No Indian in ICC Test team, Shami lone in ODI XI

No Indian cricketer figured in the ICC’s Test team of the Year 2015, while pacer Mohammad Shami was the lone representative from among the ‘Men in Blue’ to find a place in the ODI team of the Year, which were announced by the world body on Wednesday.

However, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been named as the 12th man in the Test team.

The teams were chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by the ICC’s Cricket Committee chairman and former India captain, Anil Kumble.

The qualification period ran from September 18, 2014 to September 13, 2015 and the selection panel included past greats of the game -- former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop, ex-England batsman Mark Butcher, former Australia women’s captain Belinda Clark and G Viswanath, Deputy Editor of The Hindu & Sportstar.

The winners of the individual awards will be announced later this month.

Alastair Cook has been named as captain of the side that includes three English cricketers in Stuart Broad and Joe Root. This is the fifth time since 2009 that Broad has been selected in the ICC Test Team of the Year having previously been included in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014.

For Cook, this is his fourth selection and his second as captain having achieved that feat in 2013.

Steven Smith is one of three Australian players selected alongside opener David Warner, for the second successive year, and pace bowler Josh Hazlewood.

There are also three Pakistan players in the team -- Younis Khan, wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed and leg-spinner Yasir Shah. New Zealand duo Trent Boult and Kane Williamson make up the starting team.

South Africa’s AB de Villiers, meanwhile, has been selected in the ODI Team of the Year for the fourth time in five years and for the first time as captain. He is one of three Proteas players selected alongside Hashim Amla (also selected in 2013) and Imran Tahir.

Kumar Sangakkara, who recently retired from international cricket, has been selected as wicket-keeper and earns his fourth nomination (2011, 2012 and 2013) and is named alongside Sri Lanka teammate Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was also selected in 2009, 2011 and 2013. 

Smith earned his inaugural ODI nomination after playing a leading role in helping Australia seal their fifth ICC Cricket World Cup and is named alongside the Player of the Tournament -- Mitchell Starc. Boult gained his debut nomination in the ODI Team of the Year alongside his New Zealand teammate Ross Taylor.