Matt Floyd's Team of the Week: D'Arcy Short, AB de Villiers and Hardik Pandya make the XI
Sky Cricket presenter's XI features New Zealand's captain, South Africa and India all-rounders and a Big Bash centurion...
Saturday 13 January 2018 11:29, UK
This team may not be the most balanced but it bats all the way down to 11. Win the toss and put a big score on the board is the tactic!
MARTIN GUPTILL (New Zealand)
He followed up 48 in the first one-day international against Pakistan with a powerful unbeaten 86 in the second to see the Black Caps home. One of my favourite one-day players, not many in world cricket hit the ball as cleanly as Guptill.
D'ARCY SHORT (Hobart Hurricanes)
Hit the highest score ever in the Big Bash when he smashed 122 not out for the Hurricanes against the Heat. The burly left-hander is also on course to break the record for most runs in a Bash season and at this rate will make his T20 international debut later this month against England.
KANE WILLIAMSON (New Zealand) - captain
With Steve Smith drawing comparisons with Don Bradman across the Tasman, Williamson reminded everyone that he's also one of the best batsmen around with a classy 10th ODI hundred against Pakistan. Worth remembering he's still only 27.
USMAN KHAWAJA (Australia)
After a fairly lean series a big hundred at the SCG has strengthened his position in the Australian side significantly. Always easy on the eye and in this innings looked much improved against spin, which has been his Achilles heel.
AB DE VILLIERS (South Africa) - wicketkeeper
Few players can take almost two years out from Test cricket and come back without looking rusty but De Villiers is a special talent. In challenging conditions in Cape Town his 100 runs across both innings made a big difference in a low scoring match. Struggling to find a keeper this week so sorry AB, you've got the gloves!
SHAUN MARSH (Australia)
After many people questioned his return to Test cricket the older Marsh responded with two Ashes centuries and finished the second leading run scorer behind the imperious Smith. Aside from Warner and the captain Australia don't seem to be stacked with Test quality batsmen so his contribution in the next couple of years could be vital.
HARDIK PANDYA (India)
The first Test in Cape Town was a pulsating watch but without Pandya's all-round contribution India would have been hammered. The presence of a seam bowling all-rounder makes Virat Kohli's side a far more dangerous proposition when they travel overseas.
MITCHELL MARSH (Australia)
Not be outdone by big brother, Marsh Jnr also hit a second century of the series in Sydney. England may have seen him as a weak link with the bat when he came into the side but soon found out he wasn't.
VERNON PHILANDER (South Africa)
When conditions are right, as they were in Cape Town, Philander looks like he is going to get three wickets every over. Some have questioned his fitness and desire recently but you certainly can't question his record - his average of 21.68 is bettered by no current bowler and among the best of all time.
PAT CUMMINS (Australia)
Eight wickets in the final Ashes Test earned him the man-of-the-match award and accolade of leading wicket-taker. Over six years after his eye-catching debut, it feels like Cummins has turned a significant corner in his career.
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR (India)
Looked at home on at Newlands and got the series off to a bang by ripping out South Africa's top three before the end of his third over. Probably India's key bowler for the rest of the series.
