Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson batting during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series. Photo/Photosport
Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson batting during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series. Photo/Photosport
Kane Williamson is the only Black Cap to be named in the International Cricket Council's Test Team of the Year.
The New Zealand skipper missed out on being named captain though. That honour went to Alastair Cook, despite leading England to victory in just one of their last eightmatches.
England have four representatives in the team - more than any other nation - with three Australians, and one player apiece from New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa in a side picked by former test greats Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten and Kumar Sangakkara for the sport's world governing body.
The trio based their decisions on player performances between September 14, 2015 and September 20, 2016, which means England's recent troubles on the sub-continent in Bangladesh and India were not covered.
The 12-month qualifying period did not begin well for Cook, as England lost a three-test series 2-0 to Pakistan in October 2015. Overall, in the period, he led England in 14 matches, with six wins, three draws and five losses.
England cricket captain Alastair Cook listens to a question during a press conference ahead of their third test match with India. Photo/AP Photos
Cook, who is considering his position as England captain, has been picked alongside Joe Root, wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and NZ-born Ben Stokes.
Root has become the focal point of the batting order in recent years and averages 52.80 in his test career, while Yorkshire team-mate Bairstow broke a 16-year record for the most test runs in a calendar year by a wicketkeeper in 2016.
Stokes' performances with bat and ball have helped establish him as England's first-choice all-rounder.
There was no place in the XI for India skipper Virat Kohli, who sits second in the ICC test batting rankings, while the world's top batsman and Australia captain Steve Smith is 12th man in the squad.
Opener David Warner, Adam Voges and Mitchell Starc are the three Australians chosen by the committee.
Spinner Ravi Ashwin, who helped India to a 4-0 victory over England, is India's sole representative, while Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and seamer Dale Steyn of South Africa complete the line-up.
The ICC also announced that Ashwin had been voted its Cricketer of the Year for 2016.
The ICC Team of the Year, in batting order, is: David Warner (Australia), Alastair Cook, captain (England), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Joe Root (England), Adam Voges (Australia), Jonny Bairstow, wicketkeeper (England), Ben Stokes (England), Ravi Ashwin (India), Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Steve Smith (Australia)
