ICC names ODI Team of the Year

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced its World ODI 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 ODI Team of the Year (in batting order) is:

Adam Gilchrist (Aus, wicketkeeper)
MS Dhoni (Ind)
Ricky Ponting (Aus)
Mahela Jayawardene (SL, captain)
Yuvraj Singh (Ind)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
Andrew Flintoff (Eng)
Irfan Pathan (Ind)
Brett Lee (Aus)
Shane Bond (NZ)
Muttiah Muralidaran (SL)
12th man: Andrew Symonds (Aus)

Five countries are represented in the 12-man line-up but only three players - Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Symonds - also appeared in the World ODI Team of the Year in 2005. Indeed, Gilchrist and Flintoff also appeared in the 2004 line-up.

Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene was named captain of the World ODI Team of the Year, replacing fellow countryman Marvan Atapattu, who was chosen for the role last year.

Chairman of the ICC Awards Selection Panel, Sunil Gavaskar, said his panel felt it had come up with a line-up that boasted considerable depth in both batting and bowling.

The World XI ODI Team of the Year was chosen by the ICC's selection panel made up of Sunil Gavaskar (chairman), Waqar Younis, Arjuna Ranatunga, Ian Healy and Allan Donald, using their knowledge, judgement and expert opinion. Selection 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.