Current World ONE DAY XI

In another article we saw Ed Smith's world test XI..

so i thought as its end of 2012, what is all of our current world ODI XI?....

I'L GO FIRST:

1.Ian Bell (had a fantastic time of it since coming back into odi side)
2.Alistair Cook (had a cracking time of it, since being made captain)
3.Hashim Amla
4.Virat Kohli (guy is a run machine in odi's)
5.Marlon Samuels
6.Mike Hussey
7.AB de Villiers (wk)
8.Tim Southee
9.R.Ashwin
10.Steven Finn
11.Mitchell Starc

i know some names in there are un-expected, but a lot of these guys, are in there based on form in 2012

Generally a pretty good team.

I tend to base my one-day teams on a bit of a formula:

- Top three must be capable of scoring 100s regularly, and at least 1 of them must have a solid technique
- 4 and 5 aggressive, proper batsmen
- 6 and 7 finishers, preferably including an all-rounder if there isn't one in the top 5
- Two spinners
- Two seamers

Potential to play only 1 spinner and 3 seamers where conditions dictate, but on good surfaces I prefer two spinners even in England.

On that basis I'd go:

1. Gayle
2. Cook
3. Amla
4. Kohli
5. de Villiers
6. Dhoni (wk)
7. Pollard
8. Swann (Morkel in seaming conditions)
9. Steyn
10. Ajmal
11. Finn

Subs: Jayawardene, Kallis, Morkel, Ashwin

I don't think you can look past Gayle as an aggressive and consistent ODI opener these days: whilst Sehwag's become more inconsistent, Gayle's become more consistent.

Dhoni is the best finisher in the world in my view, particularly in run chases.

No. 7 was tough. Surprisingly even in the T20 era we don't have many stars in that position. That Pollard can bowl, and how cleanly he hits it when he gets going, edges out Morgan and Duminy for me.

A few guys probably a bit unlucky to miss out - Watson, but Cook and Amla have been so good lately. Also tempted to include Jimmy but in one-day cricket I think he's not quite World XI.

* Pietersen not considered because of lack of ODIs played recently. Had he played there is a good chance he'd bat three and edge Cook out, allowing Amla to open. My worry would be that a KP/ Gayle partnership could become a bit ego-driven...

I'd get Watson in there opening instead of Bell, as I think you're a bit light on bowling (relying on Kohli/Samuels to get through ten overs). Don't think there's much wrong with the rest of the team, but I think a place needs to be found for Morgan (whose ODI form is good recently), so he replaces Hussey.

Finn and Starc (Starc maybe more in T20s, but still) have had great years, so they're in. I'd have Swann ahead of Ashwin personally, and that leaves one spot open. For all his troubles in the longer form, Narine has an excellent limited overs record, so he gets in. If it's likely to be moving around I'd go with Jimmy instead.

So:
Cook (capt.)
Watson
Amla
Kohli
Morgan
Raina (the guy can whack a cricket ball, adds a part time spin option and is a great fielder)
De Villiers (wk)
Swann
Finn
Narine
Starc

Shelsey93 wrote:Generally a pretty good team.

I tend to base my one-day teams on a bit of a formula:

- Top three must be capable of scoring 100s regularly, and at least 1 of them must have a solid technique
- 4 and 5 aggressive, proper batsmen
- 6 and 7 finishers, preferably including an all-rounder if there isn't one in the top 5
- Two spinners
- Two seamers

Potential to play only 1 spinner and 3 seamers where conditions dictate, but on good surfaces I prefer two spinners even in England.

On that basis I'd go:

1. Gayle
2. Cook
3. Amla
4. Kohli
5. de Villiers
6. Dhoni (wk)
7. Pollard
8. Swann (Morkel in seaming conditions)
9. Steyn
10. Ajmal
11. Finn

Subs: Jayawardene, Kallis, Morkel, Ashwin

I don't think you can look past Gayle as an aggressive and consistent ODI opener these days: whilst Sehwag's become more inconsistent, Gayle's become more consistent.

Dhoni is the best finisher in the world in my view, particularly in run chases.

No. 7 was tough. Surprisingly even in the T20 era we don't have many stars in that position. That Pollard can bowl, and how cleanly he hits it when he gets going, edges out Morgan and Duminy for me.

A few guys probably a bit unlucky to miss out - Watson, but Cook and Amla have been so good lately. Also tempted to include Jimmy but in one-day cricket I think he's not quite World XI.

* Pietersen not considered because of lack of ODIs played recently. Had he played there is a good chance he'd bat three and edge Cook out, allowing Amla to open. My worry would be that a KP/ Gayle partnership could become a bit ego-driven...

Good team but Pollard in a World ODI XI? There are question marks over whether he should even be in the WI XI.

For me, Watson ahead of Gayle and Mathews for Pollard. The rest looks fine. Maybe open with Amla and have Watto at 3.

Come to think of it I should maybe have gone Hussey six and Dhoni and seven... my concern is that I want genuine fire-power in those positions, and I can't really look beyond Pollard for that, particularly if I want some overs. I'm not huge on Mathews - too inconsistent for my liking, and not quite comparable to Pollard as a clean hitter.

Agree that it was a tough call though. Even Darren Sammy crossed my mind.

Surprised to see only MFC going for Sunil Narine. He has to be the ODI bowler of 2012. Also Shakib Al Hasan for me. Playing him would mean only Narine needs to be picked as a specialist spinner and there could be 3 seamers.
So my team.
Chris Gayle
Alastair Cook
Hashim Amla
Virat Kohli
AB de Villiers
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Shakib Al Hasan
Sunil Narine
Morne Morkel
Lasit Malinga
Steven Finn.
Five regular quality bowlers, a balanced attack with 3 seamers and 2 spinners. Chris Gayle for parttime bowling support.