We had given the names of 10 cricketers who has performed especially well for their country in the most recent 12 months and should discover a place among the absolute best.
The rundown included two Indians, three Aussies, two Englishmen and one each from Pakistan, Afghanistan and South Africa. Adolescent leg-spinner Rashid Khan who performed extremely well for his country should have been a chosen one for the best player of 2016. Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin were the normal names in the conflict. Jonny Bairstow alongside Joe Root who has had huge years have likewise been incorporated.
1. Virat Kohli (India)
India’ Test skipper Virat Kohli is having a dream run in international cricket at the moment. Irrespective of formats and oppositions Virat has been piling on run after runs and can go on to break all the batting records until he calls it a day.
The “Modern Master” struck three double centuries in Tests in the calendar year and finished with 1215 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 75.93. He also led his team to five consecutive series victories and was the only captain to remain unbeaten in Tests through the course of the year.
2. Azhar Ali (Pakistan)
The Pakistan right-handed opener isn’t the most impressive batsman on display but has the ability to bat for long hours and hit big scores especially in Test cricket. His recent double century against the mighty Australians in their own territory showed the amount of grit and determination the man had to succeed against the Aussies.
3. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
The most promising bowler of Afghanistan in 2016, Rashid Khan was the find of the ICC Word T20. The leg-spinner has been pretty impressive in the limited-overs format and was instrumental in helping the Afghans to a famous win against the eventual World Champions West Indies in the World T20 earlier in 2016.
4. David Warner (Australia)
Warner didn’t have a particularly impressive beginning in the Test arena but gained from strength to strength. He was consistently troubled by the Lankan spinners during their 0-3 drubbing at the hands of Sri Lanka. Warner in total played 11 Tests in 2016 scoring 748 runs at an average of 42 with two centuries to his name.
5. Steve Smith (Australia)
The Australian captain across all formats has been one of the positives for the Aussies in an otherwise disappointing year especially in the longest format of the game. The year also saw Smith leaving in between an ODI series against Sri Lanka to prepare for the South Africa series and received criticism from every quarter.
6. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
Indian spin ace Ravichandran Ashwin has been on a record-breaking spree of late and courtesy his brilliant performances in the year, the No.1 all-rounder joined the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid by becoming the 3rd Indian to bag the ICC Cricketer of the Year award. Besides that, he also got the ICC Test player of the year award.
7. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
The lanky fast bowler from Australia had a terrific time in 2016 despite below par performances from his team especially in the longest format of the game. Starc was the highest wicket-taker for the Aussies with 24 wickets in the 3-match Test series in Sri Lanka which the visitors lost 0-3. Overall Starc finished with 50 wickets in 8 Tests at an average of 22.58.
8. Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
South African wicketkeeper-batsman, Quinton de Cock had a tremendous time in 2016. He has been a terrific opener for South Africa especially in limited overs cricket and more often than not he has provided the Proteas with a rollicking start.
The hard-hitting southpaw had a tremendous year irrespective of the format and boasts of 50+ averages in both Tests and ODIs. De Kock has scored 857 runs in 17 ODIs in 2016 at an impressive average of 57.13 with 3 centuries to his name.
9. Joe Root (England)
The mainstay of the England batting order Joe Root’s sublime form continued in 2016 and not only did he succeed in Tests, he was brilliant in the shorter formats too. In ODIs Root accumulated 796 runs 15 outings at an impressive average of 61.23 with his highest score being 125 against the mighty Proteas.
10. Jonny Bairstow (England)
English wicketkeeper-batsman in the Test outfit Jonny Bairstow had a terrific 2016 both with the bat and behind the stumps. He finished the year as the 2nd highest run scorer just behind his teammate Joe Root.
In the 3-match Test series against Sri Lanka in May Bairstow finished as the leading run-scorer from either side. He accumulated 387 runs in 3 Tests at a staggering average of 129.00. His top score of 167* came in the final Test at Lord’s.
