The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is nearing its end. Four teams – India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – have made the cut for the semi-finals after going through the grind that is the league stage that saw the 10 participants playing nine games each.
There have been plenty of memorable displays across departments throughout the competition. Legendary cricketers Anil Kumble and Matthew Hayden have picked their combined team of the tournament during a chat with ESPNcricinfo.
Unsurprisingly, the team is loaded with players from the four semi-finalists. The team has five Indians, three South Africans, two Australians and one from New Zealand.
For the openers, Kumble and Hayden were unanimous in their picks – India’s Rohit Shamra to combine with South African Quinton de Kock.
“QDK for me has been that player for me, standout player. Rohit Sharma for obvious reasons. Those two inside the powerplay have been dynamic,” Hayden said.
“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,” he added.
Kumble agreed with the former Australia opener. “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 line up relax,” he said.
No. 3 spot went to Virat Kohli with breakout star Rachin Ravindra also in the mix at the spot. However, considering how Ravindra has batted at various spots, it didn’t make much of a difference 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.
However, Hayden went with South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen who is known for his big-hitting abilities.
“…Klaasen for me (in place of Omarzai),” Hayden said. “The reason why, when you look at those stats again, I am going on strike rate, I am going on who is going to be under pressure. They are the real heads of both Australia and South Africa’s batting efforts with spin in particular – 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.”
There was no debate over the spinners though with the duo agreeing on the Ravindra Jadeja and Adam Zampa handling the department.
“Zampa clearly ahead of the pack,” Kumble said. “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.”
“I am happy with that,” Hayden said.
Not much of an issue with the pace department either with Jasprit Bumrah, Marco Jansen and Mohammed Shami making the cut.
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
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