The Best In the Game- Non-Asian ODI XI

The Best In the Game- Non-Asian ODI XI: The recent format of ODIs has been proverbially dominated by the shivering likes of Cricketing nations like South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England (to some extent)! In fact, the World Cup final of this year was played between New Zealand and Australia at the MCG. Also, 3 of the four semi finalists were non-Asian countries. Now, having mentioned the term, non-Asian countries, we somehow manage to envelop such extraordinary cricketing talents into a single set. To take a bite of crunch mingled with some spices, what if Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc opened the bowling for a team while McCullum and AB de Villiers batted for the same team! Undoubtedly, imagining something like this, does put a cricket fan to the edge of his seat. So, let us elongate this imagination by imagining a team named as The Best In the Game- Non-Asian ODI XI 1. Brendon McCullum (Captain): Brendon McCullum. (© Getty Images) Opening the innings for the team is the man who has grown up the habit of willowing the bowlers out of the park, the man who is capable of maintaining a tournament strike rate of over 180 in the World Cup, the man capable of crushing bowling prowess of the big names like Steyn and Starc. Brendon Barrie McCullum, the master of 6083 ODI runs with 5 ODI centuries with a gigantic career strike rate of 96 is definitely going to be the opener of the non-Asian side. The skipper with around 62% win percentage as an ODI captain, known for his aggressive stints, is bound to lead the side and is probably the best captaincy candidate in the side. 2. David Warner: David Warner. (© Getty Images) If swaggering with the bat in a rather orthodox style is considered as Physics, then David Andrew Warner would be the Newton of it! We have witnessed for a number of times about his destructive ploys with the bat. The 28-year old left handed batsman is capable of turning things around for the team in quite a single handed fashion. Having someone like him in the team calls up for intensified reliability. Warner has scored 2537 ODI runs till date in 71 matches with 5 ODI centuries by his name. He has played the anchor role for the Australian batting during the World Cup. A right handed-left handed opening combo with the bombarding capabilities of McCullum and Warner is the last thing any opposition wants. 3. Steve Smith: Steve Smith. (© Getty Images) Featuring at number three, is one of the most reliable and equally emerging batting talents of modern day Cricket, Steven Smith. Smith has been pretty much versatile with his stint of batting and could play a varied roles for the team as per the game situation. Smith has so far scored 2082 ODI runs at an average of 40.03 and is currently ranked as the 17th best batsman in ODIs. Smith has played a number of immensely crucial innings to fit into this place. His century in the World Cup semi-final against India at such a pressurising situation was simply splendid. And that century did win Australia the game eventually. Apart from his fortified strengths in batting, he can form an arch-like stature on the field too with his athletic and reflexive fielding. 4. AB de Villiers: Ab de Villiers. (© Getty Images) Well the jersey number 17 of South Africa needs no introduction. A man capable of revolving in a full whirl of 360 degrees around the stumps to play his shots, a man who has been the revolutionary in batting fits apt into the position. Also, one needs to admire his fluidic nature with the bat, capable of adjusting himself for any situations. AB is capable of striking a century in 31 deliveries, at the same time he is capable of scoring 33 runs in over 200 deliveries as per the needs of the team go. The South African captain has scored 8621 runs in ODIs with a flamboyant career average of 54.56 aided by 24 ODI centuries copes up for the number 4 spot. As a token of bonus, his influence in the field is perhaps the last thing an opposition craves for. 5. Kane Williamson: Kane Williamson. (© Getty Images) The scintillating fortress of the kiwi batting makes his name into the squad owing to his majestic and consistent brilliance with the bat. At the age of 24, Williamson managed to strike in as many as 20 international centuries, with 7 in the ODIs. Williamson has got 3666 runs in his ODI career at an average of 47. He has formed the anchor of the New Zealand batting line up and rescued the team on a number of occasions from definite spots of bother. Of late, Williamson was involved in a 206 run partnership with Ross Taylor in the third ODI against New Zealand. He can make up as a highly dependable batsman for the team for sure. 6. Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper): Jos Buttler. (© Getty Images) Perhaps when it comes to a pinch-hitting wicket keeper batsman, there is no better option than the English wicket keeper, Buttler. Buttler held a safe pair of hands from behind the stumps, coupled with some batting brilliance for England at the lower middle order. The right-handed batsman has scored 1798 runs in ODIs at a consistent strike rate of 118. This reflects his value. After such a wall-alike top order, a pinch hitting and crunching instinct is just what the doctor ordered for a team. 7. James Faulkner: James Faulkner. (Photo Source: BCCI) The 4th ranked all-rounder of ODIs at the moment is apt to fit into the squad as a bowling all-rounder. The left arm pacer does possess the capability of swinging the ball and sneaking in important breakthroughs at times. Also, he is capable of playing sensational cameos at the death overs of the innings. He is surely a player upon him a bulk of the responsibilities of the team can well be shouldered onto. Apart from striking 67 wickets in 49 matches, Faulkner has also an ODI century by his name. The player of the match of the World Cup Final, 2015 might well be the X-factor for the team. 8. Mitchell Starc: Mitchell Starc. (© Getty Images) One does not get into the habit of striking Yorkers with pin point accuracies which are more than enough to tremble the batsmen, unless his name is Mitchell Starc. The player of the tournament of the World Cup, 2015 and also the number 1 ODI bowler as per the present ODI rankings does speak for himself from such records. In fact, in the modern era, most of the legends of the game have opined of the fact that Starc is perhaps the most lethal bowler of the time. With Starc opening the bowling for the team, the skipper can surely breathe easy! 9. Tim Southee: Tim Southee. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Southee has been pretty much consistent with his bowling and has been the silent performer for the kiwis for the past couple of years. The right handed pacer is capable of bowling economical death overs for the team and is surely a bowler a team can treasure. With 135 wickets in 99 ODIs, Southee can make mentionable contributions for this particular line up. 10. Trent Boult: Trent Boult. (© Getty Images) The young left handed pacer is perhaps one of the majestic young talents of World Cricket at the moment. Boult had stiff competition with Starc for being the highest wicket taker in the World Cup but ultimately Starc had the upper hand in it. Boult has impressed many with his decency in the line and length and New Zealand have relied much upon him in the recent past for producing something ecstatic with the ball. With 59 wickets in 32 matches, at an average of around 23, Boult will be one of the prime bowling strengths of the line up. Also, the lethal combination of Starc and Boult opening the bowling for the team can shiver any opposition on any track. 11. Imran Tahir: Imran Tahir South Africa. (© Getty Images) The veteran magic of South Africa has been regarded as a prolific spinner of the ball of recent times. In fact, the leg spinner ranks 2nd in the ODI rankings for bowlers. Tahir’s googlies have surprised the batsmen on a number of occasions and he is capable of extracting something from even the dead and dull pitches of the game. Imran Tahir can well act as the breakthrough bowler for the team and shall be playing the role of the frontline spinner. (All stats updated till 18th Feb, 2016)

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The Best In the Game- Non-Asian ODI XI

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