SportsCafe Readers’ XI: Choose your best opening pair of 2016

SportsCafe Readers’ XI: Choose your best opening pair of 2016

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With 2016 reaching its end, we want our readers to pick their best cricket team of the year in the SportsCafe Readers’ XI. Following our picks for the best wicket-keeper, we bring to you the choices for the best opening batsmen of the year which will be followed by middle-order batsmen and bowlers.

One-day Internationals

David Warner

From a team perspective the explosive left-hander has had a mixed year, but as a batsman, his performances have rendered him virtually unstoppable this year. The 30-year old has already amassed 2,374 runs across the formats at an average of 47.48 and has been one of the most consistent performers for his country in 2016.Though the

The left hander had a quiet start to the year in Tests, but has been doing brilliantly in the ongoing series against Pakistan. He has been sensational in ODIs scoring 1,388 runs in just 23 matches at an average of 63.09. Apart from his consistency, the pocket rocket has provided quality entertainment in Tests by pacing his innings at blistering pace and urgency.

You can easily bank on someone like Warner since the southpaw has consistency while also being entertaining.

Quinton de Kock

The ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year 2016 has had a wonderful year for South Africa plundering runs across all three formats most notably in the ODIs and T20Is. With his skills of bludgeoning the ball at will, he scored 857 runs at an average of 57.13 in 16 matches in this calendar year. De Kock has played just seven T20s in 2016 but scored 229 runs at an average of 32.71. 

So, picking him for your limited-overs team won’t be a bad idea at all.

Martin Guptill

The New Zealander has been a prominent figure in the limited-overs format over the past two years and he has continued his impressive run into 2016 as well. His effect on the team is just phenomenal in the T20 format having scored four fifties in the 9 matches he has played this year along with scoring a total of 721 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 45.06.

Rohit Sharma

His journey was cut short due to an unfortunate injury in the New Zealand ODI series but the Mumbai batsman has the fulcrum of India's batting in the limited-overs. Sharma averages an impressive 62.66 in the 10 ODIs he has played this year which also includes a sensational 171 not out scored against Australia. He has been impressive in T20s as well with 497 runs in 18 matches in 2016.

Tests

Murali Vijay

It is very hard for anyone to overlook Murali Vijay while picking their Test XI for 2016 given the right-handers performances for India this year. After struggling with an injury against West Indies, Vijay has comeback strongly scoring 543 runs at home which include two massive hundreds against England.

Alastair Cook

His captaincy might be in question currently, but Alastair Cook has been one of the most consistent Test batsman in world cricket and proved it against this year scoring 1,270 runs in 17 Tests currently standing third among the top scorers in Tests this year.

Azhar Ali

The Pakistani opener has achieved the prestigious record of scoring a triple century and a double century in a single year and is just 61 runs away from overtaking Virat Kohli's tally of 1,125 Test runs this year. Clearly a top bet for your Test picks.

Who is your Test opening pair of 2016?
David Warner
Murali Vijay
Alastair Cook
Azhar Ali
Who is your ODI/T20I opening pair of 2016?
David Warner
Quinton de Kock
Martin Guptill
Rohit Sharma

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