Best Test XI of the 2012-13 season

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

Over the 2012-13 season, there have been some excellent performances from many cricketers around the globe. Records have been made and broken, batsmen have risen to the occasion more often than not, and bowlers have made their mark through sheer force of will. In such a scenario, it is actually difficult to pick the best eleven players for the entire season and make a team out of them. Still. I’ve tried my best to include as many great performers as possible.

Here’s my pick for the Best Test XI based on their results in the 2012-13 season:

1. Alastair Cook (England)

I’m not exactly a fan of the left-right combination used by most teams around the world today. In this regard, however, I didn’t have too much choice.

Barring his twin failures in both innings of the on-going second Ashes Test, England skipper Alastair Cook has proved to be one of the most reliable batsmen at the top of the order in recent times. Having scored 3953 runs in the longer format since 2010, the Essex left-hander is an excellent find for the England side. He can both graft and attack, and has the uncanny ability to convert his half-centuries into more substantial scores. His consistent showing over the last two seasons has benefited his side a lot.

2. Hashim Amla (South Africa)

Amla, on the other hand, has been a rock for South Africa. Usually batting at No. 3 in Test matches, I’ve chosen to move him into the opening slot as a perfect foil for Cook. His ice-cool concentration and willingness to tough it out in the middle in all types of conditions, combined with the ability to attack the bowling on a regular basis, make him a suitable choice for the second opener.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara (India)

Since I moved Amla to the opening slot, Cheteshwar Pujara makes it to the squad as the No. 3 batsman. A run-making machine in domestic cricket, the Saurashtra batsman has only just begun to cement his place in the Indian Test team following the retirements of veteran legends Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Pujara’s temperament, footwork against both pace and spin, ability to bat for hours on end and precise timing are some of the hallmarks of his playing style. He is also an adept fielder, having taken quite a few catches in the forward short-leg position. After an injury to his knee in an IPL game in 2011, he made a phenomenal comeback in August 2012, scoring centuries against all three touring sides – New Zealand, England and Australia. These performances, coupled with his skill set, make him the ideal No.3 for this team.

4. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

South African ODI skipper AB de Villiers is a powerhouse of talent and explosive batting. With all sorts of unorthodox strokes in his repertoire and a calm head in a crisis situations, de Villiers can turn any game on its head, no matter the opposition. His skills as a wicket-keeper will also be an asset to the side, as he can deputize for MSD behind the stumps should the need arise. Patience is one of his key strengths, and it is needed in abundance in Test cricket. The No. 4 slot, therefore, is his ideal place in the batting order.

5. Ian Bell (England)

The Warwickshire right-hander has been amazingly consistent this season. His talent was recognized by former NZ cricketer Dayle Hadlee way back in 1998, and Bell has lived up to the expectations of English cricket aficionados since then. Back-to-back centuries in the on-going Ashes series, plus an unbeaten 116 in the fourth Test against India in 2012, speak volumes of his batting prowess. He plays at No.6 for his national side, but given his new-found successful performances on a variety of tracks, Bell is my pick for the No.5 position in this line-up.

6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India, Captain and wicket-keeper)

This was a no-brainer, to be honest. As a middle-order batsman, MSD has played a couple of blinders in this season, the highlight being a magnificent 224 against Australia in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February this year. Despite having suffered a home series defeat to the English in November 2012, Dhoni still remains the perfect choice to lead Team India in all formats of the game. Cool, collected and unruffled by pressure, the Jharkhand lad has displayed excellent leadership skills over the last five years. As a wicket-keeper, Dhoni’s technique has improved by leaps and bounds since 2007. He is exactly the kind of player I would choose to captain my side.

7. Ravichandran Ashwin (India, off-spinner – No. 7)

Ashwin is a proven performer for India in Tests – both with bat and ball. His carrom ball is still difficult to pick, and he has added many subtle variations in pace to his armoury as well. He isn’t the most graceful of batsmen, but he can dig in and hold one end up when situations get tricky. Definitely my choice for the first spinner’s slot.

8. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka, left-arm orthodox)

Herath, on the other hand, despite being on the wrong side of 30, still has a lot of cricket left in him. He can deceive batsmen in flight, and his looping, turning deliveries have caught them napping on more than one occasion. An unbeaten 80 as his highest score in Test cricket proves that he does have some batting ability. He can both contain the flow of runs as well as take wickets, and is the ideal foil for Ashwin.

9. Dale Steyn (South Africa)

A good pace attack is imperative for any Test team. It must have the ability to help take all 20 wickets on a consistent basis.

For his sheer pace and superb control on line and length, Dale Steyn is an automatic choice. He is a lion-hearted cricketer, willing to bend his back for long spells and still maintain lively speeds. An athletic outfielder as well as a hard-hitting lower order batsman, Steyn simply walks into any side without so much as a second thought.

10. Peter Siddle (Australia)

Victorian seamer Peter Siddle is the obvious choice to share the new ball with Steyn. Fast and accurate, and skiddy at times, Siddle is also a master of the reverse swing. With the willow, he can also land a few hits as his centuries at the first-class level indicate. A perfect partner for the South African speedster, Siddle’s knack of picking up crucial wickets makes him a good selection as the second seamer.

11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is quite inexperienced at the Test level, but his wonderful wrist position and mastery over swing have made him MSD’s choice for opening the bowling in ODIs. With the red cherry, Kumar will be the ideal foil for his senior colleagues, and will only grow with more exposure to the five-day game. He is no mug with the bat either.