DHAKA: With the start of the Super 10 stage of the World T20 just around the corner, Australia’s news portal Foxsports.com has had a go at predicting the best XI of the tournament.
South Africa, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh all managed to get two men into the side, while Australia and Pakistan each managed as many as Afghanistan.
Shakib Al Hasan and Al Amin Hossian are representing Bangladesh in the ultimate XI.
New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson has been picked as captain of our ultimate XI.
But that’s still more than England whose players missed out entirely.
Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill may not be cricket’s most intimidating Test batsman, but against the white ball he is a different beast. Guptill has 252 runs to his name in Twenty20 international cricket this year from just five innings with a strike rate of 181.29
Mohammad Shahzad - wicketkeeper
Mohammad Shahzad may not be a household name, but the man is a super star. Shahzad sits fifth on the run-scoring charts for the year, and was the star of Afghanistan’s surprise march to the Super 10 stage (142 runs at 47.33), making 40 in its must-win match against Zimbabwe. He sits fifth on the run-scoring charts for the year (327 at 46.71) and sees off tight competition from Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal, South Africa’s Hashim Amla and India’s Rohit Sharma on the basis that he can keep. A strike rate of 153.53 for the year is nothing to sniff at either.
Virat Kohli
With an average of 117.33 in T20I cricket in 2016, Virat Kohli is the first name on the team sheet. Despite not being a big six-hitter – he has four for the year - Kohli is a quick scorer, with a strike rate of 134.35.
Kane Williamson - captain
Considering his temperament you wouldn’t expect Kane Williamson to be a T20I star but he really is something special. Williamson’s average sits at 88.66 this year with three of his five innings going beyond 50. Just sees off South African skipper Faf Du Plessis for a spot in the XI.
David Miller
But there is at least one South African in our side, and that man in David Miller. The big-hitter was the second-pick in the Caribbean Premier League and Australia found out why during its T20 series against the Proteas (116 runs at 58) in which he had a strike rate of 168.11.
Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell sees off compatriot David Warner for a spot in the XI because of his ability to contribute across all three facets of the game. Maxwell averages 28.75 in 2016, but it’s his strike rate (161.97) that’s worth paying attention to. You can count on him to contribute to the team in some shape or form, with the all-rounder one of the world’s best fielders and a handy bowler.
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan hasn’t been in the best form with the bat in 2016 (153 at 19.12), but that’s not why he’s in the team. The Bangladeshi all-rounder has been on fire with the ball (17 at 21.64) and his selection is necessary to prevent the tail becoming too long.
Ravi Ashwin
Sitting at No.2 in the world, Ravi Ashwin is the top ranking bowler at this year’s World T20 thanks to Sunil Narine’s suspension. Ashwin has taken 21 wickets this year at 12.38. Just as impressively he has an economy 5.77 and will thrive in home conditions.
Mohammad Amir
The Pakistani quick has only taken eight wickets this year (22.62) but he was the Asia Cup’s most impressive bowler, clocking speeds upwards of 145km/h with vicious late swing. India’s Rohit Sharma said he was just “a normal bowler”, but Kohli may have been closer to the mark in his description of Amir as “world-class”.
Al-Amin Hossain
Alongside Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain is one part of Bangladesh’s impressive pace trio for the World T20. The right-arm medium-fast has been the Tigers’ most consistent bowler this year (22 wickets at 11.50) and sits second on the wicket-taking list in 2016.
Kagiso Rabada
With Ashwin, Shakib and Maxwell in the side, the team is well served for spin so we’ve opted to pick Kagiso Rabada for the final spot in our XI. Still 20, Rabada has become South Africa’s go to man in the death overs and has 16 wickets this year (17.68) from just 10 matches.
The Super 10 stage will start at 8:00pm (Bangladesh Time) on Tuesday (March 15) with Group 2 match between India and New Zealand at Nagpur in India
Source: foxsports.com.au
BDST: 1641 HRS, MAR 14, 2016
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