Here’s my list of eleven of the world’s best (in batting order). I am including players who play cricket till today and past greats like Gavaskar and Botham have not been listed since my aim was to create World XI 2006. I have given it my best shot and comments are welcome. Here goes nothing:
ODI Team:
- A. Gilchrist
Undoubtedly the best wicket keeper on earth, this left-handed powerhouse is also a devastating opener capable of destroying any attack. Truly, he will be remembered as one of the best in the business simply because of his awesome skills and talent.
- S. Tendulkar
India’s veteran has been around since 1989 and is still not showing any signs of tiring. with 35 Test hundreds behind his back, he is still hungry for more runs and records which will undoubtedly be his. He can be considered the modern Bradman.
- R.Ponting
Ricky Ponting is perhaps the ideal cricketer- he is an agile fielder, good captain and an extremely talented batsmen. Under his leadership, the Aussies have looked even more invincible than before. This despite losing the Ashes to England in 2005. This man is destined to be viewed as one of the most charismatic batsmen in the history of the gentleman’s game.
- J.Kallis
Kallis is South Africa’s mainstay, no two ways about that. He has played many match-winning innings for the Proteas and is a decent medium pacer as well. Further, he is also a reliable member in the slip cordon.
- I.Haq
The Pakistan captain has steered his country out of trouble on so many occassions that it is impossible to think of him as anything but a match winner. Once he settles down, he makes sure that the bowlers pay.
- A.Flintoff
He is said to be the next Botham of English cricket. And at the rate he is going, he just might be the next big thing. In fact, he is already one of the most feared batsmen in ODI cricket and his skills with the ball are also rated very highly.
- A.Symonds
A brilliant batsmen, bowler and fielder, he has quickly gone from a one-day specialist to a test match mainstay. He is the ideal number seven batsman and can turn his arm around as well.
- S.Afridi
He is one of those rare commodities in cricket: a bowling all-rounder. But dismissing his skills with the bat would be the most foolish thing you would have ever done. After all, he holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket.
- B.Lee
He has got fearsome pace and is undoubtedly the successor to G.McGrath. Enormously quick, he is one of the most feared bowlers in cricket today.
- S. Akhtar
Very, very quick. Has bowled at over 100 miles per hour and is now looking like the lethal weapon he was said to be.
- S. Harmisson / Muralitharan
This quickie from England has matured into a potent force capable of ripping through batting line ups.
If the track is one for spinners, Muralitharan would be the most obvious choice since he is perhaps the best spinner in ODIs. His guile and trajectory will have the opposing batsmen in a fix.
TEST TEAM: (no member from ODI team repeated).
- Virender Sehwag
His flamboyant and flashy batting style sometimes lands him in trouble. But on other occassions, he can demolish any bowling attack in the world. Here is proof: He scored 195 against the Aussies in Australlia and recently scored 254 against the Pakistanis. Oh, who can forget the 309 he scored against Pakistan in 2004. Can be a part-time bowler as well.
- Chris Gayle
This attacking all-rounder from the West Indies hasit all- solid technique, temperament and skill to be an opener. His spin bowling is handy as well and can get a few crucial breakthroughs.
- Stephen Fleming
The New Zealand skipper is a trusted hand at batting and can play his strokes with abandon once he settles down. A delight to watch for both purists as well as modern believers.
- Rahul Dravid
He is a technician’s delight and is fondly called ’The Wall’. His rock solid unwielding nature can demoralise any bowler on earth and he is also a handy fielder in the slips.
- Mike Hussey
This Australlian bat is a gritty customer and is ideal for a no.5 batsman. Besides, he can keep the lefthand righthand combination going.
- Shoaib Malik
He is Pakistan’s spinning all-rounder and it is easy to see why. His batting technique is okay and he can bowl decent off spinners as well. can play the role of sheet anchor or pinch hitter to perfection.
- MS Dhoni
If you want justification for his selection, just look at his impressive form of late and you will get the answer.
- Shaun Pollock
Can bowl excellent line & length to frustrate the batsmen at the crease. his economical spells and wicket taking ability will be a huge assest to the team.
- Daniel Vettori
The Newzealand spinner bowls with a lot of heart and agression and that is the reason for his success.
- Shane Bond
The name is Bond, Shane Bond. it would be much better if the batsman did not have to go through him at the start of the innings. This is for their sake and safety, nothing else.
- Glenn Mcgrath
His teasing and painfully accurate bowling has made him one of the world’s best pacemen. Batsmen all over the world fear him, and it is easy to see why.