Babar captains ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year 2022
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally named the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year for 2022. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam leads the team. From India, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and seamer Mohammed Siraj made the cut. Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza finds himself in the XI after a distinguishable run in 50-over cricket. Here's the complete list.
Babar, Travis are the designated openers
Babar excelled with dual responsibilities on his shoulders. The Pakistani run machine amassed 679 runs at 84.87. He struck eight 50-plus scores, including three hundreds. Plus, Pakistan won each of the three ODI series played in 2022, beating Australia, West Indies, and the Netherlands. He is joined by Aussie Travis Head, who smacked 550 runs at 68.75 (100s: 2, 50s: 3).
Shai Hope comes in at number 3; Iyer follows
Shai Hope is one of two players from the West Indies to make the XI. The right-handed batter tallied 709 runs while averaging a modest 35.45 (100s: 3, 50s: 2). Meanwhile, Iyer had an emphatic run in the middle-order. He amassed 724 runs at 55.69 (100s: 1, 50s: 6). He is pushing his case in India's XI for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Latham fared well as a wicket-keeper batter
Left-handed batter Tom Latham was a solid campaigner for the Black Caps. He compiled 558 runs across 15 matches, averaging a healthy 55.80. He bossed the show while striking at 100-plus. He clocked two tons and as many fifties. Latham was also effective behind the stumps, with 13 catches and three stumpings.
Sikandar, Mehidy aced as all-rounders
Sikandar put the world to notice with whirlwind exhibitions in limited-overs cricket. In ODIs, the batting all-rounder racked up 645 runs at 49.61. He scored three hundreds, one of those against India. Raza, who bowls off-spin, also took eight wickets. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz shone on both the batting and bowling fronts. The off-spinner took 24 wickets, besides whacking 330 runs at 66.00.
Alzarri leads the pace department
Caribbean quick Alzarri Joseph had a promising year. He garnered 27 wickets at 25.70. Siraj was one of the best bets for India, making inroads at will in the Powerplay. The seamer claimed 24 wickets in total, averaging 23.50. Kiwi pacer Trent Boult troubled the batters, picking 18 wickets at 12.38. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa snatched 30 wickets, the most by an Australian (average: 17.53).
Here's the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year
Babar Azam (captain), Travis Head, Shai Hope, Shreyas Iyer, Tom Latham (wicket-keeper), Sikandar Raza, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa.
