Below is statistically the best team of the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Opening Batsmen
Jason Roy
Although he is only 9th on the top run scorers list in the tournament and 4 other opening batsmen have scored more runs than him, Jason Roy has been such an incredibly important part of England’s world cup campaign. Amassing a considerable 443 runs in 8 matches , Roy has been crucial in getting England’s innings of to a flyer many times. The naturally aggressive batsmen has a strike rate of 115.36, putting him in the top 10 for the tournament. Despite this, however, Roy plays proper cricketing shots and is not just a pinch hitter sent to exploit the filding restrictions of the first powerplay. Averaging 63.29, Roy’s impact on the team can be seen when analysing the results of England’s matches, with England losing the 2 games that Roy didn’t play in (they only lost games in total)
Rohit Sharma
Probably the easiest decision of the whole team, this is simply a no-brainer. The top run scorer of the tournament with 648 runs, averaging an impressive 81 and striking at a respectable 98.33, Sharma has had the tournament of his life. He only fell slightly short of Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a single world cup campaign (674 runs). Tipped by Tendulkar as one of the players who could beat his total runs record in ODI cricket, Sharma formed the backone of India’s batting lineup, scoring a whopping 5 hundreds. His seemingly effortless stroke play is no less than mesmerising and I personally was taken aback with the ease at which he was scoring in his innings of 104 vs Bangladesh which I watched at Edgbaston. Scoring so many match winning innings, he comfortably slots into the team.
Honurable Mentions
- David Warner – 647 runs, Avg. 71.88
- Jonny Bairstow – 532 runs, Avg 48.36
Top – order Batsmen
Shakib Al Hasan
Carrying the weight of the entire nation on his back, Shakib is the perfect description of a genuine all rounder who could walk into any side. Shakib found the form of his life in the tournament, in a new role batting at number 3. Scoring 283% of their runs, Bangladesh’s hopes often rested on Shakib and he delivered so many times, scoring a total of 606 runs and averaging. He managed to secure the best batting average of the tournament of 86.57 whilst still mantaining a positive strike rate of 96 howing his pure ability to accumulate runs in a fast manner. Not only was his batting extremely valuable but his handy left arm spin was also utilised. Taking 11 wickets in the tournament, if this team were to actually play together then he would most definitely bowl a few overs, being the only front line spinner in the side.
Kane Williamson (C)
Kane Williamson has recieved many plaudits for not only his perfomances but the way that he has carried himself on and off the field, leading to him winning the player of the tounament award. Captaining the side, Williamson has often gotten New Zealand out of dire situations, carying his side home on multiple situations. This side needed a slightly more reseved and game aware player which is exactly what Kane Williamson entails. Striking at a modest 74, the Key to Williamson’s game is his ability to spend tim at the crease and to frustarate a bowling attack by building partnerships, accumulating runs by cashing in on the loose deliveries. The fighting spirit of Williamson and his resolv to not give away his wicket has led him to score 578 runs with his stand out knock being the 102* vs South Africa where he single-handdly won them the game, picking up the man of the match award.
Joe Root
The only genuine Englishmen to feature on this team, (all the other English players have technically immigrated from other countries) Root has been described to be the glue that ‘holds together’ the English batting line up. Although we are playing slightly below his favoured position of number 4, Root has been exceptionally impressive in the tournament, even for his own high standards. Scoring 556 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 89.53, Root’s incredible ability of getting off strike often sees him accumulate runs at a pace that takes everyone by surprise, considering his fairly risk free aproach. Averaging 61.77 in the tounament, he would be a valuable addition to any sides middle order, being one of the most consistent performers in world cricket right now.
Honourable Mentions
- Virat Kohli – 442 runs, Avg. 55.25
- Babar Azam- 474 runs, Avg. 67.71
All-Rounders
Ben Stokes
The hero of the World Cup final and the winner of the player of the match award in the final, Ben Stokes has undoubtedly been the best all-rounder this tournament and has secured his claim as the best all-rounder in cricket. Accumulating 465 runs throughout the tournament at astrike rate of 93.83, there were several match winning performances from Stokes, including against South Africa and India. He was useful with the ball in the tounament taking 7 wickets and had the 17th best average economy of 4.83. Arguably England’s biggest star in a star-studded lineup, Stokes is a valuable addition to the batting and bowling lineup of any team, however, his most potent asset may be his fieding taking an incredible catch against South Africa in first game of the tournament, with a memorable bit of commentary going with it.
” No way! No no way! You cannot do that Ben Stokes. That is remarkable. That is one of the greatest catches of all time!”
Nasser Hussain
Jimmy Neesham
In this tournament Neesham proved why he is New Zealand’s most important all-rounder scoring 258 runs at an average of 36.85. He often combined with De Grandhomme to have several important patnerships towards the end of the innings getting his side to an above par score. Possibly the more impressive side to his game in the tournament was his bowling taking an impressive 15 wickets with his best figures of 5/31 against Afghanistan. Initially thought of as just a part time bowler, Neesham made a claim to being 5th choice bowler due to his consistently effective bowling with an impresssive bowling average of 19.46 and a bowling strike rate of 21.8. Best utilised in the middle overs, his economy of 5.35 is considerably low considering the situations he would often find himself in.
Honourable Mentions
- Hardik Pandya – 10 wickets, 226 runs
Wicket-Keeper
Alex Carey
Easily the pick of the wicket-keepers, Carey came into the tournament under the radar with minial expectations on him from the average Australian cricket fan. Surprising everyone, Carey came 14th on the top run scorers list with 475 runs, despite consistently batting at 7. He outperformed many stars in the Aussie’s batting lineup such as Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Like many Australians of the past, Carey has that tough mentality that causes him to excel, for example, continuing to bat after taking a Jofra Archer bouncer to the chin. He was also competent with the gloves, totalling 20 dismissals with 18 catches and 2 stumpings. It seems like in this tournament Australia have finally found their long-term heir to Brad Haddin.
Honourable Mentions
- Jos Buttler – 312 runs, 14 dismissals
Bowlers
Mitchell Starc
Considerably topping the wicket taker’s list with a whopping 27 wickets, Starc definitely deserves a spot on this list. His tally of 27 in the tournament also puts him top of the list of most wickets taken in a single world cup, breaking his fellow countrymen’s record, Glenn McGrath’s, of 26. Starc’s most dangerous asset is his inswinging yorker, unsuprisingly meaning a large poportion og his wickets come from bowled and LBW as he always looks to attack the stumps. His best figures ended up being 5-26, taking 5 wickets on two occasions during the tournament. Starc took a battering in the final game of the tournament which negatively affected a lot of his statistics such as his economy which is a modest 5.43. His bwling average of 18.59 places him 6th on the leaderboard and strike rate of 20.51 places him 3rd. Starc is simply the definition of a wicket taking bowler.
Jofra Archer
Securing his claim as England’s front line bowler in this tournament, Archer was able to prove to his critics why he deserved to be selected in the side despite only playing his first game for England in May 2019. Finishing 3rd on the wicket taker’s list with 20, Archer was crucial in getting many breakthroughs for England, especially in the tighter games. With an average of 24.55 and a strike rate of 30.85, Archer was able to take wickets regularly with his best figures being 3/27 vs South Africa showing that one game has not just popelled his stats unfairly. He was also able to build pressure with an impressive economy of 4.77, bowling 8 maidens in the tournament and having the most dot balls off his bowling than any other bowler. He was given the ball by captain Eoin Morgan in the finalsuper over, where he was able to hold his nerve and guide his side over the line.
Jasprit Bumrah
The pick of a strong Indian bowling attack thoughout the tournament, Bumrah has been crucial to India, taking imporant wickets and slowing down the pace of the innings. His incredibly impressive economy of 4.41 is even more impressive once considering that usually half of his overs are at the death. He has bowled the most maidens in the tournament with 8 and taken 18 wickets with one of his stand out performances being against Bangladesh where he finished with figures of 4-55. He averaged 20.61 with the ball and had a strike rate of 28. Bumrah often utilised his many variations which helped to bamboozle batsmen who would be unsure what to expect next. Gaining a few yards in the last couple of years, his sheer pace is becoming a greater challenge when combined with his unorthodox action.
Honourable mentions
- Lockie Ferguson – 21 wickets, 4.88 economy
- Trent Boult – 17 wickets, 4.83 economy
Stats In Sport 