Who makes our Australia-New Zealand combined legends World Cup XI?
Trans-Tasman clashes in World Cup cricket have always made for an engrossing watch. While Australia are miles ahead when it comes to silverware, with five titles to the Kiwis’ none, New Zealand have had their moments.
Here’s a composite side we’ve put together based purely on World Cup performances.
1. Adam Gilchrist
Shane Bond’s express pace lit up international cricket only in short bursts, but his injury-plagued career included two World Cups.
His numbers across those two editions were spectacular, but they didn’t highlight the fiery impact he had on a laid-back Kiwi outfit of the early 2000s. He tore open champions Australia in the group stages with a six-wicket masterclass (6-23), dismantling their in-form top-four, and ended with 17 wickets in eight games in 2003.
He added 13 more to his tally four years later in Black Caps’ semi-final finish.
30 CWC wickets @17.26
11. Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath’s niggling accuracy was a constant in Australia’s ODI dominance across the late 1990s and 2000s, ranging through four editions. The most successful World Cup bowler, McGrath had a relatively silent outing in 1996 but built a legacy over the next three editions.
In his final assignment for Australia, he ended as the highest wicket-taker in 2007, presenting an impressive account of his longevity. Several iconic performances stood out, some of them being his 7-15 against a hapless Namibia (2003), his inspired opening spell against the Indians across editions, and the five-for against West Indies in 1999.
71 CWC wickets @18.19
