The cricket players’ annual report

It’s the start of July, the midway point of 2016 and a new financial year has dawned in Australia. Businesses are taking stock, goals are being set for the year ahead and employees are being assessed on their output from the past 12 months.

In the cricket world, the action never really stops - Australia have just completed their ODI tri-series of the Caribbean and the Test players are just one week away from their first assignment for the 2016-17 financial year.

In the United Kingdom, England are reaching the end of their ODI series against Sri Lanka, while some of the game’s biggest names are in the West Indies for another edition of the Caribbean Premier League.

Nonetheless, July 1 is a timely opportunity to consult the ledger and run the rule over those Test, ODI and T20 players around the world who managed the best returns – and those who may have slipped into the red – during the 2015-16 financial period.

Here is a snapshot of how it panned out.

Best with the bat

Image Id: ~/media/7367578EE63241278B0AD1F4F3A2742A Image Caption: Stats 1 July 2015 - 30 June 2016

Batsmen Who More Than Earned Their Keep

Usman Khawaja (Australia)

M: 6 | Inns 8 | Runs: 713 | HS: 174 | Ave: 101.85 | 100s: 4 | 50s: 1

Steve Smith scored more runs, but while the Aussie skipper’s value has remained at its (very high) level, Khawaja’s has soared. Since returning to Australia’s XI for the first Commonwealth Bank Test against New Zealand in Brisbane last November, Khawaja provided Australia’s selectors with an excellent return on their investment, averaging 101.85 and scoring four centuries, despite a minor hiccup when he missed two Tests after tearing his hamstring at the WACA. That form has seen him rocket up the ICC batting charts and has led to an ODI recall and a T20I debut.

Adam Voges (Australia)

M: 13 | Inns 19 | Runs: 1170 | HS: 269* | Ave: 90.00 | 100s: 4 | 50s: 1

Voges may have been forced to wait for his Baggy Green debut, but the veteran is making the most of his chance. His 2015-16 financial year has seen his stocks soar, as he added four centuries – including an unbeaten double ton against West Indies in Hobart – to the ton he scored on debut against the same opponent in June 2015.

Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan)

M: 4 | Inns 8 | Runs: 417 | HS: 102 | Ave: 59.57 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 4

Pakistan only played four Tests in 2015-16, but the evergreen Pakistan Test skipper’s value has remained high over the same period. He may be 42 years old, but he moved back into the world’s top 10 Test batsmen in the 2015-16 financial year and continues to lead from the front.

David Warner (Australia)

M: 13 | Inns 22 | Runs: 1275 | HS: 253 | Ave: 60.71 | 100s: 4 | 50s: 6

Those in the financial business relish a Bull market and when it comes to scoring runs, no one scored more than Australia’s own ‘Bull’ in 2015-16. Warner’s decision to give up alcohol has paid dividends, with the vice-captain fitter, faster and in finer form than ever.

Jonny Bairstow (England)

M: 13 | Inns 21 | Runs: 998 | HS: 167* | Ave: 55.44 | 100s: 3 | 50s: 2

The British Pound may have taken a beating after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, but it’s been nothing but up for the Yorkshire batsman in recent times. He scored his maiden Test ton against South Africa in Cape Town in January, before ticking off two major bucket list items against Sri Lanka last month, scoring a home century at Headingly followed by a ton at Lord’s. Cook and Root scored more runs, but it’s Bairstow’s star that has risen highest this year.

Batsmen Who Didn’t Quite Keep Their End Of The Deal

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

M: 8 | Inns 14 | Runs: 468 | HS: 88 | Ave: 33.42 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 3

As South Africa’s stocks have fallen in the Test world during the last 12 months, it’s hardly surprising to see their key assets have also been underperforming. De Villiers averages 50.46 in Test cricket, but during the 2015-16 financial year – the same period that saw the Proteas relinquish title of No.1 Test team to Australia - he scored at just 33.42, and has failed to score in his last three Test innings.

Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

M: 9 | Inns 13 | Runs: 235 | HS: 86 | Ave: 18.07 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 1

The same applies to du Plessis, but the signs are even more worrying for the batsman, who scored just 235 runs at 18.07 over the last 12 months. With a Test series coming up at home against New Zealand before the Proteas head to Australia this summer, du Plessis will be eager to put himself back in the black.

Ian Bell (England)

M: 8 | Inns 15 | Runs: 373 | HS: 65* | Ave: 28.69 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 4

While England’s stocks soared during their Ashes win over Australia last English summer, it was a different story for veteran Bell, who averaged 42.69 in 118 Tests before being dropped from the Test XI following England’s series defeat to Pakistan last November. But he showing signs of a recovery and is averaging 46.5 for Warwickshire in this year’s County Championship, and talk continues of a potential Test recall for the 34-year-old.

Best with the ball

Image Id: ~/media/6103FBD8AEA2491D94CF049E7AC28B77 Image Caption: Stats 1 July 2015 - 30 June 2016

Bowlers Who Found the Right (Bottom) Line

Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

M: 12 | Wkts: 46 | Runs: 1346 | Ave: 29.26 | Best: 6-70 | 5w: 1 | 10w: 0

Hazlewood's 2015-16 campaign didn’t start out to plan, when he battled a shin complaint in the 2015 Ashes, but the 25-year-old is now fit as a fiddle and reaping the benefits of skipping the past two Indian Premier League seasons. As well as being named man of the series in the Caribbean ODI tri-series West Indies last month, Hazlewood was also the only Australian paceman to play all six Tests at home in 2015-16 and has developed into a leader among the Test attack.

James Anderson (England)

M: 12 | Wkts: 51 | Runs: 1006 | Ave: 19-72 | Best: 6-47 | 5w: 4 | 10w: 1

The 33-year-old England veteran has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months. While a side strain kept him sidelined temporarily at the end of the Ashes, his form since saw him rise to the top of the Test bowler rankings for the first time in his career last month, after he took 21 wickets in England’s 2-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka.

Stuart Broad (England)

M: 15 | Wkts: 58 | Runs: 1296 | Ave: 22.34 | Best: 8-15 | 5w: 2 | 10w: 0

No one took more Test wickets than Broad during the last 12 months and if anyone needed reminding of the threat he poses, they only need to think back to that morning in Trent Bridge last August, when Broad almost single-handedly tore through Australia for 60. He briefly claimed the title of No.1 Test bowler – only to be usurped by countryman James Anderson – and his value has never been higher.

Ravichandran Ashwin (India)

M: 7 | Wkts: 52 | Runs: 725 | Ave: 13.94 | Best: 7-66 | 5w: 6 | 10w: 2

The off-spinner’s numbers from the last 12 months are remarkable and he has rightfully claimed second spot on the Test bowler rankings. Ashwin was dominant at home against South Africa last November, capturing 31 wickets in four Tests.

Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

M: 6 | Wkts: 24 | Runs: 593 | Ave: 24.70 | Best: 7-112 | 5w: 3 | 10w: 1

This 21-year-old old South African is one to watch. He only made his ODI debut in July last year, but he took more wickets in the 50-over format than anyone during the past 12 months while his output in Test cricket has also been impressive – no time moreso than when he took 13 wickets including 6-32 in the second innings - against England in Centurion in January.

Bowlers Who Weren’t Able to Break Even

Dale Steyn (South Africa) 

M: 4 | Wkts: 5 | Runs: 218 | Ave: 21.80 | Best: 4-80 | 5w: 0 | 10w: 0

Steyn has had his fair share of injury worries over the last 12 months, missing Tests against India and England due to groin and shoulder concerns. There’s no doubting the fire that still burns brightly in the belly of the fiery Proteas spearhead, but after five wickets at 21.80, he has slipped from the No.1 Test bowler position he held for so long, now sitting fifth. South Africa rested the quick from the ODI tri-series in the Caribbean and are hoping he’ll be fit and firing in time for their tour of Australia in November. Steyn, for one, can’t wait to pick up the pink ball.

Trent Boult (New Zealand) 

M: 7 | Wkts: 24 | Runs: 949 | Ave: 39.54 | Best: 7-101 | 5w: 1 | 10w: 0

Still the leader of the Black Caps pace attack alongside Tim Southee, but the past 12 months haven’t ranked up there with the left-armer’s best. He is hardly the only Kiwi to have had an unexpectedly low return in 2015-16 – Southee, Doug Bracewell and spinner Mark Craig have also had their struggled – as they were unable to dominate Australia in Tests at home or away. However, Boult has been a principal figure in the Black Caps’ resurgence and he’ll have a chance to bounce back on South African wickets in August.

Kemar Roach (West Indies)

M: 5 | Wkts: 2 | Runs: 349 | Ave: 174.50 | Best: 1-45 | 5w: 0 | 10w: 0

The numbers sum it up for the 28-year-old Windies quick. The last 12 months haven’t been kind on Roach, who has come up against Australia batsmen in remarkable form including Adam Voges, Steve Smith and David Warner. He has dropped 10 spots to 22 in the Test bowler rankings since June 2015, but with a home series against India looming, the right-armer – and his team – will hope for a return to form.