World Test Team

[ali_ed2001]

A lot of support for Amir in the past few pages. I think people are being too hasty to rate him as one of the best in the world. He was outbowled severely by Anderson in swinging conditions in Trent Bridge and has only played a handful of Tests - not with astonishing success.

You're forgetting the fact that Anderson was bowling to Pakistani batsman. We can't play Watson when he's swinging the ball. Aamer bowled quite well in both innings, had England in trouble in first innings, and could have done a bit more damage if we had someone behind who could catch.

 

[Dare]

Asia XI

Virender Sehwag
Tamim Iqbal
Kumar Sangakkara *
Sachin Tendulkar
Mahela Jayawardene
Thilan Samaraweera
MS Dhoni+
Shakib al Hasan
Mohammad Aamer
Lasith Malinga
Mohammad Asif


ROW XI

Graeme Smith
Shane Watson
Hashim Amla
Jacques Kallis
Ab de Villiers
Michael Clarke
Matt Prior +
Dan Vettori *
Graeme Swann
Morne Morkel
Dale Steyn

World XI

Virender Sehwag
Shane Watson
Kumar Sangakkara *
Jacques Kallis
Sachin Tendulkar
AB de Villiers
MS Dhoni +
Shakib Al Hasan/Dan Vettori
Graeme Swann
Dale Steyn
Mohammad Asif

 

[ali_ed2001]

I wouldn't move Dravid from the #3 spot and he doesn't get in ahead of Sangakkara. Laxman and Samaraweera have similar averages but Samaraweera converted more of his fifties.

I understand you not wanting to move Dravid from # 3.

The only thing about Samarweera is that he has really only scored in subcontinent, whereas Laxman has performed well all over the world.

Laxman averages 54 in Australia compared to Samaraweera's 22, and even in India he averages around 25 where conditions are similar to SL.

Samaraweera's average is inflated because of his performances in Pakistan where he averages 90.

 

[Dare]

Laxman does average better in most places around the world in his career but I was going on records since 2009. Putting Laxman over Samaraweera is no loss to the team.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Hmm...

Sehwag
Katich
Sangakkara
Tendulkar
Hashim Amla
Kallis
MS Dhoni (+)
Swann
Aamer
Steyn
Asif

I didn't want to stick Kallis in at 6, but not many more worthy batsman to make it in the side, and Sanga would go better at 3 considering he's in form. Plus, I want Kallis to bowl a bit, so why not conserve some of his energy.

Also, it was a toss up between MSD and Prior, seeing as how Prior is in great form. But MSD seems more solid to me.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

OK I'll have a go at a World XI:

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Graeme Smith (c)
3. Hashim Amla
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Michael Clarke
6. AB de Villiers
7. MS Dhoni (+)
8. Graeme Swann
9. Morne Morkel
10. Mohammad Asif
11. Dale Steyn

With Sehwag and Smith, you have an explosive opener whose capable of making huge scores and a gritty opener partnering him who leads teams by example. Then you have Amla who has brilliant temparement who can come in when you lose an early wicket and can just steady the team whilst still playing great shots. Tendulkar, I don't really have to explain. Then there's Clarke and de Villiers. Clarke is someone you can rely on to make runs, and de Villiers has really kicked on and become an excellent test player. I chose Dhoni but I could've easily chosen Sangakarra. I just preferred to have someone like Dhoni in the side.

Swann is the best test spin bowler in the world at the moment so there was no question about that. Asif is a brilliant bowler, whose so consistent it's amazing. Then you have Steyn whose unquestionably brilliant, his stats back him up all the way and he's just a fantastic bowler. I chose Morkel but I'm not too happy about picking him tbh. If it was a swinging pitch then I guess I'd chose Anderson who can be lethal. I think Zaheer Khan might be a better choice, as he's been excellent and solely carrying India's bowling line up for a long time now. But I guess if you have someone as accurate as Asif, you can play someone like Morkel.

 

[Fatal Shot]

OK I'll have a go at a World XI:

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Graeme Smith (c)
3. Hashim Amla
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Michael Clarke
6. AB de Villiers
7. MS Dhoni (+)
8. Graeme Swann
9. Morne Morkel
10. Mohammad Asif
11. Dale Steyn

I quite like this team. I would only make some changes. The batting is very good and solid, but I would rather have Prior as the keeper. Prior has a great technique and can bat it out in difficult conditions, as well as being able to adapt to his teams needs. Also instead of Morkel, I would either have Aamer or Vettori, as I feel having some sort of left armer is very important to have in a team to give it more variation. But other than that, this team is pretty solid.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Fair points there. I agree about Prior, keeping wise he's solid and he's a very good batsman. He plays some really good strokes and can still be gritty at the lower end of the batting line up. About the left hander, I really like Aamer but I don't think he's played enough to warrant being in a World Test Team. I'm not convinced about having Vettori either, you'd only have Steyn and Asif as pace bowlers then, and Vettori hasn't been great recently. Last year he only averaged 39.07 at a strike rate of 91, and this year he's only averaging 40.58 at a strike rate of 80. Granted, he's not playing in the greatest side in the world, but I don't think he's been at his best. If I chose a left hander it would definitely be Zaheer Khan. He's carried the Indian bowling line up for a long time and still been excellent.

 

[sifter132]

About the left hander, I really like Aamer but I don't think he's played enough to warrant being in a World Test Team.

Amen brother. We haven't Amir bowl on an unfriendly surface for a while. Swing bowling's pretty fun in England and NZ. Of his 13 Tests, 5 have been in Eng, 3 in NZ, 2 in Aus (Hobart and Melbourne, often good for bowlers) and 3 in SL. Of course Amir's got loads of potential, but Asif is the real star of that bowling lineup - a top bowler.

It's the opposite for the Asian batsmen. The Indian and Sri Lankan boys have barely ventured outside Asia recently so despite their high averages you really have to ask yourself how good their recent performances actually are.

And IMHO any current world XI without Simon Katich in it can be immediately discarded. To me he's been the best batsmen in the world in the last year.

 

[Fatal Shot]

I wouldn't say he was the best batsman. More like the most consistent. But still very good. No doubt about that.

 

[Collingwood50]

Iqbal
Smith
Tendulkar
Ponting
Collingwood (c)
Amla
Boucher
Vettori
Swann
Anderson
Steyn

 

[sami ullah khan]

^I think your team will miss a third seamer if conditions are not very spinner friendly.

 

[Mike23]

How can you have Collingwood as captain when you have Ponting and Smith in the XI?

 

[Fatal Shot]

How can you have Collingwood as captain when you Ponting and Smith in the XI?

How does Colly even make the team

 

[AkshayS]

Even Iqbal, there are better choices than him.

and I would rate sanga, Dhoni and Prior above Boucher any day..Vettori hasn't been great in past year or two, so I won't have him in my team.