5 players who missed out in the ICC ODI team of the year

Today, the ICC announced the nominations for this year’s LG ICC Awards and also unveiled the ODI and Test teams of the year.While many expected faces were picked for the different teams, some shockingly failed to grab a position.

Here is a list of 5 players who missed out on ICC ODI Team of the year 2013:

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

The exclusion of Virat Kohli from the ICC ODI team of the year has become a bigger news than the announced team itself. The dynamic right-hander from India has been a consistent performer for India for the past three years. His temperament and performances have led many to the belief that he could be the “Next Big Thing” in world cricket and hence his exclusion is a tough pill to swallow.

The selection panel however have their reasons. In the given period of consideration between 7 august 2012 to 25 August 2013, there are ten batsmen who have outscored Kohli. Moreover, the committee also considered other factors like opposition, match situations and team combinations and since it was a very tough competition , Kohli missed out this time. But we do have high hopes for the young Indian and in most probability, he will make the cut the next time.

2. Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-Ul-Haq was the third highest run-getter in the aforementioned period , yet he couldn’t make the cut. Even weirder is that he has been nominated for ICC ODI Cricketer of the year! How can a person who is not in the team of 11 members be considered as a nominee for the individual performer? He may not be in the team, but back home the 39-year-old is a widely loved and respected cricketer. He is handling a shaky and unstable team and maybe the bad performance of the Pakistan team was a major factor in his exclusion.

3. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

This young Indian who recently made a dream Test debut and has been smashing the records beyond the boundaries with his breath-taking knocks can’t find himself a spot in the ODI team of the year. The competition is really tough and he can only feel unlucky to have missed out on the selection. For six batting spots, it’s a real tough choice when you have such a large pool of talented performers.

4. George Bailey

George Bailey

The entire Australian team and Cricket Australia believes in this guy and they have displayed their belief by shouldering him with the responsibility of captaincy. And he has risen up to the challenge in the best manner possible. With sparkling consistency and great attitude , he has established himself as the most valuable member of team Australia at this point of time. In 2013, Bailey has averaged over 60 and that too at almost a run a ball. Though it’s still a long journey for him, but the start has been nothing less than phenomenal.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin

He has been included in the Test Team of the Year owing to his tremendous performances in the past year. But Ashwin has been a strong force in the ODI format as well. The numbers are good for him, though not the best among his competitors, but if you ask MS Dhoni , then he would tell you about Ashwin’s importance in the team. Ashwin has performed at crucial times and taken India out of bad situations consistently. His last over heroics in the ICC Champions trophy will be long remembered by the Indian fans. Besides , Ashwin’s batting has improved considerably in the past one year and having him in the ICC ODI Team could have strengthened the lower order as well.

However, congratulations are in order for those who made it to the ICC ODI Team of the year.

ICC ODI Team of the Year (in batting order): Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL), Shikhar Dhawan (Ind), Hashim Amla (SA), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), AB de Villiers (SA), MS Dhoni (Ind, captain and wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja (Ind), Saeed Ajmal (Pak), Mitchell Starc (Aus), James Anderson (Eng), Lasith Malinga (SL). 12th Man: Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ).