CWC 2019 review: Kane Williamson and Shakib Al Hasan feature in best right-handed v left-handed teams

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  • Kane Williamson (l) and Shakib Al Hasan (r).

    It has been a week since the 2019 ICC World Cup drew to a close but the tournament continues to linger on in the minds of cricket fans around the globe.

    The tournament in England saw an even contest between bat and ball and was very much a throwback to ODI cricket of the 1990s. There was no dearth of stand-out performers in the World Cup with batsmen and bowlers alike making a mark.

    Here, we compile the best possible right-handed and left-handed XIs from the tournament.

    RIGHT-HAND BAT WORLD CUP XI

    Rohit Sharma (India)

    An unprecedented five tons in a single World Cup edition from the India opener who also finished as the top run-scorer with 648 runs at an average of 81.

    Jason Roy (England)

    Only twice did the England opener fail to register at least 50 runs in an innings over the course of the tournament. Registered a total of 443 runs which came at a strike-rate of more than 115.

    Jason Roy.

    Jason Roy.

    Kane Williamson (c)

    The New Zealand skipper was the tournament’s MVP with 578 runs at an average of over 82 and he led the Black Caps admirably before facing heartbreak in the final at Lord’s.

    Joe Root

    The England stalwart pips Virat Kohli to this slot after a stellar campaign where he registered two centuries and three fifties on his way to an aggregate of 556 runs. He finished as England’s highest run-getter in the tournament.

    Babar Azam

    The Pakistan stalwart would have ideally been batting much higher up the order but it is a stacked middle-order. Babar’s 474 runs at an average of 67 is the highest run tally by any Pakistan batsman in World Cup history.

    Babar Azam.

    Babar Azam.

    Faf du Plessis

    The Proteas captain should hold his head up high despite his team’s dismal display after registering one century and three fifties in the tournament.

    Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)

    The Bangladesh man pips Jos Buttler and MS Dhoni to the wicketkeeping gloves after a solid individual campaign for the Tigers where he averaged more than 52 with the bat.

    Chris Woakes

    The England all-rounder might not have set the world alight with the bat in the tournament but he was a major force with the new-ball with 16 wickets in total. He really came into his own in the business end of the tournament for the eventual champions.

    Jofra Archer

    It was some maiden World Cup campaign for Archer who added a new dimension to England’s bowling attack. Twenty scalps in total for the Barbados-born pacer who finished as the third-highest wicket-taker.

    Jofra Archer.

    Jofra Archer.

    Lockie Ferguson

    One of the biggest surprises of the tournament was the performance of the Kiwi pacer who finished only behind Mitchell Starc in the wicket-taking charts. 21 wickets at an average of under 20 for Ferguson.

    Jasprit Bumrah

    The No1 ranked ODI bowler in the world lived up to his reputation with a terrific campaign that saw him fetch 18 wickets while maintaining an outstanding economy-rate of just 4.41.

    Jasprit Bumrah had a magnificent maiden World Cup campaign.

    Jasprit Bumrah had a magnificent maiden World Cup campaign.

    LEFT-HAND BAT WORLD CUP XI

    David Warner

    The Australia opener wasted no time in stamping his authority on his return to international cricket after a one-year suspension. Three tons and as many fifties saw him finish just behind Rohit Sharma.

    Quinton de Kock

    While he was a shade below his usual best in the tournament, the Proteas opener remained a potent threat at the top with three fifties and an average of nearly 40.

    Shakib Al Hasan

    The Bangladesh all-rounder became the first player in history to register more than 600 runs and 10 wickets in a single World Cup edition. He scored two tons and five fifties in eight innings while also chipping in with 11 wickets.

    Shakib Al Hasan is in the form of his life.

    Shakib Al Hasan is in the form of his life.

    Eoin Morgan (c)

    The World Cup winning skipper had a decent individual campaign as well with a total of 371 runs while slamming a record-breaking 17 sixes in his 158-run blitz against Afghanistan.

    Nicholas Pooran

    The Windies youngster showed why he is so highly rated with some excellent innings including a fine ton against Sri Lanka. Averaged more than 52 with the bat.

    Alex Carey (wk)

    The Australia wicketkeeper was arguably the revelation of the tournament with 375 runs at an average of more than 62 while also effecting 20 dismissals with the gloves.

    Alex Carey

    Alex Carey

    Ben Stokes

    The star all-rounder was England’s man of the tournament from start to finish and registered 465 runs in total with the help of five fifties. Always got stuck in for the hosts when they were in trouble while also chipping in with seven wickets and some outstanding catches in the deep.

    James Neesham 

    The Kiwi all-rounder had a superb tournament and made important contributions with both bat and ball. His seamers fetched 15 wickets while he registered a fine unbeaten 97 in his side’s loss to Pakistan.

    Mitchell Starc 

    The Australia pace spearhead broke compatriot Glenn McGrath’s record of the most wickets in a single World Cup edition and finished with 27 wickets. Starc has now finished on the top of the wicket-taking charts two World Cups in a row.

    Starc broke his compatriot Glenn McGrath's record.

    Starc broke his compatriot Glenn McGrath’s record.

    Mohammad Amir 

    The senior Pakistan pacer more than vindicated the selectors’ faith in him by picking up 17 wickets an average of nearly 21. He also registered his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs in the clash against England.

    Shaheen Afridi 

    The Pakistan teenager left a last impression in England after claiming 16 wickets in  just five games including a memorable Lord’s five-wicket haul in the win over Bangladesh.

    Afridi was flying against Bangladesh.

    Afridi was flying against Bangladesh.

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