Amla, Gambhir the surprise omissions

Strong World Cup performances for India and Sri Lanka have ensured that they have six representatives in the ICC ODI Team of the Year. While the selection of most players from the two teams is quite understandable given their contributions to their teams' success in the World Cup, a few choices have raised questions. In the period considered for the awards (August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011), five players scored over 1000 runs with Hashim Amla leading the run tally. Amla, who is in the shortlist for the ODI player-of-the-year award, had a phenomenal year, scoring 1091 runs with five centuries at an average of 60.61 and strike rate of 98.64. In 14 matches against top teams, he averages over 55 with a strike rate of 97.36. With such an outstanding record, it is rather surprising to see Amla missing from the team. Although the selection or omission of certain players cannot be purely based on numbers, evaluating the context of their performances can provide a better perspective.

Tillakaratne Dilshan had a superb World Cup where he was the highest run-getter. Dilshan scored 500 runs with two centuries and two fifties including a century in the ten-wicket win in the quarter-final against England. However, he had a very bad run after the tournament scoring just 23 runs in six innings. Even though Dilshan had such success in the World Cup, his overall average in the period against the Test-playing teams (excluding Zimbabwe and Bangladesh) was just 30.70. Virender Sehwag started off brilliantly in the World Cup scoring 175 against Bangladesh but his form tapered off as the tournament went on, and he managed to score only one half-century in the next seven matches. Despite the fact that he played only 12 matches in the period, Sehwag does make a case for himself with a stunning strike rate of 117.13. AB de Villiers, who has scored 870 runs with four centuries at an average of 56.68 and strike rate of 99.67 guarantees his selection in the middle order.

Shane Watson had an ordinary World Cup by his own recent standards. In January 2011, he set up a successful chase of 295 against England in Melbourne with an unbeaten 161, the then highest score by an Australian batsman in an ODI chase. He eclipsed his own record by smashing 185 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in April. With an average nearing 60 and a strike rate over 111, it is surprising to see Watson slotted in at No. 5 in the batting order instead of the opening spot where he has proved to be most dangerous.

Kumar Sangakkara has also scored over 1000 runs in the same period, but has a much lower strike rate of 78.34. In ODIs against Test-playing teams, he averages 51.05 but has a strike rate of 75.26. His best performances include the 71 in the tri-series final against India in 2010 and a century against New Zealand in the World Cup. Yuvraj Singh, who was named player of the tournament in the World Cup, clearly makes the team purely based on the strength of his performances in the tournament. MS Dhoni had a very poor time in ODIs and saw his average and strike rate drop considerably during the period. He, however, scored a crucial match-winning 91 in the World Cup final which ensures his place in the ODI team of the year.

Along with Amla's omission, Gautam Gambhir's absence is also debatable. Gambhir, who narrowly missed out on a century in the World Cup final, scored 722 runs in the period at an average of 60.16 and strike rate of 95.00. Michael Clarke also stakes a strong claim for selection in the middle order with 800 runs at an average of 61.53. Mahela Jaywardene, who was below-par in 2010, has been in form since the start of the World Cup. He has scored four half-centuries and three centuries including an unbeaten 103 in the World Cup final. After a poor home series against Pakistan, Jonathan Trott has been remarkably consistent in 2011 scoring two hundreds and seven fifties. He has been dismissed below 20 on only four occasions this year and averages 54.88 in matches played in 2011 (till August 3, 2011).