Pakistan, fresh off defeating England 2-0 in their stronghold of the UAE and an away series win in Sri Lanka in the summer, placed three on Wednesday in the International Cricket Council’s Test team of the year.
Pakistan also defeated Bangaldesh 1-0 in a two-match series in May, punctuating a fine year in the red-ball format. Spin ace Yasir Shah and batting stalwart Younis Khan were joined by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who enjoyed a breakout year.
Alastair Cook was named captain of the ICC's team of the year, while England teammates Joe Root and Stuart Broad were also included in the line-up.
After a couple of lean years with the bat, Cook has been sensational for much of the last 12 months and that is reflected in him being the current leading Test run-scorer in 2015.
Having also skippered England to Ashes glory, Cook was an obvious choice to get his fourth selection and second as captain, having achieved the honour two years ago.
Fellow batsman Root was England’s standout performer throughout the summer, scoring two pivotal centuries against Australia and he currently sits joint-top of the Test batting rankings.
While he was controversially overlooked by the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year panel, the ICC has also named Root as 12th man in its one-day team of the year – England’s only representative.
Broad is also included in the ICC’s Test team for the fifth time since 2009, with the 29-year-old the leading fast bowling wicket-taker this year.
That included his eight for 15 on his home ground of Trent Bridge in the fourth Test against Australia, the best figures of his career and a key moment in England regaining the Ashes.
Australia captain Steve Smith and New Zealand's left-arm paceman Trent Boult have been named in both the Test and ODI teams. The 50-over team is skippered by South Africa talisman AB de Villiers.
That squad also included Bangladesh’s rising pace starlet, Mustafizur Rahman. The bowler, who only turned 20 in September, memorably announced himself to the cricketing world with an 11-wicket haul from the first two of three matches against India in Dhaka in June. That precipitated an historic series win over India, before they then stunned South Africa with a 3-0 whitewash in July. In becoming Bangaldesh’s first player named to the ODI Best XI, Mustafizur finished with 26 wickets at a 12.34 average.
ICC Test team of the year: Alastair Cook (England, captain), David Warner (Australia), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Younis Khan (Pakistan), Steve Smith (Australia), Joe Root (England), Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan), Stuart Broad (England), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Yasir Shah (Pakistan), Josh Hazlewood (Australia). 12th man: Ravichandran Ashwin (India).
ICC ODI team of the year: AB de Villiers (South Africa, captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Steve Smith (Australia), Ross Taylor (New Zealand), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Mohammed Shami (India), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), Imran Tahir (South Africa). 12th man: Joe Root.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
