ODI Team of the Year Revealed by the ICC
2022 saw some exceptional performances in 50 overs cricket in the international game. The ICC has reflected on the year and come up with their best XI. Here is a look at who made it onto that list and some of their achievements.
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Babar Azam is the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year for the second year in a row ✨#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/JcTIEtwwPe
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 26, 2023
Pakistan’s Babar Azam is the number one ranked batsman in the ICC ODI rankings. He had another solid year in 2022 with the bat, scoring 679 runs at an impressive average of 84.87. His captain skills were also on show, as his country won all three of their series, losing just one ODI game.
Travis Head (Australia)
Since moving to the top of Australia’s batting order, Travis Head has hardly put a foot wrong for his country. He accumulated 550 runs in 2022, which included two centuries and three half-centuries. Just like the talented Cricket Australia legend David Warner and Aaron Finch before him, Head plays an attacking form of cricket from the off for the Baggy Greens.
Shai Hope (West Indies)
With three centuries and two fifties, Shai Hope excelled for the West Indies last year. The 29-year-old from Barbados ended 2022 with 709 runs. He has now played over 100 ODIs and as of January 26, he averages 48.95 with the bat in ODI cricket.
Shreyas Iyer (India)
Competition for places in India’s middle order is always strong, but Shreyas Iyer has done his chances of locking in a spot in 2023 no harm with an excellent year for this national team. The Kolkata Knight Riders middle-order batsman scored 724 runs in 17 matches last year, with his highlight being his unbeaten century against South Africa.
Tom Latham (New Zealand)
Wicket-keeper Tom Latham has become very reliable for New Zealand with the bat and gloves. In 2022 he scored 558 runs and picked up 16 dismissals. The Kiwi was often the man who closed out the innings for his team, a vital role in any ODI side.
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)
Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza was the star all-rounder in ODI cricket in 2022. He made three centuries and finished the year with a total of 645 runs. The 36-year-old has also had an impact with the ball, taking eight wickets. He has helped Zimbabwe improve its results and ranking in the international game.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh’s all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been considered a stronger bowler than a batter, however, his numbers improved with the bat in 2022. As well as taking 24 wickets, he scored 330 runs at an average of 66. The middle-order batsman scored his first ODI century in 2022 against India, as reported by Reuters in their match report. His ton came in just 83 balls.
Alzarri Joseph (West Indies)
Pace bowler Alzarri Joseph took 27 ODI wickets in 2022. His economy rate was as low as 4.61, which suggests his bowling was in the right areas in the 50 overs game. Joseph has been rewarded for his international performance with a contract with the Joburg Super Kings at the inaugural SA20 in South Africa. As of January 26, the Super Kings are priced +450 on Betway to win the tournament. Joseph is a key member of their bowling attack as they bid to win the six-team competition.
Mohammed Siraj (India)
With injuries to high-profile players in the India bowling attack in 2022, Mohammed Siraj took full advantage of his opportunity in the ODI team. He took 24 wickets from the 15 matches he played. His best figures were 3/29 against the West Indies in Ahmedabad. The Indian is now the number-one ranked bowler in the ICC ODI rankings.
Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Trent Boult held an economy-rate of only 𝟔.𝟓𝟎 in a game where 428 runs were scored 🫡#MIEmirates #OneFamily pic.twitter.com/rivb3aPwPS
— MI Emirates (@MIEmirates) January 23, 2023
Kiwi Trent Boult remains one of the best bowlers in all three formats of the game. Despite the busy ICC schedule in the sport, the 33-year-old seems to find time for both red and white-ball cricket. He took 18 wickets from six ODIs in 2022. The left-arm bowler has caused all the leading batsmen around the world problems with his swing bowling in international cricket.
Adam Zampa (Australia)
Spinner Adam Zampa led the Australian team in ODI wickets in 2022, taking 30 across the year. A lot of Zampa’s success last year came on Australian wickets where he showed he did not need to rely on pitches in Asia to have success. He is often compared to Melbourne Stars legend Shane Warne, with many pundits suggesting he is the best spinner Australia have produced since the Hall of Famer.
All 11 players hope to be involved in India’s 2023 Cricket World Cup this year. England goes into that tournament as the defending champions after they lifted the trophy at Lord’s in 2019, as documented in the BBC match report.
