ODI: The current World XI
Cricket is the second most popular team game in the world. This game is followed by billions of fans, mostly from once tormented English colonies. There are people who sometimes a make a joke on cricket terming the game killing drug. The cynic says Britain erected the seed of cricket across their colonies in order to off their mind from social and political plights. Britain thought if they could mesmerize its colonial people than their existence would be increased.
But, their strategy backfired as most the time it was seen that whenever, England faced any of their former colonies they were ripped apart. Be, it India or West Indies or Australia. All these colonies have only one religion that is cricket.
There was a day when England used to think they were the superior to all their colonies. But, over the years thing has changed. England failed to win a 50 overs world cup while his colonies like West Indies, India, Sri Lanka and Australia have tested their heydays.
But, thanks to England for scattering the seed of a great game like cricket across the world. They are now a reckoning force in world cricket. Just because of them cricket reached in Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. The best batsman Sachin Tendulkar and the best bowling pair Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie was not born in the English colonies. But, batsmen like Nasser Hussain, Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Joe Root was born in England. Similarly, all over the world a bunch of new talents started dominating the international cricket after the retirement of cricketers who made their debut in 1990’s and retired in 2000’s.
Now, on the basis of their current performance, I am here at Sportzwiki selecting the World ODI XI
Openers ( 1-2):
Rohit Sharma
The Indian opener has been in good from since 2013. He scored 1736 runs in 34 innings with an average of 56. No, doubt he is the best opener in the world if we consider his last two years performance. His 209 against Australia at Bangalore and 264 against Sri Lanka at Kolkata are the highlights of his ability to win the match singlehandedly. An opener like Rohit Sharma will reduce the pressure on the middle order. He also hit 5 hundred and 8 half centuries. Currently, none of the openers has as destructive as him.
Hasim Amla
The stylish technically gifted South African opener has no competitors at this moment as he scored 2244 runs in 45 innings at an average of 53.42. He can rotate the strike as well as anchor the innings. He scored 10 hundred and 7 half centuries till now. His partnership with Rohit Sharma will be the combination for trouble for any opposition bowlers. His 159 off 128 balls against Ireland during the 2015 World Cup Down Under is the perfect example of stylish batting. He first understands the pitch and bowlers, and according to the conditions he shifts his gear.
No. 3 Kane Williamson
He is considered as one of the best No. 3s among the current players. You can name Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. But, this 25-year-old batsman showed lots more consistency than Kohli and Steve Smith in the last two years at this crucial position. He played 39 innings and scored 2095 runs at an average of 59. 85. His batting is a display of maturity, temperament, and prolific strokeplay. So, far he hit 208 fours and 17 sixes, the highest by any no. 3 batsman. He scored four centuries in the last two years and 15 half centuries. So, he is the perfect man for no. 3 position. Added to his batting he sometimes rolls his hand. He has 9 wickets in his name in the last two years.
No. 4 Ross Taylor
If you consider last two year’s stats then you will not have the better no. 4 than Ross Taylor. The Kiwi’s form made him the best choice for the no. 4 for the current World XI. He scored 1849 runs in 40 matches at an average of 63.76. He has the supreme technique and ability to rotate the strike in the slog over. He hit 8 hundred and 7 half century. His two back to back hundreds during New Zealand’s tour of England restored the parity of the series. Only batsman close to his success is Joe Root, who scored 1109 runs at an average of 44.36.
No. 5 AB de Villiers
Mr. 360’s ability to play the ball around the park makes him the best choice for no. 5 position. His performance at no. 5 talks for himself. He scored 1069 runs at an average of 118.77 in 16 innings. He has different kind of strokes in his hand beside the full range of strokes listed by MCC. He faced only 867 balls and hit 101 fours and 28 sixes. The highlight of his batting against West Indies just before the World Cup at the New Wanderers, Johannesburg when de Villiers hit the fastest century, which also came at this position in international cricket. He scored two hundred and 7 fifty as well in this period.
No. 6 MS Dhoni (Captain)
When everybody urging MS Dhoni to bat at no. 4 for India. The Indian captain at no. 6 Indian was the most successful batsman in the last two years. He is arguably the best finisher in the world. He played 25 innings at this position and scored 987 runs at an average of 58.06. His unbeaten 139 against Australia at Mohali was an exemplary innings. He also scored 8 fifty at this position. His slog over batting also talked for him. He hit 82 boundaries and 24 sixes.
No. 7 Quinton de Kock (Wicket-keeper)
The South Africa wicket-keeper currently is not his best form with the bat in hand. But, you can’t raise question over his ability to keep the wicket. He is an athlete behind the wickets. He scored 1543 runs at an average of 40.61 with 67 dismissals, the best in the last who years. De Kock played 38 innings as a wicket-keeper in the year between 2013 and 2015. He took 64 catches and stumped three batsmen. His dismissal rate per innings is 1.763. The only wicket keeper is close to this success is Luke Ronchi of New Zealand.
Bowlers
No. 8 Trent Boult
The kiwi pacer took 40 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 20.55. The left-arm quick who presents a significant threat to batsmen around the world with an ability to move the ball both ways even in unresponsive conditions. He was bowling like a thunderbolt in the World Cup at home. From their first match against Sri Lanka to final against Australia he got wickets in every match. The highlight of his bowling was against Australia in the low scoring thriller. At Eden Park, Auckland, Australia batting first were collapsed for 151. The protagonist of Australia’s failure was Trent Boult, whose 5 for 25, devastated Australian batting line up. New Zealand had won the match by 1 wicket.
No. 9 Dale Steyn
One of the best bowlers of this new millennium. The South African bowling spearhead Dale Steyn has taken 63 wickets in 34 matches at an average of 20.73, which is best among the pacers in the last two years. In 2013, when South Africa were touring the UAE for the series against Pakistan Steyn took five wickets conceding just 25 on a difficult Abu Dhabi pitch, that followed 17 wickets haul against Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka in five matches. His 6 wicket haul against Pakistan at Port Elizabeth was his best figure.
No. 10 Imran Tahir
The South African leg spinner’s success rate in the last two years was marvelous. Tahir took 63 wickets in 39 matches with an average of 24.11, which is the best in last two years. One may consider India’s R. Ashwin name. But, the Indian wizard, played two more matches than Tahir and took 59 wickets with higher an average of 32.16. Tahir’s 5 for, 45 against West Indies at Sydney during the 2015 World Cup group match was his best career figure.
No. 11 Mitchell Starc
The phenomenon of fast swing bowler has back in cricket through this strongly built Australian pacer. He can bowl 150kmph consistently with venomous swing. He has taken 53 wickets in 27 matches with an astonishing average of 19.47.
Now, you may complain where does Indian pacer Mohammad Shami make this list. Yes, the Indian pacer took 77 wickets in 36 matches, but his strike rate is 23. 2 while all three pacers have better strike rate -27, 27 24.7 respectively – and conceded less run than Shami in played innings.
** The team has been chosen on the basis of last two years (2013-2015) performance. The spin bowler with the best bowling average and the 3 pace bowlers with the best bowling averages are selected. The batting order is determined by batting average in the immediately preceding 2 years. The wicket-keeper is also chosen on the basis of his performance in the last two years.