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Ashwin, Shami in ICC teams of 2015; no place for Kohli

Last updated on: December 02, 2015 15:10 IST

A notable absentee is India's star batsman and Test captain Virat Kohli, who is not in both the teams.

R Ashwin

IMAGE: India off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin features in ICC's Test Team of the Year as 12th man.

In what can be termed as major disappointment for India, only one player from the country was included in the ICC’s Test and ODI Teams of the Year respectively.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been phenomenal in home conditions, made it to the Test team as the 12th man, while pacer Mohammed Shami was included in the ODI team.

However, one of the most notable absentees is India's star batsman and Test captain Virat Kohli, who missed out from both the teams.

The ICC, on Wednesday, 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 qualification period ran from September 18, 2014 to September 13, 2015.

The selection panel included past greats of the game, including 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.

Alastair Cook was named as captain of the Test side, which has three Englishmen, including Stuart Broad and Joe Root.

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 list: Younis Khan, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

New Zealand duo Trent Boult and Kane Williamson make up the starting team, with India’s Ravichandran Ashwin was named 12th man.

Mohd ShamiSouth Africa’s AB de Villiers, meanwhile, was 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 Sangakarra, who recently retired from international cricket, was selected as wicketkeeper and earns his fourth nomination (2011, 2012 and 2013). He was named alongside Sri Lanka team-mate Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was also selected in 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Steven Smith earned his inaugural ODI nomination after playing a leading role in helping Australia seal its fifth ICC Cricket World Cup.

Boult gained his debut nomination in the ODI Team of the Year alongside his New Zealand team-mate Ross Taylor.

Bangladesh’s 20-year-old left-arm pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who burst on to the scene over the last year became the first ever player from his country to make the ODI Team of the Year, Shakib Al Hasan having been previously named in the 2009 Test Team of the Year, which is indicative of Bangladesh’s progress over the last 18 months. He is joined by India’s Mohammed Shami, who also made the 2014 team.

ICC Test Team of the Year 2015 (in batting order):

David Warner (Aus)

Alastair Cook (Eng) (captain)

Kane Williamson (NZ)

Younis Khan (Pak)

Steven Smith (Aus)

Joe Root (Eng)

Sarfraz Ahmed (Pak) (wicketkeeper)

Stuart Broad (Eng)

Trent Boult (NZ)

Yasir Shah (Pak)

Josh Hazlewood (Aus)

12th man: Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind)

ICC ODI Team of the Year 2015 (in batting order):

Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)

Hashim Amla (SA)

Kumar Sangakkara (SL) (wicketkeeper)

AB de Villiers (SA) (captain)

Steven Smith (Aus)

Ross Taylor (NZ)

Trent Boult (NZ)

Mohammed Shami (Ind)

Mitchell Starc (Aus)

Mustafizur Rahman (Bang)

Imran Tahir (SA)

12th man: Joe Root (Eng)

Image: Pacer Mohammed Shami is part of ICC's ODI Team of the Year.

Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Rediff Sports Desk