Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara has the rails run to end his ODI career by winning the coveted player of the tournament award as the Cricket World Cup field heads for home.
The 37-years-young keeper batsman has already set two new world records – four centuries on the trot, and becoming the first player to crack the 500-dismissal mark.
The centuries – 105*, 117*, 104, and 124 – took Sangakkara out of the three tons on the trot pack of Zaheer Abbas,(1982), Saeed Anwar (1993), Herschelle Gibbs (2002), AB de Villiers (2010), Quinton de Kock (2013), and Ross Taylor’s set last year.
His 501 dismissals, including 402 catches and 99 stumpings, has him well ahead of two retired champions in Adam Gilchrist’s 472 with 417 catches and 55 stumpings, and Mark Boucher’s 424 with 402 catches and 22 stumpings.
Taking nothing away from Sangakkara’s achievement, he’s played 403 ODIs, compared to Gilchrist’s 287, and Boucher’s 295.
While Sangakkara has a healthy lead as the best player of the tournament, there are plenty of worthy contenders ready to pounce in the run to the judge.
Sangakkara has scored the most runs with 496 at 124, but de Villiers with 417 at 83, and Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 395 at 79 are knocking on the door with the finals series still to come after the completion of the pool games.
And that could well bring in the masters-blasters like West Indian Chris Gayle, Australian David Warner, and Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum who are very capable of ripping off big scores in quick smart time.
Even Australian Glenn Maxwell, if he continues to play smart cricket instead of being too smart for his own good, could well figure in the award.
In fact, the two teams that reach the final will have the benefit of the extra game, but we are a long way from that.
There are a handful of bowlers who could be genuine contenders, led by three Kiwis – pacemen Trent Boult and Tim Southee, with veteran spinner Daniel Vettori in great form.
Boult heads the wicket-takers with 13 at 13.69, Southree has 13 at 16.84, while Vettori has 12 at a miserly 11.33.
South African giant Morne Morkel has 13 at 16.38, while Mitchell Starc has played one game less than the others, with the game against Bangladesh at the Gabba abandoned due to torrential rain.
Nonetheless Starc has still claimed 12 wickets at 10.16, the lowest average among the leading bowlers, and there’s the chance of a big haul tomorrow against Scotland in Hobart.
There are two more genuine contenders if India make the final to defend their title they won four years ago.
Batsmen Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dharwan must fire if Indiia is to go that far, and as a result will be in the voting mix.
But Kumar Sangakkara is the one to beat, he has the runs and scalps on the board with a “catch me if you can” grip on the tournament’s major individual award.
Matt
Roar Rookie
I think that's a function of keeping once he was the "big show" of the Sri Lankan batting line up. In tests the effect was the opposite - a lot of his keeping time was at a point when he hadn't developed into the batting monstrosity he is today.
Matt
Roar Rookie
With the game vs Scotland just played, I would have it at a close contest between Starc and Sangakkara for the moment. Given the amount of runs on offer this tournament, a bowler as unplayable as Starc is surely something worth noting
Targa
Guest
Corey Anderson could be worth a shout: stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/277662.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=default;template=results;trophy=12;type=allround
deccas
Guest
Im surprised no one is suggesting boult. That boy as been on fire and if new zealand go deep or win he will have played a big part in that.
deccas
Guest
nah keeping to spin is more mentally taxing than anything else I've done in cricket (though i've never faced any truly fast bowling).
Rob G
Guest
Which is better than having to run to the stumps after almost every ball which happens to the pacemen.
jeremiser
Guest
A true great who will be missed and no doubt he is having a fine world cup; but he faces stiff opposition in ABDV. 6 catches and 4 wickets to add to his runs tally. The business end is upon us and the QF between SA and SL will determine which of the two WONT be POTT.
Clark
Guest
His leadership starts in the field. The way he chase everything just sets the standard from the get go.
Bobbo7
Guest
If NZ pull off a miracle and win the WC, then McCullum should get it for great captaincy and leadership
Scuba
Guest
Actually, when this article was written, Josh Davey of Scotland was the leading wicket-taker with 14 (has since been overtaken by Boult with his two wickets today). I accept he obviously won't be leading by the end of the tournament but it is a very good achievement nonetheless (and with one game left he could still lead the wicket tally at the end if the pool stage).
Rising Power
Guest
Special mention should go to Sean Williams of Zimbabwe 289 runs at 72 plus 7 wickets at 36. Has helped to keep Zim competitive in most of their games.
Renegade
Guest
Sangakarra is definitely the favourite at this stage.... although AB Devilliers and Mitchell Starc could both very well overtake him depending on their performances in the finals.
Clark
Guest
Sanga has got to be the favourite for sure. A guy who can score 4 hundreds in a row is the worthy choice. I would not be surprised at all if he got 5, maybe even 6 in a row. New Zealand has been good all around with a massive standout (although have 3 of the top 5 wicket takers).
spruce moose
Guest
Good point.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Would put some of that down to the physical toll of test wicket keeping, considering Sri Lanka mostly play in spin friendly conditions that's a lot of long hot days spent crouched up at the stumps.
spruce moose
Guest
True. 359 is the number. Curiously, he is actually better in ODI's when he is the designated keeper, when in tests he is better when he isn't the keeper. How bizarre.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
"Taking nothing away from Sangakkara’s achievement, he’s played 403 ODIs, compared to Gilchrist’s 287, and Boucher’s 295." Just a side note: Sangakkara hasn't kept in all of those 403 ODI's which should be noted.