Published: Dec 22, 2016, 12:24 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 22, 2016, 12:24 PM (IST)
The Indian cricket team and its players might be topping the charts towards the end of the year 2016, but on Thursday, only one of them found a place in the ICC Test Team of the Year 2016. Ravichandran Ashwin, the world No. 1 bowler as well as all-rounder in the longest format, is the only Indian to feature in the ICC Test Team, which was announced three days after India completed their 4-0 annihilation over England. Alastair Cook was named captain of the ICC Test Team of the Year, which has as many as three Australians in the eleven.
Among the best batsmen in the world, Kane Williamson and Joe Root were named in the Test side for third successive year, but their counterpart Virat Kohli did not find any place. The team was selected on the basis of players’ performance from a period of September 14, 2015 to September 20, 2016. Thus, Kohli’s mind-boggling numbers that he generated during the England series — 655 runs in 5 Tests at 109.16 with 2 tons and as many fifties — were unfortunately not taken into consideration. Jonny Bairstow, who has been on a record-breaking spree this year, was named the wicketkeeper of the ICC Test Team of the Year.
As a matter of fact, Cook was declared captain for the third consecutive year. Among speedsters, Dale Steyn was also named in the ICC XI. Meanwhile, Steven Smith was named 12th man of the team.
The ICC informed in a release, “England’s Alastair Cook has been named as captain of the ICC Test Team of the Year, which includes four Englishmen, three Australians, and a player each from New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa. This is the third time Cook has been appointed captain of the Test side, while it the eighth time in nine years that Dale Steyn has been selected. Joe Root, David Warner and Kane Williamson have been chosen for the third successive year.”
Here is the ICC Test Team of the Year 2016:
David Warner, Alastair Cook (c), Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Adam Voges, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rangana Herath, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, Steven Smith (12th man)
