Best ODI XI for 2012-13 season

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja (India) – 319 runs @ 45.57, S/R 89.85 & 33 wickets @ 16.51, Econ: 3.87

He has shown great all around skills since his comeback to the Indian side. He has managed to fill up the much-needed slot of an all rounder. He has shown great amount of discipline in his bowling and batting. He cemented his place in the team by winning the Golden Ball in ICC Champions Trophy.

Currently, he is the leading wicket taker in the season with 33 wickets. With his bowling, he can dry up runs and get through his overs quickly and that’s what all captains want, i.e., to maintain pressure on the batsman in the middle overs. His useful batting at lower down the order helps getting some extra runs at death overs.

R McLaren (South Africa) – 175 runs @ 25.00 & 27 wickets @ 22.51, Econ: 5.00

He is an aggressive seam bowler who can contribute with the bat as well. South Africa always had a reputation of having good fast bowlers over the years and thus it was very difficult for him to find a place in side where legends like Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock had already set standards. After getting his opportunity in the national team, McLaren grabbed it with both hands by taking three four-wicket hauls in the season. He contribution of 71* against India helped his team to narrow down the losing margin in the Champions Trophy.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (India) – 25 wickets @ 21.96, Econ: 3.97

His disciplined bowling right from the start of the innings provided early breakthroughs for his team. His ability to keep getting opening batsman out with his well-controlled seam attack impresses many. In his short career so far, he had lead the Indian pace attack quite brilliantly in the absence of Zaheer Khan. He showed his class by bowling his career best figure of 4/8 against Sri Lanka in West Indies.

Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) – 28 wickets @ 21.82, Econ: 4.16

An intelligent off-spinner who has all the variations that spinner possesses. He has deceived many great batsmen with his lethal weapon “doosra”. He has a knack of taking wickets at crucial junctures. His bowling in tandem with left armer Ravindra Jadeja would be dreadful for the batsman. As they both have ability to dry up runs and they seldom provide any scoring opportunities.

M McClenaghan (New Zealand) – 29 wickets @ 16.51, Econ: 5.22

He is a young left arm medium fast bowler. He has taken four 4-wicket hauls and that too against top batting line up in the world (Australia, England, South Africa & Sri Lanka). His ability to swing ball both ways makes him an ideal bowler in pacer friendly pitches. He has the right pace and bounce to trouble any batsman in the world. In such a short career he is leading the New Zealand pace attack.