The Best T20I XI of the Year 2015

The T20Is played throughout a calendar year are limited in numbers and rightly so. With so many T20 leagues being played around the year, the preservation of the traditional formats like Tests and ODIs has to be of paramount importance to the international game. Nevertheless, whenever the T20Is are played, it generates a lot of interest amongst the fans. The Word T20, the marquee event of the shortest formats, is set to be contested in 2016 in India. With the buzz and excitement increasing with the schedule being released recently by the ICC, it’s an opportune moment to consider the best Twenty20 international players of 2015. Here is the T20I XI of the year: 1. Chris Gayle – West Indies Chris Gayle. (© Getty Images) The superstar has played 2 matches and hammered 2 half-centuries this year. He has scored 167 runs at an average of 83.50 which featured a staggering 14 fours and 15 sixes. His top score is 90 from just 41 balls against South Africa in an away series. West Indies, leading 1-0 in the 3-match series, pulled off an exciting contest in the 2nd match and sealed the series with one match to spare. The team registered the highest run chase ever in T20Is largely due to the blistering knock played by the big Jamaican. 2. Rohit Sharma – India Rohit Sharma. (© Getty Images) The classy Indian has also played 2 matches scoring 128 runs at an average of 64.00. This includes his maiden T20I century that he scored against South Africa in the 1st of the 3-match series played in India. His 106 off just 66 balls propelled India to a huge total of 199. Unfortunately, it did not prove sufficient as the Proteas overhauled the target with 2 balls to spare in the thrilling match. The visitors went on to win the series 2-0 with the third game being called off due to rain. 3. Faf du Plessis – South Africa (Captain) (© Getty Images) South Africa’s T20I captain played 6 matches scoring 272 runs at an average of 54.40. He is the second highest run scorer in 2015 in this format. He has registered 1 hundred and 1 fifty and hit 27 fours and 8 sixes. His top score is 119 off 56 balls, also, his maiden T20I hundred that he scored against the West Indies in the same match that featured Chris Gayle’s 90. The right-hander is one of the top batsmen in world cricket who have enjoyed success in all formats of the game. 4. Eoin Morgan – England Eoin Morgan. (© Getty Images) England’s ODI and T20I captain is an elegant left-hander who loves to improvise and play attacking shots. He has played 4 T20Is in 2015 and scored 138 runs at an average of 46.00. His top score of 74 off 39 balls came against Australia at Cardiff. It helped England post a target of 183 against the arch rivals which proved sufficient in the end as England won the one-off match by 5 runs. His another superb knock of 45* off 38 against Pakistan was also in a winning cause for his team. 5. AB de Villiers – South Africa (Wicketkeeper) AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: BCCI) One of the leading batsmen in world cricket is also an excellent wicketkeeper. AB de Villiers has scored 160 runs at an average of 26.66 including 1 fifty, a 40 and a 33 in 2015. The 51 off 32 balls was against India in the same match that witnessed Rohit Sharma’s hundred. It was a crucial knock in a high scoring encounter. He has kept wickets for his team only twice in 6 matches taking 1 catch, however, is the prime candidate for the wicketkeeper’s role in the T20I team of the year owing to the balance of the team as well as his class and contribution as a batsman. 6. Shoaib Malik – Pakistan Shoaib Malik. (© INEKE ZONDAG/AFP/Getty Images) The Pakistani all-rounder has had a memorable year with the bat as well the ball in hand. He played 8 matches scoring 219 runs at an average of 31.28. This includes one half-century, a 46* and a 35. His top score of 75 off 54 came in rip-roaring contest against England. Pakistan ultimately lost the match in a super over after scores were tied. His off-spin has accounted for 7 wickets at an average of 15.28 and an impressive economy rate of 6.29. His best spell was 2/16 against Sri Lanka in an away series. 7. Sean Williams – Zimbabwe Sean Williams. (Photo Source: ICC) The Zimbabwean all-rounder had a marvelous year scoring 246 runs at an average of 30.72 including 2 fifties in 10 matches. The left-hander is the 3rd highest run scorer this year in this format. His top score is 58* off 32 balls against Pakistan on an away tour. His team though lost the closely fought match by 2 wickets. His left-arm spin has got him 9 wickets at 30.22 with the best of 3/28 against New Zealand in a home series; a match the visitors won by 80 runs. 8. David Wiese – South Africa South Africa cricketer David Wiese. (Photo credit: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) The South African is a fine bowling all-rounder in the shortest format of the game. The right-arm medium fast bowler is the second highest wicket-taker this year with 14 wickets from 7 matches at an average of 11.78 and an economy of 7.07. He shares the second spot with Hong Kong’s Haseeb Amjad and Zimbabwe’s Graeme Cremer, however, has a better average than the other two. His career best spell was a match-winning 5/23 that he registered this year against the West Indies. 9. Graeme Cremer – Zimbabwe (Photo Source: Getty Images) The Zimbabwean leg-spinner has been his team’s leading bowler this year. He has 14 wickets from 9 matches at an average of 15.50 and maintained an economy rate of 6.57; a mighty impressive record for a leggie in the shortest format. His best spell of 3/21 was against Bangladesh, albeit in a losing cause. A consistent wicket-taker, Cremer is expected to play a major part for his team in the World T20 2016. 10. Sohail Tanvir – Pakistan Sohail Tanvir. (Photo Source: AFP) One of the most unorthodox left-arm fast bowlers in world cricket, Tanvir is a regular member of the Pakistani side in the shortest formats. His wrong-footed action usually causes batsmen a lot of problems and he has continued to make an impact this year. He played 8 matches and picked up 11 wickets at 21.90. Tanvi’s best spell of 2015, was against Sri Lanka in an away series where he picked 3 wickets for 29 runs. It helped Pakistan defend a score of 175 by 29 runs. A useful lower batsman, he known to swing his bat to good effect, Tanvir’s top score this year is 25* off 22 against England in Dubai. 11. Liam Plunkett – England Liam Plunkett. (© Getty Images) The English fast bowler played just 2 T20Is this year, however, bowled 2 hostile spells that helped his team win both the matches against Pakistan in an away series. His only other T20I was way back in 2006 against Sri Lanka at home. In a memorable comeback to this format, he picked up 6 wickets at a remarkable average of 9.00 and an economy rate of 6.75. His 3/21 helped his team win by 14 runs in the first of the 3-match series, while his 3/33 in the second match helped to seal the series with one match to spare. England won this match by a margin of just 3 runs after Plunkett’s spell proved the turning point in Pakistan’s run chase. 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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The Best T20I XI of the Year 2015

11. Liam Plunkett – England

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