ICC announces Test and ODI Teams of the Year 2013

The ICC today announced its Test and ODI Teams of the Year, as chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by the ICC’s Cricket Committee chairman and former India captain Anil Kumble. 

The announcement was made by ICC Chief Executive David Richardson at a media conference in Mumbai, at which Mr Richardson also announced the short-lists for the LG ICC Awards 2013, which will be broadcast as a TV show later in the year. The LG ICC Awards recognise the best international players over the period 7 August 2012 to 25 August 2013. 

The ICC Test Team of the Year is (in batting order):

Alastair Cook (Eng, captain)
Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind)
Hashim Amla (SA)
Michael Clarke (Aus)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
AB de Villiers (SA)
MS Dhoni (Ind - Wicketkeeper)
Graeme Swann (Eng)
Dale Steyn (SA)
James Anderson (Eng)
Vernon Philander (SA)
12th Man: Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind)

Four countries are represented in the 12-man Test line-up, and South Africa’s Dale Steyn has earned a place in the ICC Test Team of the Year for the sixth successive year. 

It is the fourth year in a row for South Africa’s Hashim Amla, while England captain Alastair Cook, who is named as the captain, appears in the side for the third straight year. 

ICC ODI Team of the Year (in batting order)

Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)
Shikhar Dhawan (Ind)
Hashim Amla (SA)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
AB de Villiers (SA)
MS Dhoni (Ind, captain and wicketkeeper)
Ravindra Jadeja (Ind)
Saeed Ajmal (Pak)
Mitchell Starc (Aus)
James Anderson (Eng)
Lasith Malinga (SL)
12th Man: Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ)

Seven countries are represented in the 12-man line-up and only one player – Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India – finds a place in the side for the sixth consecutive years. The ICC Champions Trophy 2013-winning captain has also been named as the captain, and will lead the side that also includes Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka, who were members of the ICC ODI Team of the Year 2012.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson commented: “I’d like to congratulate all those selected for the ICC Test and ODI Teams of the year. Those selected can be justifiably proud of their achievements and are thoroughly deserving of the recognition they receive”

The Chairman of the LG ICC Awards selection panel, Anil Kumble, added: “It is always tough to decide on the Test and ODI teams of the year, with so many worthy candidates to consider based on the players’ performances between 7 August 2012 and 25 August 2013. 

“The selection panel had a lengthy debate on all the top performers during the performance period and a number of combinations were considered. 

“The selectors did utilise a vast amount of statistics from the period under observation, but we also took into account other factors like the opposition, pitch conditions, match situation and the like. But when you have only 12 places to fill from a big group of world-class players, there will always be a few who will miss out. 

“In the panel’s expert opinion, it has selected the best Test and ODI Teams based on performances over the past 12 months.”

Kumble was joined on the panel by former Pakistan fast bowler and captain Waqar Younis, former England captain and wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, former South Africa batsman and current Hall of Famer Graeme Pollock, and former New Zealand women’s player Catherine Campbell. Statistics were available as a guide but were not necessarily the overwhelming factor in the choices made.