-day international record -- with the pick his unbeaten 117 against England, and was his usual reliable self behind the stumps.

5. AB de Villiers (RSA)

Arguably the most inventive shot-maker in cricket today, the South Africa skipper's full array of strokes was on display during his incredible 162 not out off just 66 balls against the West Indies at the SCG, and he might have led his side to semi-final victory with more than his eventual unbeaten 65 had not rain lopped several overs off the Proteas' innings.

6. Glenn Maxwell (AUS)

'The million-dollar man' finally lived up to his billing with several quickfire innings, including a hundred against Sri Lanka, and also took some handy wickets with his off-breaks to ensure Australia did not rue the lack of a specialist spinner in their side.

7. Daniel Vettori (NZL)


Amidst a flurry of boundaries, the veteran left-arm spinner proved his worth with 15 wickets at 20.46 including a superb spell in the pool win over Australia that slowed the run-rate.

8. Mitchell Starc (AUS)

The best of several left-arm quicks who impressed at the World Cup, the man of the tournament finished with 22 wickets at a scarcely credible average of 10.18 apiece. His thunderbolt yorker to dismiss McCullum for nought on Sunday set the tone for the final.

9. Mohammed Shami (IND)

He symbolised the revived aggression of India's new-ball attack after their demoralising pre-World Cup tour of Australia, frequently bouncing batsmen out on his way to 17 wickets at just over 17 apiece.

10. Morne Morkel (RSA)


Also finished the tournament with 17 wickets at just over 17, and stepped out from the shadow of Dale Steyn with several fine spells.

11. Trent Boult (NZL)


New Zealand's left-arm 'king of swing' formed an excellent new-ball partnership with Tim Southee. Was at his best with five for 27 in the pool win over Australia at Eden Park and was the joint leading wicket-taker with 22 alongside Starc.

Reserves

12. Brendan Taylor (ZIM, wkt)


Ended his international career with back-to-back hundreds against Ireland and India, while averaging over 72 for a struggling side.

13. Jerome Taylor (WIS)

The paceman got back to somewhere near his best form while taking 17 wickets at just under 20 apiece.

14. Josh Davey (SCO)


In a tournament where several players from Associate or non-Test nations starred, the medium-fast bowler's return of 15 wickets for a Scotland side that lost all their matches was especially impressive.

15. Imran Tahir (RSA)


The leg-spinner gave South Africa's attack a distinctive edge and his 15 wickets at just over 21 included a fine haul of four for 26 in a quarter-final victory against Sri Lanka.

ICC’s Team of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also announced the team of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with Brendon McCullum as its captain.

McCullum was chosen as the captain following his aggressive, innovative and inspirational leadership during the 44-day tournament that was the cornerstone of his team’s progression to the final where it lost to Australia by seven wickets.

In doing so, McCullum also scored 328 runs in nine matches with four half-centuries at a strike-rate of 188.50.

The team was chosen by a select group of experts* who were given the task of picking a balanced side on the basis of performances in the tournament. Statistics were used but were not the sole basis for selections.

In addition to McCullum, the side includes four New Zealanders – Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Daniel Vettori – three Australians in Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc, two South Africans, AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel, with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara as wicketkeeper-batsman.

imbabwe’s Brendan Taylor, who finished with 433 runs in six matches, was named as the 12th man.

Team of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in batting order:


Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

Brendon McCullum (New Zealand (captain)

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) (wicketkeeper)

Steven Smith (Australia)

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Corey Anderson (New Zealand)

Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Trent Boult (New Zealand)

Morne Morkel (South Africa)

Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe) (12th man)

ICC General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice, chairman of the panel, said: “The panel had an extremely difficult choice of selecting a 12-member squad at the back of an outstanding tournament, highlighted by some eye-catching individual performances including two double-centuries, 38 centuries, two hat-tricks and 28 four-wicket hauls.

“There were a number of other players that were discussed as possible selections in the team. These included batsmen Mahmudullah (Bangladesh) and Shaiman Anwar (UAE), fast bowlers Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami (both India), Wahab Riaz (Pakistan) and spinners Imran Tahir (South Africa) and R.Ashwin (India).

“But there were so many brilliant individual performances during the tournament that it was not possible to fit them into the team. The panel eventually came up with this side, which, in their view, was the most balanced outfit that is capable of beating any side on any given day.”