Cricket World Cup 2015: Best XI of the Semi-Finals
It's been a memorable week at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, with two pulsating semi-finals living up to the billing and producing two worthy finalists in Australia and New Zealand.
On Tuesday, the first of those games might have been the most thrilling match in World Cup history, as Brendon McCullum's Black Caps chased down 298 in extraordinary circumstances against South Africa, with Grant Elliott smashing a six from the game's penultimate delivery to send the Kiwis into their first ever final.
Two days later, Australia flexed their muscle in another heavyweight clash with India, as Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc led the hosts past an impressive Indian outfit in front of an incredibly partisan crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Across the following slides, we select our best XI from the two exhilarating semi-finals.
1. Brendon McCullum
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If New Zealand were going to stand any chance of chasing down 298 in 43 overs against South Africa, the team needed a pulsating start from their fearless leader, Brendon McCullum.
Impressively, that's just what the Black Caps got.
In a stunning display of hitting in the opening overs of the Kiwis' chase, McCullum blasted eight fours and four sixes to reach 59 from just 26 balls to give New Zealand's innings the impetus it needed.
And those blows weren't dealt out to just anyone—they were landed upon Dale Steyn, the finest fast bowler of his generation.
2. Aaron Finch
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Aaron Finch entered Thursday's cut-throat semi-final clash with India amid a difficult run of form, with scores of 14, four, 24, 20 and two having come in quick succession after a fine century to open the World Cup against England.
Pleasingly, we saw a gritty response from the Australian opener in Sydney.
After losing partner David Warner early, the Victorian slowly fought his way to 81 from 116 deliveries against an Indian attack that had thrived throughout the tournament.
Of course, it wasn't fluent. It wasn't pretty. And Steven Smith's grace at the other end made it look worse.
But all that matters is that he got vital runs. Eighty-one of them.
And they were crucial to setting a strong platform for Australia's big first-innings total.
3. Steven Smith
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At some point in the near or distant future, this run of form from Steven Smith will inevitably come to an end. Batting of this quality just isn't perpetually sustainable.
But until that point arrives, you simply must sit back and enjoy what Smith is achieving.
Since his maiden Test hundred against England in 2013, the Australian is averaging 73.21 in Test cricket. And since his maiden one-day international century against Pakistan last October, he's averaging 67.73 in the 50-over arena.
They're staggering numbers, and Smith once again displayed the excellence that's allowed him to achieve them against India on Thursday, cruising to 105 from 93 deliveries with breathtaking ease.
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4. Faf du Plessis
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It was looking ominous for South Africa when Faf du Plessis walked to the wicket against New Zealand.
Having lost both Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock inside the the first eight overs, the Proteas' were lurching at 31 for two against a seam attack that's been in outstanding form in this World Cup.
But Du Plessis didn't flinch.
At first watchful, and then gradually more expansive, the right-hander stymied the Black Caps' momentum and compiled a crucial 82 that set the platform for AB de Villiers and David Miller later in the innings.
5. AB de Villiers
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You thought Steven Smith's form was good.
In this World Cup, AB de Villiers' scores read: 25, 30, 162 not out, 24, 77, 99 and 65 not out.
In fact, since the beginning of 2014, the South African captain is averaging 80.50 in one-day internationals at a strike rate of 127.27. It's mind-boggling stuff.
Against New Zealand, he was at it again, crunching an unbeaten 65 from just 45 deliveries to power the Proteas to an imposing first-innings total, despite the untimely rain interruption in Auckland.
Note: In this XI, De Villiers would also fill the role of the wicketkeeper.
6. Grant Elliott
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It's hard to imagine Grant Elliott ever experiencing a greater moment in his international career than the one we witnessed on Tuesday.
Two balls remaining. Five runs needed. A World Cup semi-final on the line. Dale Steyn the opponent.
You sensed South Africa were closing in. They were the ones with the advantage.
Instead, Elliott launched Steyn into the stands over mid-on, securing one of the most thrilling victories in one-day international history with an emphatic end to a brilliant knock of 84 not out from 73 balls.
7. Corey Anderson
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For a large chunk of New Zealand's innings, Corey Anderson played a vital role alongside Grant Elliott.
Indeed, when Ross Taylor fell in the 22nd over to leave the Kiwis at 149 for four, Anderson and Elliott found themselves in an awkward position, needing to maintain the scoring rate while also arresting a quick slide.
After taking three wickets earlier in the day, Anderson played an extremely mature hand, reining in his powerful hitting somewhat to push the Black Caps into a position where victory was possible in the dying overs with a crucial 58.
Such composure hasn't often been displayed previously from Anderson, who looks to be one of the players blossoming under the leadership of Brendon McCullum.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
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At one point in Australia's innings on Thursday, the situation looked nasty for India. Horrible, in fact.
With the hosts cruising at 197 for one, a score nearing 400 looked on the cards for Michael Clarke's men. Aaron Finch was warming up. Steven Smith was cruising. And a bevy of powerful hitters were ready to come in.
And then it looked even worse when Glenn Maxwell torched Umesh Yadav for an over.
But with some excellent planning and execution, Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed the dashing right-hander in the next over (the 38th of the innings), bringing Australia's charge to a halt.
Like he had earlier on, the finger spinner put the brakes on Australia, despite the inability of his fast-bowling team-mates to contain the home side.
At the end of his 10 overs, Ashwin had claimed one for 42, while those around him conceded seven or eight runs per over.
9. Mitchell Johnson
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When Mitchell Johnson scores runs with the bat, you'd better look out when he gets the ball in his hand.
Throughout his career, Johnson has often drawn confidence from batting cameos, having put together some of his finest spells immediately after chipping in with useful runs.
On Thursday in Sydney, that was the case once more, as the left-armer steamed in to claim the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli not long after he'd crunched 27 runs from nine balls at the end of Australia's innings.
10. Mitchell Starc
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It's official now: No one has an answer to Australia's Mitchell Starc.
Against India, the rapid left-armer put together another outstanding display of fast bowling, capturing two for 28 from just under nine overs to snuff out any chance India had in chasing down Australia total of 328.
The performance continued a blistering tournament for Starc, who's risen to become the world's finest one-day international bowler in recent months.
How do we know? Not only does he have the best ODI bowling average in history (among players with 50 or more wickets), he's gone through this World Cup conceding just 3.65 runs per over.
It's a remarkable figure, given that the tournament has seen scores of 400-plus, countless centuries and almost 500 sixes struck.
11. Imran Tahir
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It's not too far of a stretch to say Imran Tahir might have bowled the most impressive over of this World Cup when he came on against New Zealand on Tuesday.
When AB de Villiers threw the leg-spinner the ball, the Black Caps had reached 71 without loss in five overs. Five.
Led by Brendon McCullum, the Kiwis were rampant, and it was all going wrong for South Africa.
Then Tahir bowled a maiden. Six dot balls at a time when McCullum was making Dale Steyn look like a club cricketer.
In the next over, the New Zealand captain lost his wicket. Tahir's over had completely changed the game.
And went he on to finish with impressive figures of none for 40 from nine overs in a match that saw bowlers blasted everywhere.
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