The Most Valuable Team of the Tournament has been announced after England’s victory over Pakistan in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at MCG on Sunday.
Four England players make the select XI after a tournament that saw many of the world’s best players produce sparkling performances.
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Two players from Pakistan and two from India also make the team, with South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand all represented.
Alex Hales – England
England’s returning opener Alex Hales played two magnificent knocks in the tournament, including an unbeaten 86 from 47 deliveries in the semi-final against India, and also finished as England’s second-highest run-scorer in this T20 World Cup. The top-order batter amassed 212 runs during the course of the event, at an outstanding average and strike rate of 42.40 and 147.22 respectively.
Jos Buttler – England
The England skipper took some time to get going but he played a big part in his team’s winning campaign in the end, producing two match-winning knocks, first against New Zealand in the Super 12 and then against India in the semi-final. Buttler played a 47-ball 73 against the Kiwis and followed it up with an unbeaten 80 from 49 deliveries against India. He also finished as England’s highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 225 runs at an average of 45 and strike-rate of 144.23.
Virat Kohli – India
The India batter turned on the heat in this T20 World Cup, producing at a major tournament once again. Kohli finished as the highest run-scorer in this tournament, with 296 runs to his name at a sensational average of 98.66. He smashed four fifties, including a magical knock of 82* against Pakistan in the Super 12.
SuryaKumar Yadava – India
India’s number four had an almost equally incredible outing as Kohli. Suryakumar Yadav entertained everyone with his aggressive batting style throughout the course of the tournament, amassing 239 runs at an incredible strike rate of 189.68.
Glenn Phillips – New Zealand
One of the two players to score a century in this World Cup, Glenn Phillips played a pivotal role in making New Zealand’s run to the semi-finals possible. The middle-order batter amassed a total of 201 runs during the tournament, at an excellent average of 40.20 and an outstanding strike rate of 158.26. His century came in their Super 12 encounter against Sri Lanka, when the Kiwis had lost three wickets with just 15 runs on the board.
Sikandar Raza – Zimbabwe
The veteran all-rounder delivered a brilliant show with both bat and ball. Raza finished as Zimbabwe’s highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 219 runs to his name at a strike rate of 147.97. He also picked up 10 wickets while operating at a mean economy rate of 6.50. He was outstanding with the bat to get Zimbabwe into the Super 12 stage, and his three-wicket salvo helped set up the shock win over Pakistan.
Shadab Khan – Pakistan
Pakistan’s spin-bowling all-rounder was superb in all facets of the game. In the field he set the standard for this team, and with the bat he scored fast down the order, with his 98 runs coming at a strike rate of 168.96. But it was with the ball where Shadab Khan truly excelled. He took 11 wickets at an average of 15, with his economy rate of 6.34 keeping things tight for Pakistan through the middle overs.
Sam Curran – England
The Player of the Match in the final and the official ICC Player of the Tournament, England’s Sam Curran was a lock for a place in the Team of the Tournament. The left-armer was superb throughout the World Cup, particularly in the death overs, and finished with a stunning return of 3/12 in four overs against Pakistan. He took 13 wickets in the tournament and had a great economy rate of 6.52.
Anrich Nortje – South Africa
A standout performer in South Africa’s occasionally brilliant but ultimately unsuccessfully campaign, Anrich Nortje’s pace caused opponents problems throughout the Super 12 stage. One of the fastest bowlers on show, Nortje took 11 wickets in five matches, but also showed impressive control – his economy of 5.37 is extraordinary given the style of his bowling.
Mark Wood – England
The fastest bowler at the tournament and a go-to wicket-taker for England, Mark Wood was back to his scintillating best through the Super 12 stage. Injury forced him to miss the semi-final and final, but he had already made his mark on the tournament, frequently sending down deliveries in excess of 150kph and getting good players out. Wood took nine wickets in the four group-stage matches in which he played.
Shaheen Shah Afridi – Pakistan
Fitness concerns saw Shaheen Shah Afridi ease himself into the tournament, and a setback in the final forced him to be unable to bowl his final two overs of the competition in unfortunate circumstances. But the Pakistan strike bowler stepped up when his team needed him to as the tournament got to its crunch point. His removal of Finn Allen set the tone in a brilliant opening spell against New Zealand in the semi-final, and a trademark inswinger did for Alex Hales in the first over of the final. There is no bowler in the world right now that you’d rather have taking that new ball in a T20 International.
12th Man : Hardik Pandya – India
India’s all-round superstar Hardik Pandya had a superb tournament. He took eight wickets in six matches and finished as his team’s third-highest scorer despite coming in down the order. Were it not for his scintillating 33-ball 63, India would have never even threatened to reach a competitive total in the semi-final against England
