ICC name World Test Team of the Year

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced its official World Test Team of the Year, as chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.

The announcement was made at the ICC Awards celebration at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai. Presented by Hyundai in association with FICA, the ICC Awards recognise the best international players of the past 12 months.

The World Test Team of the Year (in batting order) is:

Matthew Hayden (Aus)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
Ricky Ponting (Aus)
Rahul Dravid (Ind, captain)
Mohammed Yousuf (Pak)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL, wicketkeeper)
Andrew Flintoff (Eng)
Shane Warne (Aus)
Makhaya Ntini (SA)
Muttiah Muralidaran (SL)
Glenn McGrath (Aus)
12th man: Brett Lee (Aus)

Six teams are represented in the 12-man line-up and four players - Ricky Ponting, Andrew Flintoff, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath - were also named in the World Test Team of the Year in 2005. Indeed, Ponting and Warne also appeared in the team of 2004.

Indian captain Rahul Dravid was named skipper of the World Test Team of the Year. Speaking after the announcement, Dravid said: "It feels great to be back here, accepting an ICC Award. It's the second time I have got into this team and it is a huge honour and privilege. I think to lead this time would be a pretty easy job - you would just have to throw the ball to someone and they would do the rest.

"We had some very good results for a while and we have stumbled since then a little so the upcoming tour to South Africa will be a great opportunity to get things back on track for India. I am a little disappointed that we are not in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy - it would be great to be feeling nervous ahead of that final on Sunday." . The team was chosen by the ICC's specially appointed expert selection panel made up of Sunil Gavaskar (Chairman), Ian Healy, Allan Donald, Waqar Younis and Arjuna Ranatunga using their knowledge, judgement and expert opinion.

Selection for the Test Team of the Year was based on performances between the voting period of 1 August 2005 to 8 August 2006. Statistics were available as a guide but were not necessarily a determining factor in the choices made.

Individuals selected for the Test and ODI Teams of the Year each receive a commemorative, hand-crafted cap which varies in style to reflect the different forms of the game. The caps were presented by former Indian opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar, chairman of the ICC selection panel.