Four Sri Lankan cricketers have been named in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2024.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka leads the team, with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Wanindu Hasaranga as the remaining Sri Lankan cricketers in the team.
Describing the Sri Lankan cricketers, the ICC shares;
-Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)
12 Matches, 694 Runs, 210 Highest Score, 63.1 Average, 106.4 Strike Rate, 3 Centuries, 2 Half-Centuries
Nissanka’s 210* in February against Afghanistan was the 6th-highest score by an opener in ODI history, setting up his strong season for the Lions.
Much of his production came in the front half of the year, tonning up twice when Afghanistan toured and then again in Bangladesh in March.
Nissanka scored the second-most One-Day International runs in 2024, behind only team-mate Kusal Mendis.
-Kusal Mendis (WK) (Sri Lanka)
17 Matches, 742 Runs, 143 Highest Score, 53 Average, 90.6 Strike Rate, 1 Century, 6 Half-Centuries
Mendis’ 742 runs were the most scored of any player in ODIs in 2024. His highest score, a 143 against New Zealand in November, was the 27th-highest total by a wicketkeeper in ODI history.
He finished the calendar year with a bang, notching up a total of 217 runs in Sri Lanka’s two ODIs against the Black Caps.
Mendis’ consistency was undeniable, only failing to reach double figures once from 17 innings.
-Charith Asalanka (C) (Sri Lanka)
16 Matches, 605 Runs, 101 Highest Score, 50.2 Average, 97.1 Strike Rate, 1 Century, 4 Half-Centuries
Sri Lankans scoring ODI runs was undoubtedly a theme in 2024, with Asalanka being no exception.
He started the year with a ton against Zimbabwe, his only century of the calendar year, but proceeded to contribute handsomely with the bat, reaching 50 on four separate occasions – two of those scores in the 90s.
Asalanka also took three wickets in two of Sri Lanka’s three series games against India.
-Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
10 Matches, 26 Wickets, 15.6 Bowling Average, 7/19 Best Bowling
Hasaranga’s 7/19 against Zimbabwe in January is the fifth-best return in an innings in ODI history, joining an elite club of bowlers that have taken seven scalps in a match.
He averaged 2.6 wickets per game in 2024 and kept his bowling average well under 20.
Read more ; https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/breakout-stars-spearhead-icc-men-s-odi-team-of-the-year-for-2024 (Newswire)
