There are many reviews available for the best world XI and I am adding one more for an open discussion. Before I go ahead with my team I am listing my selection criteria.
Their performance in Test Cricket over the years
They opponent against which they have played.
Other players played in that respective era and their performance
I have considered the players for their contribution in winning the match rather than saving.
I may have missed few great cricketers from 20’s to 60’s as I have not seen them or read about them.
I have put only 2/3 players who have narrowly missed my team.
Opener :
Sunil Gavaskar
Len Hutton
Sunil Gavaskar. I feel he is one of the best opening batsman world has ever seen. Indian team has been weak against pace bowler since beginning. But Sunil Gavaskar has changed that opinion. In his debut series in West Indies he had scored 774 runs at 154.80 (overall 2749 runs at average of 65.45). it was our tradition to have weakness He has changed the scenario. He was the first batsman to reach 10k runs in Test Cricket. With super technique he has played all fearsome bowlers through out his career. That’s why he is my first pick as opening batsman.
Second opener is Sir Leonard Hutton. He is a person who has broken the world record of Sir Donald Bradman for highest score and piled 364 in an inning. He played test cricket from 1937 to 1956. In 79 tests he played he scored 6900+ runs at average of 56.67. He lost his golden years of cricket during 2nd world war time. Very few people know that during 2nd world war Hutton joined Army and he met with an accident. After surgery and eight months in hospital he was left with two inches shorter left hand. He played rest of his life with shorter left and made these runs.
Players who have narrowly missed are Jack Hobbs, Barry Richards and Mathew Hayden.
Middle Order
Don Bradman
Graeme Pollock (left hand batsman)
Viv Richards
Sir Donald Bradman. I feel no introduction needs to be given from this greatest player. Test average of 99.94, 2 score over 300, 10 double centuries and 29 centuries in just 69 Test matches. What more can you expect. He is Captain of my side.
Graeme Pollock. World has seen very less of Graeme Pollock due to exclusion of SA from International Cricket. This talented player has scored 2256 runs in 23 Tests at 60.97 average. He was member of SA team which has beaten good Australia side twice (3-1 & 4-0) in span of 3 years. He is perhaps the greatest left-hand batsman world has ever seen. He is also was chosen as South Africa’s Cricketer of the 20th Century.
Viv Richards. Full name is Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards and also known as King in cricket. Undoubtedly he has lived his cricketing life as a King. One of the best attacking batsman world has ever seen. Viv has made more than 15000 runs in both form of the game. He was a superb fielder (3 run outs in world cup final 1975). He was also a good off spin bowler. It was performance of West Indies pace battery which has restricted him for bowling extensively. He was one of the prime contributory to Golden Era of West Indies cricket. With his retirement, West Indies has also lost their Golden Era.
Sachin, Lara, Steve Waugh, Greg Chappell are the players who has narrowly missed their spot in this middle order. Above all, I don’t know how I have missed George Headley (Black Bradman). But I feel his little cricketing career and lesser articles has cost him the place.
All rounder
Sobers (left hand batsman – bowler)
Imran Khan
Sir Garfield Sobers. Perhaps the 2nd best cricketer world has ever seen nearly behind Sir Don Bradman. A perfect batsman, a perfect bowler and a perfect fielder. A dream man for any Captain. In 93 Test matches he has scored more than 8000 runs, taken 235 wickets and 100 catches. A brilliant trio which is very difficult to achieve. He hold the record of highest test score of 365 runs for nearly 37 years. He was the first man to hit 6 sixes in an over. He received 2nd best 90 votes (just behind Don Bradman) out of possible 100 as one of the five Wisden Cricketer of century.
Imran Khan. He was one of the better all rounder world cricket has produced. He has seen many ups and down in his career because of uncertainty in Pakistan Cricket. But he overcame all of those and taken Pakistan Cricket to its peak in 1992 where they won world cup in Australia. He is known for his fiery fast bowling and very good batting. In 88 Test matches he has scored 3800 + runs (Avg 37.69) and taken 362 wickets (Avg 22.81). He is having gifted leadership qualities. He has lead one of the most indiscipline side in the world cricket during 80s and 90s. He made into my side because of bowling, batting and leadership skills. He is Vice captain of my side.
Keith Miller, Mike Proctor, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Jacque Kallis have missed my side who can make into any side easily.
Wicket Keeper
- Adam Gilchrist
Gilchrist, he is perhaps the best wicket keeper batsman till date. (Dhoni may challenge him for the spot in future if he continues with his current form). His best quality is that he can destroy the opposition within no time. He has scored nearly 5000 runs in Test Cricket at 48.23 average. Even batsman can be proud of this average. He was also voted as ’’World’s Scariest Batsman’’ in a poll of international bowlers.
Though I have no other player in mind for this place, other good wicket keepers are Alan Knott and Marsh.
Spinner
- Shane Warne.
Shane Warne 674 Test wickets in 138 Test matches. Does this sum up all ? Against almost all opposition, on all the grounds, in all kind of conditions Shane Warne has performed. He is the one of the keys in making Australia world champions in last 10 years. Despite of all controversies like information to bookies, drug test, extra marital affairs he is performing like anything. His ball to Mike Getting in 1993 is considered to be ball of the century. He also a good slip fielder with more than 100 catches to his name
Muralidharan, Subhash Gupte, Jim Laker, Lance Gibbs had nearly made it into the team.
Fast Bowler
- Lillee
Dennis Lillee, arguably best fast bowler world has ever seen. He is there in the team because of his fiery bowling and never say die attitude. Famous line from Lillee – you can get batsman out only when he is like something pinching in your eye. He has hold the highest wicket record for many years i.e. 355 wickets. He has bowled to many superstar batsman like Richards, Gavaskar, Boycott, Lloyd, Kanhai and get better of him. His biggest achievement is coming back from a spinal injury. He has helping Indian Cricket since many years by coming to MRF pace academy which has given most of fast bowlers to India.
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