ICC World XI: Player Analysis – Part 2
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, one of four Indian players on the list, had a special and emotional ICC World Cup 2011, as he achieved the status of legend during his career. His opening partnership with fellow batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 helped the Indians to achieve some
strong performances against other sides.
Tendulkar went on to reach another milestone this World Cup when he became the leading run scorer in the tournament’s history. He got there in style, as he was the World Cup’s second highest run scorer to boot.
482 runs in nine matches is an impressive feat for anyone, incorporate an average of 53.55 runs a match and one begins to get an idea of just how lethal Tendulkar can be. With two half centuries and two centuries to his name as well, Tendulkar was India’s
most consistent batsman.
It was Tendulkar’s 85 runs against bitter rivals, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the semi-final that won him the Man of the Match award, and in a way booked their place in the tournament’s final.
Though if anything, the talented batsmen would have been wondering how he managed to still be on the crease, as in a bizarre series of events, Tendulkar was dropped no less than four times.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 all missed their opportunities to send India’s most prolific batsman back to the stands and just for good measure even had a leg before decision reversed.
It seemed that it was just meant to be Tendulkar’s World Cup and it was, with the Little Maestro truly deserving the honour having enthralled cricket fans the world over for many, many years.
Tillakaratne Dilshan
The second Sri Lankan player to be included in the prestigious World XI, Tillakaratne Dilshan deserved nothing less for his stellar performances with the bat during the tournament.
Sri Lanka’s opening three batsmen were in the top five run scorers in the tournament. What set Dilshan apart was the fact that he was at the top, not just of his team-mates, but of every batsman in the tournament.
In nine matches the Sri Lankan opener scored an incredible 500 runs with a remarkable average of 62.50 runs per match. Dilshan also hit the most boundaries in the tournament smashing an astounding 61 fours and four sixes.
Dilshan’s 73 run knock in the semi-final was one of many match winning performances, as the player’s name sent shivers down the opposing bowler’s spine.
Add in the eight wickets Dilshan took as a bowler and his contribution to Sri Lanka’s march to the final can be realised. Ultimately, Dilshan was the best batsman of the tournament and his spot in the World XI is fully deserved.
Mahela Jayawardene
By this point one has to emphasize on the fact that Sri Lanka’s opening three batsmen scored the majority of the team’s runs, in some cases, the opening batsmen would chase the target completely on their own.
Mahela Jayawardene did not get to bat as often as Kumar Sangakkara or Tillakaratne Dilshan, however he still managed to score two centuries and a half century when he did get the chance to wield the bat.
The Sri Lankan batsman racked together an impressive tally of 304 runs in the tournament. Jayawardene will be remembered for his century that came when his side and his nation needed it most: The World Cup Final.
He joined a handful of players to accomplish that feat and coupled with his other batting performances it would have been an outrage had Jayawardene not been included in the World XI.
[Continued in 'ICC World XI: Player Analysis – Part 3']
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