Morgan, Manish and MS make the cut, as does the tormentor of the England Lions
Thursday 22 February 2018 11:02, UK
I’ve picked more of a batting-heavy side this week but with the new number-one ranked ODI bowler in the world playing I’m not too worried about the bowling! The groundsman has been asked to prepare a Bunsen burner!
MARTIN GUPTILL (New Zealand)
Guptill hit a century full of timing and power in Auckland and in the process became the leading scorer in T20 international history. I'm shocked no IPL franchise wanted to pick him up in the auction, despite him having an incredibly low base price of just over £80,000.
D'ARCY SHORT (Australia)
Short played two crucial innings at the end of the T20 Tri Series to help an unbeaten Australia lift the trophy. His inclusion has allowed the Aussies to field one of the scariest looking top fives in world cricket.
VIRAT KOHLI (India) - captain
Of course, he's in the Team of The Week! Kohli's 35th ODI century capped a fantastic series for India and their captain - South Africa were completely blown away. Steve Smith's Test batting stats are often referred to as 'Bradmanesque' but Kohli's ODI numbers are perhaps just as impressive.
EOIN MORGAN (England)
England endured a poor Tri-Series but at least they won their final game and Morgan found some valuable form heading into the New Zealand ODI series. As a captain, he will have been very disappointed with his team's performances, even if they were missing key players.
MANISH PANDEY (India)
Pandey was under pressure after a string of low scores and responded with a sparkling unbeaten 79 in the second T20I against South Africa at Centurion. There is a lot of competition for places in the Indian middle order so he will need a few more innings like that, but he certainly has the talent to be there.
MS DHONI (India) - wicketkeeper
Dhoni didn't get to face many balls in the ODI series so he looked keen to make full use of his time in the middle in the second T20. We saw some vintage Dhoni death hitting as he got India up to a competitive total with his 52 not out from 28 balls.
HEINRICH KLAASEN (South Africa)
The hard-hitting wicketkeeper is deputising for the injured Quinton de Kock and trumped Dhoni in Centurion with a powerful half-century of his own, including seven sixes. De Kock is one of the first names on the team sheet when fit and in form but Klaasen has just given the selectors something to think about.
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR (India)
Bhuvneshwar took 5-24 in Johannesburg to make sure there was no chance of South Africa reaching their big target in the first T20I. His slower balls have continued to evolve over time and made him a far more dangerous bowler in the shortest format.
RASHID KHAN (Afghanistan)
Afghanistan's 4-1 ODI demolition of Zimbabwe highlighted the different directions the two countries are heading in and Khan sealed the deal with a quick-fire 43 and three wickets. That performance took him to the top of the ODI bowler rankings, a brilliant achievement for someone who has played most of his cricket for an Associate member.
Some will quite rightly point to the fact that he hasn't played many games against Test nations but I suspect he would be a handful for any team.
SHARDUL THAKUR (India)
Thakur took four wickets in the final ODI against South Africa and was arguably India's best bowler on his T20 international debut. I'll be Interested to see how he goes in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, who aren't stacked with quality seamers.
JOMEL WARRICAN (West Indies A)
Left-arm spinner Warrican stunned the England Lions with 20 wickets in the first two unofficial Tests in the Caribbean. Warrican has 193 first-class wickets at an average of 19 - perhaps a Test recall is on the cards?
Do you agree with Matt's XI? Let us know on Twitter @SkyCricket...
