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Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket and is considered the game's highest standard. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined and conferred by the International Cricket Council(ICC). The two teams of 11 players each play a four-innings match, which may last up to five days (or longer in some historical cases). It is generally considered the most complete examination of a team's playing ability and endurance.
However, off late, the test cricket is losing its charm and excitement due to the ever-growing impact of T20 cricket, not only in Asia but also around the world. In a bid to revive Test Cricket, off late the ICC is holding discussions to conduct a World Test Championship over a span of 2 years (starting its first Championship from 2019-2021 ).
However, despite these not so favourable factors, Asia, where cricket is followed like a religion is producing some of the modern greats, when it comes to Test match cricket.
So, here we take a look at the current players who can make it into the starting lineup of the Strongest Asian XI cricket team in Test match cricket.
Please note that the team has been selected, keeping in mind that the player has played at least 15 Test matches. Furthermore, the balance of the team and the representation of as many Asian cricketing nations are also accounted for wherever possible.
Openers: Azhar Ali and Murali Vijay
Ali made his Test debut for Pakistan against Australia in the first Test at Lord's in July 2010. An agile right-hand batsman and a part-time leg-break bowler, Ali became the first ever Centurion, Double Centurion & Triple Centurion in a Day and Night Test Match when he scored 302 against West Indies in October 2016.
Ali has scored 5202 runs in 65 matches for Pakistan, at a healthy average of 44.84 with a top score of 302 not out against West Indies.
He is the best batsman of the Pakistani team in the red ball cricket and therefore definitely deserves his place as an opener on this list.
Murali Vijay is without a doubt having a terrible series in England so far. He has scored just 20, 6, 0,0 runs respectively in the four innings so far. However, there is no denying the fact that Vijay has been a vital member of the Indian team in the red ball cricket pretty much throughout his career.
He has scored 3907 runs in 57 matches for India at a pretty decent average of almost 41 for India.
He, therefore, deserves his place on the list.
Middle Order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(Captain) and Dinesh Chandimal
Chesteshwar Pujara has been an important weapon in India's armoury. His presence at no. 3, provides calmness to the dressing room. He is currently occupying the sixth position in the batsman ranking when it comes to Test match cricket.
He has scored 4,549 runs in 59 test matches at an impressive average of almost 50 with the highest score of 206 against England. He definitely deserves his place in the starting line-up.
The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli is currently one of the best batsmen across all formats of the game. He is currently occupying the second position in the batsman ranking when it comes to Test match cricket.
He has scored 5794 runs in 68 test matches at a spectacular average of 53.65 with the highest score of 243 against Sri Lanka.
He not only deserves his place in the starting line-up but also deserves to captain this team as well.
The attacking batsman is perhaps the best batsmen in the current Sri Lankan Test team. He is currently occupying the eighth position in the batsman ranking when it comes to Test match batsman rankings.
He has scored 3642 runs in 48 test matches at a very healthy average of 44.96 with the highest score of 164.
He certainly deserves his place in the middle order, in this team.
Wicket-keeper and All rounders: Sarfraz Ahmed (Wicket-keeper), Shakib Al Hassan and Ravichandran Ashwin
Sarfraz Ahmed comes across as someone who is actively looking to rotate the strike even in Test match cricket. He is always looking to score runs and tries to take the game forward as soon as he comes in to bat. Furthermore, has also got pretty decent keeping skills.
He has an impressive strike rate of 71.87 which is in fact among the best in World of test match cricket. He has scored 2,267 runs for Pakistan in red ball cricket at an average of almost 38.
He certainly deserves his place in the starting line-up as a Wicket-Keeper Batsman.
The next up is the Bangladeshi Legend, Shakib Al Hasan. The left arm spin bowling all-rounder is currently ranked no. 1 in test match cricket when it comes to the list of all-rounders. He is very potent with both bat and ball and is still a force to reckon with, in the longest format.
In 53 Test matches, while batting he has scored 3692 runs at an impressive average of almost 40 with the highest score of 217 against Newzeland. Furthermore, while bowling he has taken 196 wickets with a decent bowling average of 31.88.
He definitely deserves his place in the starting XI.
The next all-rounder on the list is Ravichandran Ashwin. The right arm spin bowling all-rounder is currently ranked No.3 in Test match cricket when it comes to the all-rounders and No.5 when it comes to the bowler's rankings. He is very skilled, irrespective of the fact that he is batting or bowling.
In 60 Test matches, while batting he has scored 2248 runs at a decent average of almost 31. Furthermore, while bowling he has taken 323 wickets with an excellent bowling average of 25.38.
He definitely deserves his place in the starting XI.
Spinner: Rangana Herath
Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath in a way has been Australia's, Stuart MacGill.However, post-Muttiah Muralitharan's retirement, Rangana Herath over the years has been a consistent performer and a vital player for Sri Lanka.
It is always going to be a tough task for anybody to fill the void left by perhaps the greatest spinner of all time in Muttiah Muralitharan but Ranagana Herath has achieved very good success, since taking over from Muralitharan. He is currently ranked no.8 in bowlers rankings in Test match cricket.
He has taken 430 wickets in 92 matches at an average of 27.95 which may not sound spectacular but is quite impressive considering the support he gets from his fellow bowler's.
He, therefore, deserves his place in the starting line-up.
Fast Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami
The biggest weapon which Bhuvneshwar Kumar has is that he can swing the ball both ways with great control. He is one of the few bowlers in the World cricket at the moment who have both the skills i.e he can get the ball to jag off the seam and also ca move the ball in the air as well. He can also contribute with his batting but his major strength without a shadow of a doubt is his bowling.
He has taken 63 wickets in the 21 matches in which he has played at an impressive average of 26.
Therefore, he is a definite starter in the starting line up.
Mohammad Shami, on the other hand, is completely different from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Shami is predominantly hit the deck ball bowler but he has also got the ability to jag the ball off the deck. He is currently,top-ranked Asian fast bowler in the bowler's rankings at the 19th position.
He has taken 116 wickets in 32 matches at an average of 29, which is not spectacular by any stretch but is still decent considering the fact that he plays most of his matches on spin-friendly pitches in India.
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