Pick: Ian Bishop (young version)
Explanation: At the start of his career, Bishop looked like he was going to become one of history's best-ever strike bowlers. His tremendous pace, bounce and movement were reflected in an average for that period of 19.82 and a strike rate of 46.1. Who knows what this big West Indian could have achieved if his team had had better physicians and sports scientists to keep him at peak fitness? As it was, injury sidelined him for two years in the mid 90s and he was never the same again - think of a more intimidating Shane Bond (without the minnow-bashing) and you've got your man.
The selection of Bishop gives me a fearsome new-ball attack. Not only do I have two economical bowlers who had mid 40s strike rates when in form, but I also have a variegated attack that combines two different fast bowling traditions. Opposition batsmen will need 100% concentration and real brilliance against both spin and pace.
Pick: Virender Sehwag
Explanation: "I do feel sorry for the bowlers when I play like that.
You can't do anything in such cases." - Virender Sehwag (2009)
Is it still arrogance if you're just telling it like it is? When Sehwag is on song he is virtually unstoppable and his rapid-fire triple century against South Africa is the best evidence of that. As an opener, Sehwag has scored 5000+ runs at an average of 51.21 and is one of only five batsmen to average 50+ in an opening position.
Sehwag will either win me the match or hole out early, but with Gambhir and Dravid lending stability to the upper order I can afford to include an erratic match winner in my lineup. An oft neglected benefit of playing Sehwag is that his hard hitting rapidly ages the ball, so even if he falls for a sub-par score he'll still have contributed to setting up the middle order to succeed.
1. Gautam Gambhir (54.07 as opener, higher since reinventing technique)
2. Virender Sehwag (51.21 as opener)
3. Rahul Dravid (53.98 as #3, was 60+ until 2008 form slump)
4. Mahela Jayawardene (53.61 in middle order)
5.
6.
7.
8. Wasim Akram (315 wickets at 21.67 between 1990 and 2000)
9. Shane Warne (708 wickets at 25.41)
10. Muttiah Muralitharan (770 wickets at 22.18)
11. Ian Bishop (67 wickets at 19.82 between 1990 and 1993)
Still no South Africans or Englishmen! I'd like to field a team that has experience in all conditions, so fingers crossed I'll find a place for those nationalities in my 5-7 slots.