The topic of this review doesn’t suggest clearly whether we have to choose a test eleven or a one-day eleven. But since I have already written a review about 10 best one-day batsmen, I thought it would be more appropriate for me to write this review on the test eleven. The team has been selected from only the current players!
Tanmay’s Current Test World Eleven (In batting order)
Mathew Hayden
Virender Sehwag
Rahul Dravid
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Jacques Kallis
Adam Gilchrist (Wicket Keeper)
Shaun Pollock
Shane Warne (Captain)
Brett Lee
Shoaib Akhtar
Mathew Hayden is one player without whom Australia team would be a far less feared opponent. He is the prize wicket for most of the bowlers. Looks more like a wrestler with a very strong built. He is like a tank with a mission to destroy the bowling attack!
Virender Sehwagis one of the most dangerous test batsmen at present! If he stays on the crease for two-three hours, he can easily turn the game on its head. The only Indian batsmen to have scored a triple century, he can also bowl useful off breaks!
Rahul Dravid better known as the wall, for his amazing patience and concentration! He is a total textbook player and doesn’t believe in playing rash shots. If he gets in he can be the bowlers worst nightmare. He can also keep wickets if our main stumper gets injured during the game!
Brian Lara is the most talented batsman playing test cricket currently! The only guy to have crossed 400 runs in an innings of test cricket and 500 runs in an innings of a first class game! Till the time he is on the crease bowlers can never ever heave a sigh of relief!
Sachin Tendulkar is considered the best batsman right now! Some say he is the second best to have played test cricket after Don Bradman. If you see his batting records you’ll be awed by what this young man has achieved! If he plays for another 4-5 years he is going to set such records, which are going to be unbreakable! He can also prove to be a useful bowler for the side when they desperately need a wicket!
Jacques Kallis is the king of all trades – batting, bowling and fielding. A very reliable batsman with a sound technique. A very exciting pace bowler. If the conditions suit him, he can rip apart any batting order on his day! A terrific fielder, has taken some breath-taking catches! Best all rounder right now!
Adam Gilchrist is way ahead of his counterparts when it comes to the job a good wicketkeeper-batsman. His batting is his superior strength. A very attacking player and can make mockery of any bowling attack more often than not! Is pretty safe behind the stumps and has taken some amazing catches and stumpings too!
Shaun Pollock will be one of the trump cards of our side. He has lost a bit of his pace as far as his bowling is concerned but he has compensated for it with immaculate accuracy. His batting will also be a big asset in the lower order.
Shane Warne is the greatest leg-spinner test cricket has ever seen. He doesn’t need a turning track to show his talent. Even on flat tracks and green tops he is able to extract enough turn to make the batsmen dance on his tunes! I have also selected him as the captain of the team due to his positive attitude towards the game!
Brett Lee is the one of the most attractive bowlers presently. His talent is for everyone to see! The second fastest bowler in the world and can extract wickets even on a batting friendly pitch due to his deadly pace. His ever-smiling face and a cool attitude towards the game puts him in a different league from his counterparts!
Shoaib Akhtar is the king when it comes to bowling quick! The fastest bowler in the world and also known as Rawalpindi Express due to the lethal velocity he can generate in his deliveries! One of those guys, for whom people crowd in to watch a cricket match. The long run-up & the flowing hair all add to the charisma this man has!
© Tanmay Singh, 2004