Ravichandran Ashwin also finds a place in the team
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Virat Kohli named captain of Cricket Australia's Test Team of 2016. File Pic[/caption]Internet Desk: Virat Kohli has been named the captain of a Test XI picked by Cricket Australia. The Indian Test captain who found himself being left out of the Test Team of the Year by International Cricket Council (ICC) was on Friday picked by the Australian Cricket Board. Kohli is also named the captain of the squad which also features Australia Test skipper Steve Smith.
The team released on the official website of Cricket Australia features six changes from the team released by ICC on Thursday.
Steve Smith, who was selected as No.12 member in the ICC Test team, got a chance in Cricket Australia’s playing XI. But somewhat surprisingly David Warner did not feature in the XI, even after his good show with the bat in 2016.
Pakistan opening batsman Azhar Ali is picked in the side as an opener. He will open the innings with South Africa’s Quinton de Cock. The Proteas batsman normally opens the batting for his country in ODI’s. The middle order batting line up comprises of Joe Root, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. England cricketer Ben Stokes has been picked primarily as a batting all rounder. The Number 1 Test Bowler Ravichandran Ashwin also fill the all –rounder’s slot. England’s Johny Bairstow will keep the wickets. Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath is the second spinner of the side. Mitchell Starc and Kagiso Rabada will share the new ball.
Here is the Test team of the year made by Cricket Australia:
Azhar Ali (Pakistan) - 10 matches, 950 runs, average 52.77, 2 tons
The Pakistan opener had a great season scoring 950 runs (including an unbeaten 302 runs against West Indies) from 10 Tests. His 139 runs knock against England at Edgbaston was a treat to watch, though Pakistan lost that match.
Quinton de Kock (South Africa) - 7 matches, 589 runs, average 65.44, 2 tons
The South-African left-hander averaged 65 from seven Tests with two centuries and four fifties, while he also pocketed 28 dismissals behind the stumps. South Africa's record this year underlines de Kock's importance to their side; the Proteas won all four Tests in which their keeper-batsman scored more than 100 runs for the match, but were winless from three games in which he didn't score at least 50.
Joe Root (England) - 17 matches, 1477 runs, average 49.23, 3 tons
The England middle order batsman has enhanced his reputation as one of the best in the world this year by scoring 1477 runs. He scored 254 runs against Pakistan at Old Trafford, while hundreds in Johannesburg and Rajkot showed his ability to perform in all conditions.
Virat Kohli (India, Captain) - 12 matches, 1215 runs, average 75.93, 4 tons
The Indian test captain has had a great year in Tests, scoring 1215 runs in just 12 Tests at an average of 75.93. Kohli scored four tons, three of which was turned into double hundreds. He also captained his side to an unbeaten 18 test matches in 2016.
Steve Smith (Australia) - 10 matches, 914 runs, average 60.93, 3 tons
Though it was not a good year for Australia’s Test side, Smith’s ability as a batsman was never in question. Tons in New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia showed his ability to do well in all parts of the world.
Ben Stokes (England) - 12 matches, 904 runs, average 45.20,2 tons, wickets 33
The all rounder had a superb year both with the bat and ball. He started with an incredible 258 from just 198 balls against South Africa in January and ended the year with 904 runs at an average of 45.20. He also took 33 crucial wickets at 25.81.
Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - 12 matches, 612 runs, average 43.71, wickets 72
The off spinner had a tremendous season. Ashwin bagged the top honours by being adjudged the Best Cricketer of the Year along with the Top Bowlers award. A record-breaking season from the world's leading spin bowler, who took 72 wickets at an average of 23.90 in 2016, 18 more than anyone else in the game. Ashwin scored 612 runs at an average of 43.71, including two centuries and four fifties, and Ashwin is almost the complete package and a luxury to have at No.8 in our Team of the Year.
Jonny Bairstow (England, WK) - 17 matches, 1470 runs, average 58.80, 3 tons
Jonny Bairstow has sewn up his position in the team and played some brilliant knocks in 2016. The right-hander finished with 1470 runs during the year, just seven behind Root as the leading run-scorer for the year. Three centuries and eight fifties underline his potential, while he was also solid behind the stumps.
Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) - 8 matches, 54 wickets, average 17.53
Sri Lanka's 38-year-old spinner was simply a continuation of a brilliant career that began at the end of last century. While 19 of his 54 wickets came in just two Tests against Zimbabwe, his efforts in steering his side to an historic whitewash of Australia was one of the performances of 2016.
Mitchell Starc (Australia) - 7 matches, 45 wickets, average 13.54
While injuries have restricted Starc to just seven Tests so far in 2016, his numbers prove why he will long be Steve Smith's go-to man with the ball. After a record-breaking tour of Sri Lanka that delivered 24 wickets at 15, a leg injury halted his momentum going into the home Tests and he hasn't quite been at his absolute best this summer, although he's still delivered for his captain.
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) - 8 matches, 42 wickets, average 22.23
He's long been regarded as a future star of South Africa, and this was the year that Kagiso Rabada announced himself to the cricketing world. A 13-wicket haul against England in Centurion got his year off to a flying start and his performance against Australia in Perth will live long in the memory.
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