Cook to captain ICC side

ALASTAIR Cook has been named captain of the International Cricket Council Test team of the year despite leading England to victory in just one of their last eight matches.

England have four representatives in the team, more than any other nation, with three Australians and one apiece from New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa in a side picked by former Test greats Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten and Kumar Sangakkara.

The trio based their decisions on player performances between September 14, 2015 and September 20, 2016, which means England’s recent troubles in Bangladesh and India are not covered.

The 12-month qualifying period did not begin well for Cook as England lost a threeTest series 2-0 to Pakistan in October 2015. Overall in the period, he led England in 14 matches, with six wins, three draws and five losses.

Cook has been picked alongside Joe Root, wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes.

Root has become the focal point of the batting order in recent years and averages 52.80 in his Test career while Bairstow broke a 16-year record for the most Test runs in a calendar year by a wicketkeeper in 2016.

Stokes’ performances with bat and ball have helped him establish himself as England’s first-choice all-rounder.

There was no place for India skipper Virat Kohli, second in the ICC Test batting rankings, while No 1 world batsman and Australia captain Steve Smith is 12th man.

Opener David Warner, Adam Voges and Mitchell Starc are the three Australians chosen, with Kane Williamson picked from New Zealand.

Spinner Ravi Ashwin is India’s sole rep while Sri Lankan Rangana Herath and Dale Steyn of South Africa complete the line-up.

Ashwin has been voted as its Cricketer of the Year for 2016.