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VOTE: Greatest World Cup wicketkeeper

One man changed the game, the other continues to amaze

Following Kumar Sangakkara’s unbeaten 117 in Sri Lanka’s hammering of England in Wellington today, the debate as to who is the greatest Cricket World Cup wicketkeeper batsman has again reignited.

Across 40 years and 11 tournaments, the discussion now centres around two men: Sangakkara and Australia’s Adam Gilchrist.

The modern ODI wicketkeeper is judged on his ability with the bat as much - if not more - as his prowess with the gloves, and that mind shift can be credited to the Australian who redefined the position forever.

Classic keepers like Alan Knott, Rod Marsh and Jeff Dujon earned a place in the starting XI through their sublime skills behind the stumps, but Gilchrist’s ultra-aggressive approach at the top of the order and consistent match-winning performances transformed the wicketkeeper into an allrounder.

In this World Cup alone, 10 of the 14 keepers bat in the top six, while three bat at seven and only Australia’s Brad Haddin comes in lower at No.8. 

For this reason, and the fact they’re both the leading run-scorers for keepers and own the most World Cup dismissals, the choice is between the Australian and the Sri Lankan.

But before you decide, a special mention must go to South Africa captain AB de Villiers, who in three World Cup matches playing as the designated wicketkeeper (in 2011) has scored two centuries at an average of 138. 

Adam Gilchrist

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Three-time World Cup winner. Man of the match in the 2007 final in Bridgetown. Most dismissals in tournament history, including the most in an innings (6). There isn’t much Adam Gilchrist hasn’t done in the 50-over game’s quadrennial showpiece.

The swashbuckling left-hander thrived on the big stage, scoring two half-centuries and an unforgettable hundred in the three finals he played in.

In 1999, chasing a modest total of 133 set by a spun-out Pakistan, Gilchrist took on the bowling of swing king Wasim Akram and speedster Shoaib Akhtar and won, scoring a quick fire 54 from 36 balls to put the result beyond doubt.

Four years late in Johannesburg, it was India who copped the wrath as Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden combined for 105 for the first wicket in only 14 overs, with the attacking keeper-batsman posting 57 off 48 balls to set up a monster innings of 2-359 thanks to 140 not out from skipper Ricky Ponting. 

In addition, Gilchrist collected a record six catches in Australia’s heavy defeat of Namibia in Potchefstroom - four grabs coming off Glenn McGrath who finished with figures of 7-15. 

But his signature match would come in his final World Cup encounter against Sri Lanka in the Caribbean. Heavy downpours reduced the match to 33 overs per side, but that was more than enough time for Gilchrist – with the aid of a strategically placed squash ball in his left glove -  to crunch the highest score in a World Cup final and exit the tournament with a hat-trick of titles. 

Kumar Sangakkara

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In his one-day international swansong, Kumar Sangakkara has elevated his game to a new level. The 37-year-old has hit back-to-back undefeated centuries against Bangladesh in Melbourne and England in Wellington in his last two games, with each hundred faster than the one before.

Sangakkara had a lean 2003 World Cup in South Africa, failing to reach 40 in nine innings as Sri Lanka bowed out to Gilchrist and the Australians in the semi-final in Port Elizabeth.

In 2007, Sri Lanka returned to the final for the first time since 1996, but were thwarted by the men in yellow as they had been four years earlier. Sangakkara’s 69 not out batting at first-drop guided his team home in an important Super Eight match against New Zealand, while his 52-ball 54 was in vain during the farcical finish in the final that concluded in almost pitch black darkness.

Starting with 92 and four dismissals against Canada in Hambantona, the left-hander’s 2011 campaign got off to a flyer. Sangakkara was on track to score his first World Cup hundred but rain prevented him on 73 against Australia in Colombo. 

But two matches later he reached triple figures against the Black Caps in Mumbai in a crushing group stage win. Sri Lanka would reprise their role as World Cup bridesmaid with a loss to India in the final, despite a solid 48 from their star keeper-batsman. 

Overall

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