Four Aussies named in ICC teams

Four Australians have been named in the ICC’s Test and ODI teams of the year, unveiled today at a media conference in Dubai.

David Warner and Mitchell Johnson were been chosen in the ICC Test Team of the Year, while Tasmania duo George Bailey and James Faulkner were selected in the ODI version.

“I would like to congratulate all the players for their selection in the teams of the year,” said Anil Kumble, the Chairman of the LG ICC Awards Selection Panel.

“It is an achievement to be proud of and a recognition for their good performances in the qualifying period.

“Team selection is one of the toughest jobs and when you have a large pool of outstanding players to select from in a 12-month period between 26 August 2013 and 17 September 2014, then it becomes even more difficult.

“However, we think we have selected the best possible sides, which are well balanced and capable of beating any side on any given day in any given conditions.

“While selecting these squads, the selectors discussed various combinations and took into account several scenarios like opposition, pitch conditions and match situations.”

Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews was named captain of the side, while his countryman Kumar Sangakkara was selected for the seventh time in nine years.

Dale Steyn was also selected for a record seventh successive year, while his team-mate AB de Villiers was picked for the fifth time (2009-11, 2013-14).

Stuart Broad (2009, 2011-12) and Mitchell Johnson (2009) are the other players who have previously been selected in the ICC Test Team of the Year.

ICC Test Team of the Year 2014
David Warner (Aus)
Kane Williamson (NZ)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
AB de Villiers (SA)
Joe Root (Eng)
Angelo Mathews (SL) (captain)
Mitchell Johnson (Aus)
Stuart Broad (Eng)
Dale Steyn (SA)
Rangana Herath (SL)
Tim Southee (NZ)
Ross Taylor (NZ) (12th man)

Image Id: ~/media/557FC12F3CC945DB89EB2AA5B6EB54A5

James Faulkner and George Bailey earned places in the ICC ODI Team of the Year | Getty Images

ICC ODI Team of the Year 2014
Mohammad Hafeez (Pak)
Quinton de Kock (SA)
Virat Kohli (Ind)
George Bailey (Aus)
AB de Villiers (SA)
MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper) (captain)
Dwayne Bravo (WI)
James Faulkner (Aus)
Dale Steyn (SA)
Mohammad Shami (Ind)
Ajantha Mendis (SL)
Rohit Sharma (Ind) (12th man)

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was chosen in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for the eighth time (seventh year in a row), while it is the fifth year he has been appointed captain.

Players to be previously selected in the ICC ODI Team of the Year are de Villiers (2010-11 and 2013), Virat Kohli (2012) and Ajantha Mendis (2009).

Kumble was joined on the panel by Jonathan Agnew, a former England international and now a respected broadcaster/journalist, ex-Sri Lanka opener Russel Arnold, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, and Betty Timmer, former Chair of the ICC Women’s Committee.