The greatest XI not to have won the cricket World Cup

The Cricket World Cup was introduced in 1975 and has remained the premier competition in limited overs cricket since then. It is a quadrennial event and Australia have been the most successful nation in its history with 5 titles.

The West Indies and India have won 2 World Cups each and Sri Lanka and Pakistan have managed to win 1 each. England and South Africa have not won the tournament despite getting very close. Although Test cricket remains the purist’s choice, the 50 overs World Cup also has its allure because of the glamour associated with it.

Most of the great cricketers have been a part of World-Cup winning teams. Some have even managed to win it multiple times. However, there have been some great players who have not been able to win the prestigious tournament.

We would try to select an all-time eleven comprising of players who have not won any World cup to date:

---

#1 Saeed Anwar (Pakistan)

Saeed Anwar came close in the 1999 World Cup

The elegant left-hander did not play in the 1992 edition of the tournament that Pakistan won. However, he played in the next 3 World Cups and finished runner-up in 1999 as Pakistan lost to Australia in the final.

The Pakistani batting collapsed in the final against Australia in 1999 and were bowled out for a mere 132. Anwar himself fell cheaply and must have rued a missed opportunity after the match was over. The elegant left-hander made a memorable century in the semifinal against New Zealand and also top-scored against India in the quarterfinals of 1996 and 2003 World Cups, but Pakistan lost both of those games.

Anwar, who was well-known for his stylish drives and flicks, played in 247 matches and scored 8824 runs at 39.21 during his ODI career. He was one of the successful batsmen in limited overs cricket during the 1990s.

He must have also cursed himself for missing out on the 1992 edition because of an injury. The southpaw retired from cricket in 2003 and remains one of the greatest batsmen who have not been able to win the World Cup.

#2 Gary Kirsten

Gary Kirsten scored an unbeaten 188 in the 1996 World Cup

Kirsten was another opener who could not win the one-day World Cup as a player. South Africa have always disappointed in World Cups and Kirsten was a member of the very good South African sides during the 1990s and 2000s which could not win the tournament.

He still holds the records for the highest individual score in an innings in the World Cup with an unbeaten 188 against UAE. He played well in the 1999 World Cup too, but South Africa bowed out after a thrilling tie against Australia in the semifinal.

Kirsten was not elegant as his opening partner Andrew Hudson, but was more solid and could build an innings patiently with ones and twos. He played in 3 World Cups and scored 6798 runs at an average of 40.95 in his ODI career. Kirsten also managed to finally win the World Cup as the coach of the Indian team in 2011.

#3 Brian Lara

Brian Lara never went close to winning the big trophy

The West Indian great could not win the World Cup for his team in spite of making it to the semifinal in the 1996 World Cup. Lara remains one of the finest and most elegant batsmen of all time. Had he been a part of a stronger side like Australia or South Africa, he might have won the elusive trophy. Still, he played some memorable knocks in World Cups too.

Lara appeared in 4 World Cups and destroyed the South Africans twice with his explosive batting in two separate World Cups. His century against the Proteas in the 1996 World Cup remains one of the finest in the tournament’s history.

Lara was supremely crafty with a high backlift, excellent timing and flexible wrists. Although he is better known for his heroics in Tests, he was a consistent performer in ODIs too. He played in 299 ODIs and scored 10405 runs at an average of 40.48.

#4 Martin Crowe

The 1992 World Cup was as good as it got

The late Crowe was an extremely stylish right-handed middle-order batsman from New Zealand and made the 1992 World Cup his own by scoring almost 500 runs in that tournament. He was also adjudged the most valuable player of the 1992 World Cup.

However, his efforts were not enough as Pakistan beat New Zealand in the semi-finals. Crowe played in two other World Cups too, but would always be remembered for his exploits on home soil in 1992.

The former New Zealand captain was equally comfortable on his front-foot and back-foot and was known for playing elegant cover drives and audacious pull shots. He was also very comfortable while negotiating with swing bowling because of his lateral movement while playing the shots.

He made 4704 runs from 143 ODIs at an average of 38.55 and remains one of the finest Kiwi batsmen of all time. It's a pity that he passed away a few years ago.

#5 Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara played in 2 world cup finals

Sangakkara was yet another extremely elegant left-handed batsman known for playing beautiful cut shots, on drives and cover drives. He was especially strong on the off side and handled pace bowling very well.

Sangakkara was an able wicketkeeper too and kept really well to the Sri Lankan spinners like Muttiah Muralitharan and Upul Chandana. He played in 4 World Cups and finished runner-up in 2007 and 2011.

Sangakkara was a bit unlucky not to win the World Cup even after going very close on two occasions. Still, he undoubtedly remains one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen to have played the game and scored 14235 runs in 404 ODIs at an average of 41.98.

He also affected 501 dismissals in his career. He was the reason why the Lankans could afford to play an extra bowler or bowling all-rounder in their line-up. He would don the big gloves for this eleven too.

#6 Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis played in a talented Proteas side

Very few players can actually hold a candle to Kallis in terms of stats and he was a titan for South Africa for more than a decade and a half. Kallis remains one of the greatest all-rounders of all time and was capable of making the side with his batting or bowling alone.

He played in 5 World cups but lost in the semi-finals twice. On both the occasions, his team lost to Australia, the eventual champions.

Kallis was a technically perfect top-order batsman and a very decent fast-medium bowler. He played in 328 ODIs, scored 11579 runs and took 273 wickets. His batting was on the slower side at times, but very useful while building an innings.

He also used to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in ODIs usually, thereby giving the South African team the scope to play an extra batsman. This legendary cricketer must be a part of this eleven.

#7 Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi came close during the 1999 World Cup

Afridi announced his arrival on World Cricket by scoring a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka and was known for his blistering batting. He ended up with a career strike rate of 117.0, which is among the highest of all time.

Afridi could open the batting as well as play in the middle order and was a useful leg-spin bowler as well. He played in 4 World Cups and finished runner-up in 1999 when Pakistan lost to Australia in the final.

Afridi was known for his carefree approach while batting and was a hard hitter. He could hit massive sixes as he was an exceptional timer of the ball and very strong physically. He played 398 ODIs for Pakistan, scored 8064 runs at 23.57 and took 395 wickets at 34.51.

He was a crowd favourite as well, as there was never a dull moment as long as he was on the pitch.

#8 Anil Kumble

Jumbo missed out on the World Cup

The Indian leg-spinner played in 4 World Cups, but could not win the ultimate prize in spite of being in the final in the 2003 edition of the tournament. He was also the highest wicket-taker in the 1996 World Cup, but India bowed out after losing to Sri Lanka in the semi-final.

Kumble was not a big turner of the ball but beat the batsmen with his accuracy and intelligent bowling. In an ODI career that lasted more than 15 years, Kumble played in 271 ODI matches and took 337 wickets at 30.89.

He was a useful lower-order batsman as well and actually has a century under his name in Test cricket. India won the World cup in 2011, but Kumble was not a part of that team as he retired in 2008. However, he remains one of the best spinners the game has seen and is definitely a part of this eleven.

#9 Sir Richard Hadlee

Sir Richard Hadlee was one of the greatest fast bowlers of his era

Hadlee played in 3 World Cups, but could not win the elusive trophy for New Zealand. He was one of the best all-rounders in the world in his prime and known for accurate swing bowling.

Although Hadlee was a better Test bowler, he remained very difficult to score off in the shorter version of the game as well. Moreover, he was the only world-class bowler in his team for the majority of his career and had to carry that burden on his shoulders.

Sir Richard played in 115 ODI matches and took 158 wickets at 21.56. He also was a very useful lower-middle order batsman and scored 1751runs at 21.61 in his ODI career. He also had a bowling economy rate of 3.31, one of the best of all time.

He was a big hitter, who could clear the ropes at ease and played some useful knocks for his team too. He remains the finest cricketer his country has produced and must be a part of this eleven.

#10 Curtly Ambrose

Curtly Ambrose represented the Windies during their decline period

One of the finest fast bowlers of all time, the 6 foot 8 inches tall Ambrose played in 4 World Cups, but could never win it. His team made it to the semi-final in 1996 but lost to Australia in a thriller.

Ambrose was a wonderful bowler with unerring accuracy and lively pace and bounce. He was also one the most successful fast bowlers of all time and would walk into the greatest West Indian team ever.

Ambrose played 176 ODIs in his career and took 225 wickets at 24.12. He also had an excellent economy rate of 3.48. Many top batsmen have termed him as the toughest bowler they had faced and had a lot of difficulties dealing with him.

His career was not as long as that of his bowling partner Courtney Walsh, but Ambrose was the better bowler of the two and would have a place in this eleven.

#11 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn was unplayable during his prime

Steyn, the only active player in this team, has terrorized the batsmen all over the world with his frightening pace and bounce for the last 12-13 years. He has played in 3 World Cups, but his team could not win the trophy in spite of making it to the semifinals both in 2007 and 2015.

Steyn’s smooth action, strong release and nice follow-through also make him a visual delight for the spectators and a scary sight for the batsmen facing him.

Steyn has played 121 ODIs for South Africa and has taken 192 wickets at 25.70. His economy rate is, however, a bit high at 4.87. Still, Steyn is a strike bowler who can always be trusted to take vital wickets.

He might still play in the 2019 World Cup in England, but the odds would be against South Africa winning that tournament. He would still go down as one of the best fast bowlers of all time and makes this eleven by virtue of that credential.