• 1. Adam Gilchrist (Australia 1999, 2003, 2007): Before the ODI game went supersonic because of the influence of Twenty20, scoring 149 in 104 balls seemed remarkable. Doing it to win a World Cup final, with a torn squash ball inside his batting glove, as he did in 2007 was all the more so. AFP
    1. Adam Gilchrist (Australia 1999, 2003, 2007): Before the ODI game went supersonic because of the influence of Twenty20, scoring 149 in 104 balls seemed remarkable. Doing it to win a World Cup final, with a torn squash ball inside his batting glove, as he did in 2007 was all the more so. AFP
  • 2. Sachin Tendulkar (India 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011): Most runs overall (2,278). Most runs in a single tournament (673 in 2003). More scores in excess of 50 than anyone else. All he missed out on was scoring his 100th international hundred in the 2011 final. Still, at least he ended that with a win. Getty Images
    2. Sachin Tendulkar (India 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011): Most runs overall (2,278). Most runs in a single tournament (673 in 2003). More scores in excess of 50 than anyone else. All he missed out on was scoring his 100th international hundred in the 2011 final. Still, at least he ended that with a win. Getty Images
  • 3. Ricky Ponting (Australia 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011): Second only to Tendulkar in the run-chart, he was a central cog in Australia winning a hat-trick of titles from 1999 onwards. His 140 not out settled the final against India in South Africa in 2003, and he lifted the trophy again four years later. Getty Images
    3. Ricky Ponting (Australia 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011): Second only to Tendulkar in the run-chart, he was a central cog in Australia winning a hat-trick of titles from 1999 onwards. His 140 not out settled the final against India in South Africa in 2003, and he lifted the trophy again four years later. Getty Images
  • 4. Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003): Sri Lanka played their first World Cup as a full member of the ICC in 1983. Within 13 years, they were world champions. Few did more to bring the 1996 glory about than De Silva, whose 104 not out guided them past Australia in the final. Getty Images
    4. Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003): Sri Lanka played their first World Cup as a full member of the ICC in 1983. Within 13 years, they were world champions. Few did more to bring the 1996 glory about than De Silva, whose 104 not out guided them past Australia in the final. Getty Images
  • 5. Viv Richards (West Indies 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987): The Antiguan great played his first ODIs at the first World Cup in 1975. He took home a winner’s medal from that tournament, then four years later he scored 138 not out in the final. In 1983, he was the second highest runscorer. Getty Images
    5. Viv Richards (West Indies 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987): The Antiguan great played his first ODIs at the first World Cup in 1975. He took home a winner’s medal from that tournament, then four years later he scored 138 not out in the final. In 1983, he was the second highest runscorer. Getty Images
  • 6. 6 Kapil Dev (India 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992): He remains the youngest player ever to captain a World Cup-winning side, aged 24 in 1983. That win against West Indies might be the most important result in cricket’s recent history, given how power and influence has headed towards India ever since. Getty Images
    6. 6 Kapil Dev (India 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992): He remains the youngest player ever to captain a World Cup-winning side, aged 24 in 1983. That win against West Indies might be the most important result in cricket’s recent history, given how power and influence has headed towards India ever since. Getty Images
  • 7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003): The third most prolific wicket-taker in World Cups, after Glenn McGrath and Muttiah Muralitharan, with 55. Surely the two most memorable are those of Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis in successive balls that tilted the 1992 final in Pakistan’s favour. Getty Images
    7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003): The third most prolific wicket-taker in World Cups, after Glenn McGrath and Muttiah Muralitharan, with 55. Surely the two most memorable are those of Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis in successive balls that tilted the 1992 final in Pakistan’s favour. Getty Images
  • 8. Shane Warne (Australia 1996, 1999): Warne played in just two World Cups, yet still managed to leave an indelible mark on three. He took 12 wickets as Australia reached the 1996 final in Lahore. He was man of the match in the 1999 final. Then he was chucked out on the eve of the 2003 tournament for a failed dope test. Getty Images
    8. Shane Warne (Australia 1996, 1999): Warne played in just two World Cups, yet still managed to leave an indelible mark on three. He took 12 wickets as Australia reached the 1996 final in Lahore. He was man of the match in the 1999 final. Then he was chucked out on the eve of the 2003 tournament for a failed dope test. Getty Images
  • 9. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011): His haul of 68 wickets is the second most in World Cup history. He took 1- 31 in the final as Sri Lanka enjoyed their greatest moment in the sport by winning in 1996. And he played in finals in 2007 and 2011, too. Getty Images
    9. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011): His haul of 68 wickets is the second most in World Cup history. He took 1- 31 in the final as Sri Lanka enjoyed their greatest moment in the sport by winning in 1996. And he played in finals in 2007 and 2011, too. Getty Images
  • 10. Glenn McGrath (Australia 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007): McGrath played the last of his 250 ODIs in the final against Sri Lanka in 2007. By that point, he had three World Cup wins in a row, and more wickets (71), at a better average (18.19), than anyone else in the history of the competition. Getty Images
    10. Glenn McGrath (Australia 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007): McGrath played the last of his 250 ODIs in the final against Sri Lanka in 2007. By that point, he had three World Cup wins in a row, and more wickets (71), at a better average (18.19), than anyone else in the history of the competition. Getty Images
  • 11. Joel Garner (West Indies 1979, 1983): The towering Barbadian was playing just his sixth ODI when West Indies met England in the 1979 final. He took 5-38 – four of which were bowled – as the host nation were blown away by 96 runs at Lord’s. Getty Images
    11. Joel Garner (West Indies 1979, 1983): The towering Barbadian was playing just his sixth ODI when West Indies met England in the 1979 final. He took 5-38 – four of which were bowled – as the host nation were blown away by 96 runs at Lord’s. Getty Images

Cricket

Cricket World Cup: Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram make The National's greatest XI

Our selection only includes players who have at least one winner's medal - meaning the likes of AB de Villiers, Lance Klusener, and even the great Kumar Sangakkara, miss out

Paul Radley
Paul Radley
Dubai

May 21, 2019

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Australia have won the Cricket World Cup competition five times, which is more than twice as many as the next most successful - West Indies and India, who have won twice each.

So it makes sense there would be more of their players in a Greatest World Cup XI than any other side.

Our selection only includes players who have at least one winner's medal - meaning the likes of AB de Villiers, Lance Klusener, and even the great Kumar Sangakkara, miss out. It also means there is not one Englishman in the line up.

Swipe left/right on the gallery above to see who else makes the team.

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