Do you agree with Sport360's #CWC15 XI?

Sport360 staff 14:11 31/03/2015
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  • Here are our picks for the World Cup XI.

    As the dust settles on one of the most exciting Cricket World Cups in history, we pick our very own team of the tournament. Check out the ICC’s very own official team of the tournament and tell us what you think of the two sides and share with us your own best XI by using #360CWCXI.

    – #CWC15: Left armers prove to be right for the Australians
    – Shoaib Mohammad: Pakistan's Cricket World Cup ratings
    – GALLERY: ICC Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament

    David Warner
    Matches: 8; Runs: 345; Highest: 178; Average: 49.28; Strike rate: 120.20

    A difficult decision, but we opted for Warner instead of Martin Guptill, because the Kiwi’s tournament was essentially defined by one sensational knock (although he did make another century in the series), but Warner also made 178 in one outing and has a much more impressive overall record despite Guptil being the tournament’s top run scorer.

    Brendon McCullum (Captain)
    Matches: 9; Runs: 328; Highest: 77; Average: 36.44; Strike rate: 188.50

    There have been aggressive captains before, but McCullum takes it to an altogether different level. The only thing better than his shrewd strategy-making on the field is his brilliant man-management – be it his own team members, opposition, media, fans or any other stakeholder of the game. A class act both on and off the pitch.

    Steve Smith
    Matches: 8; Runs: 402; Highest: 105; Average: 67; Strike rate: 91.57

    The young Australia is not only enjoying an amazing run of form, he also seems to be saving at least 15-20 runs with his electric brand of fielding. His century against India in the semi-finals and the half-century in the final shows the always-fidgety Sydneysider is a big-match player.

    Kumar Sangakkara
    Matches: 7; Runs: 541; Highest: 124; Average: 108.2; Strike rate: 105.87

    For someone who was playing his last tournament as an ODI player, the 37-year-old lit up the stage with a world record four consecutive centuries. He is still physically fit and runs his singles as hard as ever. Not only that, Sangakkara remains a shrewd observer of the game.

    AB De Villiers
    Matches: 8; Runs: 482; Highest: 162*; Average: 96.4; Strike rate: 144.31

    Can you imagine naming a best Test, ODI or T20 eleven without the South African captain? He already owned the fastest 50 and 100 in the 50-over format before the World Cup, and added the fastest 150 against to the list on the world’s biggest stage. To cap it all off, he is one of the best fielders in the world.

    Glenn Maxwell
    Matches: 8; Runs: 324; Highest: 102; Average: 64.80; Strike rate: 182.02

    Glenn Maxwell is Australia’s answer to AB de Villiers. As they say, no boundary is safe when Maxi is at the crease. The 26-year-old has such amazing hand-eye coordination, at times it seemseven he does not what kind of shot he will eventually end up playing.

    Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK)
    Matches: 8; Catches: 15; Runs: 237; Highest: 85*; Average: 59.25; Strike rate: 102.15

    Even though it is felt that the Indian captain is coming to the end of his ODI career after calling it a day in Tests, he still remains one of the best readers of the game who can script extraordinary things due to his awareness of everything going on in the field.

    Ravichandran Ashwin
    Matches: 8; Overs 77; Wickets: 13; Runs: 330; Best: 4-25; Average: 25.38; Economy: 4.38

    The most difficult choice of all. Daniel Vettori and Imran Tahir were the other contenders, but Ashwin gets the nod because of Vettori’s physical issues and the fact that he is a better batsman and more experienced on the international stage than Tahir.

    Wahab Riaz
    Matches: 7; Overs 66.1; Wickets: 16; Runs: 368; Best: 4-45; Average: 23.00; Economy: 5.56

    The 29-year-old from Lahore provided the most absorbing period of the World Cup when he was engaged in a blood-curdling battle with Australia’s Shane Watson in the quarter-final. Even before that Riaz bowled some fantastic spells and consistently bowled above 145kmph.

    Mitchell Starc
    Matches: 8; Overs 63.5; Wickets: 22; Runs: 330; Best: 6-28; Average: 10.18; Economy: 3.98

    Highest wicket-taker of the tournament, the best economy rate and the lowest average in the World Cup among all leading bowlers. The 29-year-old Aussie Player of the Tournament is the first player we chose to feature in our eleven due to his superb performances that lead to his side’s victory on home soil.

    Trent Boult
    Matches: 9; Overs 85; Wickets: 22; Runs: 371; Best: 5-27; Average: 16.86; Economy: 4.36

    Except for the match against England, he delivered in every match. The 25-year-old from Rotorua has established himself as the world’s most lethal swing bowler in this tournament. He may not have the same searing pace as the Aussie quicks but his skill and control are unrivalled.

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