How a World Test XI could line up in 2020

It has 15 years since an ICC World Test XI last took to the field, when they played a one-off Test match against Australia who then had one of the all-time great Test sides.Back then it was an Australian side that featured the likes of Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath, while the World XI included Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, and Muttiah Muralitharan.

On the pitch, it was a one-sided affair. Matthew Hayden top scored in both innings for Australia, included a century in the first innings, while Stuart MacGill took nine wickets in the match as the Australians ran out victorious by 210 runs.

It was initially planned that a World XI side would play the top Test match side in the world every four years, but that never materialised. However, what if there were to be a World XI in 2020? This is how an XI of the world’s best Test match players would line up in 2020.

Dean Elgar | South Africa

Dean Elgar has become one of Test cricket's most consistent opening batsmen

Dean Elgar is one of the few old fashioned openers still playing the game. He is one of those players who will look to protect his wicket at all costs, and is happy to wait for the opportunity to score runs to present themselves, and not go looking for them. He is one of just a couple of players in this team who don’t play any white ball cricket at international level, and he has certainly benefitted from that.

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Elgar has a good record in Test cricket, having scored 3,888 runs at an average of a little under 40, as well as scoring 12 centuries.

Dimuth Karunaratne | Sri Lanka

There does seem to be a lack of quality openers in Test cricket at the moment. For England, no one has really stepped up to replace Alastair Cook since his retirement, although Dominic Sibley has certainly shown promise. For India, the partnership of Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma has potential, although both need to prove themselves in tougher conditions overseas. David Warner would certainly have made this side a couple of years ago, but having scored just 95 runs in five Ashes Tests, his powers are certainly waning.

One man who is a solid and consistent opener is Dimuth Karunaratne, who has become an important player for Sri Lanka in Test matches. He, like Elgar, is a rather old fashioned Test match batsman, although he does play a little more white ball cricket. He has scored 4,524 Test match runs at an average of just over 36, with nine hundreds.

Note: All statistics are as of March 18, 2020

Kane Williamson | New Zealand

New Zealand has become a formidable Test side since Williamson took over as captain

Few players are as important to their side as Kane Williamson is to New Zealand. Not only is he the best batsman in the side, but he is also an inspirational captain, and has taken them to a new level since taking over from Brendon McCullum. He will likely go down as New Zealand’s finest ever player when he retires from the game.

His Test match record is excellent, having scored 6,476 runs in his 80 Test matches, averaging a touch over 50 with 21 Test centuries - more than any other New Zealand player. At just 29, he will likely end his career with a pretty incredible set of statistics.

Steve Smith | Australia

There are certainly mixed opinions on Steve Smith. In 2018, he was handed a one-year ban from all cricket for his part in the ball tampering scandal in South Africa. As captain of Australia, Smith also led his country in a period where they were regularly criticised for their on-field behaviour. However, he is possibly the best Test match batsman on the planet right now.

During the 2019 Ashes, Smith was the runaway player of the series, scoring an incredible 671 runs, even though he missed the third Test after suffering from concussion. His record overall is pretty extraordinary, aggregating 7,227 Test runs at a steep and impressive average of 62.84.

Virat Kohli | India

Virat Kohli is regarded as the finest cricket in the world across all formats

There are a lot of players who could have filled in the middle order in this XI. England’s Joe Root is a fine batsman, but at times hasn’t quite made the most of his talent, especially since being made the captain. Pakistan’s Babar Azam is one of the best players to watch in world cricket and has really found his feet in Test cricket of late, having previously dominated in white ball cricket.

But it is impossible to leave out Virat Kohli who is possibly the most recognised and revered player still playing the game. He has had a difficult time in certain conditions, but has improved on that part of his game. He has scored 7,240 Test runs, and an average of just under 54, while scoring an impressive 27 tons.

Ben Stokes | England

Very few players have had as good a 12 months as Ben Stokes in international cricket. He had a fine World Cup, and then played a superb innings in the final to take England to a Super Over, in which he played a part in taking his side to victory in perhaps the finest ODI game ever played. Then in the subsequent Ashes series, he played one of the great Test match innings of all time, hitting a brilliant 135 not out as England chased down 359, putting on a terrific 76-run partnership with number 11 Jack Leach.

The remarkable thing about Stokes, is that he turns up when England need him most. His statistics may not suggest that he is a great cricketer yet, but he may be the first name on the team sheet for any team in world cricket. He averages over 36 in Test cricket with nine hundreds, and has also had an impact with the ball, picking up 147 wickets, at an average of under 33.

BJ Watling | New Zealand

BJ Watling has become a crucial member of this New Zealand side

There is a bit of a dilemma when it comes to picking the number seven batsman, who is usually the wicketkeeper as well. One can either pick someone who can add quick runs down the order, in a bit of a counter attacking style, in the way Adam Gilchrist did for Australia for so many years. Or pick more of a firefighter in case quick wickets fall up the order.

England, India, and South Africa have all gone for the counter attacking options of Jos Buttler, Rishabh Pant, and Quinton de Kock. New Zealand have instead gone with the more traditional route, and have put a specialist batsman there in the shape of BJ Watling. The 34-year old is a solid wicketkeeper, and has scored 3,658 runs in 70 Test matches at an average of 38.50.

R Ashwin | India

When it comes to spinners, there are a few around the world at the moment who could challenge for this spot in the side, but only a few really stand out. Nathan Lyon is certainly right up there as one of the best in the world. While both Keshav Maharaj and Mitchell Santner are excellent cricketers, both are more solid than spectacular.

R Ashwin has enjoyed success all around the world, not just around Asia, and has been at the top of the game for a number of years now. In his 70 Test matches, he has taken 362 wickets, the fourth most by any Indian bowler, at an average just over 25. He has also made a contribution with the bat, averaging over 28, and scoring four hundreds, along with 11 fifties.

Pat Cummins | Australia

Pat Cummins is currently the number one ranked Test match bowler

Dale Steyn topped the ICC Test Match bowing rankings for a number of years before his Test retirement, and there was always a question as to who would replace him as the top bowler in the world. Over the last couple of years, Pat Cummins has emerged as that man, and has thrived after finally overcoming a host of injuries that plagued his early years.

Cummins’ numbers are excellent in Test matches, and he is currently the number one ranked Test bowler in the world. He has picked up 143 wickets in 30 matches, at an impressive average of under 22. He took his 100th Test wicket during the 2019 Ashes series, in just his 21st Test. Only three Australians have reached that mark quicker.

Kagiso Rabada | South Africa

If there’s one thing that will always get wickets in any situation, it is express pace. Australia have Mitchell Starc, who although has the ability to be a real threat, can be inconsistent and erratic. England’s Jofra Archer has shown an awful lot of potential at the start of his international career, but there are questions over how he is being used by captain Joe Root.

Kagiso Rabada tops them both, and his record supports his case. He has taken 197 Test wickets at an average of 22.95, with 9 five-wicket hauls to his name. He will have an increased amount of responsibility in future matches, particularly given the retirement of Vernon Philander, making Rabada the leader of the pack of the current South African bowling attack.

Jasprit Bumrah | India

The current India pace attack in the finest in the country’s history. In the past, India have dominated on the subcontinent thanks to their quality spinners, but when it comes to travelling to the likes of England, Australia, and South Africa, they have always struggled. But with a bowling line-up featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, India finally have an attack that can succeed on quick, seaming tracks.

Bumrah is the star of the show, and has enjoyed success in all forms of the game. He is perhaps the best find in IPL history, having initially made his name with the Mumbai Indians. The 26-year old has taken 62 wickets in just 12 Test matches at the start of his career, all of which have been played outside India.