Sportskeeda's T20 All-rounder of the Year 2015 - counting down from No. 10 to No. 1

With teams nowadays struggling to accommodate players into the playing XI in T20s, given the amount of talented youngsters and specialists available, the ability to serve as an all-rounder is sure to give a cricketer the edge over his peers. All-rounders can not only chip in with the bat, but can take pressure off the skipper with a few overs of bowling as well, if required.World cricket has seen several dazzling all-rounders, and 2015 has been no exception. Here’s a look at the Top 10 T20 all-rounders of 2015 (inclusive of international cricket and domestic T20 competitions).

#10 Michael Stewart - Netherlands

Swart’s patient handling of the willow and clever bowling sees him at the No.10 spot in the ICC T20 rankings

M.R. Swart, the vice-captain of the Netherlands side, isn’t an all too familiar name in the international cricketing circle. However, he has come very much in handy to the men in orange, scoring 203 runs in 9 T20s in 2015, with a fine average of 29 and a modest strike rate of 100.49, along with a bowling effort of 4 wickets in 6 innings at a meagre economy of 6.33.

#9 Angelo Mathews - Sri Lanka

Mathews extraordinary consistency with bat and ball saw him win the 2015 Wisden Cricketer of the year award

The presence of Angelo Mathews has filled a long-standing void in the Sri Lankan side that of a genuine all-rounder. His calm demeanor at the crease and nagging consistency with the ball has made him indispensable for any T20 side. The 28-year-old provides much solidity to the Sri Lankan middle order, a feature which they lacked prior to his arrival.

Mathews rounds off a successful year with 209 runs in 13 innings at a healthy strike rate of 140.29. Mathews also has 8 wickets from 11 matches in 2015.

#8 Shane Watson Australia

Watsons remarkable comebacks despite his injuries reflect his immense willpower anddedication towards cricket

Shane Watson has waged a continuous battle with injury throughout his career, and has still managed to establish a name for himself among the best all-rounders of all time. One of Australias best exponents of reverse swing, Watson can also clobber the ball all around the ground mercilessly. The Aussie is a genuine all-rounder, and bats as well as he can bowl.

Watson moves towards the end of the calendar year, with 372 runs in 13 innings, at a good strike rate of 132.38, and also has 10 wickets in 13 innings, albeit at a fairly expensive economy of 9.55.

#7 Mohammad Hafeez Pakistan

Hafeez has been considered one of the worlds best all-rounders for quite some time, owing to his versatility

Mohammad Hafeez has been a vital cog in every T20 side he has turned up for, as he can bat aggressively at the top of the order, and also change gears to play defensively when needed. He bowls wicket-to-wicket off-spin, and comes in handy as a point fielder too.

The Pakistani all-rounder wraps the year up with 243 runs in 20 innings, and 4 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of 6.80.

#6 Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh

Shakib currently leads the ICC All-rounder rankings in both ODIs and T20s

To hold the No.1 spot in the ICC All-rounder rankings across all three formats of the game for as long as Shakib Al Hasan hasis no mean feat. The Bangladeshi all-rounder only recently slid down to 2nd place in the Test Rankings, but still holds the top spot in the other two.

Shakib has been an ideal all-rounder, with his immaculate strokeplay and accurate left-arm slow bowling, and is without a doubt Bangladeshs highest achieveing cricketer of all time. Shakib has had a prosperous 2015, with 302 runs in 21 innings and a magnificent 30 wickets in 22 games, at a superb economy of 6.74.

#5 Shahid Afridi Pakistan

There is quite possibly no cricketer that could have a career as entertaining as that of Boom Boom Afridi

Shahid Afridi is without a doubt one of the most entertaining batsmen to have graced a cricket pitch. His seemingly uncontrollable desire to slog every ball for a huge six gives spectators several heart in the mouth moments. He also chips in with extremely useful overs of leg-break bowling, which he rushes through rapidly.

Afridi ends 2015 with 133 runs in 10 matches at a towering strike rate of 179.72, and bowling figures of 7 wickets in 10 innings at an economy of 7.18.

#4 J.P. Duminy South Africa

Duminys maturity at the crease and his tidy off-break bowling have helped his side clinch many a match

J.P. Duminy struggled at the start of his careerto hold down a permanent spot in the South African XI, filled as it was with great talents. However, as his batting matured, Duminy began to take up the responsibility of finishing games for his side, often doing so with elegance.

His brilliance as a fielder and his economical bowling didnt hurt his chances either. The 31 year-old has had a great 2015, with 543 runs in 18 innings at a superb average of 45.25, and also has 10 wickets in 13 innings with a tidy economy of 6.55.

#3 Dwayne Bravo West Indies

Bravos never-say-die attitude has gone a long way in influencing his style of cricket

One of West Indies many limited-overs specialists, Dwayne Bravo stands out, thanks to his accurate medium-fast bowling, with which he often takes crucial wickets at the death. He also bats with full commitment, and is a safe pair of hands in the field, to say the least.

Bravos T20 statistics for 2015 look quite impressive, and reflect his positive attitude towards the game. With 628 runs from 40 innings at a healthy strike rate of 123.62, and 69 wickets in 44 games, at a decent economy of 7.77, the former Windies skipper clearly still has plenty to offer.

#2 Glenn Maxwell Australia

Maxwells inimitable batting style and handy spin bowling makehim a priceless addition in any T20 side

An explosive batsman with the innate ability to hit the ball all around the park, a sharp fielder, and a clever bowler Glenn Maxwell is quite possibly the ultimate T20 asset. Having burst into international recognition in 2012 as an all-rounder with an unbelievable strike rate and the knack of taking wickets, Maxwell has had a marvelous 2015 so far, with 540 runs from 29 matches at a dizzying strike rate of 142.85, and 18 wickets from 23 innings, at a passable economy of 7.92.

#1 James Faulkner - Australia

A deceptive slower ball and a powerful slog have been vital to Faulkner’s success as an all-rounder

A very talented bowling all-rounder, James Faulkner’s deceptive slower deliveries, and the ability to swing the ball both ways have been met with great success in the shortest format of the game. Faulkner also brings with him exceptional strength and bat-speed, and can hit a loose ball out the park with ease. Faulkner specializes in the death overs, be it with the bat or the ball in hand.

The Aussie amassed 530 runs in 29 innings this year, with a strike rate of 130.86. His bowling figures are even more impressive, with 39 wickets in 31 matches, at an economy of 7.83.

For his terrific all-round performances in both the IPL and the BBL, Faulkner wins our vote for Sportskeeda’s T20 All-rounder of the Year 2015.