Who won the player of the series in the 2019 Cricket World Cup? It was none other than Kane Williamson!

Can you remember who are all the player of the tournament in Cricket World Cups?

Let us help you. Here is everything you need to know about the player of the tournament trophy.

Key Takeaways

• The first player of the tournament in the Cricket World Cup (Men’s) was awarded in 1992.
• Three batters, two bowlers, and three all-rounders have so far won this award in the eight instances so far.
• New Zealand (2), India (2), and Australia (2) share the most player of the tournaments with South Africa & Sri Lanka winning it once each.
• The player of the tournament had the following characters: 3 left handers, 4 right handers, and one ambidextrous (Lance Klusener – left hand bat, right hand bowl) .

World Cup Player of the Tournament – At a Glance

Player	World Cup	World Cup Venue
Martin Crowe	1992	Australia, New Zealand
Sanath Jayasuriya	1996	India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
Lance Klusener	1999	England, Wales
Sachin Tendulkar	2003	South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya
Glenn McGrath	2007	West Indies (Caribbean Islands)
Yuvraj Singh	2011	India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Mitchell Starc	2015	Australia, New Zealand
Kane Williamson	2019	England, Wales

*POTM – Player of the Match

List of All 8 Man of the Tournament in Cricket World Cups

1. Martin Crowe (New Zealand), 1992 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 9
• Runs: 456
• 100s/50s: 1/4
• Not Outs: 5
• Average/Strike Rate: 114.00/90.83
• Catches: 3

Martin Crowe 1992 WC Matches

1. 100*(134) vs Australia, 22 February 1992, Auckland, *POTM
2. 5 (23) & 1 Catch vs Sri Lanka, 25 February 1992, Hamilton
3. 3*(9) & 1 Catch vs South Africa, 29 February 1992, Auckland
4. 74*(43) & 1 Catch vs Zimbabwe, 3 March 1992, Napier, *POTM
5. 81*(81) vs West Indies, 8 March 1992, Auckland, *POTM
6. 26 (28) vs India, 12 March 1992, Dunedin
7. 73*(81) vs England, 15 March 1992, Wellington
8. 3 (20) vs Pakistan, 18 March 1992, Christchurch
9. 91 (83) vs Pakistan, 21 March 1992, Auckland

Impact

A dream run. A sad ending. Having pulled his hamstring, Crowe was run-out on 91. He watched on the sidelines as a new captain tried to defend a spirited Pakistan. 1992 was a World Cup of firsts. Colored clothing, new ODI strategies, South Africa’s re-entry, rain controversies, round-robin format.

Martin Crowe is fondly remembered by many due to his inspiring captaincy and runs across the board. An average of 114 at 90 strike in 1992 is spectacular!

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2. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), 1996 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 6
• Runs: 221
• 100s/50s: 0/2
• Not Outs: 0
• Average/Strike Rate: 36.83/131.54
• Wickets: 7
• Economy: 4.52
• Catches: 5

Sanath Jayasuriya 1996 WC Matches

1. 1/44, 6 (11), 1 Catch vs Zimbabwe, 21 February 1996, Colombo (SSC)
2. 0/52, 79 (76) vs India, 2 March 1996, Delhi, *POTM
3. 0/34, 44 (27) vs Kenya, 6 March 1996, Kandy
4. 2/46, 82 (44) vs England, 9 March 1996, Faisalabad, *POTM
5. 3/12, 1 (3), 2 Catches vs India, 13 March 1996, Eden Gardens (Kolkata)
6. 1/43, 9 (7), 2 Catches vs Australia, 17 March 1996, Lahore

Impact

Revolutionized ODI cricket in the Powerplay. Sanath Jayasuriya (with Romesh Kaluwitharana) gave birth to a new brand of aggressive cricket. Chipped in with wickets and catches as well for a complete all-round show.

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3. Lance Klusener (South Africa), 1999 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 9 (8 Innings)
• Runs: 281
• 100s/50s: 0/2
• Not Outs: 6
• Average/Strike Rate: 140.50/122.17
• Wickets: 17
• Economy: 4.61
• Catches: 1

Lance Klusener 1996 WC Matches

1. 12*(4), 3/66 vs India, 15 May 1999, Hove
2. 52*(45), 3/21 vs Sri Lanka, 19 May 1999, Northampton, *POTM
3. 48*(40), 1/16 vs England, 22 May 1999, The Oval (London), *POTM
4. Did Not Bat, 5/21, 1 Catch vs Kenya, 26 May 1999, Amstelveen, *POTM
5. 52*(58), 1/36 vs Zimbabwe, 29 May 1999, Chelmsford
6. 46*(41), 1/41 vs Pakistan, 5 June 1999, Nottingham, *POTM
7. 4 (5), 2/46 vs New Zealand, 10 June 1999, Birmingham
8. 36 (21), 1/53 vs Australia, 13 June 1999, Leeds
9. 31*(16), 0/50 vs Australia, 17 June 1999, Birmingham

Impact

Perhaps the greatest player of the tournament performance of All-Time. Runs at an insane strike, finishing games left and right, and 17 wickets to top it off. People will remember that run-out in the semi-final that crushed South African cricket for a generation, but should also remember him as a pioneer of lower-order hitting/finishing in ODI cricket.

Also Read: 17 South Africa World Cup Chokes and Heartbreaks: The Complete List (Men’s & Women’s Combined)

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4. Sachin Tendulkar (India), 2003 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 11
• Runs: 673
• 100s/50s: 1/6
• Not Outs: 0
• Average/Strike Rate: 61.18/89/25
• Wickets: 2
• Economy: 4.27
• Catches: 4

Sachin Tendulkar 2003 WC Matches

1. 52 (72), 0/9 vs Netherlands, 12 February 2003, Paarl
2. 36 (59) vs Australia, 15 February 2003, Centurion
3. 81 (91) vs Zimbabwe, 19 February 2003, Harare, *POTM
4. 152 (151) vs Namibia, 23 February 2003, Pietermaritzburg, *POTM
5. 50 (52), 1 Catch vs England, 26 February 2003, Durban
6. 98 (75) vs Pakistan, 1 March 2003, Centurion, *POTM
7. 5 (12), 1 Catch vs Kenya, 7 March 2003, Cape Town
8. 97 (120), 1 Catch vs Sri Lanka, 10 March 2003, Johannesburg
9. 15 (16), 0/20, 1 Catch vs New Zealand, 14 March 2003, Centurion
10. 83 (101), 2/28 vs Kenya, 20 March 2003, Durban
11. 4 (5), 0/20 vs Australia, 23 March 2003, Johannesburg

Impact

If Klusener was the greatest all-round performance, Tendulkar gets the best batting show award. Except for the match again Kenya, New Zealand, and the final, Tendulkar had eight innings of note. The 98 (75) vs Pakistan will go in folklore as one of the greatest innings of all-time in limited overs cricket.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar Centuries (The Definitive Guide): Everything You Need To Know About Sachin Tendulkar’s Hundred 100s

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5. Glenn McGrath (Australia), 2007 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 11
• Wickets: 26
• (Bowling) Average/Strike Rate: 13.73/18.6
• 4/5 fer: 0/0
• Economy: 4.41
• Catches: 1

Glenn McGrath 2007 WC Matches

1. 3/14 vs Scotland, 14 March 2007, Basseterre
2. 2/33 vs Netherlands, 18 March 2007, Basseterre
3. 1/62 vs South Africa, 24 March 2007, Basseterre
4. 3/31 vs West Indies, 27 March 2007, North Sound
5. 3/16 vs Bangladesh, 31 March 2007, North Sound, *POTM
6. 3/62 vs England, 8 April 2007, North Sound
7. 3/17 vs Ireland, 13 April 2007, Bridgetown
8. 2/48 vs Sri Lanka, 16 April 2007, St. George’s
9. 2/25,1 Catch vs New Zealand, 20 April 2007, St. George’s
10. 3/18 vs South Africa, 25 April 2017, Gros Islet, *POTM
11. 1/31 vs Sri Lanka, 28 April 2007, Bridgetown

Impact

Even though McGrath did not take a single 4-fer in this World Cup and was (only) player of the match twice, he was at his consistent best. Took at least a wicket in every match, 2 wickets thrice, and 3-wickets on six occasions. His spell in the semi-final broke South African hearts yet again.

Also Read: Most Wickets in a Single ODI World Cup

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6. Yuvraj Singh (India), 2011 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 9 (8 Innings)
• Runs: 362
• 100s/50s: 1/4
• Not Outs: 4
• Average/Strike Rate: 90.50/86.19
• Wickets: 15
• Economy: 5.02
• Catches: 3

Yuvraj Singh 2011 WC Matches

1. 0/42, Did not bat, 1 Catch vs Bangladesh, 19 February 2011, Mirpur
2. 58 (50), 0/46 vs England, 27 February 2011, Bengaluru
3. 50* (75), 5/31, 1 Catch vs Ireland, 6 March 2011, Bengaluru, *POTM
4. 51* (73), 2/43 vs Netherlands, 9 March 2011, Delhi, *POTM
5. 12 (9), 0/47 vs South Africa, 12 March 2011, Nagpur
6. 113 (123), 2/18 vs West Indies, 20 March 2011, Chennai, *POTM
7. 57* (65), 2/44 vs Australia, 24 March 2011, Ahmedabad, *POTM
8. 0 (1), 2/57, 1 Catch vs Pakistan, 30 March 2011, Mohali
9. 21* (24), 2/49 vs Sri Lanka, 2 April 2011, Wankhede

Impact

Australia were so dominant for 15 years, they needed a maverick to knock them out of the quarter-finals. Yuvraj did it with clutch performance of 57*(65). Battling cancer behind the scenes, Yuvraj Singh went from good to legendary status in a space of 9 games.

It is only after Yuvraj was left out of the team, that we see what a gem he was to Indian cricket. As all-rounder in the Top 5. Yuvraj-Raina provided India with the balance they needed and with Dhoni, formed one of the greatest middle orders.

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7. Mitchell Starc (Australia), 2015 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 8
• Wickets: 22
• (Bowling) Average/Strike Rate: 10.18/17.4
• 4/5 fer: 1/1
• Economy: 3.5
• Catches: 5 Catches

Mitchell Starc 2015 WC Matches

1. 2/47, 1 Catch vs England, 14 February 2015, Melbourne
2. 6/28, 1 Catch vs New Zealand, 28 February 2015, Auckland
3. 2/18 vs Afghanistan, 4 March 2015, Perth
4. 2/29 vs Sri Lanka, 8 March 2015, Sydney
5. 4/14, 1 Catch vs Scotland, 14 March 2015, Hobart, *POTM
6. 2/40, 1 Catch vs Pakistan, 20 March 2015, Adelaide
7. 2/28 vs India, 26 March 2015, Sydney
8. 2/20, 1 Catch vs New Zealand, 29 March 2015, Melbourne

Impact

If McGrath has been the most consistent World Cup bowler, Starc has definitely been the most destructive (10.18 average, 17.4 SR, 3.5 economy – geez those numbers are out of the world!). The Australia vs New Zealand match at Eden Park and the first over to Brendon McCullum in the Final encapsulates Mitchell Starc’s career. Fast, inswinging yorkers that can change the momentum in space of a few balls.

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8. Kane Williamson (New Zealand), 2019 Cricket World Cup

• Matches: 10 (9 Innings)
• Runs: 578
• 100s/50s: 2/2
• Not Outs: 2
• Average/Strike Rate: 82.57/74.96
• Catches: 6

Kane Williamson 2019 WC Matches

1. Did Not Bat vs Sri Lanka, 1 June 2019, Cardiff
2. 40 (72), 1 Catch vs Bangladesh, 5 June 2019, The Oval (London)
3. 79*(99) vs Afghanistan, 8 June 2019, Taunton
4. 106*(138), 1 Catch vs South Africa, 19 June 2019, Birmingham, *POTM
5. 148 (154) vs West Indies, 22 June 2019, Manchester, *POTM
6. 41 (69), 1/39 vs Pakistan, 26 June 2019, Birmingham
7. 40 (51), 1/25 vs Australia, 29 June 2019, Lord’s
8. 27 (40), 2 Catches vs England, 3 July 2019, Chester-le-Street
9. 67 (95), 2 Catches vs India, 9 July 2019, Manchester
10. 30 (53) vs England, 14 July 2019, Lord’s

Impact

In the prime of his life, Williamson’s 2019 was marked by pure batsmanship and character. Keeping cool in the final and couple of centuries highlighted his campaign. My favorite was the 106((138) against South Africa on a tough pitch, taking NZ from 80/4 to 245/6. He timed the chase with that late cate and slog sweep in the last two overs to perfection.

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Final Thoughts

Whether it is the all-round show of Jayasuriya, Klusener, Yuvraj, the pure batting class of Williamson, Crowe, Tendulkar, or the bowling genius of Australians, McGrath & Starc, it has been just great to watch.

And even though from 1975-1987, we did not have player of the tournament awards, there were still many memorable performances from that era by Kapil Dev Glenn Turner, Vivian Richards, David Boon, and many more!

Which player will capture the hearts and imagination of cricket fans in 2023?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Man of the Tournament in Cricket World Cups

Other 2023 Cricket World Cup Content

If you liked reading facts about the World Cup, consider checking these articles out:

• Who was Adjudged the Man of the Match in the 2019 World Cup Final? Man of the Match in the Cricket World Cup Final (The Complete List)
• Who has the Most Man of the Match Awards in International Cricket? The Greatest Match Winners in Cricket History

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