SACHIN TENDULKAR - INDIA:
It's hard to argue against 1,732 runs at a touch under 50, along with four hundreds and 12 fifties. Simply put - he is the most outstanding World Cup batsman of all time. The fact that he is a fine catcher and a more-than-useful - and wily - bowler simply adds to his undoubted class at the top of the order. Interestingly, his strike-rate of 87.56 is better than a certain Sir Vivian Richards (85.05).
Next best: Sourav Ganguly (India).

MARK WAUGH - AUSTRALIA:
There was a temptation here to go with a left-right opening combination, but as the only Australian to have scored over 1,000 World Cup runs (soon to be joined by Mr Ponting, however), and a Tendulkar-like ability to score World Cup hundreds, we went with Waugh ahead of the likes of Sourav Ganguly and West Indian legend Gordon Greenidge. Before moving to finger spinning in the latter stages of his career, Waugh was a useful medium pacer and, of course, a wonderful fielder with 11 catches to his name.
Next best: Gordon Greenidge (West Indies).

BRIAN LARA - WEST INDIES:
Our No.3 batsman is a leftie and none other than Brian Charles Lara - who has amassed 956 runs in 25 matches for the West Indies. Two crucial hundreds stand out - both against South Africa - but six fifties are not a bad return either, and neither is his strike-rate of 87.70 and 11 catches. A big game player on the biggest stage and there is no bigger stage than the World Cup.
Next best: Arivanda da Silva (Sri Lanka).

MARTIN CROWE - NEW ZEALAND:
A surprise to some perhaps, but the 1992 Player of the Tournament racked up 880 runs in 21 games for the Black Caps. A top-quality all-round player, the Kiwis would kill for someone of his quality right now. It would give them a real world-class look to back up the likes of current stars Fleming, Styris, McMillan and Oram.
Next best: Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka).

VIV RICHARDS - WEST INDIES (CAPTAIN):
The 'Master Blaster' was undoubtedly the best World Cup batsman of his era, rattling up 1,013 runs at a superb average of 63.31; made up of three hundreds and five fifities. Whilst many would remember him for his brute force off the front foot - and ability to hit the ball absolutely anywhere - Richards was quite a canny player, too, capable of changing from attack to defence when the need arose. Not that his strike-rate of 85.05 would suggest that, of course...
Next best: Steve Waugh (Australia).

JAVED MIANDAD - PAKISTAN:
Another fantastic player of 'yesteryear', the mentally tough Miandad played in the first six World Cups - the only player to do so. (He played in the 1975 event as a leg-spinning all-rounder at the age of 18.) The top World Cup run-scorer at one stage with 1,083 runs, having overtaken Richards, Miandad relinquished that title to Sachin Tendulkar. One thing is for sure though, he left his mark on the World Cup stage.
Next best: Michael Bevan (Australia).

ADAM GILCHRIST - AUSTRALIA (WK):
His exploits down the order in the Test arena are well-documented and with 632 World Cup runs at a strike-rate of 94.18, at an average of 31.60, the only thing missing from Gilchrist's cricketing CV is a World Cup century. Gilchrist has played in just two World Cups - both of which have been successful campaigns - claiming 35 dismissals; five more than his nearest rival, Moin Khan, who has also played in 20 games.
Next best: Andy Flower (Zimbabwe).

IMRAN KHAN - PAKISTAN:
Pakistan's inspirational World Cup-winning skipper from 1992 would probably make it into most World XI's, given his all-round skills and match-winning abilities. The scorer of 666 World Cup runs - with a high score of 102 not out, at an average of 35.05 - Khan also claimed 34 wickets at just 19.26 per dismissal. His influence can still be seen in the Pakistan team today.
Next best: Kapil Dev (India).

WASIM AKRAM - PAKISTAN:
The leading wicket-taker in World Cup history, one would expect Glenn McGrath to overtake him this year and possibly also Muttiah Muralitharan - but that should not take away from his achievements. His swinging, angled left-arm deliveries were a tricky proposition for the world's best batsmen, hence his 55 wickets at 23.83, with a more than handy economy rate of 4.04 per over. His lower-order hitting would also be a handy addition to this world team - as it was in the '92 World Cup Final.
Next best: Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka).

SHANE WARNE - AUSTRALIA:
This was a tough decision to make. Warne v Muralitharan? Leg spin v off spin? Aussie v Sri Lankan? Well, in the end we opted for the blond Aussie, given his 32 wickets in 17 matches (Murali has picked up 30 wickets in 21 World Cup games), and the starring role he played in the 1999 World Cup - especially the semi-final and final. Like we said about Lara, the bigger the stage, the bigger the performance. Come back Warney!
Next best: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka).

GLENN MCGRATH - AUSTRALIA:
A surprising choice for some - but it is hard to argue with his statistics. In 28 matches - spanning three World Cups, two of which Australia won - McGrath has picked up 45 wickets at an average of 20.77, whilst conceding just 3.81 runs to the over.
Next best: Allan Donald (South Africa).

12TH MAN: JONTY RHODES - SOUTH AFRICA:
Think back to 1992 and a horizontal Rhodes and a lumbering Inzy. Enough said? The best fielder to ever grace the World Cup stage. Who to watch this year? Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds (if fit), Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Paul Collingwood, Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, Lou Vincent - take your pick, although Ponting is our bet for the world's best at the minute.

By Howard Kahn