ICC names World Test Team of the Year

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced its official World Test Team of the Year, as chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.

The announcement was made at the ICC Awards celebration at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Presented in association with FICA, the ICC Awards recognise the best international players of the past 12 months.

The World Test Team of the Year (in batting order) is:

Matthew Hayden (Aus)
Michael Vaughan (Eng)
Ricky Ponting (Aus, captain)
Mohammad Yousuf (Pak)
Kevin Pietersen (Eng)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL, wicketkeeper)
Stuart Clark (Aus)
Makhaya Ntini (SA)
Mohammad Asif (Pak)
Muttiah Muralidaran (SL)
12th man: Zaheer Khan (Ind)

Six teams are represented in the 12-man line-up and six players - Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Mohammad Yousuf, Kumar Sangakkara, Makhaya Ntini and Muttiah Muralidaran - were also named in the World Test Team of the Year in 2006. Ponting also appeared in the team of 2005 and 2004.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was named skipper of the World Test Team of the Year. Earlier in the evening he had been named to lead the World ODI Team of the Year as well. . The team was chosen by the ICC's specially appointed expert selection panel made up of Sunil Gavaskar (Chairman), the former India captain, and also including Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand all-rounder, ex-South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten, Iqbal Qasim, the former Pakistan left-arm spinner, and ex-England captain Alec Stewart.

Selection for the Test Team of the Year was based on performances between the voting period of 9 August 2006 to 8 August 2007. Statistics were available as a guide but were not necessarily a determining factor in the choices made.

Individuals selected for the Test and ODI Teams of the Year each receive a commemorative, hand-crafted cap which varies in style to reflect the different forms of the game. The caps were presented by former Indian opening batsman Gavaskar, chairman of the ICC selection panel.