Derbyshire’s Martin Guptill selected in ICC’s 2015 World Cup team of the tournament

Record-breaking Derbyshire batsman Martin Guptill finished leading run scorer in the 2015 Cricket World Cup and named in the team of the tournament.
New Zealand's Martin GuptillNew Zealand's Martin Guptill
New Zealand's Martin Guptill

The New Zealand opener amassed a whopping 547 runs from nine innings at an average 68.37, which included an unbeaten 237 in a memorable quarter-final match with the West Indies.

He was the first man to score a double hundred in a world cup knockout match and inspired the Black Caps in to the semi-finals against South Africa with another 34 to the total.

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Another 15 in the final against Australia saw the 28-year-old finish six runs ahead of Kumar Sangakkara, who finished with an average of 108.20 from seven innings for Sri Lanka.

New Zealand posted 183 from 45 overs, which included 83 from Grant Elliot, in Sunday’s (March 29) final that Australia chased down in the 34th over with seven wickets remaining.

Australia made light work of the run chase, assisted by outgoing one day international captain Michael Clarke’s 74, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the eagerly-anticipated final.

Guptill was also named in the International Cricket Council’s team of the tournament alongside Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum, all-rounders Corey Anderson and Daniel Vettori and fast bowler Trent Boult also representing the beaten finalists.

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Champions Australia were also well represented with Mitchell Starc, who was joint highest wicket-taker alongside Boult with 22, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell all selected.

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South Africans AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel complete the side along with Sri Lanka’s Sangakkara while Brendan Taylor of Zimbabwe is 12th man.

“There were a number of other players that were discussed as possible selections in the team,” said Geoff Allardice, chairman of the selection panel.

“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).

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“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.”

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ICC team of the World Cup: Martin Guptill (New Zealand), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand, captain), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper), Steve Smith (Australia), AB de Villiers (South Africa), Glenn Maxwell (Australia), Corey Anderson (New Zealand), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Morne Morkel (South Africa), Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe) (12th man).