Cricket.com.au's ODI team of 2018

1) Rohit Sharma (India)

M: 19 | Runs: 1030 | Ave: 73.57 | SR: 100.09 | 100s: 5 | 50s: 3 | HS: 162

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It was a case of feast or famine at times for the India opener this year, particularly outside Asia. Seven scores of 20 or less in South Africa and England were offset by match-winning centuries in Port Elizabeth and Trent Bridge and he finished the year in style with unbeaten hundreds against Pakistan and the West Indies and then a knock of 162 against the Windies to round out his 2018.

2) Jonny Bairstow (England)

M: 22 | Runs: 1025 | Ave: 46.59 | SR: 118.22 | 100s: 4 | 50s: 2 | HS: 139

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Having not even been in England’s best ODI XI last year, Jonny Bairstow’s development in 2018 underlines his side’s batting strength that makes them warm favourites for next year’s World Cup. The right-hander became the first Englishman to score three consecutive one-day tons early in the year and he then led England’s demolition of Australia at Trent Bridge with a 92-ball knock of 139. His strike-rate of 118 is easily the best among the year’s leading run-scorers, handing him the second opening spot ahead of India's Shikhar Dhawan.

3) Joe Root (England)

M: 24 | Runs: 946 | Ave: 59.12 | SR: 83.93 | 100s: 3 | 50s: 5 | HS: 113no

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In a team full of batting blasters, the steady hand of Joe Root rounds out this side nicely. England’s Test skipper passed fifty eight times this year, the highlight of his 2018 being the consecutive unbeaten centuries he scored to seal a series win against India, England’s main challengers as the world’s leading ODI team ahead of next year’s World Cup.

4) Virat Kohli (India, c)

M: 14 | Runs: 1202 | Ave: 133.55 | SR: 102.55 | 100s: 6 | 50s: 3 | HS: 160

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The leading run-scorer in 2018 from just 14 matches. An average of 133 and a strike rate in excess of 100. Three hundreds in a series twice. Do we need to say any more about Virat Kohli than the raw numbers?

5) Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies)

M: 18 | Runs: 727 | Ave: 40.38 | SR: 109.65 | 100s: 3 | 50s: 2 | HS: 127

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In his first full year of ODI cricket, the 22-year-old from Guyana announced himself with a breakthrough 2018 that earned him a A$850,000 IPL deal. Batting at No.5 and No.6 in the order is no easy task in ODI cricket, but the left-hander adapted beautifully to score three centuries and a score of 94 this year – each at a strike rate exceeding 130 – and his series in India, where he averaged 51 at a strike rate of 140, earned him plenty of plaudits.

6) Jos Buttler (England, wk)

M: 23 | Runs: 671 | Ave: 51.61 | SR: 113.53 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 4 | HS: 110no

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The Englishman took his game to a new level in 2018 by forcing his way back into the Test side, but his one-day form was as good as it’s ever been. His two unbeaten hundreds against Australia were among the best performances of the year; 100no at the SCG to steer his side from a precarious 6-189 to a total of 302 and 110no in a successful run chase at Old Trafford where no other England batter scored more than 20. A strike rate of 113 for the year and 35 dismissals behind the stumps make him an easy inclusion.

7) Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka)

M: 17 | Runs: 415 | Ave: 34.58 | SR: 115.59 | 50s: 2 | HS: 64 | Wkts: 25 | Ave: 20.72 | Econ: 5.78 | BBI: 5-55

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Perhaps a surprising selection, but it's hard to argue with the numbers in the specialist all-round position low in the batting order. Sri Lanka lost more games than they won in 2018 and that record would have been even worse if not for the cameos with bat and ball by their experienced allrounder. Perera’s ability to take wickets is unquestioned, even if he was expensive at times, while he regularly contributed with the bat coming in at No.7 late in the innings.

8) Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

M: 20 | Wkts: 48 | Ave: 14.45 | Econ: 3.89 | 5wi: 2 | BBI: 5-24 | SR: 22.2

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All four of the leading ODI wicket-takers this year were wrist spinners and the Afghan superstar was again the pick of the bunch. While Rashid mainly played against the weaker nations, his numbers are impossible to ignore and the fact he took 10 wickets at 17 in the Asia Cup proves he can match it with the big guns as well.

9) Kuldeep Yadav (India)

M: 19 | Wkts: 45 | Ave: 17.77 | Econ: 4.64 | 5wi: 1 | BBI: 6-25 | SR: 22.9

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In addition to their batting fire-power, India’s chances of winning next year’s World Cup will hinge largely on their wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and left-armer Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep went for plenty of runs at times, but his ability to take multiple wickets in a match made him a key bowling option all year. He took three wickets or more in almost half of his games this year, the highlight being his spell of 6-25 against world No.1 England on their home soil.

10) Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)

M: 18 | Wkts: 29 | Ave: 21.72 | Econ: 4.20 | 5wi: 0 | BBI: 4-43 | SR: 31.0

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In a year dominated by spinners, the Bangladesh left-arm quick was once again a constant threat for his side. The highlight of his year was his double of 4-43 against Pakistan and 2-38 in the late stages of the Asia Cup in the UAE, displaying his potency with both the old and new ball and ability to keep the run rate to a minimum.

11) Jasprit Bumrah (India)

M: 13 | Wkts: 22 | Ave: 16.63 | Econ: 3.62 | 5wi: 0 | BBI: 4-35 | SR: 27.5

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Boasting the best economy rate of any leading bowler in 2018, a staggeringly low 3.62 from 13 matches, the Indian quick is almost impossible to leave out of this side. A strike weapon with the new ball and frugal at the end of an innings with arguably the best yorker in the game, the young right-armer continues to impress.