The greatest World Cup cricketers

[barah_admi]

There has been a lot of recent talk about ODI performances, so I thought, why not make a thread discussing who the top world cup performers are/were?

Just a few stats (they should never tell the entire story) to start with:

Top 5 run getters
1. Tendulkar 45 matches with 2278 runs (1 WC win) IND
2. Ponting 46 matches with 1743 runs (3 WC wins) AUS
3. Sanga 37 matches with 1532 runs (no wins) SL
4. Lara 34 matches with 1225 runs (no wins) WI
5. AB 23 matches with 1207 runs (no wins) SA
AB has the best average of the group.

Top 5 batting averages
1. Klusener 14 matches with an average of 124.00 (no wins) SA
2. Symonds 18 matches with an average of 103.00 (2 wins) AUS
3. AB 23 matches with an average of 63.52 (no wins) SA
4. Clarke 25 matches with an average of 63.42 (no wins) SA
5. Richards 23 matches with an average of 63.31 (1 WC win) WI
Klusener has the best strike rate of the group

Top 5 Wicket Takers
1. McGrath 39 matches with 71 wickets (3 WC wins) AUS
2. Murali 40 matches with 68 wickets (1 WC win) SL
3. Akram 38 matches with 55 wickets (1 WC win) PAK
4. Vaas 31 matches with 49 wickets (1 WC win) SL
5. Zaheer Khan 23 matches with 44 wickets (1 WC win)

Top 5 Bowling Averages
1. McGrath 38 matches with an average of 18.19
2. Imran Khan 28 matches with an average of 19.26 (1 WC win) PAK
3. Murali 40 matches with an average of 19.63
4. Zaheer Khan 23 matches with an average of 20.22
5. Malinga 22 matches with an average of 21.11 (no wins) SL

Beyond this, we can look at the most number of centuries, Tendulkar tops that list (6), along with having the most 50s. In terms of bowling, McGrath is tied with the likes of Gilmour and Afridi for the most 5-fers (2), with the highest number of 4 or more wicket hauls once again including Afridi (4), along with Muralia, Warne and Tahir.

However, performance is not simply based on numbers but when and how the top players perform in life or death matches. Akram, Imran, McGrath, Warne (that 1999 final), Murali, Gilchrist, Ponting and a few others come to mind. Some of those with exceptional statistics fade away (AD springs to mind).

So discuss and enjoy!

 

[Proactive_]

Glenn McGrath, easily on the whole. Aravinda in 96 and Klusner in 99 are the greatest WC performances though.

 

[Cozyrensetter]

Ricky ponting beast in world cup ko.Even past his prime he smashed a hundered againist india in 2011 world cup

 

[drrashmin]

Look at Tendulkar's number of matches and total runs...wow...amazing record

 

[Ab Fan]

Mcgrath is the greatest WC cricketer.

 

[Ab Fan]

Lara is overrated in WCs. Not prolific enough.

 

[Dead Ball]

Tendulkar, Viv, McGrath, Imran and ABDV for me.

ABDV was absolutely beastly in 2015 WC, a performance that deserved a WC.

Kohli needs to get his name up there to be considered GOAT.

 

[Dead Ball]

Lara smashed some ATG attacks in WC's.

 

[AMSS]

Lara had his moments like sending South Africans packing in 96 WC after they mocked Windies' defeat against Kenya. I remember some racial comments surrounding that match. But for a batsman who's rated so high, his overall record was underwhelming. I remember that encounter against India at Gwalior in 96 WC - hyped as Tendulkar vs Lara but he failed to show up.

 

[shah_1]

Sachin was king of group matches but flopped in most knock outs.

 

[Dead Ball]

He just flopped in two finals.

In all other knockouts he scored well.

35 and 68 in 1996.

80 odd in 2003.

85 and 53 in 2011.

These are his knockout scores apart from the 4 and 18 in WC Finals. Not a failure by any stretch of imagination.

 

[Buffet]

McGrath

 

[Bilal7]

Lol, Tendulker was closer to being a WC failure than a WC great. Please. Of course, he'll have more runs and centuries than anyone else, he has played more matches than anyone else as well. He's also choked in more WC finals than anyone else. It's good that his teammates won him a WC in 2011 becausehe sure wasn't going to do it himself, unlike Imran Khan who at the age of 40 played a match-winning innings in a WC final. Something Tendulker dreams about doing to this day.

The true WC greats in the batting department:

1) Ponting
2) Viv
3) Gilly

And bowling:

1) McGrath
2) Imran
3) Wasim

 

[Bilal7]

He just flopped in two finals.

In all other knockouts he scored well.

35 and 68 in 1996.

80 odd in 2003.

85 and 53 in 2011.

These are his knockout scores apart from the 4 and 18 in WC Finals. Not a failure by any stretch of imagination.

Not a great WC player by any stretch of the imagination either.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I'd say Mcgrath. Absolutely nailed the Windies in 99 and then bowled superbly against India and then PAK in the final. Also was very consistent in 03 and 07.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Not surprised here. Both McGrath and Ponting are on the top. Plus they had likes of Warne and Gilchrist to further demolish oppositions, if some resistance remained

Waqar was at his prime in '92 but missed due to injury. IK and Wasim are world cup greats as well.

Zaheer Khan's World Cup performance is underrated IMO.

Sachin was lucky to win 2011 World Cup (let's not hijack this thread tho: Mamoon and my Indian brethren).
His innings vs 2Ws/Shoaib in '03 will remain one of the best.

Saffers will have to lift a world cup. No team can be this good and lose with such consistency over the decades

 

[Sam99]

McGrath. Remember he got sachin on duck, dravid on 2 and azhar on 3 in 1999 world cup. Again got Sachin and Kaif in 2003 world cup. His stats in CT & World cup are greatest. McGrath The Real Worldcup GOAT.

 

[Sam99]

Sachin was king of group matches but flopped in most knock outs.

well you need someone to bring team to knock outs or you go directly in it and bet on your best knockout player?

 

[Dead Ball]

Not a great WC player by any stretch of the imagination either.

Calling Tendulkar a WC failure would be borderline delusional. A perfect example of a WC failure would be Amla.

SRT had a knockout average of around 48 in WCs, not as great as his preliminary record sure but a solid one nonetheless.

 

[shaz619]

Wasim and Viv Richards are the greatest

 

[pakistani pride]

Ponting and Mcgrath are the GOATS.

 

[Hasan123]

McGrath for me.

 

[Bilal7]

Calling Tendulkar a WC failure would be borderline delusional. A perfect example of a WC failure would be Amla.

SRT had a knockout average of around 48 in WCs, not as great as his preliminary record sure but a solid one nonetheless.

And calling Tendulker a great WC player would be the height of delusion and fantasy. At the end of the day, he failed in TWO WC finals. Either way, he has no business being discussed in this thread just like Amla, Kohli and de Villiers.

Leave the limelight to the Gillys, Pontings, Wasims and Imrans for once.

 

[Executioner]

McGrath was such a class act! Arguably one of the greatest cricketers ever! Beast in any form a true champion

Ricky Ponting was also another. Ponting and McGrath were absolute beasts of the game. The Australian side between 96 and 07 was truly exceptional. Since the retirement of their greats they have struggled in pressure situations. Yeah they did win the 2015 WC but it was their home turf. But in T20 WC, CT they have not been upto the mark by any means necessary.

I have heard about the WI domination in the 70s and 80s but I am quite confident the Australian side between 96 to 07 WC was truly the strongest unit ever. Their 2nd XI could easily squash top sides in modern cricket. Man cricket back in those days was so much enjoyable. Only 2 formats and teams always fielded their best XI because of less workloads and no T20 leagues. Also people in those era had fewer things to do as opposed to modern generation.

 

[Buffet]

Lol, Tendulker was closer to being a WC failure than a WC great. Please. Of course, he'll have more runs and centuries than anyone else, he has played more matches than anyone else as well.

Very poor understanding of situation here. You don't need to look at his aggregate runs here. Simply look at each world cup.

• 1992 WC - Avg 47 - 54* against Pakistan, 84 against NZ
• 1996 WC - Avg 87 - 70 vs WI, 90 vs Aus, 137 vs SL , 65 vs SL
• 1999 WC - Avg 42 - 45 vs Pak
• 2003 WC - Avg 61 - 98 vs Pak, 50 vs Eng, 97 vs SL
• 2007 - avg 32 in 3 matches - his poorest WC
• 2011 WC - Avg 53 - 120 vs Eng, 111 vs SA, 53 vs Aus, 85 vs Pak
• Man of the Tournament in 2003 WC, & top run getters in couple of WC's.
• Ind-Pak games gets hyped a lot. He faced Pakistan 5 times in the WC and got 3 MOM out of those 5 matches

One of the champion players in the WC.

 

[shah_1]

Sachin was never a failure, a great player in WC but should have done more in knock outs.

 

[mohan11]

Sachin got two man of the series in World Cup and some calling him not a wc great.. lol

 

[Buffet]

Sachin was king of group matches but flopped in most knock outs.

He has 7 QF, SF and Finals in the WC

• 85
• 83
• 65
• 53
• 31
• 18
• 4

How does this translates to flopping most knockouts in the WC?

 

[Bilal7]

Very poor understanding of situation here. You don't need to look at his aggregate runs here. Simply look at each world cup.

• 1992 WC - Avg 47 - 54* against Pakistan, 84 against NZ
• 1996 WC - Avg 87 - 70 vs WI, 90 vs Aus, 137 vs SL , 65 vs SL
• 1999 WC - Avg 42 - 45 vs Pak
• 2003 WC - Avg 61 - 98 vs Pak, 50 vs Eng, 97 vs SL
• 2007 - avg 32 in 3 matches - his poorest WC
• 2011 WC - Avg 53 - 120 vs Eng, 111 vs SA, 53 vs Aus, 85 vs Pak
• Man of the Tournament in 2003 WC, & top run getters in couple of WC's.
• Ind-Pak games gets hyped a lot. He faced Pakistan 5 times in the WC and got 3 MOM out of those 5 matches

One of the champion players in the WC.

The situation was the WC final and Sachin choked. Not once, but twice. Of course, Indians and those with an Indian heritage will think that a good group stage performance can mask over those two massive chokes but not for me.

As for his individual innings:

2011 - England were a poor side, South Africa won that game and he was dropped four times in the Pakistan game. Choked in the final.

1999 WC - A 45 vs Pak is the sole highlight?

1992 WC - A 54* vs Pak is the only highlight? However, for this he deserves some leeway.

2003 WC - He was in fantastic form but even at the height of his powers, ended up choking in the final.

1996 is balanced out by 2007.

His record looks good on the surface but it is the height of delusion to call him a "champion player" in WCs. On the other hand, calling him a WC failure is incorrect as well.

 

[Buffet]

The situation was the WC final and Sachin choked. Not once, but twice.

Oh, so you are calling some one being close to WC failure based on what he did in '2' matches out of 45 matches in WC. Got it. You should have made it clear in your post.

 

[Sam99]

And calling Tendulker a great WC player would be the height of delusion and fantasy. At the end of the day, he failed in TWO WC finals. Either way, he has no business being discussed in this thread just like Amla, Kohli and de Villiers.

Leave the limelight to the Gillys, Pontings, Wasims and Imrans for once.

You forgot Gautam Gambhir then he had better finals compared to imran.

 

[dhonixi]

According to some posters here, wasim and imran are inferior to Dhoni and Gambhir. But in dhoni case it is true though.

 

[shah_1]

He has 7 QF, SF and Finals in the WC

• 85
• 83
• 65
• 53
• 31
• 18
• 4

How does this translates to flopping most knockouts in the WC?

It's a flop, not going to comment further in this thread. This is my opinion, not a fact.

85 run with 7 drop catches and 1 dodgy DRS. Worst fifty of his

83 runs against Kenya

65 runs and lost his wicket at the most important time then collasped happened.

 

[BaankeJi]

The situation was the WC final and Sachin choked. Not once, but twice. Of course, Indians and those with an Indian heritage will think that a good group stage performance can mask over those two massive chokes but not for me.

As for his individual innings:

2011 - England were a poor side, South Africa won that game and he was dropped four times in the Pakistan game. Choked in the final.

1999 WC - A 45 vs Pak is the sole highlight?

1992 WC - A 54* vs Pak is the only highlight? However, for this he deserves some leeway.

2003 WC - He was in fantastic form but even at the height of his powers, ended up choking in the final.

1996 is balanced out by 2007.

His record looks good on the surface but it is the height of delusion to call him a "champion player" in WCs. On the other hand, calling him a WC failure is incorrect as well.

You cannot limit world cups to just knockouts or finals. World cup is a tournament consisting of group matches as well as knockouts. So when you are judging someone for WC great, you have to see the whole tournament.

 

[Ab Fan]

I think people are micro-analyzing SRT stats too much and then unnecessarily trying to call him a WC failure.

You have to consider that winning is a function of a team not individuals. He does have a iconic knock in WC 2003 vs Pakistan and has dominated two WCs with the bat being leading run scorer in both of them.

Yes, there have been numerous of his innings under losing cause in WCs but again those were situations where he cant do much. He already did his job with the bat in them.

 

[barah_admi]

So far, it seems McGrath is the guy most are opting for, it's what I would do. Ponting would be aclear second and then there's some breathing space between whoever comes next, for me I have it:

McGrath
Ponting


Wasim/Imran/Gilchrist

Those 5 have got to be stand out names, not just in terms of numbers, but delivering performances when it mattered most.

Murali, Tendulkar, Vaas and a few others can fight over the next few spots.

 

[barah_admi]

I think people are micro-analyzing SRT stats too much and then unnecessarily trying to call him a WC failure.

You have to consider that winning is a function of a team not individuals. He does have a iconic knock in WC 2003 vs Pakistan and has dominated two WCs with the bat being leading run scorer in both of them.

Yes, there have been numerous of his innings under losing cause in WCs but again those were situations where he cant do much. He already did his job with the bat in them.

Well you have to micro analyse when looking for the best. If we're talking about the best group of players then yes, Tendulkar can pop up as one of the best batsman, but we're looking for players who would be at the top of the tree (McGrath being one for instance), so to do that, you have to look beyond simply numbers. We have to see how well players performed and at what time they performed. Someone who performed well in group stages AND knockouts would be better than someone who only performed in one or the other.

Plus, this whole thread isnt about Tendulkar. There are at lest 4 players who would be ranked as greater world cup players, maybe 5.

 

[DeadBall]

Whatever happened to Zulu, he totally went underground after retirement unlike Kallis. Truly a simple man.

 

[Ab Fan]

Well you have to micro analyse when looking for the best. If we're talking about the best group of players then yes, Tendulkar can pop up as one of the best batsman, but we're looking for players who would be at the top of the tree (McGrath being one for instance), so to do that, you have to look beyond simply numbers. We have to see how well players performed and at what time they performed. Someone who performed well in group stages AND knockouts would be better than someone who only performed in one or the other.

Plus, this whole thread isnt about Tendulkar. There are at lest 4 players who would be ranked as greater world cup players, maybe 5.

The problem is if we do same with Ponting or Dhoni or Kohli or ABDV , we will get similar situation. This is where we will start finding issues with everyone's record.

 

[WengerOut]

For me Aravinda De Silva .

 

[R3verse Swing]

In terms of impact players:

Viv
Ponting
McGrath
Akram
Imran Khan

World Cup is about seizing the moment which is why playing more World Cups doesn't equate to greatness.

 

[drrashmin]

You cannot limit world cups to just knockouts or finals. World cup is a tournament consisting of group matches as well as knockouts. So when you are judging someone for WC great, you have to see the whole tournament.

You are right, if Sachin did not have great WC matches especially in 2003, India would not be in finals, group matches are also extremely important as well as KO matches.

 

[drrashmin]

Sachin was king of group matches but flopped in most knock outs.

Yep, without shining in those group matches India would not have played those KOs.

 

[Dead Ball]

Oh, so you are calling some one being close to WC failure based on what he did in '2' matches out of 45 matches in WC. Got it. You should have made it clear in your post.

1996 WC is balanced by 2007 WC ? LOL !

Won't even bother addressing the points.

Anyway , if OP is talking only about the greatest batsman and bowler in WC then the discussion should end at Viv Richards and McGrath. They were tremendously helped by the fact that they played for the best teams of the era but that's a separate discussion. (McGrath was defending huge totals, Viv wasnt exactly chasing 300+ every game) SRT, Wasim, Ponting etc shouldn't even be discussed.

 

[R3verse Swing]

Yep, without shining in those group matches India would not have played those KOs.

The teams India played were having an off day. Right?

 

[barah_admi]

The problem is if we do same with Ponting or Dhoni or Kohli or ABDV , we will get similar situation. This is where we will start finding issues with everyone's record.

We're trying to pick between the best of the best and Pontings world cup record is better in impact situations than Tendulkars and McGraths is probably the best. That is the point being made.

In terms of impact players:

Viv
Ponting
McGrath
Akram
Imran Khan

World Cup is about seizing the moment which is why playing more World Cups doesn't equate to greatness.

Not sure if I'd have Viv at the top there but he deserves to be in the discussion. Could arguably have been a 2 time winner.

 

[ManFan]

Gilly and than some. The guy was at his LOI best when the WC arrived. 3 all-important 50’s in 3 consecutive WC Finals that resulted in victory each time.
As far bowlers, it’s really tight between McGrath and Wasim. Although McGrath was an important part in the 07’ SF and 03’ Final, he was largely overshadowed in the more intense matches by his teammates. Wasim always raised his game when the WC was at stake.

 

[pillionrider]

1996 is balanced out by 2007.

You outshone yourself. Get well soon.

 

[The_Odd_One]

The Australian team - the most clutch team of all times!

1. Gilchrist
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Waugh
5. Clarke
6. Bevan
7. Symonds
8. Starc
9. Warne
10. Lee
11. McGrath

 

[The_Odd_One]

Some other great WC players

India
Tendulkar, Gambhir, Dhawan

Pakistan
Anwar, Imran, Akram

Sri Lanka
Aravinda and Sanga

NZ
Crowe, McCallum, Bond

South Africa
Gibbs, AB, Klusener

WI
Viv, Lloyd, Lara

Zimbabwe
Johnson

England
None

Bangladesh
None

 

[Nitya85]

Lol, Tendulker was closer to being a WC failure than a WC great. Please. Of course, he'll have more runs and centuries than anyone else, he has played more matches than anyone else as well. He's also choked in more WC finals than anyone else. It's good that his teammates won him a WC in 2011 becausehe sure wasn't going to do it himself, unlike Imran Khan who at the age of 40 played a match-winning innings in a WC final. Something Tendulker dreams about doing to this day.

The true WC greats in the batting department:

1) Ponting
2) Viv
3) Gilly

And bowling:

1) McGrath
2) Imran
3) Wasim

In all the world cups India reached till knockouts bcoz of Tendulkars extraordinary performance and how easily u downplay tht jus bcoz he didn't perform in knockouts
And on top of that u labeled tht as a WC failure...I mean do you really think before posting or jus post for the sake if it...

 

[Nitya85]

It's a flop, not going to comment further in this thread. This is my opinion, not a fact.

85 run with 7 drop catches and 1 dodgy DRS. Worst fifty of his

83 runs against Kenya

65 runs and lost his wicket at the most important time then collasped happened.

U can't discard any inning jus bcoz opposition dropped catches

Denied all the states and the facts and labeled that player as a failure
And in ur last statement u admit it as ur opinion and not a fact..thts good

 

[drrashmin]

The situation was the WC final and Sachin choked. Not once, but twice. Of course, Indians and those with an Indian heritage will think that a good group stage performance can mask over those two massive chokes but not for me.

As for his individual innings:

2011 - England were a poor side, South Africa won that game and he was dropped four times in the Pakistan game. Choked in the final.

1999 WC - A 45 vs Pak is the sole highlight?

1992 WC - A 54* vs Pak is the only highlight? However, for this he deserves some leeway.

2003 WC - He was in fantastic form but even at the height of his powers, ended up choking in the final.

1996 is balanced out by 2007.

His record looks good on the surface but it is the height of delusion to call him a "champion player" in WCs. On the other hand, calling him a WC failure is incorrect as well.

Bhai, for you, Kohli and Tendulkar are the worst players, happy? When poster like you starts to microanalyze any player, it means you have to dig so deep to deevaluate a player which automatically shows how great they are.

Please do not come with your usual "when did I say they are worst" and twisting things atound.

 

[Nitya85]

Bhai, for you, Kohli and Tendulkar are the worst players, happy? When poster like you starts to microanalyze any player, it means you have to dig so deep to deevaluate a player which automatically shows how great they are.

Please do not come with your usual "when did I say they are worst" and twisting things atound.

1996 is balanced by 2007
ROFL

 

[Finisher]

Glenn Macgrath

 

[Bilal7]

You forgot Gautam Gambhir then he had better finals compared to imran.

He was a very good pressure player.

You cannot limit world cups to just knockouts or finals. World cup is a tournament consisting of group matches as well as knockouts. So when you are judging someone for WC great, you have to see the whole tournament.

Tendulker is not a failure due to his good performances in WC group matches, quarters, etc. However, he is not a great WC player due to his failing in two WC finals.

He doesn't deserve to be mentioned with the likes of Ponting, Viv, Gilly, Imran and Wasim

You outshone yourself. Get well soon.

What? He had a very good tournament and a very poor one. That's what I mean by they cancel each other out.

 

[Sam99]

Tendulker is not a failure due to his good performances in WC group matches, quarters, etc. However, he is not a great WC player due to his failing in two WC finals.

He doesn't deserve to be mentioned with the likes of Ponting, Viv, Gilly, Imran and Wasim



What? He had a very good tournament and a very poor one. That's what I mean by they cancel each other out.

Imran Played Just one Final, Wasim did good once and failed in other. Viv failed twice and did great in 79 world cup (in that way if sachin would have played one more final and if he would have scored runs he would have been greater than viv?).

 

[The_Odd_One]

Imran Played Just one Final, Wasim did good once and failed in other. Viv failed twice and did great in 79 world cup (in that way if sachin would have played one more final and if he would have scored runs he would have been greater than viv?).

When did Wasim fail in 1999? Defending 132, most of the bowlers will not win you the game.

 

[Sam99]

When did Wasim fail in 1999? Defending 132, most of the bowlers will not win you the game.

Similarly chasing 360 against that aus side was as impossible as defending 132. (For pak their batsman lost the game for india our bowlers) Sachin still almost single handedly brought us till finals.

 

[barah_admi]

In all the world cups India reached till knockouts bcoz of Tendulkars extraordinary performance and how easily u downplay tht jus bcoz he didn't perform in knockouts
And on top of that u labeled tht as a WC failure...I mean do you really think before posting or jus post for the sake if it...

I never said he was a WC failure, you just seem very insecure because the entire discussion isnt about India. I said Tendulkar has been good, even great in world cups but not the greatest, which is between 3 or 4 players.

When did Wasim fail in 1999? Defending 132, most of the bowlers will not win you the game.

That would be ridiculous haha

Akram was great in WCs except for in 2003 ,when he was clearly past his best and to me, even looked bored.

Also, guy, I will be moving the conversation on from butthur tIndians and Tendulkar. Without sounding too mean, anyone else raising the same point about Tendulkar will have to be put on ignore by me.

let's keep the discussion moving forward, what are the best world cup performances?

 

[Buffet]

You can't look beyond McGrath when it comes to world cup.

 

[CricFan2012]

For those quoting Sachins semi final knock in the 2011 World Cup need a memory check, he was dropped 4 times, or any knock out match for that matter where batsmen played scratchy innings but had a score on the scorecard

 

[Nitya85]

I never said he was a WC failure, you just seem very insecure because the entire discussion isnt about India. I said Tendulkar has been good, even great in world cups but not the greatest, which is between 3 or 4 players.


That would be ridiculous haha

Akram was great in WCs except for in 2003 ,when he was clearly past his best and to me, even looked bored.

Also, guy, I will be moving the conversation on from butthur tIndians and Tendulkar. Without sounding too mean, anyone else raising the same point about Tendulkar will have to be put on ignore by me.

let's keep the discussion moving forward, what are the best world cup performances?

Can not Argue with Facts and numbers so lets abuse...Give ths man a Cookie

 

[Nitya85]

For those quoting Sachins semi final knock in the 2011 World Cup need a memory check, he was dropped 4 times, or any knock out match for that matter where batsmen played scratchy innings but had a score on the scorecard

Boss Runs Are Runs...Without that Tendulkar inning India would hv lost tht match
I didn't understand ur logic discarding a match winning knock jus bcoz pathetic Fielders dropped his catches..

 

[Oligochaetes]

Overall
McGrath - Best bowler.
Tendulkar - Best batsman.

Best Performance in a Final
Ricky Pointing 140* Vs India, 2003.
Joel Garner 5-38 Vs England, 1979

 

[Bhaijaan]

Tendulkar’s name obviously comes up first in your mind given the sheer size, consistency, quality and longevity of his heroics across 5 world cups in different continents. He is literally Mr World Cup. If the tournament ever had a player mascot it would be him.

Things get tight for spots after Sachin as a lot of players are pretty much at the same level having 2-3 good world cups.

Bowling statistics could be slightly misleading as the minnows certainly have been far better bowling and fielding units than they were batting units.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Tendulkar’s name obviously comes up first in your mind given the sheer size, consistency, quality and longevity of his heroics across 5 world cups in different continents. He is literally Mr World Cup. If the tournament ever had a player mascot it would be him.

Things get tight for spots after Sachin as a lot of players are pretty much at the same level having 2-3 good world cups.

Bowling statistics could be slightly misleading as the minnows certainly have been far better bowling and fielding units than they were batting units.

Do you agree with my selection?

 

[Dead Ball]

Why is Ponting mentioned in such high regard in WC knockouts ? What did he do apart from clobbering Indian trundlers in 2003 and 2011 knockouts ? I think he failed in every single knockout except these two against SA, Lanka, WI, Pakistan etc.

2003 was a good knock but he came in to bat at 200/1 or something so he had an excellent incentive to go all guns blazing against a demoralised Indian attack. 2011 was IMO his best knockout innings under pressure against a decent attack.

If we go purely by numbers, no one comes close to Viv Richards in knockouts.

 

[Ab Fan]

Why is Ponting mentioned in such high regard in WC knockouts ? What did he do apart from clobbering Indian trundlers in 2003 and 2011 knockouts ? I think he failed in every single knockout except these two against SA, Lanka, WI, Pakistan etc.

2003 was a good knock but he came in to bat at 200/1 or something so he had an excellent incentive to go all guns blazing against a demoralised Indian attack. 2011 was IMO his best knockout innings under pressure against a decent attack.

If we go purely by numbers, no one comes close to Viv Richards in knockouts.

How can he come to bat at 200/1 and score a 140* when the total was 358?

 

[Dead Ball]

How can he come to bat at 200/1 and score a 140* when the total was 358?

Apologies for the typo, I think he came in at 105/1. Still a very good bed to build on.

I think they had reached 105 within 14 overs !

 

[Ab Fan]

Apologies for the typo, I think he came in at 105/1. Still a very good bed to build on.

I think they had reached 105 within 14 overs !

Fair enough.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

Batsmen:

1) Richards
2) Tendulkar
3) Jayasuriya for impact

Bowlers:
1) McGrath
2) Warne for 2 ATG clutch performances in 96 and 99 semis and great spell in 99 final.
3) Murali

 

[UN talkz]

Adam Gilchrist

 

[The_Odd_One]

Overall
McGrath - Best bowler.
Tendulkar - Best batsman.

Best Performance in a Final
Ricky Pointing 140* Vs India, 2003.
Joel Garner 5-38 Vs England, 1979

Lloyd's inning in the first world cup final was better than Ponting's.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Lloyd's inning in the first world cup final was better than Ponting's.

Yeah... I also feel now that De Silva's century while chasing against Australia should be regarded higher..

 

[Thomaskutty]

Tendulkar and Mcgrath are the clear standouts. The other performers will be in tier 2 , like Ponting and Murali.