Cricket World Cup 2015: Power Ranking Teams After Final
After Australia's resounding triumph in the final, it gives us the chance to offer our final power rankings for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
The final may have been something of a disappointment ,but there was plenty to enjoy in this year's 50-over showpiece.
Australia lived up to the hype and New Zealand provided plenty of entertainment. South Africa once again came up short in a big game and India didn't quite have the power to go all the way.
It was a case of what might have been for Pakistan. Sri Lanka bowed out with an uncharacteristic whimper. West Indies didn't get the best of the talents on show. And as for England? Probably the less said the better.
Bangladesh exceeded expectations and the Associate Member countries made a strong case for being retained at the 2019 World Cup.
Let's see how the sides shape up in the final World Cup power rankings. We've included the ratings from the start of the competition by way of comparison.
Rankings are based on who we think would win a head-to-head clash based on current personnel and form.
Stats courtesy of ESPNcricinfo.
14. Scotland
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 13
Six games, six defeats and their all-time leading wicket-taker sent home for an inappropriate tweet add up to a very disappointing campaign from the Scots.
An appearance in the quarter-final was never on the cards, but a win over a fellow Associate Member country was a realistic hope. The loss against Afghanistan was a huge blow, and they never looked like causing a shock against the big boys, even England.
The form of Kyle Coetzer with the bat and Josh Davey with the ball offer glimmers of hope for the future.
13. United Arab Emirates
2 of 14
Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 14
Alongside Scotland, the United Arab Emirates were the only other side to go winless during the 2015 World Cup.
Outclassed against the big boys, the UAE did go close against Zimbabwe and Ireland but couldn't get over the line.
A lack of quality bowling and struggles against pace did for their campaign. In Shaiman Anwar, they had one of the surprise packages in the group stage.
12. Afghanistan
3 of 14
Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 12
Coach Andy Moles can be extremely pleased with the way his Afghanistan side performed in their maiden World Cup.
Their win against Scotland should provide a huge boost to the game in this novice cricketing country.
Of all the Associate Member countries, Afghanistan produced the most impressive fast bowling, a fact acknowledged by Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews who told Sri Lanka Cricket:
"I think the Afghanistan bowling attack is very good. They put us under a lot of pressure when we were batting."
Dawlat Zadran and Shapoor Zadran have the ability to bowl quickly which augurs well for the future. Throw in the impressive batting of Samiullah Shenwari and there are bright prospects for the Afghans.
It's amazing to think that in the space of just over a decade, Afghanistan have gone from losing to Oman to running Sri Lanka close.
If they continue that rapid rate of progress, they'll be a team to watch in the coming years.
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11. Zimbabwe
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 10
Despite having two of the top five run scorers from the group stage, Zimbabwe could muster only a solitary victory in the 2015 World Cup.
As well as Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor performed with the bat, they weren't matched by a bowling attack that showed plenty of effort but lacked a cutting edge.
Despite getting into decent positions against South Africa, Pakistan and especially Ireland, Zimbabwe couldn't quite seal the deal.
Taylor's retirement from the international game will leave a huge hole to fill.
10. England
5 of 14
Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 6
Would England's campaign have fared any better had they played Scotland and Afghanistan first rather than Australia and New Zealand? Who knows?
One thing for certain is that with their confidence shredded by Aaron Finch and Mitchell Johnson, then Tim Southee and Brendon McCullum, they collapsed completely.
Muddled strategy, pedestrian batting and a lack of wicket-takers on flat pitches were the bane of England's 2015 World Cup. Those exact same criticisms could have been levelled following the 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 competitions.
Struggling to the quarter-final, then getting walloped by India would probably have papered over the many obvious cracks in England's one-day thinking. Perhaps the shock defeat to Bangladesh will prove beneficial in the long term.
Whether the ECB hierarchy has the stomach for a fresh start remains to be seen. Presumably they'll be checking the data first.
9. Ireland
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 11
That Ireland were so disappointed at missing out on a quarter-final spot shows just how far they have progressed.
Once again batting was their strong suit. Will Porterfield, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien and Andrew Balbirnie are a quality quartet of batsmen.
Canny and willing though the bowlers were, they lacked devilry on flat pitches. If only they had a giant 6'8” paceman to rough up the opposition. Oh wait, they do. Such a shame that Boyd Rankin is languishing with the England Lions.
Ireland are stuck in a cricketing no-man's land. Not quite yet at Test class but too good for a cameo appearance in a World Cup every four years. The onus is on the ICC to help take Ireland to the next level.
8. Bangladesh
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 9
Reaching the quarter-final was probably the best that Bangladesh fans could have hoped for ahead of the competition.
Accompanying the historic win over England were a couple of encouraging, if ultimately unsuccessful performances against New Zealand and India.
The big question now is whether they can capitalise on their latest success. In Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, they have a trio of potential match-winners with the bat.
Perhaps most encouraging about Bangladesh's campaign was the emergence of a genuine fast bowler. If Rubel Hossain can steer clear of legal trouble, he'll be a player to watch.
7. West Indies
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 8
After losing their opening World Cup game to Ireland, the West Indies could have easily collapsed into an England-style calamity.
They just about held things together to reach the quarter-final. The 2015 campaign was still a disappointing one, though.
Marlon Samuels dropping Martin Guptill summed up the West Indies' competition. It wasn't a sitter by any means, but we expected something better from someone of his talents.
The West Indies do have some gifted players. They offered less as a team than the individual parts on show, however.
In Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder, new coach Phil Simmons has something to work with looking ahead.
6. Sri Lanka
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 5
For a team full of veteran scrappers, Sri Lanka's quarter-final demise was a huge disappointment. It wasn't just the loss that stung but the manner.
To be blown away by Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel is one thing. To succumb to JP Duminy's lightly spun offies quite another.
It was a sad way for Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara to say goodbye to the ODI game.
"I will have time to look back through my career and maybe in a few months' time it will be nice to look back at the memories," Jayawardene told a press conference (per BBC Sport).
"But it is disappointing to finish off like this."
The pair's combined total of 852 caps, 44 centuries and 26,884 runs will be extremely difficult to replace.
5. Pakistan
10 of 14
Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 7
It was a tournament of "what ifs?" for Pakistan. What if Saeed Ajmal had been cleared to bowl by the ICC a month earlier? What if Mohammad Irfan hadn't broken down? Most intriguingly, what if Rahat Ali hadn't spilled a regulation chance offered by Shane Watson in the quarter-final?
If that catch had been taken, Australia would have been 82 for four. With Wahab Riaz bowling one of the spells of the tournament, the victory target of 214 looked a long way off. With Rahat's drop went Pakistan's chances.
Despite being exiled from home, Pakistan continue to produce a conveyor belt of dangerous fast bowlers. If only they could fine some consistency with the bat.
With Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi calling it quits, the onus will be on the likes of Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad to finally fulfil their potential.
4. South Africa
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 2
So South Africa have finally won a knockout match at the World Cup. That quarter-final victory will be scant consolation for AB de Villiers' side who fell tantalisingly short against New Zealand.
In the Proteas' defence, they weren't helped by the weather in Auckland. An untimely shower when de Villiers and Faf du Plessis were in full flow proved costly.
The rain shouldn't mask some of the problems facing South Africa, most notably at the top of the order and the change bowling.
Of course, any side that features AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn will always have a chance.
It's still hard to trust them to come through in the high-pressure moments. A case in point being the dropped catches and missed run outs at the business end of the New Zealand chase.
South Africa are like a man who walks into the gents but can't go when someone is standing at the urinal next door.
3. India
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 4
India impressed for much of the 2015 World Cup but never really got going in the semi-final against Australia.
When MS Dhoni really needed a wicket to put the brake on the Aussie scoring rate, he couldn't magic one up.
It was a similar story with the bat. Despite getting off to a flier, India's much-vaunted top order couldn't keep up the pace, leaving too much for even Dhoni to do.
Despite the ultimate disappointment, there was much to enjoy from India's campaign. The flamboyant batting from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina was a given. Less expected was the aggressive and accomplished fielding.
Most encouraging, though, was the emergence of fast bowlers capable of topping 90mph on the speed gun. In Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav, all under 28, they have a trio of quicks to build around.
Since heading Down Under in November, India failed to win a single game against a team in Australian colours. Some of that baggage must explain in part their lacklustre semi-final showing.
2. New Zealand
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 3
Their campaign may have ultimately ended in disappointment, but New Zealand should be proud of their efforts at the 2015 World Cup.
Playing a brand of cricket packed with flair and imagination, Brendon McCullum's side have provided some of the most memorable moments of this or any World Cup.
In McCullum, Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott, the Kiwis had a trio of match-winning batsmen, complemented by late-order dashers like Corey Anderson.
The bowling was impressive too with Trent Boult and Tim Southee coming out of the competition with their reputations much enhanced.
With a young, hungry and pacey attack, the Black Caps look capable of becoming serious players on the global stage in the months and years to come.
1. Australia
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Power Ranking at the Start of the World Cup: 1
The side with the best bowling attack will usually do well in a World Cup. Combine it with one of the most destructive batting lineups in the competition and it's a perfect recipe for tournament victory.
The Aussies excelled in both disciplines. Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson showed the value of having bowlers with genuine pace. Add the ability to swing the white ball and it becomes a deadly package. There was little let-up offered from Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner either.
Aggression was the name of the game from the batsmen, too. All of the Australian top order was capable of scoring quickly, and in Steve Smith, they have arguably the most reliable batsmen in the game today.
When they needed quick runs at the business end of an innings, Brad Haddin and Johnson were more than happy to oblige.
The fielding was its usual super slick self and skipper Michael Clarke was typically attacking. With such bowling riches on show elsewhere, the lack of a genuine spinner didn't matter.
Talented, tough and aggressive, the Aussies won the main moments in the big games. They are worthy world champions.
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