The year 2019 saw England being crowned new World Cup champions, continuing the tradition of hosts winning the trophy. New Zealand finished runners-up for the second time in a row while India and defending champions Australia stumbled at the semi-final stage. Apart from England, Australia and India had a reasonable year overall while South Africa stumbled. Here’s a look at Cricket Today’s ODI XI of 2019.
Openers: Jason Roy, Rohit Sharma
England’s dazzling opener Jason Roy had a fantastic year, with 845 runs in 14 games at an average of 70.41. Roy notched up three hundreds and six fifties at a strike rate of 118.18. He scored 153 in the World Cup game against Bangladesh, and went on to score hat-trick of fifties against India, New Zealand and Australia (semi-final).
Rohit Sharma joins Roy as the other opener. He amassed 1,232 runs in 25 games at an average of 53.56 and a strike rate of 88 with six centuries, five of them coming in the World Cup, three of them back-to-back. His reserved his best of 140 for mega World Cup clash against Pakistan.
Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Eoin Morgan (Captain)
There is no alternative to Virat Kohli at number three. The Indian captain has registered 1,288 runs to his name in 23 matches at an average of 64.40 and a strike rate of 95.90. Kohli has five ODI hundreds in the year, with his best of 123 coming against Australia at Ranchi. He registered five consecutive fifties in the World Cup, and scored back-to-back hundreds in West Indies.
New Zealand’s unlucky World Cup captain Kane Williamson also finds a place in the middle-order. In 20 matches, Williamson has 948 runs at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 75.35. Williamson scored consecutive hundreds in the World Cup — 106 not out against South Africa and 148 against West Indies.
England’s World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan will captain the side. In 21 matches, the left-hander scored 791 runs at an average of 52.73 and a strike rate of 112.19. Of his two hundreds in the year, one was the smashing 148 from 71 in the World Cup clash against Afghanistan, which featured a record 17 sixes.
Wicket-keeper: Jos Buttler
England’s dashing wicket-keeper Jos Buttler takes the responsibility behind the stumps. In 20 games, he smashed 667 runs at an average of 47.64 and a strike rate of 135.56. He enthralled with 150 off 77 against West Indies at St George’s, and also hit 103 from 76 against Pakistan in a losing cause in the World Cup.
All-rounder: Ben Stokes
An automatic choice following his exploits in the World Cup final. In 20 matches, Stokes accumulated 719 runs at an average of 59.91 and a strike rate of 92.53. With the ball, he chipped in with 12 wickets. In the World Cup, he made valiant 80s against Sri Lanka and Australia, and the unforgettable 84 not out in the pulsating final.
Bowlers: Chris Woakes, Trent Boult , Mohammed Shami Yuzvendra Chahal
England medium pacer emerged as an unsung hero of the team’s World Cup campaign. He claimed 29 wickets in 19 games in the year at an average of 29.79 and a strike rate of 30. His best of 5 for 54 came against Pakistan in a game at Leeds in May. Woakes claimed significant three-fors in the World Cup semi-final and final.
For the second World Cup running, Trent Boult has been among the leading wicket-takers with 17 scalps. The left-arm pacer has 38 wickets from 20 games in 2019 at an average of 23.97 and a strike rate of 30.5. His best of 5 for 21 came against India at Hamilton in January. In the World Cup, he claimed four-fors against West Indies and Australia (including a hat-trick).
Mohammed Shami has been magnificent in one-day international. Shami has dismissed 37 players in 18 matches at an average of 21.32. The Indian pacer is the second highest wicket-taker in the ongoing year.
India’s Yuzvendra Chahal will handle the spin department. In 16 matches, he has 29 wickets to his name while averaging 28.10 at a strike rate of 29.3. Chahal’s 6 for 42 came against Australia at Melbourne at the start of the year. He had an average World Cup with 13 wickets in nine games.
12th man: Aaron Finch
Australia captain Aaron Finch narrowly missed out on the opening slot. He has 1,141 runs in 23 games at an average of 51.86 and a strike rate of 89.42.