A Matter of Choice

With the ICC world cup just around the corner and countries beginning to prepare for the final push of getting it all right, what better time than to write what in my opinion is the contemporary World XI test team. This is a matter of debate and I will justify my reasons for my selections. Your opinion could be fine too. But on similar posts, I have seen people packing the XI with players of their own country or with Sachin and Lara who are great players but currently not the best test players.

Some of my overall selection criteria are ICC player test rankings. This forms a benchmark. However this is not the sole criteria. Players need to be picked for each spot. If we went by this criteria alone, we would have a packed middle order but no batsmen willing to step on the field when play is called. The other being current form. This reflects to some degree in the ICC rankings but is mainly for selection of some new players who in my opinion are going to be greats of cricket. The next is representation from the countries. With Australia dominating world of cricket, it could be just as easy to pack the side with players from down under but this is the World XI. And so other test playing nations need to be represented. At the same time, I do not consider Zimbabwe or Bangladesh have that umph to play and compete in test arena except against each other and so have been excluded. The only other country not included is New Zealand as I believe it too competes in the test arena only when they are the home team and conditions suit them (Same can be said about India but with a few overseas wins, I could refute that claim). The final criteria is the heart and the maturity to slug it out when the going gets tough. That is the essence of a test match player. That holds key to the selection criteria and brings in a few interesting selections. So with that said, here goes... (Drum roll please...)

The Openers

This was the hardest part of selection. Taking guard to the first ball of the start of a test match is probably the most exciting and nerve racking feeling. Every opener must feel it at the start of every test match, no matter how many matches they have played. In modern cricket with ODIs ruling the minds of viewers, ODI openers are a different breed. Fielding restrictions make them try and innovate shots and given a flat track, they will succeed to a large extent but their technique and temperament are put to the sternest test with early morning swing of the red cherry. Players like Sehwag have fallen dismally from the face of earth after having been ranked in the top 10 test players at a time, so much so that he was dropped from the Indian team. So what would be the opening partnership?

The only country with a stable opening partnership was Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer of Australia until Langer retired recently. They were the second highest opening partnership all time behind Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge (highest avg. though) and if Langer was still playing, I would have picked both of them. However I will still choose Hayden, the remaining member of the successful duo. The fact that he figures in the top 10 validates my selection.

To partner him, I thought long and hard and the only other stable opener who comes to mind is Chris Gayle. A bowler's nightmare on his own, these two trotting out into the middle at the start would send shivers down the opposing captain's spine and make him think hard before sending in the World XI upon winning the toss. Some might argue with Andrew Strauss' case but he is woefully out of form on umpiring decisions. Also Gayle is a smart cricketer on the field and a fiery cricketer as seen from the latest ICC champions trophy. Coincidentally, both the openers are great slip fielders as well.

The Middle order

The number 3 spot holds the key. The player needs to be able to come in at the fall of a quick wicket and stabilize while at the same time come in following a big opening wicket partnership and keep the momentum going not taking too much time to settle down. Ricky Ponting, currently the world's best test batsman is ideal for this spot (as much as I hate to admit it). In his last 30 test matches, he has scored 3259 runs at 74.06 avg with 13 100s and 14 50s. Added to it, he leads the world's best side in test cricket. So he is also the natural choice of captain of the World XI side.

At number 4, I have the most prolific run scorer for the past year (2006) - Mohd. Yousuf. In 2006 he played 11 matches and scored 1788 runs at a mind staggering average of 99.33. Oh he also scored 9 centuries and 3 50s and was out for a duck once (when Irfan Pathan got his hattrick). He is ranked 2nd behind Ponting in the ICC rankings and makes him the ideal no. 4 spot batsman in this World XI side.

Many a times the difference between a good score and a huge match winning score is the lower middle order batting. After the opposition has managed to get the top and the middle order, the lower middle order can frustrate opposition teams with a dogged performance or following a huge total complete the gruesome act of stepping on the opposing team's chances in the test match. The role of the number 5 batsman becomes important in this case. To be able to bat with the lower order while scoring runs is an important requirement at this slot. While great batsmen remain in contention for a World XI slot like Dravid, Tendulkar, Lara, Inzamam and Pietersen, the man who deserves this spot is the current "Mr. Cricket", Michael Hussey. He had to wait a long time in the wings to earn his baggy green but in this selection he makes it with trumps for the whirlwind start to his career.Since his debut, he has scored at an average of close to 80 in 16 matches and although an opening bat for Western Australia, he has fitted very well in the middle order. It seems he cannot do anything wrong in cricket at the current moment. He also provides the team with a good fielder at the forward short leg position, a must to support the spinners in the team.

The wicketkeeper

With cricket going the professional route, every player needs to be multidimensional and this holds the most for the wicketkeeper slot. Every wicketkeeper needs to be able to produce with the bat as well. At number 6, my wicketkeeper batsman's selection for the World XI might be a tad controversial. While a lot will argue that Adam Gilchrist is the best out there (and he is) or Mark Boucher has produced some great test innings of late and is the most consistent keeper, my selection at this spot is Kumar Sangakarra. Purely on form, he is an awsome batsman who could play in as a pure batsman as he nowadays does for Srilanka who have figured that they need his consistency in run scoring not to be affected by having to keep wickets as well. But with so many knocking on the door for world XI, I am afraid Sangakarra will have to keep wickets as well which I am sure he won't mind.

The Allrounder

Every successful team needs a good allrounder. For Australia, it is their wicketkeeper batsman that allows for a balanced team, for South Africa it is Kallis and Pollock who make it possible to have 5 bowlers in the team. England's previous Ashes success was possible because of the emergence of Flintoff to the fore of cricket. India's recent success overseas could be attributed to the likes of Irfan Pathan and Dhoni allowing for an extra bowler in the crucial matches. For the current selection, three names pop up - Flintoff, Kallis and Pollock. While it can be argued that Kallis has the better records, Flintoff makes it into the squad (albeit on quota of representation from all countries). Another reason he makes it in inspite of having a not so flamboyant Ashes series is because he has accepted each and every responsibility that has been thrown his way. It seems England wants Flintoff to do everything to just be able to play cricket. Always willing to put up a fight, he has the correct attitude to pick up a drooping team.

The Bowlers

Before the Ashes series was over, two slots would have been automatic - McGrath and Warne. But their retirement has led to a more balanced representation. Easier selections for bowling spots are the spinners. Muttiah Muralitharan, the world's best test bowler is an easy selection. Bowling around 55 overs per match and a strike rate of 54.45, he can expect to pick up 10 wickets every match and soon overhaul Warne's record of 702 test wickets. The other spinner in the World XI would be Anil Kumble (following the retirement of Warne). An ageless wonder, he has remained the strike force of Indian cricket for so many years. The success India has been enjoying in test cricket recently can be attributed to the success he has had. A perfect legspinner to balance the offspin guile of Murali, any captain would be happy to toss the ball to these two after the new ball bowlers have bowled 20 odd overs and sit back and watch the fun.

That leaves two spots - two fast bowlers to open the bowling with Andrew Flintoff to support them. Again McGrath would have been a lock for this but his retirement gives others opportunities to share the new cherry. Many old pros and young prospects come to mind. Pollock and Ntini from South Africa, Shane Bond from NZ, Mohd. Asif and Shoaib Akhtar from Pakistan, Sreesanth from India, Vaas from Sri Lanka. Based on ICC test bowler rankings Ntinishould find selection and based on pure numbers Akhtar has the best record for test bowling. However my selections are different.

In my book, test bowling is about two things: One, bowling in tandem with the bowler at the other end; and two, keep pegging away when things don't come your way. In that respect my choices are Shaun Pollock and Mohd. Asif. Great control of line and length by both, disciplined effort and the heart to come back each and every time trying to peg an end up even if they are not getting anything from the pitch. Pollock, a seasoned veteran would use his experience and tenacity to the fullest. While Mohd. Asif may be young and fresh, he has captured the imagination of every analyst. In his short career, he has shown discipline, heart and has tasted success. He has 37 wickets in 7 matches at an avg of 21.08 but more impressively a strike rate of 38.10 implying that he has got a wicket almost every spell that he bowls. Very important for a fast bowler unable to bowl long spells.

A Recap

So there you have it. My World XI stands as follows.
1. Michael Hayden
2. Chris Gayle
3. Ricky Ponting (c)
4. Mohd. Yousuf
5. Mike Hussey
6. Kumar Sangakarra (wk)
7. Andrew Flintoff
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Mohd. Asif
10. Anil Kumble
11. Muttiah Muralitharan

Again this will always be a debated issue. This is my opinion based on current forms. I would love to hear your arguments on this topic. Either leave me a comment or mail me at gsw113@psu.edu