The World Cup Wash-Up, Part One: Player and Team of the World Cup leave many scratching their heads

Perhaps Kane Williamson wasn't the right selection for player of the tournament?

Kane Williamson was crowned the player of the tournament after brilliantly leading New Zealand to the World Cup final. He was fantastic, finishing fourth on the run-scorers list with 578 runs at 82.57, and a strike rate just under 75. The mercurial right-hander peeled off two centuries as well as a further two half centuries, but he was outshone by a number of other players. Firstly, Rohit Sharma. The first man to score five centuries in a World Cup campaign, finished with 648 runs at 81.00. But he scored them considerably quicker than the Kiwi captain, going at just under 100. Then, there is Shakib Al Hasan, who also finished above Williamson on the runscorers list with 606 runs from one less innings. He also scored two centuries, but also passed 50 more frequently (5 times) and at a strike rate in the 90's. But he was also one of the tournaments best performing spin bowlers, finishing with 11 wickets, including a five wicket haul. Both players should count themselves unlucky not to have been crowned Player of the Tournament. As would Mitchell Starc, who became the first man to take 27 wickets in a World Cup campaign, and also the first bowler to be crowned leading wicket-taker twice. He finished with 27 wickets at an average of 18.59, including two 5 wicket hauls. It was a fantastic achievement from the left-armer, who incredibly, now sits 5th on the all-time wicket-taking list behind Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga and Wasim Akram, all who played in four World Cups, except Murali, who played in five. It just puts Mitchell Starc's numbers into perspective, at this rate he will come close to passing 100 World Cup wickets, which is just insane to consider. Then we look at the World Cup Team of the Year, selected by ESPN Cricinfo: Rohit Sharma Jason Roy

Shakib Al Hasan Kane Williamson Ben Stokes Alex Carey Jimmy Neesham Mitchell Starc Jofra Archer Lockie Ferguson Jasprit Bumrah There are two players who's selection raises eyebrows, the first is Jason Roy and the second Jasprit Bumrah. In the case of Jasprit Bumrah, he took two less wickets than Rahman, at a slightly better average. But, his strike rate was considerably better than Bumrah's, as he had bowled in one less match. Shaheen Shah Afridi could hold a more substantial debate to take the last bowling spot. Where Archer had bowled in 11 matches, finishing with 20 wickets, it took the young 19 year old from Pakistan just 5 matches to chalk up 16 wickets, at the tournaments best average of 14.62. Bumrah's 18 wickets came from an extra 37 overs. In the case of Jason Roy, his numbers were fantastic. Scoring 443 runs at 63.28 and striking it at 115.36, his position in the side isn't a horrible selection. The English opener passed 50 on three occasions and recorded a single century. But David Warner from Australia could feel a little hard done by. Finishing with 647 runs, just one run behind leading run scorer Rohit Sharma, he averaged 8 more runs per innings than Roy with 71.88, scored three centuries alongside his three half centuries, but only stuck the ball at 89. It would be hard to push a case against any of the other players elected in the side, but potentially, appeasing the winning nation and the largest cricketing body may have played its part.