CricTracker fan poll – Best International cricketers of 2016

In another year-end poll, we had asked the fans to rate the best cricketer of 2016 based on their performances with the bat, ball and in the field during the calendar year. We had given the names of 10 cricketers who has performed exceptionally well for their nation in the last 12 months and deserves to find a place among the very best.

The list included two Indians, three Aussies, two Englishmen and one each from Pakistan, Afghanistan and South Africa. Teenage leg-spinner Rashid Khan who performed very well for his nation deserved to be a nominee for the best player of 2016. Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin were the expected names in the contention. Jonny Bairstow along with Joe Root who has had tremendous years have also been included.

Despite having a mediocre year in international cricket for the Aussies, 3 members were included in the top 10 for their exceptional performances individually but as a team, the Aussies failed to get going. Proteas wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock along with Pakistani opener Azhar Ali completed the list. Now here we bring you the list according to poll results.

10. Jonny Bairstow (England) – 1% votes

English wicketkeeper-batsman in the Test outfit Jonny Bairstow had a terrific 2016 both with the bat and behind the stumps. He finished the year as the 2nd highest run scorer just behind his teammate Joe Root.

In the 3-match Test series against Sri Lanka in May Bairstow finished as the leading run-scorer from either side. He accumulated 387 runs in 3 Tests at a staggering average of 129.00. His top score of 167* came in the final Test at Lord’s.

Also read- CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test bowlers of the year

In the next series against Pakistan, the England looked vulnerable and had to settle for a 2-2 draw in home conditions. Bairstow though finished with a 50+ average in the series but wasn’t consistent enough to help England to a series win. He finished the 4-match series with 366 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 52.28. He ended the year with a two-match Test series in Bangladesh and a five-match affair against the mighty Indians.

While he could only manage 126 runs in the 2 Tests against Bangladesh, his performance was little better in India where he scored 352 runs in 5 Tests at an average of 44.

9. Joe Root (England) – 2% votes

The mainstay of the England batting order Joe Root’s sublime form continued in 2016 and not only did he succeed in Tests, he was brilliant in the shorter formats too. In ODIs Root accumulated 796 runs 15 outings at an impressive average of 61.23 with his highest score being 125 against the mighty Proteas.

In 9 T20Is, Root scored 297 runs at an average of 37 and was instrumental in England reaching the final in the ICC World Twenty20 in India earlier in 2016.

He didn’t have a great start in the Test circuit and performed pretty poorly against Sri Lanka in the Test series at home. He could only manage 87 runs in 3 matches at an unimpressive average of 21.75. His performances improved with each series and after scoring a century in the against South Africa he performed exceptionally well against Pakistan but wasn’t enough to win them the series.

Towards the end, his performance was disappointing in the Bangladesh series and played well in patches against India. Overall he played 17 Tests in 2016, scoring 1477 runs at an average of a shade over 49.

8. Quinton de Cock (South Africa) – 2% votes

South African wicketkeeper-batsman, Quinton de Cock had a tremendous time in 2016. He has been a terrific opener for South Africa especially in limited overs cricket and more often than not he has provided the Proteas with a rollicking start.

The hard-hitting southpaw had a tremendous year irrespective of the format and boasts of 50+ averages in both Tests and ODIs. De Kock has scored 857 runs in 17 ODIs in 2016 at an impressive average of 57.13 with 3 centuries to his name.

He was not so consistent in the T20s and finished with 229 runs in 7 matches at an average of a shade over 30. In Tests, de Kock has been a revelation for the Proteas and has scored runs on a consistent basis. Coming late in the batting order the 24-year-old has amassed 695 runs in 8 Tests at an outstanding average of 63.18. He has two Test centuries to his name in the calendar year with the highest being an unbeaten 129 against England.

Also read – CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test batsmen of the year

7. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 2% votes

The lanky fast bowler from Australia had a terrific time in 2016 despite below par performances from his team especially in the longest format of the game. Starc was the highest wicket-taker for the Aussies with 24 wickets in the 3-match Test series in Sri Lanka which the visitors lost 0-3. Overall Starc finished with 50 wickets in 8 Tests at an average of 22.58.

He was at his sublime best in the limited overs format too and scalped 26 wickets in 13 outings. In the ODI series against South Africa where he was rested, the Aussies were hammered 5-0 and his absence was dearly felt. His best figures 3/32 came against Sri Lanka in the 5-match ODI series which the Aussies won 3-1.

Starc appeared in only a couple of T20Is in the year bagging 4 wickets in the process.

6. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 4% votes

Indian spin ace Ravichandran Ashwin has been on a record-breaking spree of late and courtesy his brilliant performances in the year, the No.1 all-rounder joined the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid by becoming the 3rd Indian to bag the ICC Cricketer of the Year award. Besides that, he also got the ICC Test player of the year award.

While Ashwin hardly played limited-overs cricket in the year, his record in the longest format is enough to give nightmares to opposition batting line-ups. In Tests, Ashwin finished with as many as 72 wickets in 12 outings.

He was brilliant with both bat and the ball in West Indies where he finished with 17 wickets and 235 runs including two centuries. In the next home series against New Zealand, the spinner ripped apart the opposition to ensure India completed a 3-0 whitewash. He finished with 27 wickets in 3 Tests. Ashwin continued to impress in the Test series against England where he finished with 28 wickets in 5 Tests. During the year Ashwin got 5-wicket hauls on 8 occasions.

While he played only 2 ODIs in the year and claimed 2 wickets, he appeared in 17 T20Is bagging 23 wickets at an average of 16.17.

5. Steve Smith (Australia) – 7% votes

The Australian captain across all formats has been one of the positives for the Aussies in an otherwise disappointing year especially in the longest format of the game. The year also saw Smith leaving in between an ODI series against Sri Lanka to prepare for the South Africa series and received criticism from every quarter.

He captained them in 11 Tests in the year and despite his team suffering 5 consecutive Test defeats, he was prolific with the bat and finished with 1079 runs at an outstanding average of 71.93 scoring 4 centuries in the process.

If Smith’s Test records were impressive, his ODI numbers were perhaps even better. In 26 ODIs he accumulated 1154 runs at an average of a shade over fifty with 3 tons to his name. He also appeared in 8 T20Is without much success. His highest score of 61 came against Pakistan in the one-off T20.

Also read- CricTracker fan poll – 5 Best ODI bowlers of the year

4. David Warner (Australia) – 7% votes

Now how do you describe a David Warner? Somewhere close to Virender Sehwag or even better than the “Nawab of Najafgarh”?? These are the only two names which come to mind when you talk about players who batted with a similar approach in each of the three formats and never curbed their natural instincts.

Warner didn’t have a particularly impressive beginning in the Test arena but gained from strength to strength. He was consistently troubled by the Lankan spinners during their 0-3 drubbing at the hands of Sri Lanka. Warner in total played 11 Tests in 2016 scoring 748 runs at an average of 42 with two centuries to his name.

In ODIs he was at his best and scored 1388 runs in 23 outings. He struck as many as 7 ODI centuries in the year with the highest being 173 against South Africa. In 10 T20Is Warner scored 238 runs at an average of 23.80.

3. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 13% votes

The most promising bowler of Afghanistan in 2016, Rashid Khan was the find of the ICC Word T20. The leg-spinner has been pretty impressive in the limited-overs format and was instrumental in helping the Afghans to a famous win against the eventual World Champions West Indies in the World T20 earlier in 2016.

In 12 ODIs Rashid bagged 22 wickets at an average of 19.50 with his best figures being 4/21 against Ireland. He has been particularly impressive with his wrong uns and has bamboozled the batsmen on various occasions. Khan finished the season with 23 wickets in 15 T20Is.

Also read- Stats: ODI cricket numbers for the year 2016

2. Azhar Ali (Pakistan) – 19% votes

The Pakistan right-handed opener isn’t the most impressive batsman on display but has the ability to bat for long hours and hit big scores especially in Test cricket. His recent double century against the mighty Australians in their own territory showed the amount of grit and determination the man had to succeed against the Aussies.

Azhar struck nearly 1200 runs in the calendar year in the longest format with three centuries to his name including a double ton and a triple ton. A staggering average of more than 63 proves the amount of success Ali had in the calendar year.

Ali also appeared in 11 ODIs over the course of the year but apart from making a century against West Indies his performances were below par.

1. Virat Kohli (India) – 44% votes

India’ Test skipper Virat Kohli is having a dream run in international cricket at the moment. Irrespective of formats and oppositions Virat has been piling on run after runs and can go on to break all the batting records until he calls it a day.

The “Modern Master” struck three double centuries in Tests in the calendar year and finished with 1215 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 75.93. He also led his team to five consecutive series victories and was the only captain to remain unbeaten in Tests through the course of the year.

In 2016 he played only 10 ODIs but his run scoring consistency didn’t diminish a tad bit. He struck 3 centuries and accumulated 739 runs at an astonishing average of 92.37. His highest score of 154* came against New Zealand very recently.

His T20I record was perhaps the best among the three as he finished the year with an average of 106 in T20Is. In 15 matches Kohli scored 641 runs with 7 fifties to his name. He was also instrumental in India drubbing the Aussies 3-0 in the T20I series in Australia.

Here is the Poll:

Also read- CricTracker’s ODI XI of the year 2016