Internet Desk: It may come as a surprise for die-hard Virat Kohli fans to see him missing out in the ICC Test Team of the Year, but the fact is the game’s global body is right in not picking the Indian captain.
As per the cut off period (September 21, 2015 to September 21,2016) , the other batsmen included in the side have scored heavily than the Indian test captain. Virat during the period has scored only 451 runs from 8 test matches during that period at an average of 45.10.
The Test team was picked by some of the legends of the game like Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara and Gary Kirsten. It must be admitted that the trio has been fair in selecting the Test team taking into consideration all statistics of batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders before finalizing the list.
The likes of Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Adam Voges deserved to be in the squad on the merit of out-scoring Virat in test matches during that period.
The man in question Adam Voges happens to be the top scorer in test matches during that period. The Aussie middle order batsman has scored 1,087 runs from 11 matches at an average of 90.58. He has also scored 4 tons during that period.
Alastair Cook, who is also the captain of the test squad, scored 1,269 runs with an average of 55.17.
David Warner has scored 1,020 runs from 11 matches with an average of 56.66. The attacking Aussie opener scored 4 tons during that period.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson scored 1,194 runs from 11 matches at an average of 74.62. The Kiwi batsman registered 4 tons.
Another England batsman Joe Root also finds his name in the list. Root has scored 1,272 runs from 14 matches at an average of 55.30 including two centuries.
Australian captain Steve Smith, who is the 12th man in the squad also registered more than 1000 test runs during the cut off period. The Australian test captain scored 1,004 runs in 11 matches at an average of 66.93. The Aussie batsman scored 4 tons.
In comparison Virat had a horrible series against South Africa at home, scoring only 200 runs in 4 tests at an average of 33.33. He managed to score only one half century.
The Indian test captain started off well in the series against West Indies in the Caribbean. He scored a double century in the first test at Antigua but failed with the bat in the next three tests, scoring only 44, 3 and 4 runs respectively.
The Indian captain has been in scintillating form since the cut-off period, scoring 964 runs from 8 tests at a staggering average of 80.33. His highest test score is 235 runs and has scored 3 test tons.
Former India cricketer and selector Ashoke Malhotra is not surprised to see the omission of Virat in the Test side. According to Malhotra, “This is unbelievable to pick a test squad without Virat in the side. He is the best batsman in the world in all formats. I do not know who picks the squad.
How can you have someone like Adam Voges in the side and leave out Virat with the form he is in. May be the squad is picked during a period when Virat did not do well with the bat. Another reason may be India did not play many test matches during that period.”
Statistics of the batsmen in ICC Test team (all statistics from 14 September 2015 to 20 September 2016)
David Warner – 11 matches, 1,020 runs, average 56.66, 4 tons
Alastair Cook – 14, 1,269, 55.17, 2 tons
Kane Williamson – 11, 1194, 74.62, 4 tons
Joe Root – 14, 1272, 55.30, 2 tons
Adam Voges – 11, 1087, 90.58, 4 tons
Steve Smith (12th man) – 11, 1004, 66.93, 4 tons
Virat Kohli – 8 Tests, 451 runs, 45.10, 1 ton.