Ben Gardner picks out Wisden’s 2022 T20 World Cup team of the tournament, with both the leading run-scorer and the leading wicket-taker in the competition missing out.

The 2022 T20 World Cup has been hailed as perhaps the best World Cup in history, with England triumphing in a tense final over Pakistan. The competition was packed with thrills, spills and upsets galore, making picking the team of the tournament tougher than ever.

Wisden’s XI features representatives from six countries, including seven from both finalists.

Wisden’s 2022 T20 World Cup team of the tournament – the selections

Jos Buttler – England

6 matches, 225 runs at 45.00, SR: 144.23, HS: 80*

England’s captain led from the front throughout his side’s march to the trophy. He hit 73 against New Zealand to drive a match-winning total, played his part in England’s sensational 10-wicket hammering of India in the semi-final, and kickstarted the chase in the final.

Alex Hales – England

6 matches, 212 runs at 42.40, SR: 147.22, HS: 86*

The other half of England’s tournament-winning opening partnership, Hales was Shaheened in the final, but played an important part until then. As well as his supreme effort in the semi-final, his fast start ensured England the breathing space they needed in a nervy finish against Sri Lanka.

Ben Stokes – England

6 matches, 110 runs at 36.66, SR: 105.76, HS: 52*; 6 wickets at 18.50, ER: 6.79, BBI: 2-19

Compare Ben Stokes’ stats with Virat Kohli’s (296 runs at 98.66) and there’s seemingly no argument. But as ever with Stokes, the stats don’t tell the story. He played two key innings, in the must-win Sri Lanka game and in the final, demonstrating all the nerve and big-game nous that convinced England to back him despite his lack of recent game time. His bowling, however, is what edges him ahead of India’s No.3 (who struck at only 130 since the Pakistan match), with Stokes taking the new ball and offering England vital extra overs.

Suryakumar Yadav – India

6 matches, 239 runs at 59.75, SR: 189.68, HS: 68

SKY continues to vie with Jos Buttler for the title of ‘World’s best T20 batter’, and he displayed all his invention and intent during India’s campaign, starting fast regularly and hitting all around the ground with impunity. His behind-square takedown of Zimbabwe in the death overs stands out.

Glenn Phillips – New Zealand

5 matches, 201 runs at 40.20, SR: 158.26, HS: 104

Phillips’ century against Sri Lanka was one of the innings of the tournament, contributing over 60 per cent of New Zealand’s runs with no one else getting to 25. Against England, his dismissal for 62 was the turning point, and he added plenty of value with his spectacular work in the field.

Sikandar Raza – Zimbabwe

8 matches, 219 runs at 27.37, SR: 147.97, HS: 82; 10 wickets at 15.60, ER: 6.50, BBI: 3-19

Player of the Match in every game Zimbabwe won, Raza had his country dreaming of an unlikely run to the semi-finals at one point. While defeat to the Netherlands (in which Raza was still his side’s best player) put paid to those hopes, his 3-25 in the Pak Bean derby provided one of the upsets of the tournament.

Shadab Khan – Pakistan

7 matches, 98 runs at 24.50, SR: 168.96, HS: 52; 11 wickets at 15.00, ER: 6.34, BBI: 3-22

Arguably the best T20 all-rounder in the world right now, Shadab was miserly and incisive with the ball and explosive with the bat. His half-century against South Africa, taking his side from 95-5 at the end of the 13th over to 185-9 was the moment Pakistan’s World Cup campaign shifted.

Sam Curran – England

6 matches, 13 wickets at 11.38, ER: 6.52, BBI: 5-10

Somehow, Sam Curran, a diminutive all-rounder who rarely reaches 85mph on the speed gun, might just be the best T20 fast bowler in the world right now. His game smarts and competitive instincts are perfect for the format, with Curran excelling at every point in the innings, and particularly at the death.

Adil Rashid – England

6 matches, 4 wickets at 36.57, ER: 6.12, BBI: 2-22

Rashid only claimed four wickets, 11 fewer than fellow leggie Wanindu Hasaranga, but he was sensational in all of England’s last three games, looking back to his best after a stretch of iffy returns. His wicket maiden in the final will go down as one of the great T20 overs.

Anrich Nortje – South Africa

5 matches, 11 wickets at 8.54, ER: 5.37, BBI: 4-10

South Africa were once again knocked out in heartbreaking circumstances, but no blame could be laid at Nortje’s door. No one to bowl more than 12 overs had a better average or a better economy rate.

Shaheen Shah Afridi – Pakistan

7 matches, 11 wickets at 14.09, ER: 6.15, BBI: 4-22

Shaheen’s T20 World Cup campaign began under an injury cloud, and he looked some way short of his best in the opening games. However, he roared back into the competition, taking 11 wickets in Pakistan’s last five games, all must-wins. His injury in the final, leaving the field with 41 needed off 29, was the turning point of the game. Had he stayed on, who knows how the last five overs would have played out?

Wisden’s 2022 T20 World Cup team of the tournament – the line-up

Jos Buttler (c & wk)
Alex Hales
Ben Stokes
Suryakumar Yadav
Glenn Phillips
Sikandar Raza
Shadab Khan
Sam Curran
Adil Rashid
Anrich Nortje
Shaheen Shah Afridi

Bet365 will be Live Streaming all of the T20 World Cup matches direct to your iPhone, iPad or Android device, as well as desktop. This means that every T20 World Cup fixture will be available to bet365 customers wherever they are in the world.