Virat Kohli to captain Cricket Australia's T20 XI of the year

A day after naming the ODI team of the year, Cricket Australia (CA) came up with their T20 XI of the year and yet again made Indian Test skipper the captain of the side. This means Virat Kohli has been given the captaincy duties in each of the formats for the year by CA. The selection procedure was based on performances from both international and domestic fixtures. Apart from some expected names, few relatively inexperienced guys also made the cut.

1. David Warner

Matches: 27 | Runs: 1086 | Batting average: 45.25 | Strike-rate: 150.41 | Top score: 93*

Teams: Australia, Sunrisers Hyderabad

Swashbuckling left-hander David Warner has been handed the opening duties along with England hard hitter Jason Roy. Warner has had a terrific year in international cricket irrespective of the formats and has dominated quality bowling line-ups across the world.

2. Jason Roy

Matches: 25 | Runs: 812 | Batting average: 33.83 | Strike rate: 154.37 | Top score: 120*

Teams: England, England XI, Surrey, Sydney Sixers

Jason Roy, on the other hand, has been a revelation for England in the limited overs format and has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in no time.

Also read- CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test batsmen of the year

3. Virat Kohli (c)

Matches: 31 | Runs: 1614 | Batting average: 89.66 | Strike-rate: 147.12 | Top score: 113

Teams: India, Royal Challengers Bangalore

The No.3 position is occupied by India’s Test skipper Virat Kohli followed by arguably the most destructive batsman of the current generation AB de Villiers. Kohli has had a dream run in 2016 and has been scoring heaps of runs against each country irrespective of formats. He had a tremendous IPL in 2016 and scored as many as 4 centuries during the tournament.

4. AB de Villiers

Matches: 30 | Runs: 1122 | Batting average: 46.75 | Strike-rate: 166.96 | Top score: 129*

Teams: South Africa, Barbados Tridents, Royal Challengers Bangalore

De Villiers, on the other hand, has been out of action in the last couple of months but had a tremendous IPL and T20 World Cup in India earlier in the year.

5. Andre Russell

Matches: 58 | Runs: 1025 | Batting average: 24.40 | Strike rate: 160.15 | Top score: 100

Wickets: 76 | Bowling average: 19.93 | Economy rate: 7.98 | Best-bowling: 4/20

Teams: West Indies, Sydney Thunder, Kolkata Knight Riders, Nottinghamshire, Jamaica Tallawahs, Islamabad United, Dhaka Dynamites

The No.5 position is occupied by hard-hitting Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell. He has the ability to hit some lusty blows and change the complexion of the match in a matter of seconds. He is also a useful bowler and can lend the ideal combination required in the team.

6. Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper)

Matches: 31 | Runs: 816 | Average: 37.09 | Strike-rate: 155.42 | Top score: 73*| Dismissals: 14

Teams: England, England XI, Lancashire, Mumbai Indians

Jos Buttler has been an integral part of England’s limited-overs team and also captained his nation in the ODI series in Bangladesh after Eoin Morgan decided to withdraw from the tour. Buttler is also a clean striker of the ball and has very safe hands behind the stumps.

7. Farhaan Behardien

Matches: 22 | Runs: 481 | Average: 53.44 | Strike rate: 165.86 | Top score: 72*

Teams: South Africa, South Africa A, Kings XI Punjab, Leicestershire, Titans

Farhaan Behardien has been included in the team as a specialist batsman followed by Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi. Behardien isn’t an impact player by any stress of imaginations but he does pack a punch. He can find the boundaries on a consistent basis and despite not being a power-hitter like some of his South African mates he is still a useful batsman batting lower down the order.

Also read- CricTracker fan poll – 5 Best ODI bowlers of the year

8. Shahid Afridi

Matches: 45 | Runs: 553 | Batting average: 16.26 | Strike rate: 161.22 | Top score: 49

Wickets: 46 | Bowling average: 23.56 | Economy rate: 6.56 | Best bowling: 5-7

Teams: Pakistan, Hampshire, Islamabad, Peshawar Zalmi, Rangpur Riders

Afridi has been one of the most consistent performers for Pakistan over the years and has been an asset to any T20 team. Though his hard-hitting batting has diminished to a certain degree but he still remains one of the most feared batsmen in the world. He is also a world-class spinner and has bagged 46 wickets in the calendar year at an impressive average and economy rate.

9. Jasprit Bumrah

Matches: 44 | Wickets: 57 | Bowling average: 20.15 | Economy rate: 6.91 | Best-bowling:  3-10

Teams: India, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat

Jasprit Bumrah has been the new find for Team India especially in the shorter formats of the game. He was brilliant during his debut tour in Australia and made an immediate impact in both the ODI and T20 series. He has immaculate slower delivery and can bowl the Yorker to perfection. He is a terrific death overs bowler and has a bright future ahead of him.

10. Adam Zampa

Matches: 33 | Wickets: 46 | Bowling average: 16.89 | Economy rate: 6.80 | Best-bowling:  6-19

Teams: Australia, Melbourne Stars, Rising Pune Supergiants, Guyana Amazon Warriors

The newcomer Adam Zampa came into the Australian fray very recently and has impressed ever since. He has been an economical bowler despite bowling attacking lines and has 46 wickets in only 33 outings in the calendar year.

11. Mustafizur Rahman

Matches: 26 | Wickets: 37| Bowling average: 18.10 | Economy rate: 6.68 | Best-bowling:  5-22

Teams: Bangladesh, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sussex

Another relative newcomer, Mustafizur Rahman completes the bowling line-up. He has been a revelation for Bangladesh ever since he has made his international debut and has troubled star-studded batting line-ups with beautifully disguised deliveries. He has a terrific off-cutter up his sleeve which actually turns after pitching. The brisk pace of the delivery makes the life of the batsmen more difficult.