Usman Khawaja and Alyssa Healy headline CODE‘s cricket Teams of the Year

It was a dominant 12 months for Australia’s men’s and women’s teams, so fittingly they feature heavily across our best XIs across all three formats.

Without further ado, the XIs.

Men’s Teams of the Year

TEST

Usman Khawaja (Australia)

1080 runs | Ave: 67.50 | Four centuries | 11 matches

Left out of Australia’s XI for more than two years, Khawaja made up for lost time in 2022. Only recalled after Travis Head contracted Covid-19, Khawaja notched twin tons at the SCG and hasn’t looked back. The fairytale return continued as he produced a player of the series performance in his ancestral home of Pakistan. He finished the year as one of just four batters with 1000 Test runs.

Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies)

687 runs | Ave: 62.45 | Two centuries | Seven matches

Prior to a 2-0 humbling down under, it had actually been a positive year in Test cricket for the West Indies featuring series wins over England and Bangladesh under captain Brathwaite. Few place a higher price on their wicket than Brathwaite, as England found out. In the second Test he batted for 955 minutes across his two innings – the third-most minutes faced by a batter in a Test in recorded history – to secure a draw. He brought that same fight to Australia, where the hosts’ win at Perth was only truly secured once Nathan Lyon ended his 110-run stand.

Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)

957 runs | Ave: 56.29 | Four centuries | 11 matches

The world’s No. 1 Test batter continues to plunder runs. He went without a ton across his first six Tests of the year – a drought by his standards – but still finished 2022 with 957 to his name. When the first century arrived in Sri Lanka it filled one of the few gaps on Labuschagne’s CV; a first overseas hundred. He tormented the West Indies, posting scores of 204, 104* and 163 across three innings.

Babar Azam (Pakistan)

1184 runs | Ave: 69.64 | 4 centuries | Nine matches

Azam was 2022’s topscorer and most consistent red-ball performer with the bat – across 16 innings, he passed 50 11 times. Nobody escaped Azam’s clutches this year, with the dashing right-hander notching tons against all four opponents – Australia, Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand – he faced.

Jonny Bairstow (England)

1061 runs | Ave: 66.31 | Six centuries | 10 matches

When he’s on a roll, Bairstow is among the most irrepressible batters in the world. The aggressive right-hander started 2022 with two tons in two Tests, but it’s the hot streak in the English summer they’ll be talking about for years to come. With Bazball coming into effect, a freed up Bairstow posted scores of 136, 162, 71*, 106 and 114* across five innings.

Ben Stokes (c) (England)

870 runs | Ave: 36.25 | Two centuries

26 wickets | Ave: 31.19 | 15 matches

Stokes had a fine enough year with bat and ball, notching impressive tons against the West Indies and South Africa while providing plenty with his seamers. A fine enough year for an all-rounder, and the best of any of the contenders. But it’s what Stokes has managed as a captain that cemented his spot in this XI. Playing Test cricket without brakes or a seatbelt, England has won nine of 10 Tests since he officially took the reins and are an unrecognisable side from the one Australia humbled 4-0 last summer.

Rishabh Pant (India)

680 runs | Ave: 61.81 | Two centuries

23 catches | Six stumpings | Seven matches

It was a middling year in Test cricket for India – four wins, three losses – and it could have been much worse if not for Pant. With India’s top-four misfiring all year, Pant was regularly the man tasked with saving the day. Both his tons were must-watch viewing, hitting an even 100 not out off 139 in a total of 198 against South Africa, before giving England a taste of its own medicine by smacking 146 off 111. There is no one in world cricket quite like him.

Pat Cummins (Australia)

36 wickets | Ave: 21.83 | Two five-wicket hauls | 10 matches

Another year of Cummins’ metronomic best helped Australia to a 7-1 win-loss record in 2022. Having ravaged England over the new year, the seamer proved indefatigable on the lifeless pitches of Pakistan, where he took 12 wickets at 22.50 apiece. Eight of those wickets came at Karachi, where his man-of-the-match performance sealed the series for Australia. He was less effective in Sri Lanka, but has been nigh on unplayable in the home summer.

Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

47 wickets | Ave: 22.25 | Two five-wicket hauls | Nine matches

The year’s top wicket-taker, Rabada hustled and harried all three of India, New Zealand and England before touring Australia. Even in a tour where he has been below his best, Rabada has been a handful, notably taking 4/13 in the second innings at the Gabba. With a less than convincing batting order regularly letting the Proteas down, the bowlers have had to be outstanding to keep the team competitive in 2022. The relentless Rabada has led the way here.

James Anderson (England)

36 wickets | Ave: 19.80 | One five-wicket haul | Nine matches

Forty years young, Anderson excelled in 2022. The veteran tormented both New Zealand and South Africa when they toured, but his most impressive campaign came in Pakistan. In conditions that heavily favoured the batters, Anderson collected eight wickets at 18.50 to help England to a history-making whitewash. He is every chance of going past 700 Test wickets in 2023.

Nathan Lyon (Australia)

47 wickets | Ave: 29.06 | Three five-wicket hauls | 11 matches

It was a special year for Lyon, and one which underlined his credentials as a matchwinner. While not everything went Lyon’s way in Pakistan, when Australia needed him, he stepped up, taking 5/83 in the series decider to get at Cummins’ men home. He played the role of fourth-innings specialist again in the Perth Test against the West Indies, taking 6/128 against an at-times stubborn West Indies order. He is quietly enjoying one of the finest home summer of his career, with 20 wickets at 19.80.

ODI

Imam-ul-Haq (Pakistan): 505 runs | Avg: 72.14 | SR: 94.74 | Two centuries | Eight matches

Travis Head (Australia): 550 runs | Avg: 68.75 | SR: 112.24 | Two centuries | Nine matches

Babar Azam (Pakistan, c): 679 runs | Avg: 84.87 | SR: 90.77 | Three centuries | Nine matches

Shreyas Iyer (India): 724 runs |Avg: 55.69 | SR: 91.52 | One century | 17 matches

Tom Latham (New Zealand, wk): 558 runs | Avg: 55.8 | SR: 101.27 | 13 catches, three stumpings | 15 matches

Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe): 645 runs | Avg: 49.61 | SR: 87.16 | Eight wickets | Avg: 56.62 | Econ: 5.03 | 15 matches

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh) – 24 wickets | Avg: 23.50 | Econ: 5.44 | 330 runs | Avg: 66, | SR: 84.18 | 15 matches

Alzarri Joseph (West Indies): 27 wickets | Avg: 25.7 | Econ: 4.61 | 17 matches

Trent Boult (New Zealand): 18 wickets | Avg: 12.38 | Econ: 3.98 | Six matches

Mohammed Siraj (India): 24 wickets | Avg: 23.5 | Econ: 4.62 | 15 matches

Adam Zampa (Australia): 30 wickets | Avg: 17.53 | Econ: 4.99 | 12 matches

With a T20 World Cup on the calendar, ODI cricket was placed on the backburner by most of the full member nations. There wasn’t a lack of ODIs, but rarely did they see full strength XIs – for perspective, Virat Kohli played 11 of India’s 24 matches this year. Expect the format to take precedence to T20s next year given there will be a World Cup to play for.

Travis Head edged out India’s Shubman Gill to partner Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq at the top of the order, with the Australian making the most of his chances to cement himself as Aaron Finch’s successor.

Babar Azam, the world’s No. 1 ODI batter, did more than enough to be named at first drop, with India’s Shreyas Iyer coming in at No.4. Iyer was the topscorer from a full member nation.

Tom Latham takes the gloves and comes in at No. 5, a role that has brought out the best in him for New Zealand.

All-rounders Sikandar Raza and Mehidy Hasan Miraz round out the middle order, having each enjoyed their best year in ODI cricket to date.

The duo will complement the leg spin of Adam Zampa, and a three-pronged pace attack of Alzarri Joseph, Trent Boult and Mohammed Siraj.

T20I

Jos Buttler (England, c, wk): 462 runs | Avg: 35.53 | SR: 160.41 | 17 catches | 15 matches

Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan): 996 runs | Avg: 45.27 | SR: 122.96 | 25 matches

Virat Kohli (India): 781 | Avg: 55.78 |SR: 138.23 | 20 matches

Suryakumar Yadav (India): 1164 runs | Avg: 46.56 |SR: 187.43 | 25 matches

Glenn Phillips (New Zealand): 716 runs | Avg: 44.75 | SR: 156.33 | 21 matches

Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe): 735 runs | Avg: 35 | SR: 150.92 | 25 wickets | Avg: 17.68 | Econ: 6.13 | 24 matches

Shadab Khan (Pakistan): 25 wickets | Avg: 20.56 | Econ: 6.79 | 201 runs | Avg: 20.1 | SR: 154.61 | 20 matches

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka): 34 wickets | Avg: 15.67 | Econ: 7.4 | 19 matches

Sam Curran (England): 25 wickets | Avg: 21.08 | Econ: 7.56 | 19 matches

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India): 37 wickets | Avg: 19.56 | Econ: 6.98 | 32 matches

Haris Rauf (Pakistan): 31 wickets | Avg: 18.12 | Econ: 7.54 | 23 matches

This year saw more T20I mens cricket than ever before, with a record 531 matches played. While that record comes with an asterisk – it was only in 2019 that all 105 of the ICC’s members were given T20I status – it’s still nearly 200 more T20Is than 2021 (333 matches) saw.

The centrepiece of a bulk year of T20I cricket was of course the World Cup played on Australian shores.

Jos Buttler’s England won that tournament and fittingly he captains our team of the year. He opens the batting with Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, who was the year’s second highest run-scorer.

India’s Virat Kohli comes in at first drop after rediscovering his best touch at the World Cup, where he was the topscorer and produced as fine an innings as you’ll see in any format in a famous win over Pakistan at the MCG. He’s followed by compatriot Suryakumar Yadav, who set a new record for the most runs in a calendar year.

The only player in the world to come close to matching Yadav’s combination of remarkable consistency and outright aggression was New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips.

Sikandar Raza was central to a golden year for Zimbabwe, and the star of a surprise victory over Pakistan.

Wanindu Hasaranga enjoyed another stellar 12 months with the ball in T20I cricket, and is joined by Shadab Khan on the spin-bowling front. Shadab excelled through the middle overs with the ball in 2022, and also showed his merits with the bat, with his 22-ball 52 against South Africa at the SCG among the year’s best knocks.

Sam Curran was the player of the tournament at the T20 World Cup, and could have made this XI on his performance in the final alone. He is one of three quicks in the side, alongside India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pakistan’s Haris Rauf.

Women’s Teams of the Year

It’s been a big year for women’s cricket in Australia.

The international team has dominated the two major tournaments in 2022, the 50-over World Cup and the inaugural Commonwealth Games event.

But with so many of Australia’s victories featuring strong performances across the side, picking the team of the year isn’t just a green and gold affair.

ODI

Alyssa Healy (Australia) (wk)

600 runs | Ave: 50.00 | SR: 95.38 | HS: 170

Dismissals: 12 (Eight catches, Four stumpings) | 12 matches

The world’s best big-game performer, Healy produced her greatest knock against England in the World Cup final in April. She finished on 170 off 138 balls, hitting a remarkable 26 boundaries.

Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)

882 runs | Ave: 49.00 | SR: 78.96 | HS: 117 | 18 matches

Laura Wolvaardt ends the year as the highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, amassing an incredible 882 runs. It is the second-most runs scored in a calendar year in women’s ODI cricket, behind Belinda Clark’s staggering 1997 season where she scored 970.

Nat Sciver (England)

833 runs | Ave: 59.50 | SR: 91.43 | HS: 148* | 17 matches

Sciver has had a brilliant year for England, and it all started with great form against Australia. She scored centuries in both matches against her Ashes rival at the World Cup, the second of which, 148* in the final, would have been the best of the tournament if not for Healy’s heroics earlier that day.

Beth Mooney (Australia)

403 runs | Average: 100.75 | SR: 96.41 | HS: 73 | 10 matches

Despite only playing 10 ODIs in 2022, Mooney has certainly made the most of them. She has been not out on six occasions and has a remarkable average of more than 100.

Harmanpreet Kaur (India) (c)

754 runs | Ave: 58.00 | SR: 89.76 | HS: 143* | 17 matches

The Indian captain has produced another sensational year. She was the only Indian player to hit multiple centuries, including 143* off 111 balls against England in September. Kaur was also integral in India’s wins, averaging 75.85 in matches her side won.

Sidra Ameen (Pakistan)

697 runs | Ave: 63.36 | SR: 77.53 | HS: 176* | 13 matches

Sidra Ameen became just the fifth woman to score three ODI centuries in a calendar year and has been electrifying at the top of the order for Pakistan. Her 176* against Ireland was the fourth-highest individual score in a women’s ODI.

Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)

676 runs | Ave: 56.33 | SR: 84.50 | HS: 119* + 17 wickets | Ave: 39.29 | BBI: 3-30 | 18 matches

The 22-year-old all-rounder is one of the most exciting talents in the game and had another great year, particularly with the bat. In New Zealand’s warm-up series against India before the World Cup, she averaged 118 across five matches, including a century and three-straight scores in the 60s.

Sophie Ecclestone (England)

34 wickets | Ave: 19.14 | Econ: 3.47 | BBI: 6-36 | 20 matches

Ecclestone is the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world for a reason. She has the most wickets of any spinner and has worked tirelessly for them – no one has bowled more than her 187 overs in 2022. She also bowled 29 maidens – no other bowler has more than 15. Figures of 6-36 in the World Cup semi-final against South Africa showed she’s a big-game player.

Jess Kerr (New Zealand)

22 wickets | Ave: 18.86 | Econ: 3.81 | BBI: 4-23 | 15 matches

Kerr’s ability to put pressure on the batter and regularly take wickets has proved invaluable for the Whiteferns. She has taken multiple wickets in seven of her 14 matches and excelled recently against Bangladesh with five wickets at an economy rate of 2.4.

Charlie Dean (England)

29 wickets | Ave: 19.82 | Econ: 4.28 | BBI: 4-23 | 17 matches

Charlie Dean only made her international debut in September last year but has become an important part of England’s attack. She has taken the third-most wickets in ODIs this year, while the 21-year-old has the best strike rate in ODIs, ever.

Shabnim Ismail (South Africa)

37 wickets | Ave: 14.89 | Econ: 4.02 | BBI: 5-8 | 17 matches

Ismail equalled the record for the most ODI wickets taken in a calendar year in 2022, her 37 dismissals drawing her level with West Indies bowler Anisa Mohammed’s mark in 2011. In 10 of her 16 matches, she has taken multiple wickets and only went wicketless once in 2022.

T20I

Beth Mooney (Australia) (wk)

449 runs | Avg: 56.12 | SR: 134.43 | HS: 89* | 14 matches

Commonwealth Games gold was the highlight of another remarkable year from Beth Mooney, where she topscored in the final against India. If it wasn’t for two late failures in India, her average would have been in the 70s, remarkable for an opener in T20I cricket.

Smriti Mandhana (India)

594 runs | Avg: 33.00 | SR: 133.48 | HS: 79* | 23 matches

Another opener who continues to excel in international cricket. For the second time in her career, Mandhana is in the top 10 for most T20I runs in a calendar year. She was also the only woman to pass 50 on five occasions in 2022.

Meg Lanning (Australia) (c)

268 runs | Avg: 53.60 | SR: 133.33 | HS: 74 | 11 matches

The Australian captain only played 11 matches in 2022 but was at her formidable best again. One of only four players to score more than 250 runs and average more than 50 from the full member nations and will be hopeful of continuing that form as she returns before the 2023 World Cup.

Tahlia McGrath (Australia)

435 runs | Avg: 62.14 | SR: 145.00 | HS: 91* + 13 wickets | Avg: 12.84 | 16 matches

From obscurity to Australian captain, it was an incredible year for Tahlia McGrath. The all-rounder impressed with both bat and ball but also showed her ability to change the tempo of matches. No batter with 300+ runs had a better strike rate than McGrath, while Hayley Jensen was the only bowler with 12+ wickets to have a better bowling average.

Ashleigh Gardner (Australia)

216 runs | BAT Avg: 72.00 | SR: 152.11 + 15 wickets | Avg: 17.06 | BBI: 3-16 | 16 matches

Powerful hitting in India propelled Gardner into this list, her superb strike-rate and ability to get through overs with the ball made her an incredible asset for Australia. She would have even more runs if not for the contributions of Healy, Mooney, McGrath and others above her.

Nida Dar (Pakistan)

396 runs | Avg: 56.57 | SR: 122.60 | HS: 61 + 15 wickets | Avg: 18.33 | BBI: 2-19 | 16 matches

The Pakistan veteran had a brilliant Asia Cup and finished with the best average for any player to have scored more than 250 runs in 2022. Her ability to impact the game with both bat and ball has been crucial, and she has left her best performances for the big games, scoring a half-century against India in the Asia Cup.

Deepti Sharma (India)

370 runs | Avg: 37.00 | SR: 136.02 | HS: 64 + 29 wickets | Ave: 18.55 | BBI: 3-7 | 25 matches

Finishes 2022 as the highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket and always rose to the occasion, particularly in the Asia Cup. Took six wickets in the recent series against Australia and is generating plenty of turn, troubling the best batters in the world. Has added a handy ability to score lower-order runs.

Sophie Ecclestone (England)

19 wickets | Avg: 17.89 | Econ: 5.86 | BBI: 3-25 | 17 matches

The number one bowler in T20I cricket, Ecclestone is a consistent wicket-taker but continues to be economical. Only once has she conceded more than 10 runs an over in a spell and in two of the recent matches in the West Indies, she went at less than three an over. At 23, is only going to get more efficient and add more skills to her bow.

Hayley Jensen (New Zealand)

19 wickets | Avg: 11.89 | Econ: 5.55 | BBI: 3-5 | 12 matches

Jensen has been one of the Whiteferns’ more experienced bowlers and has had a fantastic year. Has taken multiple wickets on seven occasions this year and has been one of New Zealand’s main bowlers across all points with the ability to bowl in the powerplay or at the death.

Inoka Ranaweera (Sri Lanka)

27 wickets | Avg: 13.85 | Econ: 5.75 | BBI: 4-7 | 19 matches

A career-best year for the 36-year-old, Ranaweera has benefited from playing a lot of cricket in subcontinent conditions, producing brilliant variations in turn and flight. Her 27 wickets are second only to Sharma, while no Sri Lankan has ever taken more T20I wickets in a calendar year.

Renuka Singh (India)

22 wickets | Avg: 23.95 | Econ: 6.50 | BBI: 4-10 | 22 matches

Singh has been the best fast-bowler in T20Is this year and rose to the big occasions. During the Commonwealth Games, she took six wickets across two games against Australia and finished with 11 for the tournament. Another remarkable rise for a player who only made her international debut in October 2021.