World Test Team

[shravi]

Simon Katich
Virender Sehwag
Kumar Sangakkara
Jacques Kallis
Sachin Tendulkar
AB De Villiers
+ MS Dhoni
Graeme Swann
Mohammad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Mohammad Asif

 

[Dare]

Simon Katich
Virender Sehwag
Kumar Sangakkara
Jacques Kallis
Sachin Tendulkar
AB De Villiers
+ MS Dhoni
Graeme Swann
Mohammad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Mohammad Asif

Perfect.

 

[King Pietersen]

I'd take Watson ahead of Katich due to Watson's added bowling and the fact I hate watching Katich bat and then I'd pick Clarke or even Amla ahead of De Villiers but other than that it's pretty good. Can't argue with that bowling attack I don't think. I'd go with:

Virender Sehwag
Shane Watson
Kumar Sangakkara
Sachin Tendulkar
Jacques Kallis
Michael Clarke
MS Dhoni +
Graeme Swann
Mohammad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Mohammad Asif

 

[Cricketman]

Virender Sehwag
Shane Watson
Kumar Sangakkara
Sachin Tendulkar
Jacques Kallis
Thilan Samarweera
MS Dhoni <- Although I don't think he's done enough to warrant a World XI test spot there isn't a keeper good enough
Graeme Swann
Mohommad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Mohommad Asif

 

[pcfan123]

No respect for Graeme Smith I tell ya

Id take him over Sehwag anyday.

 

[khalek]

Samaraweera is a bit of an FTB tbh.

 

[King Pietersen]

Virender Sehwag
Shane Watson
Kumar Sangakkara
Sachin Tendulkar
Jacques Kallis
Thilan Samarweera
MS Dhoni <- Although I don't think he's done enough to warrant a World XI test spot there isn't a keeper good enough
Graeme Swann
Mohommad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Mohommad Asif

579 runs at 72.37 in the last 12 months is notably better than anyone else, and very good figures with the bat. The only 2 that have records even remotely deserving of a World XI spot are Boucher (483 at 48) and McCullum (640 at 45), so Dhoni walks into this side really. The only criticism of his Test record until the last year was his lack of centuries, but he's made up for that, making 3 in that time period. McCullum's given up the gloves too, so picking between Dhoni and Boucher is incredibly easy.

Clarke > Samaraweera too. Samaraweera might have a better average in the last year, but Clarke's made significantly more runs in a relatively under-performing Australian batting line-up in far better bowling conditions than those Samaraweera's been batting in. Clarke's been awesome in the last year, his performances in the Ashes last year were exceptional. Love watching Clarke bat.

 

[pcfan123]

Virender Sehwag
Graeme Smith
Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
Sachin Tendulkar
Jacques Kallis
Michael Clarke
Graeme Swann
Mohammad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Morne Morkel
Mohammad Asif

Bowler heavy, but thats my style.

 

[khalek]

Good side that but this team depends a lot on Swann, Aamer and Steyn with the bat down the order in case the top order/middle order fails. Looks a fantastic bowling side though with 6 regular quality bowlers including Kallis and 2 decent part time spinners in Sehwag and Clarke.

 

[Mike23]

@Mark - Sanga doesn't keep wickets in the test arena.

 

[pcfan123]

Yea I know Only way I could get my 6th bowler in.

I figure any side in the world would struggle to get 400 against that attack and Id back the top 6 to get 400 majority of the time.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Virender Sehwag
Graeme Smith
Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
Sachin Tendulkar
Jacques Kallis
Michael Clarke
Graeme Swann
Mohammad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Morne Morkel
Mohammad Asif

Bowler heavy, but thats my style.

I would not keep Clarke in their maye, instead him woukd put umar akmal

 

[McLOVIN]

Keeper at 3, in test match? You trying to kill him?

 

[King Pietersen]

I would not keep Clarke in their maye, instead him woukd put umar akmal

:laugh Umar Akmal's done nothing to deserve being picked in a World XI. Could name a whole heap of players that would deservedly be ahead of him. To name a few; Michael Clarke, Hashim Amla, Ian Bell, Mahela Jayawardene, Ross Taylor and AB De Villiers.

Mark, did you consider playing Daniel Vettori as one of your many bowling options in place of say Morne Morkel? Vettori's made 742 runs at 49.46 in the last 12 months, and proved that his wickets and bowling average really increase when he's playing alongside a world class bowler. His record when playing in the same team as Shane Bond is very impressive, taking 62 wickets at 24.74 with 3 5 wicket hauls, so I would imagine his record as part of a bowling unit that included the likes of Steyn, Aamer, Asif, Swann and Kallis would be very good. It also wouldn't have much of an impact on the batting either, as he's proven in the last few years that he's a more than capable Test batsman.

 

[Themer]

Hashim Amla
Graeme Smith
Sachin Tendulkar
Kumar Sangakkara
Jacques Kallis
Michael Clarke
MS Dhoni
Graeme Swann
Mohammad Aamer
Dale Steyn
Morne Morkel