Matt Floyd picks out his Team of the Week in world cricket
Tuesday 14 February 2017 10:06, UK
Who have been the standout performers in world cricket this week? Sky Sports' Matt Floyd picks our team of the week...
It's an exceptionally strong team this week, with a few stellar names who are bang in form, as well as one unlikely wildcard. This XI is not short on leaders either.
Do you agree with our team? And who was the MVP from the XI this week? Tweet us @SkyCricket...
1) Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
A blistering 87-ball 109 in Centurion sent South Africa on their way to a 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka and the World No 1 ODI ranking. He also scored 55 earlier in the series, in Cape Town.
2) Hashim Amla (South Africa)
Amla knocked the ball around as De Kock took the early initiative in the fifth ODI before moving through the gears in effortless style. You don't lose many games when one of your openers makes 154!
3) Joe Root (England)
Despite not playing last week, he's had a fantastic few days having just been named the new England Test captain. Andrew Strauss spoke to a number of senior players, but there was only ever one outstanding candidate. It will be riveting to see what kind of leader he makes.
4) Virat Kohli (India) - Capt
Virat is the first name on the team sheet after another glorious exhibition of batting that resulted in a fourth Test double hundred in as many series'. He now has 15 wins in his first 23 Tests as captain, only Steve Waugh had more after the same number.
5) Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Now back in the ranks of the ODI team after the return of captain AB De Villiers, but had a superb series with the bat. A brilliant 185 in Cape Town was the highlight, falling just three runs short of Gary Kirsten's South African record.
6) Mohit Ahlawat (Maavi XI)
He made headlines all over the world after an astonishing 300 NOT OUT! in a club T20 game in Delhi. To put this in context, the highest individual score in a professional T20 match is Chris Gayle's 175 for Royal Challengers Bangalore! Will a franchise take a punt on him in the IPL auction on February 20th?
7) Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh) - Wkt
Rahim has received some criticism for his captaincy and wicketkeeping, but his batting of late has been rock solid. Four of his five Test centuries have come away from home.
8) Chris Morris (South Africa)
Figures of 4-31 on a flat Centurion pitch in the fifth ODI win were a fantastic effort. Has committed his future to South African cricket in the face of the Kolpak threat.
9) Wayne Parnell (South Africa)
Six wickets in the final two ODIs against Sri Lanka meant he finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 11. He is back in the Test picture, too, so we could see a fair amount of him on these shores this summer.
10) Yasir Shah (Lahore Qalandars)
Shah took 4-7 for the Qalandars against the Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL. It wasn't enough to win the game, though, as his side were bowled out for just 59!
11) Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Boult helped New Zealand regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with career best figures of 6-31. Now second in the ODI bowling rankings, behind only South Africa's Imran Tahir.
