Year in Review: ODI Team of the year 2013

Bowlers

8. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

The mother of comebacks!

Mitch is back! The Road to Ashes was definitely laid following his brilliant performances in One Day Internationals this year. He was able to hit the deck with accurate pace and bounce even in the flat tracks in India as he emerged as the only bowler who remained unscathed at the end of the series.

Johnson announced his return to international cricket this year like no other player in the recent past. He was quickly able to gather some momentum for the fading Aussies as the key bowler in both England and India.

9. Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)

Mr. Consistent!

60 wickets in 32 games at an average of 20.41! The most important fact of his form would be that he has managed to do these in conditions that weren’t in great favour for spinners. He was adjudged the Man of the Series in South Africa where the pitches don’t offer that much assistance to the spinners.

Ajmal has been able to mince the doosras along with the off-spinner that has proved quite difficult for most of the batsmen. His subtle variations in flight and speed have definitely helped his cause in becoming the leading spinner of 2013.

10. Dale Steyn (South Africa)

Fiery and Deadly!

The best fast bowler in the game now and one among the best of all time. There might not be many who would dare to deny the statement. Steyn would be able to swing the ball on any surface on earth and an economy rate of just 3.65 in ODIs this year is just an indication of his resplendence.

He has managed to survive his initial hiccups in the shorter format and has proved people that bowling could still win matches in the modern era. Ask Hafeez more about Steyn and one will realize how brutal he could be!

11. Mitchell Mcclenaghan (New Zealand)

The Wicket machine!

40 wickets in just 15 games at an unbelievable strike rate of just 20. He doesn’t have the accuracy in swing and bounce, but he rather knows the knack of taking wickets. He has been able to burst through any batting line-up he has played against, though his economy rate has been quite on the upper side. Having him as an opening bowler would definitely help his captain in breaking partnerships that would pester his team.

Debatable exclusions include Rohit Sharma, Ab De Villiers, George Bailey, Ravindra Jadeja, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Junaid Khan. I truly feel embarrassed in leaving someone like De Villiers out from the team of the year.

The most complete cricketer of today, De Villiers’ form has been a shade lighter than that of Sangakkara and Misbah, who have been more than brilliant this year. He has definitely been more among the runs in comparison to Dhawan and Guptill, but a slot in the middle order is not open enough to let Mr.360 degree walk into it.

Rohit Sharma, despite being the highest scoring opener this year, didn’t fare as well in overseas conditions as Dhawan and Guptill managed to do. Bailey wouldn’t able to make it to a world XI until one of Misbah, Sangakkara and Dhoni go out of form and McLaren has been more steady this year than Jadeja.

Dilshan has played more of with I-want-to-score attitude rather than contributing to winning causes while Junaid Khan has unfortunately missed it out to a miser, a wicket-bag and a comeback hero.