The stats below exclude matches vs Zim and BD. They also only count matches played for your country or against other countries (no ICC XI rubbish).

Only players with a minimum of 5 matches played in the calendar year 2005 are considered.

Top 10 Test Batsmen – Inzi is head and shoulders above any other batsman on this list and its great to see Younis Khan at number 7, MoYo just missed out as he was at number 11. Having 3 Pak batsmen in the top 11 in 2005 makes a welcome change and its the best representation of any country in the top 11 positions! I hope this is a sign that Pakistan are improving as a test team.

13 inns — 999 runs @ 99.90 avg — 4x 100 — 6x 50 —-> Inzamam
10 inns — 595 runs @ 85.00 avg — 3x 100 — 1x 50 —-> Hussey
14 inns — 816 runs @ 74.18 avg — 4x 100 — 2x 50 —-> Kallis
15 inns — 1069 runs @ 71.26 avg — 5x 100 — 0x 50 —-> Lara
26 inns — 1444 runs @ 68.76 avg — 6x 100 — 5x 50 —-> Ponting
09 inns — 600 runs @ 66.66 avg — 2x 100 — 1x 50 —-> Sehwag
16 inns — 899 runs @ 59.93 avg — 3x 100 — 1x 50 —-> Younis
20 inns — 964 runs @ 56.70 avg — 3x 100 — 3x 50 —-> Chanderpaul
08 inns — 442 runs @ 55.25 avg — 2x 100 — 2x 50 —-> Dravid
17 inns — 816 runs @ 54.40 avg — 3x 100 — 3x 50 —-> G Smith

Top 10 Test Bowlers – The bowlers are listed by strike rate and bowlers averaging over 30 are excluded.

It’s mainly familiar faces which make up this list, quite surprising to see Simon Jones top the list but then he has had quite a fantastic year overall (thanks to reverse swing)!

Afridi is the real surprise! In 2004 He was the 6th best ODI bowler in the world and the best ODI bowler in Pakistan. In 2005 Afridi is the 10th best test bowler in the world and the best test bowler from Pakistan for effectiveness. Afridi is the best Pakistani bowler at taking wickets quickly, at a good average and he takes out the big batsmen from opposition teams! Add to that his 42 average with the bat and you have a player that should start every match!!

Shabbir Ahmed and Shoaib Akthar would both have been in the top 10 but they missed out due to not playing enough matches!! Although Kaneria’s average takes him out of contention, his Strike rate would put him in the top 15!

06 Ms — 26 wkts @ 22.42 avg — 37.8 SR — 3.6 Eco — 4.3 WPM —-> Si Jones
05 Ms — 33 wkts @ 20.33 avg — 42.5 SR — 2.9 Eco — 6.6 WPM —-> Murali
06 Ms — 28 wkts @ 18.03 avg — 43.6 SR — 2.5 Eco — 4.7 WPM —-> Vaas
14 Ms — 90 wkts @ 22.70 avg — 46.1 SR — 3.0 Eco — 6.4 WPM —-> Warne
06 Ms — 33 wkts @ 20.81 avg — 46.8 SR — 2.7 Eco — 5.5 WPM —-> Nel
05 Ms — 23 wkts @ 22.86 avg — 46.9 SR — 2.9 Eco — 4.6 WPM —-> Collymore
09 Ms — 42 wkts @ 25.64 avg — 50.3 SR — 3.1 Eco — 4.7 WPM —-> Ntini
12 Ms — 59 wkts @ 22.20 avg — 51.4 SR — 2.6 Eco — 4.9 WPM —-> McGrath
11 Ms — 52 wkts @ 27.21 avg — 53.2 SR — 3.1 Eco — 4.7 WPM —-> Flintoff
06 Ms — 18 wkts @ 29.33 avg — 55.4 SR — 3.2 Eco — 3.0 WPM —-> The Afridi