T20 Team of 2017

As the year of 2017 comes to an end, the reflection of what has been an outstanding year of cricket begins. Picking the T20 of the year or any team is a hard challenge as some players who have performed can be missed out. Thus I have composed a T20 that consists of the best players of the year of 2017 that would provide adequate balance and performance to compete in all conditions around the world and provide thrilling entertainment.


Well, it is fair to say that there has been plenty going around in the T20 circuit around the world, with plenty of outstanding performances that made selecting this team one of the hardest yet. Unlike Test and ODI sides, T20 sides need to be a lot more flexible and can have plenty of surprises in them. The beauty of twenty over cricket is that it is anyone's game depending on who plays better on the day. Hence, this team that I have chosen in done with consideration of players who I think can change the game in the matter of a few overs and those who can control the game for the full innings. While on paper it may look risky and adventurous, but this is based on my opinion on the player's potential and skills that they have shown in the year of 2017. It is important to consider that many countries have not played as many T20 games as others, hence, there is a greater percentage of players from specific nations just based on their performances over a longer period of time.

When considering the openers, I wanted two batsmen that can each provide me with something different. With only 6 overs of batting powerplay available, I want to be able for my openers to maximise the runs in that period of time with few losses of wickets. Hence, I have gone with plastic West Indian opener Evin Lewis, who I have viewed as being one of the shining stars of West Indies cricket in 2017. Leading the run scorers with an impressive 357 runs at an outstanding average of 44.62, Evin Lewis' strike rate of 154 is key to fast runs. Lewis' aggression is going to be valuable in the powerplay, which I view as being one of the most critical parts of the game as it helps establish the foundation of the team. Hence, I have gone with Hashim Amla to partner Lewis to face the new ball. The South African opener has demonstrated his ability to provide both aggressive and conservative approaches to every game. Capping the season off with 239 runs at an average of 53.80 along with a thrilling strike rate of 147, his experience and talent are going to provide plenty of versatility to the batting order.

To add a bit of sanity to my batting line-up I have decided to go with Pakistani limited-overs star, Babar Azam. In my opinion, I see Azam as one of the best-limited overs batsman going around today. Whilst his strike rate is at 119, his ability to bat the whole innings and rotate the strike regularly will allow others to bat around him and tick the run rate over. Capping the season off with 352 runs at an average of 39.11, Babar's solidity will give the team a lovely balance that will enable other batsmen to express themselves and play more freely.

Whilst watching Australia being demolished in India, some outstanding players were becoming more noticeable, especially in the T20 format. One of the players who I saw stand up when the team was suffering and stamp their authority in the limited over series was Aussie allrounder, Moises Henriques. Whilst this may come as a surprise to some, his 145 runs from 5 matches came at an extraordinary average of 72.50 with two valuable half centuries. Henriques' sound technique and more than handy ability with the ball provides the all-round package. Again, with a sound strike rate of 120, his stability to the batting order is crucial in enabling other batsmen to bat around him and allow Henriques to cash in later in the innings.

Coming in at number 5 to the batting order, I have chosen Pakistani veteran and T20 star, Shoaib Malik. His extensive T20 experience has transformed his game to adapt to any situation. There is no doubt that he is a living legend of the limited-overs formats, and the T20 format only emphasises his brilliance and capacity to control a game from any situation. From a ballistic and devastating batsman to a gritty and patient ball hitter along with valuable off-break bowling, Malik is no doubt the whole deal. With a season average of 45, he cruises into the number 5 position as I like to call the position of the "crisis" man.

At number 6 I have decided to go with an extra batsman considering that I have 3 allrounders on the team. South African middle order "king" AB de Villiers will take the number 6 spot, to provide plenty of aggression and a breathtaking display of clinical batting.  His extreme talent and breathtaking ability is something that cannot be taken for granted. Furthermore, to emphasize the beauty of the format, that any player can change the course of the game in the matter of a few overs. Hence, AB's capacity to do exactly that is what I want to see on a T20 side. Moreover, whilst it is has been a long time since he has taken over the gloves, I would want to see him again behind the stumps and provide plenty of aggression out in the middle and is going to captain my side as well.

Coming in at number 7 I have decided to go with emerging Pakistani allrounder Fahim Ashraf who has simply gone from strength to strength since his introduction to international cricket this year. Despite only playing 4 matches in the calendar year, watching Ashraf's outstanding performances in the T20 series against Sri Lanka certainly highlighted for me as to how good of a player he is. With an excellent bowling average of 8.00 along with an impressive economy rate of 4.80, his skill with the new ball and hard hitting in the lower order is going to be critical to the balance of this side.

Well, to further add some stability to my bowling attack with a shift in pace and variety, but also I want someone who is a ruthless wicket-taker. Hence, I have decided to go with another Pakistani allrounder in 19-year-old leg spinner Shadab Khan who has taken an impressive 14 wickets this year. Shadab broke out onto the cricketing scenes with an outstanding T20 series against the West Indies which saw him claim 10 wickets in a man of the series effort against the ICC T20 World Cup Champions. Moreover, Khan's impressive leg break and deadly wrong un as stunned almost every team that he has come across. Whilst he is still somewhat inexperienced, his aggressive bowling style is a trait that I would want to see in a T20 team, as wickets are key in the middle overs. Furthermore, his talent with the bat has not gone unnoticed, with an average of 32 there is no doubt that his athleticism and positivity is going to be a critical attribute in this team.

Surprise, surprise, another Pakistani player makes it into my team at number 9. Arguably one of the most exciting players of the year of 2017, Hasan Ali. Who easily slots into the bowling attack on this team. With a brilliant 12 wickets this season, Ali's skill of taking wickets in the middle overs is critical in defending totals and restricting the opposition. Moreover, I will have Jasprit Bumrah to come in and take the new ball and bowl at the death. His exceptional ability with the new ball and accurate bowling in the later parts of the game is something that has profited India immensely and has gotten them out of trouble plenty of times.

Coming in at number 11 for the team I have decided to go along with Afghanistani sensation, Rashid Khan. The 19-year-old leg spinner has found himself leading the wickets in both the T20 and ODI formats in 2017. Whilst it may be argued that Afghanistan has been competing against fairly mediocre teams, his performances in domestic TwentyTwenty leagues has seen him spin circles around opposition batsmen.

And as for my twelfth man, I have gone with the ever great Virat Kohli. Arguably, one of the best cricketers in the world at the moment and a living legend in the limited overs formats, his experience will be brought the team whether conditions favour his style of play.

The most obvious thing about the following team is the number of Pakistani and Asian players present in the team.  Pakistan, in particular, is currently the number 1 ranked T20 team, hence, it does not come to much of a surprise that so many of them have come into the team. This is simply due to the incredibly limited overs form they are in and the unchallenged bowling line-up they currently obtain.

T20 TEAM OF 2017: Evin Lewis (West Indies), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Babar Azam (Pakistan), Moises Henriques (Australia), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan), AB de Villiers (South Africa)(wk)(c), Fahim Ashraf (Pakistan), Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Jasprit Bumrah (India), Virat Kohli (India) (12th man)