5. Mahela Jayewardene: 548 at 60.8; one hundred and four fifties

He captained Sri Lanka astutely, but it is his batting in this tournament that will be remembered: not the four fifties in the early stages, but the magnificent hundred in the semi-final. Jayewardene has been excoriated in the past for not doing well overseas, and for not doing well on the big stages, and how he put that to rest. His innings was perfectly paced, and would have thrilled both the artist and the butcher.

6. Kevin Pietersen: 444 at 55.5; two hundreds and three fifties

Like Styris, Pietersen often found himself with much to do after his top order vanished early, and rose to the occasion superbly. Ranked the No. 1 ODI batsman in the world, he was in a team that couldn't make his class and his form count. The only disappointment in his personal form: an early dismissal in the needle game against South Africa. But he'll get chances to put that right.

Text: Amit Varma
Amit Varma runs the website, India Uncut.

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