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Though I am Australian, I love subcontinent teams, so I will select a team of the best players from India, Sri Lanka, Aghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Barry will select the Rest of the World team because he loves England, South Africa and Australia.
Let us know in the comments which team you think would win in a five-match ODI series.
It is a bit surprising to see more Afghan representation than Sri Lankan, but that just shows how low the Lankans have sunk in recent times, and how that the Afghans’ rise to Test cricket is well deserved.
Rohit Sharma (India)
Ever since he made his debut in 2007, Sharma has averaged 44.55 in ODI cricket. In 2017 he scored 1293 runs at a monster 71.83, with a strike rate of 99.46 and a high score of 208* (his third double century in ODIs) after 21 matches.
Sharma pretty much walks into this side.
Shikhar Dhawan (India)
This was a toss-up between Dhawan or Fakhar Zaman but the former won out because he had played more matches and scored more runs.
He had a very good 2017, scoring 960 runs at 48, with a strike rate of 101.37. Over his career he has been excellent, with an average of 45.91 at 93.44.
Virat Kohli (c) (India)
What kind of team doesn’t have Virat Kohli these days? From his glorious cover drive to his elegant flicks through mid wicket he is a quality player, and his performances speak for themselves: in 208 games he has 35 hundreds and 46 fifties at an average of 58.11 coming at 92.15 runs per 100 balls.
Because he inspires people with his feats on and off the cricket field, he is also our captain.
Virat Kohli (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Babar smashed 872 runs at an average of 67.08 in 2017 alone. Though his career strike rate of 84.27 does not make you jump right out of your chair, he makes the team because he can anchor the innings.
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
No surprise that the number one all-rounder in the world gets selected. He has inspired people in Bangladesh to play cricket and look what has happened: they beat Australia and England at home and are no longer referred to as a ‘minnow’ nation.
Shakib has made seven hundreds and 37 fifties at an average of 34.95, which is more than handy for an all rounder. With the ball he has taken 235 wickets at an average of just under 30.
Shadab Khan (Pakistan)
Relatively new to the scene, the leg-spin bowling all-rounder has become Pakistan’s main limited-overs tweaker in just 17 matches, taking 24 wickets at 28.75.
He gives you ten overs, is an exceptional fielder at point, and has a batting average of 51 with three fifties to his name in seven innings.
At the ripe old age of 19, he could be a very serious threat in the future.
Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) (Bangladesh)
It is quite an achievement to knock MS Dhoni out of any side, but Rahim has earned it with some good performances in the Champions Trophy and the ability to close out and innings with the bat.
In ODI cricket he averages 33, with five hundreds.
Rashid Khan (Aghanistan)
In 44 matches, he has exactly 100 wickets with a best of 7-18 against the West Indies. He is the youngest and fastest to 100 ODI wickets and nobody seems to be able to pick his wrong ‘un. He can also give some handy runs with the bat.
Hasan Ali (Pakistan)
Hasan Ali was the player of the series in the Champions Trophy, was the No.1 ODI bowler for most of 2017, and got the most wickets by a pace bowler in 2017.
With deceptive changes of pace, a good bouncer and a quality yorker, he takes lots of wickets closing out an innings, constricting teams to smaller than expected targets.
He has 62 wickets in 30 matches with an economy of 5.29, which is great considering he bowls at the death.
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)
Many people know him for his infamous match-fixing scandal, which saw him in prison for one year at the age of 18. But since he has come back he is known as a destroyer of top orders and a general nightmare to face.
140 kph and upwards, combined with late inswingers to right-handers and some nasty seam movement, he is almost impossible to play.
He regularly takes out the team’s top three in a matter of minutes, but when the ball loses its shine he is less effective. He has 57 wickets at 29 with an economy of 4.5.
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
After debuting by accident, Bumrah is possibly the best ODI bowler in the world, bowling with the new and old ball, swinging it in to the right hander.
He has 64 wickets in 37 games at an average of 22.5 and an economy of 4.65, which is uncanny for a death specialist.
Batting order
Rohit Sharma
Shikhar Dhawan
Virat Kohli (c)
Babar Azam
Shakib Al Hasan
Mushfiqur Rahim
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Amir
Rashid Khan
Hasan Ali
Jasprit Bumrah
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I have tried to this an even spread, but Australia, England and South Africa dominate, which shows what great touch they have been in.
There are a few New Zealanders, suggesting a re-emergence of Kiwi cricket in the ODI format.
Aaron Finch (Australia)
Who doesn’t love Finch? The man is a rock. In 2018 alone he has two tons and one fifty from three innings. He can play slow, he can play quick and, alongside Glenn Maxwell, has been the most iconic Australian ODI player.
He has an average of 38.55, which shows how consistent he is, and is an ideal opener due to his gritty nature and his fearlessness.
Hashim Amla (South Africa)
Complements Finch’s aggressive nature with a slower approach. His average of 50.23 saw him become the fastest batsmen to 7000 ODI runs.
The Geoff ‘Swampy’ Marsh of my team, the side is built around him and he allows players to go nuts.
Kane Williamson (c) (New Zealand)
With a bit of Steve Waugh in him, he is one tough cookie. At the peak of his powers, he is leading a successful New Zealand team after the exit of Brendon McCullum.
With an average of 46 with a strike rate of 83, he is the rock of the middle order.
AB de Villiers (South Africa)
World’s fastest ODI 50, 100 and 150. Who is able to smash 100 runs of 31 balls?! This man is a legend.
Between 2009-17 his yearly average only dropped below 50 in 2016, when it was 42.38. Thrice he has scored 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year and he is about to join the 10,000 run club.
With a strike rate of 101, he can sure smack a ball. 228 games, 9577 at 53.50, 25 hundreds and 53 fifties. What a player!
Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
In just his second ODI, Stoinis pummeled the Kiwis in what is his most memorable innings. With Australia at 6-67, Stoinis smashed a fantastic 146* but could only watch in despair as Josh Hazlewood was run out for a diamond duck after sharing a 50-run partnership, losing the match by six runs. The man averages 62!
But his bowling cannot be forgotten, with his best figures of 3-49 coming in that match also.
He may not get many wickets but he can bowl quick and stem the runs.
Marcus Stoinis. (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
The fan favourite, Maxwell’s improvisation and big shots have led to him being the face of T20 in Australia. He scores quick and with flair – who else can execute a reverse sweep like that?
His bowling is often overlooked – a shame, as he has taken 45 wickets at 39 runs. He also collected 3-10 in this year’s Hobart match, although that was overshadowed by his 100 off 53 balls!
His fielding is also top notch. He is truly the complete player.
Quinton de Kock (wk) (South Africa)
One of the safest sets of hands you can have behind the stumps, but his batting puts him above the rest. Averaging 45 is no mean feat for an opener – that’s walking in the footsteps of Adam Gilchrist.
I have put him down my order as a flexible choice. He can chime in at the end and smack it or come in at first drop.
Patrick Cummins (Australia)
He has been through lots of pain, and lots of waiting, but Cummins is back and better than ever to be arguably the spearhead of the Australian pace attack.
He has been consistent and had his best series against England this year, taking a career best 4-24.
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
While 2018 hasn’t been too kind, Rabada is a world-class bowler who gets poles from nowhere.
He is quick and he has been at the top end of the wicket taking charts each year.
Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Consistent, with an average of 24.64 and a strike rate of 29 – that’s a wicket every five overs!
His economy rate is not too shabby, at around five, but Boult makes the cut because of his style. He is a man who knows what he is doing, is experienced and would be a good player to spearhead this attack.
Imran Tahir (South Africa)
A leggie with a very good wrong-un, he also has an amazing economy rate of 4.68.
His average, 24, shows how consistent he has been throughout his career.
Batting order
Aaron Finch – RHB
Hashim Amla – RHB
Kane Williamson (c) – RHB (handy part time off spinner as well)
Glenn Maxwell – RHB – RH Off Spin
AB de Villiers – RHB
Marcus Stoinis – RHB – RH Medium
Quinton de Kock – LHB
Patrick Cummins – RH Fast
Kagiso Rabada – RH Fast
Trent Boult – LH Fast-Medium
Imran Tahir – RH Leg Spin Googly
There you have it, two fairly even teams overall, again, let us know in the comments who you think would win and by how much if it was a five-match series.
Also, please tell us which XI you would like to see us make next (e.g. Ashes XI).
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