Best XI of the players who retired in 2015

The year 2015 has seen some high profile cricketers bringing curtains to their incredibly successful playing careers in some or all forms of international cricket. These greats of the game will be sorely missed by the fans worldwide. Here’s a look at the best eleven from the players who retired from all forms of the international game. These men brought laurels to their respective countries with their unwavering dedication and hard work. 01. Virender Sehwag – India Virender Sehwag. (© Getty Images) Sehwag had a remarkable career in which he scored 17,253 international runs across all formats. He is the only Indian batsman to score a triple-century in Tests and the amazing part is that he did that twice. He also scored a double hundred in an ODI against the West Indies. Viru played 104 Tests scoring 8586 runs with a career-best of 319. He played 251 ODIs scoring 8273 runs with a top score of 219 and 19 T20Is scoring 394 runs with a top score of 68. An opener accustomed to giving flying starts which put the pressure on the opposition, Sehwag remains the ideal choice to face the new ball. 02. Chris Rogers – Australia Chris Rogers. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The veteran who only represented Australia in Tests also retired after the Ashes 2015. He had not been picked in the squad for many years, however, earned a comeback thanks to his experience and consistent scores in Australia’s domestic and England’s county cricket. Rogers played 25 Tests and scored 2015 runs with including 5 centuries and 14 fifties. His best knock of 173 came in his last Ashes series against England. Rogers with his rock solid defence would be a perfect companion for some as destructive as Sehwag. 03. Kumar Sangakkara – Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara. (© Getty Images) The Sri Lankan legend bowed out on a high from ODIs scoring four hundreds in as many games in the 2015 World Cup and was the second leading run-scorer in the tournament. He played his last Test in the home series against India in August 2015. Sanga played 134 Tests scoring 12,400 runs with the career-best of 319. He played 404 ODIs scoring 14,234 runs with the top score of 169 and 56 T20Is scoring 1382 runs with the top score of 78. The records confirm his place amongst one of the all-time greats of the game. His class and flair make him the best number 3 in this batting lineup. 04. Jonathan Trott – England Jonathan Trott. (© Getty Images) One of England’s best batsmen, Trott left the international arena with an average of 44.08 from 52 Test matches scoring 3835 runs with the help of 9 centuries and 19 fifties. He played 68 one-day internationals scoring 2819 runs at an average of 51.25 including 4 tons and 22 fifties. He also played 7 T20Is scoring 138 runs with one half-century. He is an Ashes winner and was considered the rock of England’s batting. A stress-related illness played a part in bringing his playing career to an abrupt end. His consistency with the bat makes him a vital cog in the middle order. 05. Mahela Jayawardene – Sri Lanka Mahela Jayawardene. (© Getty Images) The classy Sri Lankan had already retired from Tests and T20Is hence the World Cup 2015 was his swansong in international cricket. He played 149 Tests scoring 11,814 runs with the career-best of 374. He played 448 ODIs scoring 12,650 runs with the top score of 144 and 55 T20Is scoring 1493 runs with the best score of 100. A highly successful career saw him score runs with flair and the hundred he scored in the World Cup 2011 final remains one his best knocks ever. Elegance personified, Mahela strengthens the powerful middle order of this team. 06. Michael Clarke – Australia (Captain) (Photo Source: Getty Images) One of Australia’s finest ever batsmen retired from the ODI side after a memorable 2015 World Cup. The Aussies won the cup on home soil with skipper Clarke making a wonderful half-century. Clarke played 245 ODIs and scored 7981 runs with the top score of 130 including 8 hundreds and 58 fifties. He played 115 Tests and scored 8643 runs with the highest score of 329* including 28 centuries and 27 fifties. At number 6, he can allow his attacking instincts to dictate terms freely. 07. Brad Haddin – Australia (Wicketkeeper) Brad Haddin. (© Getty Images) The Australian wicketkeeper announced his retirement from ODIs after his team won the 2015 World Cup on home soil and from Test cricket after the 2015 Ashes. Haddin was renowned for being tough and uncompromising and played 126 ODIs for his team scoring 3122 runs with the top score of 110. He scored 2 tons and 16 fifties. He played 66 Tests and scored 3266 runs with the career-best of 169. He made 4 hundreds and 18 fifties in Test cricket. He has 270 and 181 dismissals in Tests and ODIs respectively. A solid lower batsman and a reliable keeper, Haddin was no stranger to playing big shots. 08. Daniel Vettori – New Zealand Daniel Vettori of New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Dodge-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) One of the games finest left-arm spinners, Vettori carried New Zealand’s bowling on his shoulders for more than a decade. He had a wonderful 2015 World Cup in which the Kiwis finished as runners-up. He played 295 ODIs and picked up 305 wickets with the career best spell of 5/7 against Bangladesh. He was also a handy lower order batsman and scored 2253 runs with the top score of 83 against the Aussies. His mastery of drift and subtle variations in flight, speed and length combined with guile and ability to confuse the batsmen made him New Zealand’s most dangerous bowler. Vettori’s batting record also made him a dependable all-rounder. 09. Mitchell Johnson – Australia Mitchell Johnson. (© Getty Images) An express bowler whose career had many highs and lows, Mitchell Johnson at his best was as fearsome as any fast bowler to have graced the game. He played 73 Tests picking up 313 wickets and scored 2065 handy runs batting lower down the order. He has a Test hundred and 11 fifties to his name. His best spell in an innings is 8/61 and that in a match was worth 12/127. He picked up 239 wickets from 153 ODIs and 38 wickets from 30 T20Is. He played his last international match against New Zealand in the 2015 Perth Test match. Adept at playing cameos, Johnson was someone who gave quick runs when needed with the bat. 10. Zaheer Khan – India Zaheer Khan. (© Getty Images) India’s legendary bowler had injury concerns from a long time and announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket recently in the month of October. The last Test he played was against New Zealand at Wellington early last year while his last ODI was more than three years ago, against Sri Lanka at Pallekele. He played his last T20I against the Proteas at Colombo in the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. He ends his international career with 311 wickets from 92 Tests, 282 wickets from 200 ODIs and 17 wickets from as many T20Is. The guile and mastery of his craft make him a modern day great. 11. Ryan Harris – Australia Ryan Harris. (Photo Source: Getty Images) One of the successful bowlers for Australia Harris played 27 Tests and picked up 113 wickets with an average of 23. His best spell in an innings is 7/117 with the best figures in a match being 9/106. He also registered 5 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Harris played 21 ODIs and 3 T20Is for the Aussies. His last ODI was in 2012 and T20I in 2010 and he remained a Test specialist for most parts of his career. A long list of injuries never allowed Harris to play consistently for Australia however whenever he did play he proved that he was a world-class bowler in all conditions. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal views and opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of CricTracker and CT does not assume any implied responsibility or liability for the same.

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Best XI of the players who retired in 2015

06. Michael Clarke – Australia (Captain)

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