World of Cricket Contest Series | Contest - 5 :: My all-time TEST XI
It's a great contest about the legendary test squad. How can we forget the people who made and still making crcket a more beautiful game, who changes the game to a next level, who commited for the glory of their nation?
The task is very difficult to sort only eleven players. I was more in to the game ideally from late 90's. So, I'll make the list players from then, from my generation. Sir Viv Richards, Kapil Dev, Sir Garry Sobbers, Sunil Gavaskar, Curtly Ambrose, Curtly Walsh, and so and so legends are there before this time. And all the selected players are retired. So, here is my team.
I think you can identify the faces!
| Position | Player | Role | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Matthew Hayden | Batsman | Australia |
| 02 | Sachin Tendulkar | Batsman | India |
| 03 | Rahul Dravid | Batsman | India |
| 04 | Brian Lara | Batsman | West Indies |
| 05 | Ricky Ponting | Batsman & Captain | Australia |
| 06 | Kumar Sangakkara | Batsman & Wicket Keeper | Sri Lanka |
| 07 | Jacques Kallis | All Rounder | South Africa |
| 08 | Wasim Akram | All Rounder | Pakistan |
| 09 | Shane Warne | Bowler | Australia |
| 10 | Glenn McGrath | Bowler | Australia |
| 11 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Bowler | Sri Lanka |
Matthew Hayden
A pretty tough spot to fill in. I had few names like Graem Smith, Alastair Cook or Shewag. I picked Hayden for his aggressive and destructive batting plus he has a crazy average of 50.73 with 30 centuries. He is a great player of spin in subcontinent countries as well as pace and bounce. His 380 runs is the second highest indidual score in an inning.
Sachin Tendulkar
Can't imagine a world test eleven without him. One and only god in cricket Sachin. He is the highest all-time runscorer in both Tests (15,921) and One Day Internationals (18,426). His average in Tests is 53.78 with 51 centuries.
Rahul Dravid
The great wall of India with a classic defensive technique and determination. He has an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries and 13288 runs in his bag.
Brian Lara
The great Trinidadian with a classic techinque and strokes all round the wicket. His 501 for Warwickshire is the largest first-class score of all-time while his 400 remains the highest score in Test cricket history. Runs: 11,953, Average: 52.88
Ricky Ponting
He was the captain of Australia from 2002-2012 with 220 victories in all formats. So, he will be the captain of my team. Plus he is a terrific batsman. He has scored 13378 runs in tests with an average of 51.85.
Kumar Sangakkara
Well, there is Adam Gilchrist also to the wicket keeper spot. But I choose Sanga, my favorite player. He has a crazy average of 57.40, the highest when played more than 100 tests. His partnership with Mahela is the highest for any wicket. From 2004 he has been in ICC test team of the year for 7 times.
Jacques Kallis
He is the leading all rounder in the world in international cricket. He has a classic and patient batting style with gentle medium fast balling skill. 13289 runs, 291 wickets and 200+ catches. A complete package.
Wasim Akram
The Sultan of Swing in both ways, with accurate line and length, toe crushin yorker. All-time best pacer. He definitely has a spot in my team. The left-arm pacer has accounted 414 wickets at 23.62 in tests. He is handy in bat too. 2898 runs with highest score of 257 runs.
Shane Warne
The greatest leg spinner of all time? He got 708 wicket at an average of 25.41. He has taken 37 Test fifers along with 10 Test ten-wicket hauls. flippers, zooters , odd goggly with perfectly honed leg breaks are his main guns to fool the batsmen.
Glenn McGrath
He didn't have a great pace or crazy swing. But he took wickets for Australia continuosly. 563 wicket wickets at 21.64 in Tests. He was so accurate and consistent in line and length. In limited overs also he has marked his name.
Muttiah Muralitharan
How can I forgot the leading wicket taker of test cricket(800)? Legendary and mystery off spinner. He is so consistent bot in home and away with an average of 22.72. Even without his special gun dussra he was unplayable.
So, I guess that's it! The post is a little long, But I guess it's a perfect and well balanced team. Hope you will enjoy it. Any ideas of the team?
References
Thank you for reading and special thanks to @steemcurator01 and @steemcurator02 for the continuous support!
Thank you.
Best Regards!
Very nice and balanced team. Good balance between aggression and defence.
If I have to change anything, I may bring in Alastair Cook as the second opener and move Sachin to 4 and sacrifice Lara.
Very tough to fit in all the greats within a team of 11.
Thank you very much! Yeah, I also considered about Cook, but couldn't take him to the eleven. For me, Lara should be there. Very tough to select
What a great article machan! my all time xi is also exactly the same !! 😍😍