World Cup: Best XI

[Perm]

Hehe. I could knock and bash Hayden all day, if I didn't have anything to do

Thing is, I don't mind him. But I prefer Jayasuriya, and Fleming is a Kiwi. We all know three can't go into two.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I really like Jayasuriya actually, he is one of my favourite sub-continental players.

 

[simmy]

I think KP deserves a place now in mine. I will post it fully later.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Hayden's the front runner for man of the tournament at the moment, it's absurd to leave him out.

Anyway, I'd go with:

Hayden
Jayasuriya
Ponting
Kallis
Styris
Clarke
Gilchrist
Hogg
Malinga
Bond
McGrath

Most of them pretty much pick themselves at the moment IMO. Smith and Pietersen a little unlucky with the batting, but I don't think any of the others can be left out really. Kallis could miss out for Pietersen, but he's also there as a bowling option. Smith and Jayasuriya is close, Jaya has also bowled pretty decently though.

The bowlers are cut and dry. Murali will probably work his way in by the end of the tournament, but Hogg's been the best spinner so far. Malinga's dominated, Bond's not bowled badly in any game, and McGrath's the leading wicket taker.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Threads merged.

 

[readie]

Tait to be in it for sure

 

[Steulen]

So far the minnows have had a fairly big impact on the tournament, so it would be criminal not to include a token minnow player in the XI: Boyd Rankin, Kevin O'Brien or Syed Rasel perhaps?

 

[Perm]

So far the minnows have had a fairly big impact on the tournament, so it would be criminal not to include a token minnow player in the XI: Boyd Rankin, Kevin O'Brien or Syed Rasel perhaps?

Too much competition from other, better players. Maybe if the ICC did a tournament XI they would include a player from Bangladesh and Ireland as a nice gesture.

 

[Prince EWS]

So far the minnows have had a fairly big impact on the tournament, so it would be criminal not to include a token minnow player in the XI: Boyd Rankin, Kevin O'Brien or Syed Rasel perhaps?

Kevin O'Brien hasn't been that great really - he actually got dropped for one game (even though he clearly shouldn't have.) Niall O'Brien has been Ireland's best bat and he's kept decently as well. Razzak has been much better than Rasel too - who was also dropped for a game.

Really though, I think what has been great about the "minnow" performances is the fact that it hasn't been lucky performances from one or two gun players in good form that have won them games - it has been complete team efforts, showing the commitment and depth of the respective teams' elevens. Aside from Mooney and Peter Gillespie - who both aren't in Ireland's first choice team anyway - I haven't seen any players from Bangladesh or Ireland who have been completely useless and contributed nothing to their sides - and that is quite a good sign for both of them.

To select one player as the "minnow rep" wouldn't be right IMO because it doesn't really reflect what the minnows have done and how they'd managed it - unless it was RTD of course!

 

[pasag]

Yeah, any XI without RTD is a disgrace really.

 

[chaminda_00]

Peter Gillespie would have actually been Ireland best player for a long time, but is past it now. The fact that he can't get a regular go in their side, shows how much they have improved over the last couple years.

 

[Smudge]

We all know three can't go into two.

There's a joke in there somewhere.