Current World ODI XI with one player from each country

Cricket enthusiasts would appreciate and could only imagine what a squad would look like if all the best players from different countries played together. This is what compelled me to think about such a scenario and create a great ODI side wherein each player is from a different country.

This squad may not have the current best players in the ODI as I have added the constraint of a single player from each country. So for example, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are one of the best players from the current lot but both can't be a part of this side together. Same goes for Jos Butler, Ben Stokes, and Jason Roy, only one can make it to the side amongst these. Even players like MS Dhoni will struggle to find a place in this side as he is not only competing with the other wicketkeepers but also players from his own team.

Countries considered are Afganistan, Zimbambe, Bangladesh, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zeland, England, South Africa, Australia, and India.

It will be interesting to see which players make it to the eleven.

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Openers

Options for the opening slot are:

1) Rohit Sharma: Probably one of the best openers in the world. He has scored three double hundreds in ODIs and also holds the current highest score in ODIs. He has scored 4781 runs while opening at an average of 54.32 and strike rate of 91.29. He is currently ranked four in the ODI list of top batsmen.

2) Fakhar Zaman: The new Pakistani batting sensation Fakhar Zaman became the fastest to reach 1000 runs in ODIs. He recently scored a double century against Zimbabwe. He has scored 1065 runs in just 18 matches at an average of over 76. In such a short career he has made a name for himself.

3) Martin Guptill: The New Zealand opener has scored close to 6000 runs at an average close to 43. He has scored 13 hundred and one double-hundred.

4) Tamim Iqbal: He has been a consistent player for Bangladesh and off late been in exceptional form scoring a lot of runs. He has scored 6305 runs in ODIs at an average of over 36.

5) Jason Roy: The English opener is an excellent stroke player and consistently provided fast starts. He has scored over 2400 runs at an average of close to 39 and strike rate of over 104.

6) Johny Bairstow: Like Jason Roy, he is also an excellent stroke player and in just 51 matches he has scored 1962 runs at an average of over 50. He has also scored 6 hundred and is currently ranked 10 in the top ODI batsmen list.

7) Hashim Amla: This South African opener has been a great ODI player and has scored close to 8000 runs at an average close to 50. He has 26 hundred to his name and a consistent run-scorer for South Africa.

8) Quinton de Kock: The South African wicketkeeper opening batsman has scored over 4000 runs at an average of over 45. He has also scored 13 hundred and 17 fifties and is currently 7th on the top ODI batsmen list.

9) Evin Lewis: The West Indian opener can rip apart any bowling attack with his batting. He has scored over 1000 runs at an average of 32.58 and is best remembered for his whirlwind knock of 176*. On his best day, he can win you matches single-handedly.

10) David Warner: Pocket-sized dynamite David Warner is currently one of the best and has scored 4343 runs at an average of 43.43. He is ranked 5th on the top ODI batsmen list. He has scored 14 hundred and 17 fifties.

I will have two left-handers in David Warner and Evin Lewis as the openers in the side. Although they may not be the best openers unto themselves but because of the constraint of one player from each side, I will resort to choosing these two.

Middle Order

1) Kane Williamson: Current Kiwi captain Kane Williamson is an all-format player. He is one of the best players of the current generation and has scored 5156 runs in ODIs at an average of 46.87. He is a consistent number 3 batsman and has scored 11 hundreds.

2) Babar Azam: The new batting stalwart from Pakistan, Babar Azam is an excellent middle order player. He is currently ranked second in the ODI batsmen list. He has scored close to 2000 runs at an average close to 55. He has scored 8 hundreds and 7 fifties in his career.

3) Faf Du Plessis: The South African Captain is an excellent middle order player having scored close to 4500 runs at an average of over 44. He has scored 9 hundreds and 29 fifties in his illustrious career.

4) Steve Smith: Steve Smith, one of the best players from the current lot has scored 3431 runs at an average close to 42. Since I already have Warner in the team I can't select him.

5) Joe Root: Joe Root has been the most consistent player for England of late. He averages over 51 and has scored 4800 runs in ODIs. He has 13 hundreds and 28 fifties to his name.

6) Eoin Morgan: The English captain is an excellent middle order player. He has scored 6362 runs at an average of 37.64 with 11 tons and 39 fifties to his name.

7)Brendon Taylor: Zimbabwe's middle order player Brendon Talyor was the fourth highest run-getter of the 2015 cricket world cup wherein he scored 410 runs in just 6 matches at an average of 72.16. Overall he has scored close to 6000 runs in ODIs at an average of 35.79 and has 10 hundreds to his name too.

9) Virat Kohli: The first name that pops up when you want a player at one down is of the current Indian skipper Virat Kohli. He is just batting on another level with no player even nearing him currently. He averages over 58 and has scored close to 10000 runs. He is a run machine and popularly known as the chasing master. He is currently ranked 1 in the ODI batsmen list.

Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Babar Azam have really great stats but I need players for other spots from England, Pakistan and NewZeland which is why I have chosen Brendon Taylor over them for the number 4 spot. Virat, without any doubt, gets his very own number 3 spot in this side.

Wicketkeepers

1) Mushfiqur Rahim: Rahim has scored 4828 runs at an average of 33.06 and has been a consistent scorer in Bangladesh's squad. One of the key elements of his side, he has taken 151 catches and has been involved in 42 stumpings.

2) Sarfaraz Ahmad: He has been an excellent finisher for Pakistan and has scored 1748 runs at an average of 34.27 and a strike rate of 87.22. He has taken 92 catches and has been involved in 22 stumpings.

3) MS Dhoni: Perhaps one of the best wicketkeeper-batsman to have ever graced the game, Dhoni has scored more than 10000 runs at an average of over 51 even after batting at such a low position. He has taken 300 catches and has been involved in 107 stumpings which is a world record. With Virat already in the side, he can't make it to this squad.

4) Jos Buttler: Buttler is one of the current best finishers in ODI cricket with a strike rate of over 117. He has scored 3148 runs at an average of over 40. He has taken 148 catches and has been involved in 25 stumpings.

I will choose Jos Buttler over the rest solely because of his excellent finishing skills which none other can match.

All-rounders

1) Ben Stokes: One of the best seam bowling all-rounders of the current generation, Ben Stokes is equally effective with both ball and bat. He averages over 35 with the willow with a strike rate of over 93 and is an excellent finisher. He has taken 58 wickets from 58 innings at an average of just under 40 but since Butler has already been selected apriori, he can't make it to this side.

2) Mohammad Nabi: Nabi is currently on number four on the best all-rounders list. He has scored 2301 runs at an average of slightly less than 30. He averages just over 31 with the ball and has taken 108 wickets.

3) Hardik Pandya: The Indian all-rounder is an excellent finisher with the bat. He has the ability to clear any ground. He has taken 40 wickets in 40 innings and has scored 670 at a strike rate of over 114. With already an Indian in the side, Pandya can't be chosen.

4) Marcus Stonis: He has scored more than 600 runs in his short career at an average of over 45 and at a strike rate of over 101. He has taken 10 wickets in 16 innings.

5) Shadab Khan: The Pakistan all-rounder averages 52 with the bat and has scored 208 runs in the only 8 innings he has batted in. He has taken 33 wickets at an average of 25.60.

6) Angelo Mathews: He is currently ranked number 5 on the best all-rounders list. He has scored 5342 runs at an average of 42.73. His medium paced seam bowling has fetched him 114 wickets at an average of over 34.

7) Shakib Al Hasan: If you talk about world-class all-rounders, you most certainly cannot miss out the Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Currently, the best all-rounder in ODIs, he has scored 5433 at an average of 35.50. With his left arm spin, he has taken 237 wickets at an average of less than 30.

For the all-rounders' slot, I have chosen Shakib and Mathews. Having 2 allrounders in the squad will give 6 bowling options and 7 batting options.

Spinners

1) Kuldeep Yadav: The Indian left-arm chinaman is currently ranked sixth in the best ODI bowlers list. He has taken 48 wickets in just 21 innings at an astonishing average of 19.35 and a strike rate of 24. Despite impressive stats, Kuldeep can't make it to the squad with an Indian already filling the spot.

2) Imran Tahir: The South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir has taken 139 wickets from 83 matches at an average of 24.81. He also has two five-wicket hauls to his name. He is currently ranked 9th on the best ODI bowlers list.

3) Yuzvendra Chahal: The Indian leggie is currently ranked ninth on the best ODI bowlers list sharing this position with Tahir. He has taken 42 wickets from 26 matches at an average of 23.86 and has a fifer to his name.

4) Rashid Khan: One of the best leg spinner in the world, Rashid Khan has taken 108 wickets from 48 matches at an average of just 14.2 and strike rate of 21.7. Currently, he is ranked number two in the ODI bowlers list just after Jasprit Bumrah.

With already Shakib in the side as a spinner I will keep only one spinner and Rashid Khan takes that spot without any doubt.

Pacers

1) Jasprit Bumrah: He is currently ranked number one in the ODI bowlers list. He has taken 64 wickets in just 37 matches at an impressive average of just 22.50. With a heavy heart, I have to let go of his inclusion in the side with Virat Kohli filling the Indian quota in this team.

2) Mitchell Starc: He has taken 141 wickets from 72 matches at an impressive strike rate of 25.4 and at an average of just 20.95. But since Warner has already taken the place from the Australian team, Starc can't make it to the team.

3) Trent Boult: Currently ranked fourth in the ODI bowlers list, he has 122 scalps from 66 matches at an average of 24.63. Additionally, he has taken 4 five-wicket hauls.

4) Hasan Ai: The Pakistan pacer has taken 68 wickets from 33 matches at an average of 20.88 and strike rate of 24.0. He is currently ranked third on the ODI bowlers list.

5) Kagiso Rabada: He is one of the most complete bowlers currently. He has taken 81 wickets from 61 matches at an average of 27.62. He is currently ranked 7th on the ODI bowlers list.

Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada will be the opening bowlers in this side. Boult is a left-arm seamer and will bring variations in the bowling. Hasan Ali will be the first change bowler.

Final Squad

Below is the final list mentioning the country and the player selected from that nation who has made it to this squad.

1) Australia: David Warner

2) West Indies: Evin Lewis

3) India: Virat Kohli (Captain)

4) Zimbabwe: Brendon Taylor

5) Srilanka: Angelo Mathews

6) England: Jos Butler

7) Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan

8) Afganistan: Rashid Khan

9) NewZeland: Trent Boult

10) Pakistan: Hasan Ali

11) South Africa: Kagiso Rabada