The ICC World Cup 2019 has come to a thrilling end as the final ended up in a tie and the ensuing Super Over also finished in a tie. The only way to ensure a winner was the number of boundaries hit in the match and that’s how England became the World Champions for the first time.
Ben Stokes was the hero for England, as his 84* kept the team in the hunt during the match and also scored 8* in the Super Over to give England 15 runs to defend. Kane Williamson’s side suffered a heart-break thanks to two moments which proved that they were unlucky on this day. First was Trent Boult taking Stokes’ catch and stepping on the boundary ropes, while the second was Guptill’s throw deflecting off the batsman’s bat and going for a four on overthrows.
The tournament will be remembered for some record-breaking feats from the players with the bat and the ball and for some players, with both the bat and the ball. Many of those helped their countries reach new heights in the format and taking everything into consideration, Team COC presents to you the best XI of the ICC World Cup.
Here is the ICC World Cup 2019 XI, presented to you by Team COC
Rohit Sharma was the lynchpin of the Indian batting lineup. He conjured 648 runs in 9 matches with a record-setting five centuries in the tournament, breaking the previous best of four hundreds by Kumar Sangakkara in 2015 edition. Rohit easily bettered the opposition bowlers and his highest score of 140 came against rivals Pakistan. His wicket in the semi-finals against New Zealand triggered a collapse from which India never recovered from.
David Warner made a miraculous comeback to international cricket with a thumping 647 runs in 10 matches with three centuries in the tournament and showed that he was hungrier for runs after the one-year ban on him. His highest score of 166 came against Bangladesh. His form with the bat is ominous signs for England, who will clash agaisnt Australia in the Ashes shortly.
Kane Williamson will be a heartbroken man despite winning the Man of the Tournament award for his leadership and 578 runs in the World Cup. He was a one-man army as far as Kiwi batting is concerned as he slammed two match-winning centuries against South Africa and the West Indies. His captaincy was amazingly well right into the finals, following the strategy of batting first and defending the totals.
England’s Joe Root was probably their best batsman in the early part of the World Cup, as he slammed two amazing centuries, one of which came in a nerve wreaking chase against Pakistan. His contributions towards the end tapered off a bit, but he had done his job at the start and also played an assuring knock of 49* in the semis against Australia.
Jonny Bairstow made 532 runs in 11 matches including two centuries in crucial encounters which were must-win for England, against India and New Zealand. His centuries ensured that the home side kept themselves alive in the tournament. Bairstow maintained his stature as England’s man to go in crisis with these two knocks and overall outings including two fifties as well.
Ben Stokes won the Man of the Match in the final of the tournament for his 84* and then his runs in the Super over. Moreover, he also picked 7 wickets as well, but another of his best innings came against Australia when he made 89 but failed to get the team through. Stokes put to rest the shadow of the 2016 World T20 finals. He also picked the catch of the tournament against South Africa in the first match itself, a one-handed wonder at the boundary.
Shakib-Al-Hasan had a tournament to remember for ages as he was the premier contender for Man of the tournament award for his 606 runs and 11 wickets which included 2 centuries and a five-wicket haul. His two centuries came in two consecutive matches, as Bangladesh downed West Indies and gave a fight to England. His other important innings was against South Africa as he made 75 runs.
Mitchell Starc was not in form coming into this tournament as he had not picked many wickets in the series prior to the tournament. However, he came good when it mattered the most, picking 27 wickets in 10 matches with the best bowling of 5/26 and two five-wicket hauls and as many four-wicket hauls. Starc was there for Finch whenever the captain needed a wicket and his yorker delivery to remove Stokes in the league match at Lord’s might be the ball of the tournament.
Jofra Archer made his debut for England just over a month ago and impressed one and all with his ability to bowl over 90mph with almost no effort. He was fast-forwarded into the side for the World Cup and the result was that he played a big role in England winning the tournament in the end. He picked 20 wickets in 11 matches, but most importantly, defended 15 runs in the Super Over against New Zealand in the final.
Ian Bishop during the tournament mentioned that Jasprit Bumrah was by far the best bowler in the World Cup, and he didn’t even have to pick wickets to prove that. The right-hand fast bowler managed 18 scalps in 9 matches, but his importance lied in the death overs, where he would often bring out his amazingly accurate yorker to keep the runs down to a minimum and with the new ball, moved it off the pitch and in the air as well.
MOHAMMAD AMIR (PAK)
M: 8 | WKTs: 17| BB: 5/30 | 5/Inns: 1
Mohammad Amir announced in arrival in the World cup with a tremendous spell of bowling against Australia, where he picked a fifer and gave Australia a big scare. He was by far the best Pakistani bowler and the support he got from Shaheen Afridi in the latter part of the tournament, would have made him more effective at the start, when the Men in Green lost a few close matches.