Best Test XI of the 2012-13 season

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.