Team of the week: Eoin Morgan and Younus Khan make the cut
Matt Floyd picks out his Team of the Week in world cricket
Monday 9 January 2017 17:56, UK
Who have been the standout performers in world cricket this week to kickstart 2017? Sky Sports' Matt Floyd picks our Team of the week...
This week's team has plenty of batting firepower! There's no frontline spinner though, as no-one really stood out and the fast men came to the fore...
Do you agree with our team? And who was the MVP from our XI this week? Vote below and tweet us @SkyCricket...
1) David Warner (Australia)
Became only the fifth man in history to score a century before lunch on the opening day of a Test, with an innings of typically savage beauty. It will be fascinating to see how he deals with India's spinners in the upcoming Test series.
2) Matt Renshaw (Australia)
Announced himself on the world stage with a composed 184 against Pakistan in only his fourth Test match. He is just 20 years old, so have Australia found the long-term opening partner for Warner?
3) Colin Munro (New Zealand)
Hammered the Bangladesh bowlers to all parts during a whirlwind 52-ball hundred, his first in T20 internationals. His low, crab-like technique can be very off putting to some bowlers and he is one of the best switch-hitters in the world.
4) Younus Khan (Pakistan)
Achieved the incredible feat of becoming the only man to score a Test hundred in 11 countries (10 Test playing nations and the UAE). He is now just 23 Test runs short of 10,000 and with the 42-year-old Misbah surely nearing retirement, Pakistan will hope he can go on for a couple more years yet. If you look at the stats and where he has scored his runs, he has to be considered among the batting greats of the game.
5) Peter Handscomb (Australia)
Not many have taken to Test cricket as quickly as Peter Handscomb. In seven innings, he is yet to be dismissed for a score under 50. Bigger tests lie ahead in India, but his emergence, along with Renshaw's, have been major factors in Australia's resurgence after the South Africa series debacle.
6) Eoin Morgan (England) - Capt
A stunning last-ball six to keep the Sydney Thunder in contention to defend their Big Bash crown brought back memories of Morgan at his best - a man once referred to as 'The Finisher'. Now he heads to India with a point to prove and under pressure for his place in the side after opting not to tour Bangladesh. Lots of focus over the next few weeks will be on Alistair Cook's future as Test Captain, but the story of the one-day skipper could be just as interesting.
7) Quinton de Kock (South Africa) - Wkt
Scored his third Test century in Cape Town and has become a key man for South Africa across all three formats. Is there a better wicketkeeper-batsman in the game at the moment?
8) Corey Anderson (New Zealand)
Surely he would have hit the fastest T20 international century ever had he not run out of time. After a 41-ball unbeaten 94, he needed six runs off three balls to break the record, and the way he was striking the ball suggested he may only have needed one. I know he hasn't bowled for a while, but in this team he'll need to bowl a few overs too as the fourth seamer.
9) Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
Given the high profile South African defections to county cricket over the past week, Rabada's superb form has given the Proteas a big reason to be hopeful for the future. He finished with superb match figures of 10-92 at Newlands, and has come along at just the right time with Dale Steyn injured and nearing the end of his great career.
10) Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
Took out seven Pakistan batsmen in Sydney to finish the series as leading wicket-taker. Mitchell Starc is a quality bowler and gets more media attention, but Hazlewood, in eight Tests fewer than the left-armer, has a better average - 24.78 compared to Starc's 28.29 - and provides far greater control.
11) Lahiru Kumara (Sri Lanka)
I saw him last summer for Sri Lanka U19 against England U19 and thought he had a bit about him. Picked up a six-wicket haul against the Proteas in the second Test, and while he was expensive, there is clearly a lot to work with. He's still only 19 and has played just six first class games - a raw Sri Lankan talent for us all to keep our eyes on.
