Yorkshire’s Root and Williamson make Test ‘dream’ team

Their county team-mate Gary Ballance, meanwhile, has been shortlisted for the ICC’s emerging player-of-the-year award.

The mythical team of the year, selected by a panel chaired by ICC cricket committee chairman and former India captain Anil Kumble, sees Root, along with England team-mate Stuart Broad, rewarded for their work in helping rebuild the England side after their disastrous tour of Australia.

Root made three hundreds in the English summer, scoring 200, 154 and 149, while Broad – one of the few bright spots Down Under – made contributions with both bat and ball and took 19 wickets as India were beaten 3-1.

Although he only played in five Tests this year, Kiwi Williamson averaged just over 64, following up a century against India in Auckland in February with two more on New Zealand’s tour of West Indies in the summer.

After making 113 in Kingston, he then scored a match-winning 161 not out in Bridgetown, helping seal a 2-1 series victory.

Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews is named as captain of the side after leading his men to victory in England, while compatriots Kumar Sangakkara and Rangana Herath are also named.

South African pace bowler Dale Steyn is picked for the seventh successive year and team-mate AB de Villiers for a fifth time. David Warner and Mitchell Johnson (Australia) and New Zealand Tim Southee (New Zealand) make up the rest of the team.

Ballance is joined by England team-mate Ben Stokes on the shortlist for the emerging player award, plus New Zealand’s Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham.

The 24-year-old Yorkshire batsman made the No 3 position his own for England this year, scoring three hundreds and averaging just under 51 in eight Tests.

There are no England players named in the one-day side of the year which is captained by India’s MS Dhoni, named for an eighth time and a seventh year in a row.

De Villiers, Virat Kohli of India and Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka are repeat selections, with the rest of the side comprising Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan), Quinton de Kock and Steyn (South Africa), George Bailey and James Faulkner (Australia), Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) and Mohammad Shami (India).

Australia’s Mitchell Johnson is on the list for the ICC Cricketer of the Year along with Sangakkara, Mathews, and de Villiers.

England women’s captain Charlotte Edwards is up for the women’s cricketer of the year award with team-mate Sarah Taylor, plus Mithali Raj (India) and Stefanie Taylor West Indies.