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Your current World Test XI

CricketDon

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If you had to put together a world XI I. The test format who would make the cut? Please don’t just fill it with your countrymen. Their is no quota on how many players from a certai. Country. Pick solely based is skill and who deserves it. Mine would be:

Warner
Amla
Smith (C)
Kohli
Root
De kock (WK)
Stokes
Ashwin
starc
rabada
Shah

Bench
Steyn
Bairstow
Abbas

I understand Warner and smith are on ban however they’d be back soon and both walk into a world XI without even a game.

What’s yours?
 
Assuming all-conditions and Steve Smith is ineligible:

1. Elgar
2. Markram
3. Williamson
4. Kohli
5. Root
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow (wk)
8. Rabada
9. Lyon
10. Bumrah
11. Anderson
 
[MENTION=147696]CricketDon[/MENTION] I think boult,rabada,& hazlewood are better than strac in test.
 
Warner
Elgar
Williamson
Kohli
Smith
Stokes
De Kock
Anderson
Rabada
Hazelwood
Lyon
 
Warner
Elgar
Smith(C)
Kohli
Williamson
Stokes
Watling
Philander
Rabada
Cummins
Lyon

In Asia switch Philander for Ashwin.
 
Elgar
Karunaratne/Warner
Williamson
Kohli (c)
Root/Smith
Stokes
Bairstow (k)
Ashwin
Starc
Rabada
Abbas
 
M Vijay
D Elgar
S Smith
V Kohli
K Williamson (c)
J Bairstow (w)
S Al Hasan/B Stokes
R Ashwin
M Starc
K Rabada
J Anderson


Switch between Shakib and Stokes based on conditions.
 
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Elgar
Aiden M.
Root
Kohli (C)
Williamson (VC)
Bairstow (wk)
Stokes
Shakib
Cummins
Rabada
Anderson

12th Man: Lyon
 
1.Warner
2. Shaw
3. Smith
4. Kohli (c)
5. Williamson
6. Bairstow (Wk)
7. Stokes/Shakib (Depending on conditions)
8. Ashwin/Maharaj (great record against good players of spin)/Lyon (same)
9. Rabada
10. Anderson
11. Abbas/Philander (Abbas on dead pitches)
 
If you had to put together a world XI I. The test format who would make the cut? Please don’t just fill it with your countrymen. Their is no quota on how many players from a certai. Country. Pick solely based is skill and who deserves it. Mine would be:

Warner
Amla
Smith (C)
Kohli
Root
De kock (WK)
Stokes
Ashwin
starc
rabada
Shah

Bench
Steyn
Bairstow
Abbas

I understand Warner and smith are on ban however they’d be back soon and both walk into a world XI without even a game.

What’s yours?

hmm current, let's see, i won't include the banned players so:

Mendis
Karunaratne
Williamson
Root
Kohli (c)
Buttler (wk)
Ashwin
Rabada
Lyon
Philander
Abbas
 
I would say: -

Elgar
Warner/Karunaratne
Kane
Kohli
Smith/Root
Stokes
Bairstow(wkt)
Ashwin
Cummins
Rabada
Anderson

Unfortunate but there are just not enough options at the top. Eventually had to go with Elgar and Warner/Karunaratne(if Warner doesn't count). Aiden was horrible in SL recently.

Kane, Smith, Kohli, Stokes obvious ones. Joe Root gets in if Smith doesn't count.

Fast bowlers, again on form, obvious names- Jimmy, Rabada and Cummins. Cummins is the best Australian bowler on form.

Ashwin, not the very best option, but given longevity and other options available, he takes it IMO. Also, India being a no.1 team currently deserves to have atleast two names in.
 
I would say: -

Elgar
Warner/Karunaratne
Kane
Kohli
Smith/Root
Stokes
Bairstow(wkt)
Ashwin
Cummins
Rabada
Anderson

Unfortunate but there are just not enough options at the top. Eventually had to go with Elgar and Warner/Karunaratne(if Warner doesn't count). Aiden was horrible in SL recently.

Kane, Smith, Kohli, Stokes obvious ones. Joe Root gets in if Smith doesn't count.

Fast bowlers, again on form, obvious names- Jimmy, Rabada and Cummins. Cummins is the best Australian bowler on form.

Ashwin, not the very best option, but given longevity and other options available, he takes it IMO. Also, India being a no.1 team currently deserves to have atleast two names in.

I think Murli Vijay gets in as an opener before either Elgar or Karunaratne does. Especially the latter.
 
If you had to put together a world XI I. The test format who would make the cut? Please don’t just fill it with your countrymen. Their is no quota on how many players from a certai. Country. Pick solely based is skill and who deserves it. Mine would be:

Warner
Amla
Smith (C)
Kohli
Root
De kock (WK)
Stokes
Ashwin
starc
rabada
Shah

Bench
Steyn
Bairstow
Abbas

I understand Warner and smith are on ban however they’d be back soon and both walk into a world XI without even a game.

What’s yours?

Why is Smith batting 3? Why would Williamson, the best number 3 in a generation not included? How is Amla, on current form in there?

I'll base my XI on the last 10 or so tests played by that player, thus not penalising anyone whose country has not had enough test cricket this year:

1. A. Markram SA
2. U. Khawaja AUS
3. K. Williamson NZ c
4. V. Kohli IND
5. AB. de Villiers SA
6. J. Bairstow ENG wk
7. J. Holder WI
8. Y. Shah PAK
9. K. Rabada SA
10. J. Anderson ENG
11. M. Abbas PAK
 
My team

01. Aiden Markram -SA
02. Joe Root -ENG
03. Kane Williamson (C) -NZ
04. Virat Kohli -IND
05. AB de Villiers -SA (He will come out of retirement, sorry my fav batsman had to slot him in)
06. Ben Stokes -ENG
07. Quinton de Kock (WK) -SA
08. Yasir Shah -PAK
09. Kagiso Rabada -SA
10. James Anderson -ENG
11. Mohammad Abbas -PAK
 
I think Murli Vijay gets in as an opener before either Elgar or Karunaratne does. Especially the latter.

He used to be a very good opener but on current form, he hasn't been good and also the fact that he doesn't even makes it to the Indian team raises question for his inclusion in World XI.
 
My team

01. Aiden Markram -SA
02. Joe Root -ENG
03. Kane Williamson (C) -NZ
04. Virat Kohli -IND
05. AB de Villiers -SA (He will come out of retirement, sorry my fav batsman had to slot him in)
06. Ben Stokes -ENG
07. Quinton de Kock (WK) -SA
08. Yasir Shah -PAK
09. Kagiso Rabada -SA
10. James Anderson -ENG
11. Mohammad Abbas -PAK


In that case I’d like to bring back Sachin and Don Bradman.
 
Funny to see Shah making most teams despite being terrible for 5 and 3/4th days of last test and being bang on average in Australia.
 
Karunaratne
Warner
Williamson
Smith
Root
Shakib
Watling
Cummins
Boult
Rabada
Lyon
 
1. David Warner
2. Aiden Markram
3. Steve Smith
4. Virat Kohli
5. Joe Root
6. Ben Stokes
7. Quinton de Kock
8. Nathan Lyon
9. Kagiso Rabada
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Dale Steyn
 
1. Imam ul Haq (c)
2. David Warner
3. Azhar Ali
4. Virat Kohli
5. Steve Smith
6. Quinton de Kock (wk)
7. Ravichandran Ashwin
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Mitchell Stark
10. James Anderson
11. Mohammed Abbas
12. Hardik Pandaya
 
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Half of the countries that cricket is played in are in Asia, and the current #1 ranked team (India) is an Asian country. But most of the teams above have >=6 players from outside of Asia, even though they typically do badly in Asian conditions.
 
Half of the countries that cricket is played in are in Asia, and the current #1 ranked team (India) is an Asian country. But most of the teams above have >=6 players from outside of Asia, even though they typically do badly in Asian conditions.

That's because the wide range of class in most non Asian teams. For example the fab 4 has only one guy from Asia
 
He used to be a very good opener but on current form, he hasn't been good and also the fact that he doesn't even makes it to the Indian team raises question for his inclusion in World XI.

I don't think we're only looking at current form rather players who are currently playing test cricket i.e. active test players.

If it were current form then Bairstow, Stokes and QDK wouldn't be making it into teams.
 
M Vijay
D Elgar
S Smith
V Kohli
K Williamson (c)
J Bairstow (w)
S Al Hasan/B Stokes
R Ashwin
M Starc
K Rabada
J Anderson


Switch between Shakib and Stokes based on conditions.

I would keep the same except discard ashwin for Shakib and Stokes. Shakib can do the same job as Ashwin will do with the ball plus a legit batsmen aswell. Same goes for Stokes.
 
Half of the countries that cricket is played in are in Asia, and the current #1 ranked team (India) is an Asian country. But most of the teams above have >=6 players from outside of Asia, even though they typically do badly in Asian conditions.

It’s the white quota system.
 
I would keep the same except discard ashwin for Shakib and Stokes. Shakib can do the same job as Ashwin will do with the ball plus a legit batsmen aswell. Same goes for Stokes.

Yeah that works too. In Aus/SA/NZ I think even I might go with Shakib over Ashwin.
 
I would say: -

Elgar
Warner/Karunaratne
Kane
Kohli
Smith/Root
Stokes
Bairstow(wkt)
Ashwin
Cummins
Rabada
Anderson

Unfortunate but there are just not enough options at the top. Eventually had to go with Elgar and Warner/Karunaratne(if Warner doesn't count). Aiden was horrible in SL recently.

Kane, Smith, Kohli, Stokes obvious ones. Joe Root gets in if Smith doesn't count.

Fast bowlers, again on form, obvious names- Jimmy, Rabada and Cummins. Cummins is the best Australian bowler on form.

Ashwin, not the very best option, but given longevity and other options available, he takes it IMO. Also, India being a no.1 team currently deserves to have atleast two names in.

SUCH MERCIFUL SOUL YOU ARE....i would not pick ashwin anywhere
bumrah and kohli walk into any team
jadeja deserves to be in as number 12 and ash at 13 ......
 
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Ragana Herath. The man has been an excellent servent for Sri Lanka and provided them with much needed experience after the retirements of Sanga, Jayawardene, Dilshan and Murali.
 
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Ragana Herath. The man has been an excellent servent for Sri Lanka and provided them with much needed experience after the retirements of Sanga, Jayawardene, Dilshan and Murali.

Ashwin and shah are ore effective
 
Sample size

If we're talking about the best possible CURRENT test 11, a sample size of almost 10 tests is more than enough.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Ragana Herath. The man has been an excellent servent for Sri Lanka and provided them with much needed experience after the retirements of Sanga, Jayawardene, Dilshan and Murali.

Just not a good enough overall cricketer as Shah (superior fielder, can work magic with it) and Ashwin (good batsman).
 
SUCH MERCIFUL SOUL YOU ARE....i would not pick ashwin anywhere
bumrah and kohli walk into any team
jadeja deserves to be in as number 12 and ash at 13 ......
Both jadeja and Ashwin are overrated and similar. Let Jadeja play 10-12 tests and again when he will be dropped, same people will say Ashwin is better. They keep rotating between each other.
 
Both jadeja and Ashwin are overrated and similar. Let Jadeja play 10-12 tests and again when he will be dropped, same people will say Ashwin is better. They keep rotating between each other.

Philander has played 55 tests with a batting avg of 25 and bowling avg of 21.5.
Current bowling ranking of 3 and AR ranking of 4.

Jadeja has played 39 tests with a batting avg of 33 and bowling avg of 23.5.
Current bowling ranking of 4 and AR ranking of 2.

If Philander is considered a great how is Jadeja overrated?
 
Philander has played 55 tests with a batting avg of 25 and bowling avg of 21.5.
Current bowling ranking of 3 and AR ranking of 4.

Jadeja has played 39 tests with a batting avg of 33 and bowling avg of 23.5.
Current bowling ranking of 4 and AR ranking of 2.

If Philander is considered a great how is Jadeja overrated?

These are half stats only.

Philander away average with bowl is an impressive 27 with 4 5-fers. Jadeja away average is a dull 37 with 2 5-fers.

Also, Jadeja till now is mostly used as a second spinner which means he plays mostly on pitches that will support spin. So, overall, as a cricketer, Jadeja is in a very good category while Ashwin and Philander are in greats category.

Neither of three are ATGs. For ATG status, Philander has to prove himself in Asia and Ashwin has to outside Asia, neither of which seems happening.
 
These are half stats only.

Philander away average with bowl is an impressive 27 with 4 5-fers. Jadeja away average is a dull 37 with 2 5-fers.

Also, Jadeja till now is mostly used as a second spinner which means he plays mostly on pitches that will support spin. So, overall, as a cricketer, Jadeja is in a very good category while Ashwin and Philander are in greats category.

Neither of three are ATGs. For ATG status, Philander has to prove himself in Asia and Ashwin has to outside Asia, neither of which seems happening.

I agree with all that. But my point is - with stats like that, it shouldn't be that on one hand Philander is considered a great AR, while on the other hand Jadeja is considered "overrated".

If anything he is underrated as an all-rounder/bowler on PP and even in the general cricketing world.
 
I agree with all that. But my point is - with stats like that, it shouldn't be that on one hand Philander is considered a great AR, while on the other hand Jadeja is considered "overrated".

If anything he is underrated as an all-rounder/bowler on PP and even in the general cricketing world.

Yes, Jadeja is underrated in general cricketing world but I was responding to someone who said, Jadeja is overall better than Ashwin. On current form, he maybe because Ashwin was poor in that 2-3 tests but overall Ashwin> Jadeja.
 
Jadeja is a very useful support cricketer tbh but one would rather have Kuldeep or Philander who have much more venom.

Jadeja has been ordinary with the bat. Even in the recent Asia Cup he couldn't finish it off with the bat for his side in a couple of matches. A couple of 50s against WI don't really count. Atleast ashwin has some clutch innings
 
Yes, Jadeja is underrated in general cricketing world but I was responding to someone who said, Jadeja is overall better than Ashwin. On current form, he maybe because Ashwin was poor in that 2-3 tests but overall Ashwin> Jadeja.

Yes that I agree with.
 
Jadeja is a very useful support cricketer tbh but one would rather have Kuldeep or Philander who have much more venom.

Jadeja has been ordinary with the bat. Even in the recent Asia Cup he couldn't finish it off with the bat for his side in a couple of matches. A couple of 50s against WI don't really count. Atleast ashwin has some clutch innings

Don't confuse Jadeja the test batsman with Jadeja the LOI batsman. In tests Jadeja has played plenty of very important knocks.

You're knocking him for scoring a 100 against WI but you are ignoring the fact that he scored an 86* in England in the 5th test just before the WI series, in the only match he played on that tour.
 
Did I read Murali Vijay somewhere? He's regressed and was never that great to begin with. How can?..Well.
 
Did I read Murali Vijay somewhere? He's regressed and was never that great to begin with. How can?..Well.

Because among current openers he is still the best.

I checked the stats for Vijay, Elgar and Karunaratne - the current 3 best openers and Vijay has the best stats across various countries and conditions. You can check it yourself too.
 
Bhaijaan's World Test XI
(19th October - 2018)

David Warner
Prithvi Shaw
Steven Smith (captain)
Virat Kohli
Kane Williamson (bobby)
Rishabh Pant (wk)
Ben Stokes
Ravendra Jadeja
Kergiaso Ravado
Nathan Lyon
Muhammad Abbass
 
David Warner 🇦🇺
Dimuth Karunaratne🇱🇰
Steven Smith 🇦🇺
Virat Kohli 🇮🇳
Kane Williamson 🇳🇿
Joe Root 🇬🇧
Jos Buttler 🇬🇧
Pat Cummins 🇦🇺
Kagiso Rabada 🇿🇦
James Anderson 🇬🇧
Nathan Lyon 🇦🇺

Remaining squad
Faf Du Plesis 🇿🇦
Josh Hazlewood 🇦🇺
Ravichandran Ashwin 🇮🇳
Shakib Al Hasan 🇧🇩
 
Bhaijaan's World Test XI
(19th October - 2018)

David Warner
Prithvi Shaw
Steven Smith (captain)
Virat Kohli
Kane Williamson (bobby)
Rishabh Pant (wk)
Ben Stokes
Ravendra Jadeja
Kergiaso Ravado
Nathan Lyon
Muhammad Abbass
Why Shaw? You cant pick a world test eleven based on domestic stats only you realised that?

And Jadeja?

I am just surprised you didnt also pick Hardik Pandya.
 
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Khawaja
Karunaratna

Williamson
Kohli
Root

Butler (wk)

Moeen Ali/Stokes - depending on conditions

Yasir Shah

Rabada
Boult
Abbas
 
Why Shaw? You cant pick a world test eleven based on domestic stats only you realised that?

And Jadeja?

I am just surprised you didnt also pick Hardik Pandya.

You realize that Jadeja is the #5 ranked test bowler, and that half of the tests in the world are played in Asia, right?
 
You realize that Jadeja is the #5 ranked test bowler, and that half of the tests in the world are played in Asia, right?
So last time i checked, the countries that play test cricket and had home outside Asia were Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Zimbabwe.

Considering the fact that Pakistan, SL, Bangladesh play very few tests compared to the rest of the world, are you sure that half of test matches are played in Asia?

And even if half of tests are played in Asia, you got to pick bowlers in a World XI who thrive in Asian and non Asian conditions.
 
Khawaja
Karunaratna

Williamson
Kohli
Root

Butler (wk)

Moeen Ali/Stokes - depending on conditions

Yasir Shah

Rabada
Boult
Abbas

Excellent side this.

I would pick Stokes over Moeen Ali.

Only disagreement I have is with Yasir Shah but I appreciate given his current form it's not easy to leave him out. Instead I would have picked Nathan Lyon because he adapts to conditions the best. Has a stellar record to date and averages under 34 everywhere except SA and UAE. Also if the ball isn't turning Lyon has far better control than Yasir when the spinner is required to operate in a more defensive mode.
 
Why Shaw? You cant pick a world test eleven based on domestic stats only you realised that?

And Jadeja?

I am just surprised you didnt also pick Hardik Pandya.

My dear Gazza 69,

Prithvi Shaw will rule world cricket for the next 20 years. Please get used to him.

I would like Pandya to prove his batting credentials for 1 year before he could be considered for Bhaijaan's world test XI.

Jadeja's going through a run in tests, both with the bat and ball. Better bowler than Shaka and slightly worse batter than Shaka. Your Bhaijaan wants more of a bowling AR at 8.

Please find below the revised team.

Bhaijaan's World Test XI
(2nd November - 2018)

David Warner
Prithvi Shaw
Steven Smith (captain)
Virat Kohli
Kane Williamson (bobby)
Rishabh Pant (wk)
Ben Stokes
Ravendra Jadeja
Kergiaso Ravado
Nathan Lyon (out) Yasir Shah (in)
Muhammad Abbass (out) James Anderson (in)
 
Elgar
Someone who is not banned
Williamson (c)
Kohli
Root
Stokes or Shakib depending on venue
Foakes (w)
Ashwin
Rabada
Cummins
Abbas

Anderson would play in Duke ball countries, though.
 
Elgar
Someone who is not banned
Williamson (c)
Kohli
Root
Stokes or Shakib depending on venue
Foakes (w)
Ashwin
Rabada
Cummins
Abbas

Anderson would play in Duke ball countries, though.

Ashwin ahead of Yessy Shah?
 
On a side note here is my Minnow best XI: BD, ZIM, AFG, WI

1. Tamim Iqbal
2. Shai Hope
3. Shimron Hetmeyer
4. Mushfiqur Rahim
5. Brendon Taylor
6. Shakib Al Hasan
7. Mehidy Hasan
8. Rashid Khan
9. Shanon Gabriel
10. Kemar Roach
11. Kyle Jarvis
 
Elgar
Someone who is not banned
Williamson (c)
Kohli
Root
Stokes or Shakib depending on venue
Foakes (w)
Ashwin
Rabada
Cummins
Abbas

Anderson would play in Duke ball countries, though.

Foakes over Watling, Rahim, Sarfraz, de Kock? You're a biased man.
 
Excellent side this.

I would pick Stokes over Moeen Ali.

Only disagreement I have is with Yasir Shah but I appreciate given his current form it's not easy to leave him out. Instead I would have picked Nathan Lyon because he adapts to conditions the best. Has a stellar record to date and averages under 34 everywhere except SA and UAE. Also if the ball isn't turning Lyon has far better control than Yasir when the spinner is required to operate in a more defensive mode.

I was considering Lyon as I do rate him highly but I feel Yasir is a better wicket taking option and if Moeen is playing then he can do a similar job as a second spinner who is decent when batting with the tail..
 
Good point, if two bowlers are equal, why would anyone pick the one with other skills?

Better to pick eleven #11s.

I don't disagree with you on that selection. England's recent success is proof that bowlers who can bat work in all formats.
 
Not really. Pitches at Old Trafford and Edgbaston were more seamer friendly.

266/1
236/3

These kind of stats will pretty much seal the match for opposition no matter what others contribute. So if we can call taking 5-fers cheaply as winning single handily then these bowling stats should be called losing single handidly.

I won't have any issue in taking Yasir over Ashwin. I was simply making a point about match losing should be kept in mind if we are going to talk about match winning spells. He singlehandidly lost one test in Aus as well where he went over 5+ an over for entire test( 291/2) and Aus was able to get enough time to bowl out Pakistan.

In short, not being successful due to non-spinner friendly pitches are one thing, but singlehandidly losing is another. That's why over all performance is more important and I guess Robert is making that statement due to Yasir averaging 40+ in Eng.
 
Hmm, Yasir was ineffective in England. Buit then so was Ashwin. But the latter can bat.

Yasir was ineffective in ENG? He took 19 wickets, second highest in the series, more than Broad and Anderson. Yes he wasn't very good in 2 tests but he was one of the main reasons Pakistan won the first and the last test and drew the series.
 
Here's another minnows best eleven..
Hafeez
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Faheem
Yasir
Hasan
Afridi
 
Here's another minnows best eleven..
Hafeez
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Faheem
Yasir
Hasan
Afridi

At least these guys can draw a test series in ENG, unlike best teams and players who get humiliated.

"Think before you say something and don't try to cross your limits!!!" :babar
 
Elgar
Karunaratne
Williamson
Kohli *
Root
Stokes
Bairstow +
Jadeja
Rabada
Boult
Anderson
 
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