DHAKA: ICC has announced test and ODI teams 2015 comprising players performing better than others in the same positions over the period of September 18, 2014 to September 13, 2015. The selection is made by a panel headed by ICC’s cricket committee chairman Anil Kumble. Bangladesh teenager Mustafizur Rahman has been included in the ODI team for his prolific performance. He took 11 wickets in his first two ODI against strong India and in only 9 matches took 26 already with three 5 wickets haul.
The teams are:
ODI team of the year: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Hashim Amla, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), AB de Villiers (c), Steven Smith, Ross Taylor, Trent Boult, Mohammed Shami, Mitchell Starc, Mustafizur Rahman, Imran Tahir, Joe Root (12th man)
Test team of the year: David Warner, Alastair Cook (c), Kane Williamson, Younis Khan, Steven Smith, Joe Root, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Stuart Broad, Trent Boult, Yasir Shah, Josh Hazlewood, R Ashwin (12th man)
Test Team: The test team comprises three players each from Australia, England and Pakistan. Two players are from New Zealand. There is no player from South Africa, India, West Indies and Sri Lanka. South Africa hardly played any test match cricket during this period. India and Sri Lanka did not play well in tests over this period. West Indies too did not have any player performing admirably.
England recovered Ashes from Australia in the period under reference and their top three performers Captain Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Stuart Broad rightly deserved their places in the ICC test team 2015. Australia lost Ashes but won other series against other opposition. David Warner and Steve Smith dominated the batting. Josh Hazlewood emerged as major wicket taker with his aggressive and accurate fast bowling. Pakistan had huge success in test cricket at their home away from home in UAE. Prolific Younis Khan and leg-spin bowler Yasir Shah were their main weapons. Sarfraz Ahmed also excelled both in front and behind the wicket.
Two Kiwis -- Kane Williams and Trent Boult -- also were leading performers for their team’s success in test over the period under consideration. There can be little dispute over the selection of ICC test team although it may hurt admirers of South African and Indian cricket. While no one from South Africa was chosen for the team, Ravichandran Ashwin was included as 12th man.
Batsmen have all automatically been chosen for their prolific performances. The only position that may be disputed is inclusion of Sarfraz Ahmed. The pace bowling combination of Stuart Broad, Trent Boult and Josh Hazlewood cannot be disputed. The lone spinner in the team is Pakistan’s leg spinner Yasir Shah who impressed even the all-time best leggie Shane Warne. Mohammad Shami bowled exceptionally well for India in ICC World Cup.
ODI Team: The ICC ODI team consists of 3 players from South Africa, two each from Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand and one each from India and Bangladesh. Here can be some discussions whether David Warner and Rohit Sharma could be included as batsman in the team. Selection of Trent Boult, Mohammad Shami, Mitchel Starc and Mustafizur Rahman as four prong pace attack is the right choice. The Bangladeshi teenager has rocked the world in his appearance displaying a rare art of deceiving left arm cutters. Boult and Starc are leading pace bowlers in all formats now.
None of the South African pacers could impress in the period under review. Mustafizur Rahman became the first Bangladesh cricketer to be included in the ICC’s ODI team of the year, thanks to a barnstorming 11 wickets in his first two matches. He along with Boult, Mohammed Shami and Mitchell Starc, the Player of the Tournament during the 2015 World Cup, made up the ODI team's pace attack, while Imran Tahir was selected as the sole spinner. Kumar Sangakkara, who recently retired from international cricket, was picked as the ODI team’s wicketkeeper, marking the fourth time he made the side.
It is a matter of great pride for Bangladesh cricket that within few months of his emergence to international scene, its teenage prodigy Mustafiz has achieved such an honorable feat. His captain Mashrafe is highly optimistic about bright future of his charge. He thinks if he maintains his form and improves with experience he can reach somewhere where very few have traversed till today.
BDST: 0958 HRS, DEC 03, 2015
SR
