Kohli, Dhoni named captains of Test and ODI team of the decade by Aussie website

PTI, Dec 24, 2019, 12:43 PM IST

Melbourne: Virat Kohli has been named captain of the Test XI of the decade by Cricket Australia’s official news website, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni was chosen as the leader of its ODI team of the decade.

It is not a surprise that Kohli finds himself in both the Test and ODI teams. The 31-year-old has arguably been the best batsman over the last decade. He has already amassed 70 international hundreds and is only behind Ricky Ponting (71) and Sachin Tendulkar (100).

Kohli, who averages more than 50 in all formats, is also third in the list of leading run-scorers of all time with 21,444 runs, behind Ponting (27,483) and Tendulkar (34,357).

The India skipper has scored runs all around the world but Australia has been a special place for him, having scored nine hundred (six in Tests, three in ODIs) Down Under. Kohli is primed to shatter more records, having ended 2019 as the leading run-getter.

The others in Test XI of the decade include Alastair Cook, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, AB de Villiers, Ben Stokes, Dale Steyn, Stuart Broad, Nathan Lyon, and James Anderson, ‘cricket.com.au’ posted.

The website’s ODI team of the decade is led by Dhoni, who captained India to two World titles, in 2007 and 2011, respectively.

Rohit Sharma, who had a memorable 2019, which included five hundred in the World Cup, is one of the openers in the team alongside Hashim Amla.

Kohli is the undisputed number three, followed by de Villiers, Shakib Al Hasan, Jos Buttler, Dhoni, Rashid Khan Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult and Lasith Malinga.

ODI team of the decade: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Rohit Sharma, Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shakib Al Hasan, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Lasith Malinga.

Test team of the decade: Virat Kohli (c), Alastair Cook, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Ab de Villiers (wk), Ben Stokes, Dale Steyn, Stuart Broad, Nathan Lyon, James Anderson.