ODI TEAM OF THE YEAR 2021

Babar Azam will be Malan’s opening partner as well as the captain of the ODI team of the year. Azam hit 405 runs in only six matches at an average of 67.50 and a strike rate of 108...

- RENIN WILBEN

With the West Indies-Pakistan ODIs being postponed due to COVID-19, the main teams have finished with their one-day assignments for 2021. With the T20 World Cup being held in the year, the ODI format took a backseat, as most sides focused on the 20-over version. Among the prominent nations, Sri Lanka played 15 matches but won only four. Bangladesh played 12 and won eight, and thus they have heavy representation in the ODI XI of the year. There are a couple of players from South Africa as well, who played 10 games but won only three. England played only nine matches, but their squad wasn’t consistent as it had to be changed due to COVID. India played only six games while Australia and New Zealand featured in half that number. Here’s a look at the ODI team of the year.

OPENERS: JANNEMAN MALAN, BABAR AZAM (CAPTAIN)

South African opener Janneman Malan was the second-leading run-scorer in 2021. He smashed 509 runs in eight matches at an average of 84.83 and a strike rate of 92.04. He hit two hundred and as many fifties during the year. Some of his noteworthy performances were 70 vs Pakistan in Centurion, 177* against Ireland in Dublin, and 121 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo.