So far, 23 of the 42 games of the 2015 Cricket World Cup have been decided.
So for something different, here are my two combined pool and overall World Cup selections, based on performances so far in the tournament.
Pool A
New Zealand lead on eight points from Sri Lanka (6), Bangladesh (3), Australia (3), Afghanistan (2), England (2) and Scotland (0).
(1) Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) with 229 runs at 76.33 and three wickets at 35, one of the best fieldsmen in the tournament and an all-round asset.
(2) Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) with 207 runs at 51.75, not as many runs as he would expect, but he has done well. He has scored 65 off 49 against Sri Lanka, 77 off 25 against England and 50 off 24 against Australia, while his captaincy has inspired the Black Caps unbeaten record in four starts.
(3) Kane Williamson (New Zealand), with 149 at 74.50. and he held his side together with courage and patience to steer them home against Australia, eventually winning with an audacious six off Pat Cummins with nine down.
(4) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) is the tournament’s top scorer with 268 at 134, and the only batsmen with two tons to his name – 105* off 76 against Bangladesh and 117* off 86 against England. His wicket-keeping has been just as high quality.
(5) Samiullah Shenwari (Afghanistan) with 176 at 58.66. I had never seen him play before, but he’s been a shining light for the Afghans in this tournament.
(6) Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) with 90 at 45, and six wickets at 29.60. The Sri Lankan skipper hasn’t set the world on fire, but his all-round capabilities have clinched a berth.
(7) Corey Anderson (New Zealand) with six wickets at 8.33, and 112 runs at 37.33 has been one of the major reasons why the Black Caps are unbeaten.
(8) Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) with eight wickets at 14.75 sees the 37-year-young left arm orthodox spinner as still a force in world cricket.
(9) Mitchell Starc (Australia) with eight wickets at a mere 9.37 has been a revelation since leg-spin legend Shane Warne called him ‘soft’. Starc very nearly pinched the big game against New Zealand with a career best 6-28, and was on a hat-trick as well.
(10) Tim Southee (New Zealand) is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 13 at 13.53, which includes 7-33 against England, the best figures in ODI history for the Black Caps.
(11) Trent Boult (New Zealand), with 10 wickets at 14.40 he has been working superbly in tandem with Southee as the best new-ball combination in the tournament.
Pool B
India (6 points), South Africa (4), Ireland (4), West Indies (4), Zimbabwe (2), Pakistan (2), and UAE (0).
(1) Chris Gayle (West Indies) with 258 runs at 64.50, including the fastest 200 in ODI history from just 138 deliveries, with nine fours and a world record equalling 16 sixes. Still one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket, and a handy offie.
(2) Shikhar Dhawan (India) with 224 at 74.66 and a vital cog in India’s campaign to defend the World Cup, is always dangerous.
(3) Virat Kohli (India) with 186 at 93, joining Dhawan as the most potent batsmen in the side.
(4) AB de Villiers (South Africa) with 217 at 108.50, the holder of the fastest 50, 100, and 150 records in ODI history. Captain of this combined side and one of the best so far in the tournament.
(5) JP Duminy (South Africa) 121 runs at 121, a brilliant fieldsman and a handy offie.
(6) David Miller (South Africa) with 180 at 90, still feeling his way among the elite, but on his day can be devastating.
(7) MS Dhoni (India) hasn’t done much in this tournament, but he’s a fierce competitor in any format, and can’t be left out of this combined side.
(8) Darren Sammy (West Indies) with 124 runs at 41.33, and a couple of wickets, is very under-rated and should be captain of the Windies.
(9) Imran Tahir (South Africa), the third highest wicket-taker with nine at 14.33, proving there’s still plenty on offer for leggies in ODIs, if they are good enough and Tahir is just that.
(10) Mohammad Sharmi (India) with five wickets at 16.40. He’s not a world-beater, but with what’s available, Sharmi deserves recognition.
(11) Jerome Taylor (West Indies) with nine wickets at 20.88, with the same quote applying to Taylor as Sharmi.
My overall World Cup selections
(1) Tillakaratne Dilshan
(2) Shikhar Dhawan
(3) Virat Kohli
(4) AB de Villiers (c)
(5) Kumar Sangakkara
(6) JP Duminy
(7) Corey Anderson
(8) Mitchell Starc
(9) Imran Tahir
(10) Tim Southee
(11) Trent Boult
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