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Rediff.com  » Cricket » No Indians in ICC World Cup team; McCullum captain. Check out the XI

No Indians in ICC World Cup team; McCullum captain. Check out the XI

Last updated on: March 30, 2015 15:42 IST
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Virat Kohli

India's Virat Kohli. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Image

No Indian cricketer figures in the ICC's World Cup XI, which is dominated by runners-up New Zealand rather than champions Australia.

Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum was named captain of the side, which has five New Zealanders, including McCullum, despite their seven-wicket loss to Australia in Sunday's final.

India, the defending champions, bowed out after losing to Australia in the semi-finals.

Brendon McCullum

New Zealand's Brendon McCullum's aggressive, innovative and inspirational leadership was noteworthy. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

"McCullum was chosen as the captain following his aggressive, innovative and inspirational leadership during the 44-day tournament that was the cornerstone of his team's progression to the final where it lost to Australia by seven wickets," read a statement from the ICC.

McCullum scored 328 runs in nine matches, including four half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 188.50.

The team was chosen by a select group of experts who were given the task of picking a balanced side on the basis of performances in the tournament. Statistics were used, but were not the sole criteria for selection.

Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara celebrates reaching his century. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

In addition to McCullum, the side includes four New Zealanders -- Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Daniel Vettori -- three Australians in Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc, two South Africans -- AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel, with Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara as wicketkeeper-batsman.

Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor, who finished with 433 runs in six matches, was named the 12th man.

Indian player Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami

India pacers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami missed out narrowly. Photograph: Vipin Pawar/Solaris Images

ICC General Manager (Cricket) Geoff Allardice, who chaired the panel, said Indian pacers Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami along with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin were in the running.

"The panel had an extremely difficult choice of selecting a 12-member squad at the back of an outstanding tournament, highlighted by some eye-catching individual performances including two double-centuries, 38 centuries, two hat-tricks and 28 four-wicket hauls," he said.

"There were a number of other players that were discussed as possible selections in the team. These included batsmen Mahmudullah (Bangladesh) and Shaiman Anwar (UAE), fast bowlers Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami (both India), Wahab Riaz (Pakistan) and spinners Imran Tahir (South Africa) and R Ashwin (India)," added Allardice.

"But there were so many brilliant individual performances during the tournament that it was not possible to fit them into the team. The panel eventually came up with this side, which, in their view, was the most balanced outfit that is capable of beating any side on any given day."

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 team (In batting order):

1. Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

2. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand, captain)

3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper)

4. Steven Smith (Australia)

5. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

6. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

7. Corey Anderson (New Zealand)

8. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

9. Mitchell Starc (Australia)

10. Trent Boult (New Zealand)

11. Morne Morkel (South Africa)

Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe, 12th man).

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