Test team of the 2010s

[hk031992]

What would your test XI be for this decade? Only players who played 5 years or longer in this decade, so Kallis, Smith, Ponting etc are not qualified.

Mine:

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Sangakkara
4. Steve Smith
5. ABDV
6. Barristow ?
7. Stokes
8. Johnson
9. Yasir
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

 

[Ab Fan]

Cook
Warner
Smith
Kohli
AB
Bairstow
Stokes
Ashwin
Philander
Anderson
Steyn

 

[Sidilicious]

Cook
Warner
Smith
Kohli
ABD
Bairstow
Stokes
Ashwin
Philander/Herath
Steyn
Anderson

 

[the_outsider]

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Smith
4. Kohli
5. ABD
6. Bairstow (wk)
7. Ashwin
8. Jadeja
9. Philander
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

 

[Srtfan]

Cook
Warner
Smith
Kohli
Sanga
Bairstow
Ashwin
Jadeja
Styen
Anderson
Rabada

 

[Hitman]

What would your test XI be for this decade? Only players who played 5 years or longer in this decade, so Kallis, Smith, Ponting etc are not qualified.

Mine:

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Sangakkara
4. Steve Smith
5. ABDV
6. Barristow ?
7. Stokes
8. Johnson
9. Yasir
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

You know why. Anyone with a brain and with sense with laugh alongside me.

 

[Swashbuckler]

General SC+WI pitches:

Cook
Pujara
Younis
Kohli (c)
Smith
Sanga (wk) <even if his batting takes a dip>
Ashwin
Steyn
Yasir
Herath
Anderson

General SENA

Warner
Cook (c)
Williamson
Kohli
Smith
Sanga (wk)
Watson
Johnson
Lyon
Steyn
Anderson

Of course if it is rank turner or green mamba there will be changes in the combinations and guys like Jadeja, Boult, Philander etc will get a look in.

 

[hk031992]

You know why. Anyone with a brain and with sense with laugh alongside me.

Anyone with any sense knows that Ashwin, king of doctored wickets, does not belong on this list and Ashwin does not hold a candle to Yasir. Its not even close.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Smith
Warner
Kohli
S Smith
Sanga
Clarke
AB
Steyn
Johnson
Jimmy
Lyon

 

[the_outsider]

Anyone with any sense knows that Ashwin, king of doctored wickets, does not belong on this list and Ashwin does not hold a candle to Yasir. Its not even close.

LMAO. This is the funniest thing I've read on PP. What a joke! )

 

[GLORY OF '92]

LMAO. This is the funniest thing I've read on PP. What a joke! )

You seem too biased. Give Indians a bad name with your continual poor posts.

 

[Hitman]

Anyone with any sense knows that Ashwin, king of doctored wickets, does not belong on this list and Ashwin does not hold a candle to Yasir. Its not even close.

Absolutely. Yasir Shah with an average of 33.25 away from home is the undisputed KING of all spinners from the subcontinent. The true magician.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

What would your test XI be for this decade? Only players who played 5 years or longer in this decade, so Kallis, Smith, Ponting etc are not qualified.

Mine:

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Sangakkara
4. Steve Smith
5. ABDV
6. Barristow ?
7. Stokes
8. Johnson
9. Yasir
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

Not a single player from a team which has been no.1 most of the 2010s?

 

[the_outsider]

You seem too biased. Give Indians a bad name with your continual poor posts.

Oh yeah of course! OP has a bowler with less than 200 wickets at avg of over a guy 30 over a guy with 330+ wickets at avg of 25 in said period.

And then he goes on to include Bairstow in the team but not Kohli, despite having 2 keepers in the side already (Sanga & ABD).

And I'm biased. )

 

[Godhelpma]

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Smith
4. Sangakara
5. ABD
6. Bairstow (wk)
7. stokes
8. Herath/ashwin
9. M Johnson
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

Yunus Khan , Clarke , v kohli , Lyon and philander just miss out .

 

[angrypathan]

Yasir hasn't even played 5 years so OP is clearly kidding himself

 

[Godhelpma]

Oh yeah of course! OP has a bowler with less than 200 wickets at avg of over a guy 30 over a guy with 330+ wickets at avg of 25 in said period.

And then he goes on to include Bairstow in the team but not Kohli, despite having 2 keepers in the side already (Sanga & ABD).

And I'm biased. )

Here he is as biased as you are . You are making forcefully sanga and ABD wicket keepers just to include kohli .Both of these guys openly disliked the idea of wicket keeping in test cricket for themselves .

 

[Hitman]

Oh yeah of course! OP has a bowler with less than 200 wickets at avg of over a guy 30 over a guy with 330+ wickets at avg of 25 in said period.

And then he goes on to include Bairstow in the team but not Kohli, despite having 2 keepers in the side already (Sanga & ABD).

And I'm biased. )

How dare you! How dare you mention Kohli's name? Don't you know that he is a media hyped player? Much like Sachin was during his time. There are countless players better than Kohli now, just like there were countless players better than Sachin during his time.

The fact that Sachin has received such universal acclaim from his peers and contemporaries, and the fact that he finds a place in most prestigious ATG XI, and that he gets rated among the top 5 in most list of greatest cricketers is because the BCCI twists their arms to include him. Just like the BCCI twists every ones arm's to shower lavish praise on Kohli.

 

[Pakhs]

LMAO. This is the funniest thing I've read on PP. What a joke! )

You cant deny Ashwin has taken most of his wickets on rank turners to date.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Of course Kohli should be in the team. Only second to Smith in the past 3 years in Tests I'd say.

 

[Smudger]

Warner
Root
Smith
Kohli
Williamson
De kock
Stokes
Jadeja
Starc
Hazleeood
Steyn

 

[the_outsider]

You can't deny Ashwin has taken most of his wickets on rank turners to date.

Most of his wickets on rank turners? No.

Turners? Yeah obviously. He plays for India after all. UAE pitches are also turners. Don't see naybody mentioning that about Yasir.

Also, the same thing can be said for Anderson & Philander who have gotten most of their wickets in swinging conditions. Most people have both Anderson & Philander in their XI. Yet, this question is only raised about Ashwin. And [MENTION=8313]GLORY OF '92[/MENTION] had the gall to talk about bias.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Most of his wickets on rank turners? No.

Turners? Yeah obviously. He plays for India after all. UAE pitches are also turners. Don't see naybody mentioning that about Yasir.

Also, the same thing can be said for Anderson & Philander who have gotten most of their wickets in swinging conditions. Most people have both Anderson & Philander in their XI. Yet, this question is only raised about Ashwin. And [MENTION=8313]GLORY OF '92[/MENTION] had the gall to talk about bias.

Showing lack of knowledge. UAE pitches only turn day 4 onwards. Indian pitches turn from Day 1. Also has Ashwin won India 2 Tests in England?

 

[the_outsider]

Showing lack of knowledge. UAE pitches only turn day 4 onwards. Indian pitches turn from Day 1. Also has Ashwin won India 2 Tests in England?

LOL rubbish. Another myth that Yasir fans and apologists try to spread to mask his mediocrity.

I watch most test matches. The ball turns on day 1 and by day 2 itself it becomes a proper turner. We saw that in the recent series as well when Bilal Asif took 6 wickets within day 3.

13 out 23 wickets to fall in the first 3 days of the Dubai test went to spinners. 17 out of 31 wickets to fall in the first 3 days of the Abu Dhabi test went to spinners.

Here are the stats for spinners in India and the UAE for the last 10 years.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...8;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling

Bowling avg for spinners in India is 32.7 and in UAE is 34.1 but "India is a dustbowl" and "UAE is a graveyard". Give me a break!


No. Ashwin has not won India a test in England. But Ashwin has won more matches for India than Yasir has played in his whole career. In fact, Ashwin almost has any many 5fers (26) as Yasir has played tests (30).

 

[King Khan]

Warner
Amla
Smith
Kohli
Root
Sanga (wk)
Ashwin
Philander
Starc / Johnson
Steyn
Yasir / Herath (Prefer Yasir due to better strike rate)

 

[King Khan]

Warner
Amla
Smith
Kohli
ABVD
Sanga (wk)
Ashwin
Philander
Starc / Johnson
Steyn
Yasir / Herath (Prefer Yasir due to better strike rate)

 

[Bilal7]

1) Amla
2) Cook
3) Smith
4) Sangakkara (wk)
5) Khan
6) ABDV
7) Shakib
8) Herath
9) Johnson
10) Steyn
11) Anderson

12) Philander

 

[Bilal7]

Best batsmen of the 2010s (keeping OPs criteria in mind):

1) Sangakkara
2) Amla
3) Khan
4) Smith
5) ABDV/Kohli

Best fast bowlers:

1) Steyn
2) Anderson
3) Johnson
4) Philander
5) Broad

Best spin bowlers:

1) Herath
2) Ajmal
3) Swann
4) Shah
5) Lyon

 

[Fahdi]

I'll push 2 number 3 batsmen to open the innings as I feel they superior to guys like Warner and Cook even if they are to open the innings

Amla
Kane Williamson
Sangakara
Steve Smith
Virat Kohli
AB Devillers
Shakib
Swann
Steyn

Now the last 2 are tricky

In the swinging conditions of NZ and Engand I'd play

Philander
Boult

In the faster bouncier pitches of SA and Australia

Johnson
Morkel

In the subcontinent

Shami
Anderson

 

[Buffet]

With OP's criterion,

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Sanga
4. Kohli
5. Smith
6. AB+
7. Shakib
8. Ashwin
9. Vern
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

I tried to pick batsmen who are very good in positions they play. 1-2 names can be argued, but players pretty much picks themselves. Batting is a long one here because there are only two genuine tails in this line up.

Amla had a very strong claim at 3, but went with Sanga here.

 

[Pakhs]

Most of his wickets on rank turners? No.

Turners? Yeah obviously. He plays for India after all. UAE pitches are also turners. Don't see naybody mentioning that about Yasir.

Also, the same thing can be said for Anderson & Philander who have gotten most of their wickets in swinging conditions. Most people have both Anderson & Philander in their XI. Yet, this question is only raised about Ashwin. And [MENTION=8313]GLORY OF '92[/MENTION] had the gall to talk about bias.

I am not saying Ashwin is not a good bowler or if he should be in the XI or not. But he has taken a lot of his wickets where even his support partner Jadeja has taken wicket at even better average and the relative in-experince bowlers like Kuldeep has been taking wickets every time he play. So naturally people can have reservations about Ashwin that he is only taking wickets where others are getting bucket loads too.

Regarding Yasir he has won some matches in England as well but also UAE wickets don't turn until the 4th or sometime even 5th day. Talk like Ashwin might be replaced by Kuldeep in Australia doesnt sit well with some posters which is fair enough because if you cant even hold on to your spot its not going to put you into many world XIs.

 

[the_outsider]

I am not saying Ashwin is not a good bowler or if he should be in the XI or not. But he has taken a lot of his wickets where even his support partner Jadeja has taken wicket at even better average and the relative in-experince bowlers like Kuldeep has been taking wickets every time he play. So naturally people can have reservations about Ashwin that he is only taking wickets where others are getting bucket loads too.

Regarding Yasir he has won some matches in England as well but also UAE wickets don't turn until the 4th or sometime even 5th day. Talk like Ashwin might be replaced by Kuldeep in Australia doesnt sit well with some posters which is fair enough because if you cant even hold on to your spot its not going to put you into many world XIs.

I am pretty sure I have seen plenty of posts here about dropping Yasir for the next Australian tour. If I'm not wrong, Yasir averaged 60 with the ball on his AUS tour. And that's worse for Yasir because he is a wrist spinner. AUS pictches are known to be unforgiving to finger spinners but as a wrist spinner Yasir should have done better but he did worse.

The reason why Jadeja and Kuldeep have picked wickets is because they are also extremely good bowlers. This logic makes no sense. It's like saying Wasim Akram is a lesser bolwer because Imran/Waqar also took as many wickets form the other end.

And lastly, I follow Pakistan cricket a lot. I watch UAE tests whenever I can. I know that pitches there offer turn from the 2nd day itself. Sometimes even day 1. You can refer to my earlier post and see all the stats that show how there is no difference in tracks between UAE & IND for spinners.

Ravi Ashwin is put under the microscope more than any other player on PP. Perhaps because some posters (not saying you do it) think that bringing Ashwin down is the only way one can prop up Yasir Shah.

But at the end of the day, Yasir has less than 200 international wickets and Ashwin has over 550+ wickets.

This comparison is as legitimate as comparing Ishant Sharma to Waqar. If I were to do that, I would be banned from PP before I could say "7 wickets haul".

 

[ads101]

1. Amla
2. Warner
3. Smith
4. Younis Khan
5. Kohli
6. Sangakaara
7. AB De Villiers (wk)
8. Ashwin
9. Philander
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

 

[Pakhs]

I am pretty sure I have seen plenty of posts here about dropping Yasir for the next Australian tour. If I'm not wrong, Yasir averaged 60 with the ball on his AUS tour. And that's worse for Yasir because he is a wrist spinner. AUS pictches are known to be unforgiving to finger spinners but as a wrist spinner Yasir should have done better but he did worse.

The reason why Jadeja and Kuldeep have picked wickets is because they are also extremely good bowlers. This logic makes no sense. It's like saying Wasim Akram is a lesser bolwer because Imran/Waqar also took as many wickets form the other end.

And lastly, I follow Pakistan cricket a lot. I watch UAE tests whenever I can. I know that pitches there offer turn from the 2nd day itself. Sometimes even day 1. You can refer to my earlier post and see all the stats that show how there is no difference in tracks between UAE & IND for spinners.

Ravi Ashwin is put under the microscope more than any other player on PP. Perhaps because some posters (not saying you do it) think that bringing Ashwin down is the only way one can prop up Yasir Shah.

But at the end of the day, Yasir has less than 200 international wickets and Ashwin has over 550+ wickets.

This comparison is as legitimate as comparing Ishant Sharma to Waqar. If I were to do that, I would be banned from PP before I could say "7 wickets haul".

Let me give you an example we saw how Kuldeep was treated in one test he played in England he was bowling mostly full tosses and was dully sent back he is in no way extremely good test bowler yet but he can still take wicket ton turners in India and Srilanka. I think our difference here is I think wickets in India since Dhoni captaincy has started turning more and thats the reason why Ashwin has better stats than kumble who in my opinion was a better bowler.

 

[the_outsider]

Let me give you an example we saw how Kuldeep was treated in one test he played in England he was bowling mostly full tosses and was dully sent back he is in no way extremely good test bowler yet but he can still take wicket ton turners in India and Srilanka. I think our difference here is I think wickets in India since Dhoni captaincy has started turning more and thats the reason why Ashwin has better stats than kumble who in my opinion was a better bowler.

But stats disagree with you. I had posted this stat before. It shows the bowling stats for spinners in India and UAE.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...8;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling

Avg in India - 32.7
Avg in UAE - 34.1

ER in India - 2.89
ER in UAE - 2.99

SR in India - 65
SR in UAE - 70

I have seen enough test in UAE and I've seen the ball spinning from day 2, sometimes day 1. And I have also seen many Indian pitches like Rajkot, Mohali, Dehradun, etc where the ball doesn't spin much.

Australians recently took 7 wickets with spin on a day 1 track in Abu Dhabi. In the Dubai test, Bilal Asif took 6 wickets on a day 2/3 track. So I don't why this myth has been created that UAE pitches don't spin till day 4.

If Ashwin is taking more wickets on day 1 then it's down to the difference in class between these 2 bowlers, not the pitch. Ashwin also took a 4fer on day 1 in the Edgbaston test match recently. It's class. Not the pitch.

 

[Pakhs]

But stats disagree with you. I had posted this stat before. It shows the bowling stats for spinners in India and UAE.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...8;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling

Avg in India - 32.7
Avg in UAE - 34.1

ER in India - 2.89
ER in UAE - 2.99

SR in India - 65
SR in UAE - 70

I have seen enough test in UAE and I've seen the ball spinning from day 2, sometimes day 1. And I have also seen many Indian pitches like Rajkot, Mohali, Dehradun, etc where the ball doesn't spin much.

Australians recently took 7 wickets with spin on a day 1 track in Abu Dhabi. In the Dubai test, Bilal Asif took 6 wickets on a day 2/3 track. So I don't why this myth has been created that UAE pitches don't spin till day 4.

If Ashwin is taking more wickets on day 1 then it's down to the difference in class between these 2 bowlers, not the pitch. Ashwin also took a 4fer on day 1 in the Edgbaston test match recently. It's class. Not the pitch.

Average in India is mostly due to home batmen but there is no denying even to naked eye that wickets in India have started to turn more and Sri Lanka has copied India's model to beat non-subcontinental teams and they have been successful mostly. Now I am in no way saying anyone can take wickets in India or even Sri Lanka you still have to be a good bowler which Ashwin undoubtedly is but not as good as his stats suggest when we compare him to others such as Kumble even Bhajji spoke out about it.

I am not a huge Yasir fan either but as far as leg spinners go not everybody is warne and his probably the best around currently. Ashwin was also out bowled by Moean Ali in one of the match and was dropped in England.

Again I will say I just think wickets have started to turn more in India but it they had not and if the wickets were same as on what kumble bowled on then I would have had to admit Ashwin at home is better bowler than kumble even but I dont think so.

 

[Last Monetarist]

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Smith (c)
4. Kohli
5. de Villiers (wk)
6. Shakib
7. Stokes
8. Steyn
9. Rabada
10. Herath
11. Anderson

 

[the_outsider]

Average in India is mostly due to home batmen but there is no denying even to naked eye that wickets in India have started to turn more and Sri Lanka has copied India's model to beat non-subcontinental teams and they have been successful mostly. Now I am in no way saying anyone can take wickets in India or even Sri Lanka you still have to be a good bowler which Ashwin undoubtedly is but not as good as his stats suggest when we compare him to others such as Kumble even Bhajji spoke out about it.

I am not a huge Yasir fan either but as far as leg spinners go not everybody is warne and his probably the best around currently. Ashwin was also out bowled by Moean Ali in one of the match and was dropped in England.

Again I will say I just think wickets have started to turn more in India but it they had not and if the wickets were same as on what kumble bowled on then I would have had to admit Ashwin at home is better bowler than kumble even but I dont think so.

You should look for achieve footage of test matches in India from the late 90s and early 2000s.

Pitches back then were consistently more spin friendly that they are today.

In the last 5 years I can remember only 3-4 pitches that were genuine rank turners. A couple of pitches during the SA tour in 2015 and the most recent one is the Pune pitch in 2017 against Australia. Apart from that, Indian pitches have been flatter than they were 2 decades ago.

 

[ameemlutfi]

Warner / Amla
Cook
Kohli
Sangakara
Y. Khan
Smith
Shakib
Shah/ Ashwin
Steyn
Boult/ Morkel
Anderson

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Cook
Amla
Smith
Kohli
Sanga(wk)
Abdv
Shakib
Mitchell johnson
Rabada
Nathan lyon
Dale steyn.

 

[Pakhs]

You should look for achieve footage of test matches in India from the late 90s and early 2000s.

Pitches back then were consistently more spin friendly that they are today.

In the last 5 years I can remember only 3-4 pitches that were genuine rank turners. A couple of pitches during the SA tour in 2015 and the most recent one is the Pune pitch in 2017 against Australia. Apart from that, Indian pitches have been flatter than they were 2 decades ago.

Okay I will but from what I can remember wickets used to be flat for the first 3 days and then start to turn with occasional turners here and there.

 

[the_outsider]

Okay I will but from what I can remember wickets used to be flat for the first 3 days and then start to turn with occasional turners here and there.

Not in the 90s and early 2000s. They were proper turners. Indian pitches started becoming flatter after 2005/06.

Look at the match between India and Australia at Wankhede stadium in 2004. And then compare that pitch to the one that England played on in 2016 on their tour. You will see the difference.

 

[Pakhs]

Not in the 90s and early 2000s. They were proper turners. Indian pitches started becoming flatter after 2005/06.

Look at the match between India and Australia at Wankhede stadium in 2004. And then compare that pitch to the one that England played on in 2016 on their tour. You will see the difference.

Okay let me have a look, but I remember a lot of times where kumble was bowling on total flat wickets and still took wickets and looked threatening throughout his whole spell. Where Ashwin definitely struggles away from home and also get out bowled by Jadeja quit a lot on wickets where turn is not very evident.

My general point being you cant dismiss people concerns here on Ashwin he definitely comes across as someone who takes wicket only on tuners because he has had a long enough career to at least have some defining matches away from home. Kumble also struggled a little bit and it can be argued Ashwin is better ODI bowler than kumble away from home but when it comes to tests Ashwin definitely needs to up his game when India go away on tours he becomes more of a batsman.

Last point on Yasir the reason why I dont rate him very highly is because of his performance in Australia otherwise he has done well in most other countries. I think he will be an important bowler even in SA.

 

[BreadPakoda]

1) Cook
2) Warner
3) Smith
4) Kohli (C)
5) Sanga
6) ABD (WK)
7) Jadeja
8) Ashwin
9) Philander
10) Steyn
11) Anderson

Notable exclusions
Herath (loses to Jadeja who is a better batsman)
Broad
Joe Root, Kane Williamson

 

[the_outsider]

Okay let me have a look, but I remember a lot of times where kumble was bowling on total flat wickets and still took wickets and looked threatening throughout his whole spell. Where Ashwin definitely struggles away from home and also get out bowled by Jadeja quit a lot on wickets where turn is not very evident.

My general point being you cant dismiss people concerns here on Ashwin he definitely comes across as someone who takes wicket only on tuners because he has had a long enough career to at least have some defining matches away from home. Kumble also struggled a little bit and it can be argued Ashwin is better ODI bowler than kumble away from home but when it comes to tests Ashwin definitely needs to up his game when India go away on tours he becomes more of a batsman.

Last point on Yasir the reason why I dont rate him very highly is because of his performance in Australia otherwise he has done well in most other countries. I think he will be an important bowler even in SA.

Okay fair enough.

But you're wrong about the Jadeja part. Jadeja actually outbowls Ashwin on pitches that have more turn. At least in India that is the case.

And with Yasir, ideally he should be more successful than Ashwin in SENA because as a wrist spinner he should be more successful on flatter pitches than a finger spinner. But if you compare their stats, Ashwin actually has better numbers than Yasir in SENA.

Yasir, despite getting 2 5fers in England averages 40 while Ashwin averages 33.

In Australia, both have been very poor but even here Ashwin averages 54 while Yasir averages 83. Yasir also played 1 test in NZ and went wicketless there.

PS: and in all this discussion we haven't even brought up Ashwin's batting where he is miles ahead of Yasir. That is why I was shocked to see Yasir's name in OP's XI ahead of Ashwin.

 

[BreadPakoda]

I am also shocked to see Yasir's name. He averages 30 despite enjoying playing in UAE against poor batsmen of spin. Bilas Asif comfortably outbowled him in the last series.

He is not even in the top 5 spin bowlers in the world. Ashwin, Jadeja, Yadav, Lyon, Maharaj are better than him.

 

[Gullycricket]

My XI.Think this team team would do well everywhere.


Cook
Azhar
Amla
Younis
S.Smith
Faf
Latham(wk)
Ashwin
Steyn
Johnson
Anderson


Subs-Lyon,Yasir

 

[Pakhs]

Okay fair enough.

But you're wrong about the Jadeja part. Jadeja actually outbowls Ashwin on pitches that have more turn. At least in India that is the case.

And with Yasir, ideally he should be more successful than Ashwin in SENA because as a wrist spinner he should be more successful on flatter pitches than a finger spinner. But if you compare their stats, Ashwin actually has better numbers than Yasir in SENA.

Yasir, despite getting 2 5fers in England averages 40 while Ashwin averages 33.

In Australia, both have been very poor but even here Ashwin averages 54 while Yasir averages 83. Yasir also played 1 test in NZ and went wicketless there.

PS: and in all this discussion we haven't even brought up Ashwin's batting where he is miles ahead of Yasir. That is why I was shocked to see Yasir's name in OP's XI ahead of Ashwin.

I agree with your second part I don't think Yasir has done enough to be considered over Ashwin but Yasir performance at the two wins for Pakistan in England cant be underestimated If we go by the trend Ashwin wouldn't have been able to win those matches.

 

[the_outsider]

I agree with your second part I don't think Yasir has done enough to be considered over Ashwin but Yasir performance at the two wins for Pakistan in England cant be underestimated If we go by the trend Ashwin wouldn't have been able to win those matches.

No I don't want to underestimate Yasir's 5fers in England. That's an excellent performance.

But my point is that that is the only point Yasir has over Ashwin. That is definitely not enough.

Frankly, the only spinner right now who can genuinely make a claim of being in direct competition with Ashwin is Nathan Lyon.

 

[Pakhs]

No I don't want to underestimate Yasir's 5fers in England. That's an excellent performance.

But my point is that that is the only point Yasir has over Ashwin. That is definitely not enough.

Frankly, the only spinner right now who can genuinely make a claim of being in direct competition with Ashwin is Nathan Lyon.

Yes Lyon makes for a very tough competition specially now he has improved on Subcontinental pitches.

 

[Peshwa]

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Smith
4. Sangakara
5. ABD
6. Bairstow (wk)
7. stokes
8. Herath/ashwin
9. M Johnson
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

Yunus Khan , Clarke , v kohli , Lyon and philander just miss out .

Poor kohli could not make it to this GOAT side...

 

[Peshwa]

What would your test XI be for this decade? Only players who played 5 years or longer in this decade, so Kallis, Smith, Ponting etc are not qualified.

Mine:

1. Cook
2. Warner
3. Sangakkara
4. Steve Smith
5. ABDV
6. Barristow ?
7. Stokes
8. Johnson
9. Yasir
10. Steyn
11. Anderson

Shah made his debut in 2014
So can we change the filter to 4 years to accommodate Yasir Shah in this GOAT side

 

[Peshwa]

Here he is as biased as you are . You are making forcefully sanga and ABD wicket keepers just to include kohli .Both of these guys openly disliked the idea of wicket keeping in test cricket for themselves .

To have player like kohli in this team i don't mind even if cook keep the wicket...

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Alistair Cook
David Warner
Kumar Sangakkara
Steve Smith
Virat Kohli
AB de Villiers (wk)
Ben Stokes
Rangana Herath
Dale Steyn
Trent Boult/Ashwin
Anderson

Unlucky misses: Younis Khan, Root, Tamim, Williamson, Rabada, Yasir Shah, Ryan Harris
The second spinner only gets a place if the match is in subcontinent. And in subcontinent/WI, Ashwin's stats have been mindblowing.

 

[aloo paratha]

Keshav Maharaj is a better spinner than both Ashwin and Yasir.