Who would you pick and why?
1) Alastair Cook- Currently in the form of his life, miles ahead of any other opener in world Test cricket at the moment. Also still only 26 which puts his unbelieveable temperament on show.
2) Virender Sehwag- Natural pick with the defensive Cook at the other end, will surely get things moving and his average of 53 is evidence of the fact that he's not just some mindless slogger.
3) Jonathan Trott- The most prolific run-getter in world cricket over the last 2 years, unflustered and solid in the extreme. A real grafter.
4) Jacques Kallis- A legend of the game and simply a genius with the bat in hand. Despite his age he is still going strong and has maintained his average of about 57 over time, and has recently scored his first 200.
5) Ian Bell- In the most scintillating form of his life. Simply a joy to watch and is currently making significant runs when required to do so, casting aside the claim that he only makes easy and comfy runs.
6) AB de Villiers- One of my favourite, if not my favourite player in the world game today. He is such an attrcative player in the way he seems to have no problems whatsoever in taking the attck to the opposition regardless of the game situation. Reminds me of one Adam Gilchrist in his batting style: high praise indeed.
7) Matt Prior- The premium keeper-batsman in the world today. His keeping is unquestionable and is rarely mentioned when in the field: always a good sign for a keeper. Also a very competant attacking batsman, a great player to have at Nº7.
8) Graeme Swann- The easiest pick in the team due to the fact that he is simply the best spinner, by far, in the world game today. His charisma and humourous approch to the game is refreshing and spurrs the England team on to greater heights.
9) Dale Steyn- The only bowler in the world today who can be considered an actual great of the game. Still only 27, he has 238 wickets at an average of 23: stats that speak for themselves.
10) Zaheer Khan- A really clever bowler who has sacrificed a yard or two of pace for indisputible control of line, length and devious swing. He is just the person you'd want to back up Steyn and Jimmy.
11) James Anderson- The world's best swing bowler and can not only make the ball talk, but who can conduct the sympony orchestra with it. Has proved with his 24 wickets at 26 in Australia that he has grown into a world class bowler.
Thanks for reading and feel free to post your own Test XIs.
WallyHammondsCoverDrive
The Current Best Test XI
posted on 20/6/11
"Since Trott is in we don't need Cook. Both are slowish players."
We're talking about test matches here aren't we?
Rather have more runs than score less slightly quicker, myself.
posted on 21/6/11
My 11
1.Cook(like gambhir a year or two ago)
2.shehwag(needs no introduction)
3.ponting*(one of the all time bat)
4.tendulkar(see ponting)
5.kallis(see ponting and tendo +he can consistently bowl 140+)
6.bell(one of the best mid over bat atm)
7.ABDV+(see bell+safe behind the wicket)
8.swann(best spinner atm)
9.steyn(rare quality seamer atm)
10.zaheer(mr.consistent)
11.andersen(bend it like beckham)
bench:amla,watson,prior.
posted on 21/6/11
"We're talking about test matches here aren't we?"
We are talking about winning test matches.
posted on 21/6/11
"comment by (U4040) posted 52 minutes ago
"We're talking about test matches here aren't we?"
We are talking about winning test matches."
So I'd go for the guy who's likely to score more runs and, as far as I can tell, Cook has a higher test average and strike rate in the last year than Watson.
So why would you pick Watson over Cook?
posted on 22/6/11
Cook is just 26 with over 5,500 runs, averaging a shade under 50, the world is his oyster. He could becomes one of the all time greats. ? ....... thats why !
posted on 22/6/11
Is it so difficult. I would not want Cook and Trott together in my team. They may score 500 runs in 3 days but my bowlers then will have the task to take out the opposition twice in 2 days.
posted on 22/6/11
They may score 500 runs in 3 days
============================
what game have you been watching ? when have they scored at 50 odd runs a session ? they may score a bit slower than pietersen or bell down the order, but that's what the top order's for.
posted on 22/6/11
Any Test XI that doesn't include the best batsman in World Cricket, namely Sachin Tendulkar, cannot hope to be called the Best XI.
Surely Tendulkar is better then De Villiers or Bell, if not Kallis or Trott?
He's the ICC cricketer of the year, the No.1 batsman in Tests, the best batsman in the World Cup and he isn't even part of the best Test XI?
What a joke!
As for the rest of the XI, I agree with it. But I'd surely replace ABD or Bell with Tendulkar.
Also, I'd think Laxman has a case for inclusion too, considering how magical he has been in 2010, during which he has scored sensational match-winning knocks:
Kolkata 2010
Mohali 2010
Colombo PSC 2010
Durban 2010 (Only batsman to score 50+, that is 96, on an extremely tough pitch, in a Test that included top batsmen on both sides)
posted on 23/6/11
Seems like my selection(see above) is the best of the lots.
posted on 25/6/11
indiasox:
At the moment I wouldn't have Ponting anywhere near a World XI. There're so many contenders for the No.3 spot alone, let alone a spot in the entire XI.
I would replace Ponting with Trott without so much as batting an eyelid.
I would also consider including Laxman somewhere, but Bell and ABD are excellent inclusions too. But please don't go by any impressions that ABD can keep well.
He can barely keep and most of the time he refuses to (or is not allowed to) simply because it affects his batting.
Dhoni would be a good choice considering how good the batting in the XI is anyway.
Dhoni is an excellent keeper and exceptional captain (one thing you notice in your XI is that it doesn't have a captain).
So my XI would be
Sehwag
Cook
Trott
Tendulkar
Kallis
Laxman/Bell (I would prefer the former)
Dhoni
Swann/Harbhajan (let's not forget how well Bhajji bats)
Steyn
Zaheer
Anderson/Morkel/Tremlett