The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is coming to a close. Following the league round, four teams - India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand - have advanced to the semi-finals. India will play New Zealand on November 15 in Mumbai and Australia and South Africa will clash on November 16 in Kolkata.
Throughout the competition, there have been numerous memorable performances throughout departments. During an interview with ESPNCricinfo, legendary cricketers Anil Kumble and Matthew Hayden selected their combined XI for the event.
Surprisingly, the team is made up entirely of players from the four semi-finalists. There are five Indians on the team, three South Africans, two Australians, and one New Zealander.
For the openers, Kumble and Hayden were unanimous in their picks – India’s Rohit Sharma to combine with South African Quinton de Kock.
“QDK for me has been that player for me, a standout player. Rohit Sharma for obvious reasons. Those two inside the powerplay have been dynamic. My qualification is that if I had to put my life on two players getting runs in this World Cup. They are my number one and number two,” Hayden said on ESPNCricinfo.
Kumble agreed with the former Australia opener and said: “The kind of starts and platform he has laid for South Africa has been brilliant. The kind of impact Rohit has made early on has certainly helped the Indian batting lineup relax.”
Virat Kohli took the no.3 position, with breakout star Rachin Ravindra also in the running. However, given how Ravindra has batted at various positions, it didn't matter much to Kumble where the allrounder bats.
“He (Ravindra) is certainly the breakout young player of this World Cup. I am sure I would certainly go for Rachin Ravindra, whether you put him at no. 3 or no. 4, it doesn’t matter. He has been batting at 1, 2, 3, 4 – you can put him wherever. Virat Kohli, for sure. Yes, he has batter no. 3 for India. So if he bats no. 3, Rachin Ravindra bats no. 4. If Ravindra bats no. 3, we can use the right-left combination. It’s very difficult to pick in a World Cup two choices,” Kumble said.
For five and six, Kumble initially paired Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai with Australia superstar Glenn Maxwell.
“Omarzai for me. Of course, Glenn Maxwell played the innings of a lifetime (vs Afghanistan). The way he went about getting the two hundred, from a hopeless situation, don’t think anyone gave Australia a chance. Only Maxi could do that,” Kumble said.
But Hayden disagreed and went with South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen who is known for his big-hitting abilities.
“Klaasen for me (in place of Omarzai). The reason why, when you look at those stats again is I am going on strike rate, I am going on who will be under pressure. They are the real heads of both Australia and South Africa’s batting efforts with spin in particular – the strike rate of Maxwell is off the Richter scale, it’s not even 170-180. Klaasen for the same reason as well, that is an enormous strike rate. I want to have impact players here,” Hayden said.
Ravindra Jadeja and Adam Zampa were unanimously picked as the two spinners by Hayden and Kumble.
“Zampa clearly ahead of the pack. He has been the lone spinner for Australia, he has taken the pressure and he is the reason why Australia qualified. It is a challenge between Mitch Santner and Jadeja but I would go with Jadeja, not just with the ball but also with the bat. At no. 7, he has been instrumental in winning that game against New Zealand,” Kumble said, with Hayden agreeing with him.
Matthew Hayden and Anil Kumble also agreed with the choices of Jasprit Bumrah, Marco Jansen, and Mohammad Shami being picked in the pacer department.
Kumble and Hayden’s Team of the Tournament:
Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Maxwell, Heinrich Klaasen, Ravindra Jadeja, Marco Jansen, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Adam Zampa
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
