ICC Awards 2017: Test and ODI Teams announced; Kohli the captain in both formats
The ICC have announced the Men’s Test and ODI teams for 2017 based on their performances between 21 September 2016 and 31 December 2017. Virat Kohli has been named the captain of both teams. Kohli produced a number of mesmerizing performances during the aforementioned period across both formats and also led India to the No.1 and No.2 rankings and Tests and ODIs, respectively.
2017 is the first year that Kohli has been selected in the Test Team of the Year. This is Kohli’s 4th selection in the ODI Team of the year, having been previously selected in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Apart from Kohli, three other players feature in both the Test and ODI teams of the year. They are Australia’s flamboyant opener David Warner, South African keeper-batsman Quinton de Kock and England’s Ben Stokes. This is probably a welcome bright spot in Stokes’ career following his controversial involvement in a brawl a couple of months ago.
The Test Team of the Year comprises four players who were in last year’s team. They are Warner, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stokes and Mitchell Starc.
The ODI team consists of six players who were in last year’s team. They are Kohli, Rohit Sharma, AB de Villiers, David Warner, de Kock and Mitchell Starc.
Three South Africans have been chosen in the Test squad - Dean Elgar, de Kock and Kagiso Rabada - as many Australians - Warner, Steve Smith and Starc - and Indians - Kohli, Ashwin and Cheteshwar Pujara - have also been chosen. In addition to Ben Stokes, James Anderson is the other Englishman in the Test squad.
The ODI squad has plenty of diversity compared to the Test squad as players from 7 countries make up the squad. India has the most number of players with three (Kohli, Rohit and Bumrah). Pakistan have two players in the squad, Babar Azam and Hasan.
South Africa also have two players in the team in Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers, who is featuring in the ODI Team of the Year for the 7th time in 8 years. Trent Boult is the only New Zealander in the team. For the first time, an Afghan player has appeared in the ODI Team of the Year and it is none other than Rashid Khan.
ICC Test Team of the Year 2017: Dean Elgar, David Warner, Virat Kohli (c), Steve Smith, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ben Stokes, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, James Anderson
ICC ODI Team of the Year 2017: David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Babar Azam, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ben Stokes, Trent Boult, Hasan Ali, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah