Test Cricket: Left XI vs Right XI

Ever wondered what would happen if a team of left-handed batsmen and left-arm bowlers took on a team comprising of right-handed batsmen and right-arm bowlers? Here, we try to put that fantasy into practice.NOTE: If a player is cross-dominant, then his dominant skill is considered. For example, Michael Clarke bats right and bowls left, but considering batting is his main strength, he is considered in the Right XI in the following contest.

#1 David Warner vs Alviro Petersen

David Warner has been by a huge margin, the best opening batsman in Test cricket over the last year. Once touted to have been just a hit-and-miss T20 batsman, the Victorian has come a long way since establishing himself as an opener in the Australian Test team.

On the other hand, Petersen has a modest Test record despite been a regular part of the South African Test setup since making his debut back in 2010. With just over 2000 runs at an average of 35.83, Hashim Amla and co. will be hoping for bigger contributions from Petersen after the retirement of Graeme Smith.

An easy win for David Warner.

Left 1-0 Right

#2 Alastair Cook vs Murali Vijay

Alastair Cook had a miserable few months from November last year to July this year. Once tipped to break Sachin Tendulkar's Test records, Cook came back into his own in the Southampton Test against India. Averaging just over 46, the England captain can easily be considered as a better batsman than Murali Vijay, who continues to be inconsistent despite having played every Test for India since December 2012.

Left 2-0 Right

#3 Kumar Sangakkara vs Hashim Amla

This is definitely the marquee battle in this contest between left-handers and their right-handed counterparts. Along with AB de Villiers, Sangakkara and Amla have been far and about, the best Test batsmen over the last few years. The Sri Lankan number three is currently the top ranked batsman in the world, while on the other hand, Amla has been a vital cog in South Africa becoming the number one side in the world in Test cricket.

It’d be only fair to call this a draw.

Left 2-0 Right

#4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul vs Michael Clarke

Australian skipper Michael Clarke is the top run-scorer over the last 3 years, having scored 3341 runs at an average of 58.61. On the other hand, we have Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who like wine, seems to be getting better with time. Chanderpaul averages 81.04 since November 2011, the highest for any batsman who has scored over the 1000 runs in the time period.

This is an incredibly close call, but the West Indian veteran just inches ahead because of Clarke's away form. The right-handed batsman averages 44 away from home in the period, compared to Chanderpaul's 79.15.

Left 3-0 Right

#5 JP Duminy vs AB de Villiers

Perhaps, the easiest one to call in the entire contest - AB de Villiers comes out as a landslide winner here. Widely considered as the most complete batsman in the world, de Villiers has scored over 2500 runs at almost 60 runs per innings over the last 3 years.

Duminy has a long way to go if he can be compared to his ODI skipper.

Left 3-1 Right

#6 Shakib Al Hasan vs Angelo Mathews

There were a few names that challenged Angelo Mathews for a spot in the right-handed XI here. Younis Khan has had a brilliant Test career, but could he do a job at 6? That's where the Sri Lankan nudges ahead.

This is an incredibly tough contest to judge as Shakib is a much better bowler while Mathews' exploits with the bat over the last 2 years means the Bangladeshi is no match to the Sri Lankan skipper as a batsman in Test cricket. Considering this player will mostly have to play the role of the fifth bowler and have the ability to bat in the top 6, he will need to have greater batting prowess. Hence, the Sri Lankan captain comes out on top.

Left 3-2 Right

#7 Quinton de Kock vs MS Dhoni

This is definitely the weakest positions for both sides.

Quinton de Kock has played just 4 Tests, does he really deserve to be there in the left-handers team? MS Dhoni doesn't have a single Test century outside the sub-continent, is there no better wicket-keeper in the world who bats right-handed? Matt Prior, perhaps, but he's not even assured a place in the English team after the emergence of Jos Buttler.

Just based on experience, Dhoni is the easy winner here.

Left 3-3 Right

#8 Rangana Herath vs R Ashwin

Rangana Herath is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket over the last 3 years, having taken 150 wickets during the period. One might argue that Saeed Ajmal was a better bowler than Herath, but when one looks at facts, Herath comes out on top when it comes to the longest format of the game.

Ajmal wasn't considered as he is currently suspended from bowling after having been found to be bending his arm over the allowed 15 degrees. Hence, Ashwin comes into the team.

The Tamil Nadu's Test batsman can be divided into two contrasting records - home and away. In India, he has taken 95 wickets in 15 Tests at an average of 24.14. Away from home, he has gone long spells without troubling batsmen and concedes 64 runs on average before picking up a wicket.

Herath wins this battle by a good distance.

Left 4-3 Right

#9 Mitchell Johnson vs Dale Steyn

These two are arguably the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket at the moment. Despite Johnson terrorising batsmen, especially the ones from England, with his pace and bounce recently, one can't deny that Steyn is the better bowler.

The South African pacer is already considered an all-time great and has taken 145 wickets at an average of 21.50. What makes Steyn's feats even more special is the fact that he has done incredibly well in the sub-continent, which is rare for a non-Asian fast bowler.

Left 4-4 Right

#10 Trent Boult vs Ryan Harris

No left-arm fast bowler has picked up more Test wickets than Trent Boult since November 2011. The New Zealander, with 91 wickets to his name, has been a vital cog of the Kiwi side that did well to beat India in a Test series earlier this year.

Having said that, Ryan Harris is definitely the better bowler. The Australian was one of the most important members of the side which whitewashed England in the Ashes last year. Just a couple of months later, he ran through the South African lower order late on day 5 in the final Test of that series to seal a memorable away Test series win, despite bowling with an injured knee.

Left 4-5 Right

#11 Junaid Khan vs James Anderson

Junaid Khan and James Anderson, surprisingly, have a similar bowling average over the last three years, but the English pacer surges well ahead when it comes to wickets taken. Anderson is the third highest wicket-taker of the period with 140 scalps to his name. On the other hand, Junaid has just taken 42.

Based on that, we can easily conclude that the Lancastrian wins this contest.

Left 4-6 Right