England vs India 2018: Modern India-England Combined Test XI 

India, with such a large population, tends to produce cricketers on a regular basis. This also goes without saying that India has probably the largest talent pool for cricket in the world. Even though Hockey is widely acknowledged as our national sport it is cricket that makes our blood rush.

It is followed as a religion in our country which makes it hard for selectors to select the best team among millions that is to be sent to play against the tough International level teams. And then there is England who invented the sport for the sturdy elite and royals that has transformed itself into a world-beating sport.

It took some time for them to catch up in the limited overs formats but they have always been fairly dominant at the sport in the longest format of the game that is the Test Match. So here is an interesting XI that picks up best from both the countries and combine it to make a world-beating XI-

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OPENERS

#1 ALASTAIR COOK

In the documented history of Test Match Cricket, the first match was played between the future Ashes rivals England and Australia from 15-18 March 1877. Since then over 141 years later, England have only been able to produce one batsman with a run tally of over 10000 test runs who is none other than Alastair Cook.

He was first Englishman and the youngest batsman to reach there. He is still going strong as of now and with his uncanny ability to score big when he gets to triple digits is unmatched by anyone around him.32 test centuries and 5 double centuries is a testament to his superior run-scoring ability.

RECORD:159 TESTS/ 287 INNINGS/ 12225 RUNS/ AVG:45.11/ 32 100's

#2 Kl Rahul

Australia v India - 4th Test: Day 3

After an unfortunate start to his test career, KL Rahul's career took off after scoring a sublime 110 runs. Over the next few months, he would maintain a conversion rate in tests that batsman dream about.

But it had to take a beating and then followed a period of 7 50+ scores in consecutive innings in tests. It did pretty much mess up his conversion rate but his technique of playing inside the line and staying at the crease for long hours made him an ideal opener

He will complement Alastair Cook well in the opening position and his ability to leave the balls will be enough to manage the initial tricky hours of the test match that are conducive for bowling.

#3 Joe Root

England v Pakistan: 2nd Investec Test - Day Two

One of the names that are part of the fabled batting quartet from the modern era is Joe Root. The suspension of Steven Smith and the serious form Virat Kohli is in has ensured that Kohli leads the quartet due to his all format dominance.

The closest that a batsman comes in matching those unreal numbers is Joe Root. While his limited overs career is phenomenal, it his batting in tests that people fall in love with. The unreal consistency with which he reaches 50's and then hopelessly gives it away baffles the greats of the game.

No. 3 not being his usual position but it his ability to rotate the strike constantly that is credible, keeping the scoreboard ticking in process. This not only helps him in getting big daddy hundreds but also ensures that his team ends up winning the matches.

#4 Virat Kohli(C)

England v India: Specsavers 3rd Test - Day Three

There is no better batsman in the world at the moment to bat at #4 than Virat Kohli in tests. The only unconquered territory in his great Hall of Fame was England. It was an aberration that he wanted to erase, begone from his illustrious career.

There was a lot of noise before the start of the series about Kohli being Anderson's bunny. It all stopped as the bunny turned into a beast oblivious to the noise around him.it was as if a different Kohli turned up this time, a much calmer but a deadlier one.

He expelled any doubts of his technique in these conditions. He came out to bat to the crease as if his thirst was making runs in this part was unquenchable. He scored a brisk 149 runs and 51 runs in the first teat match to set his record straight.

The innings of 97 and 103 in the 3rd test match showed a man on a mission to add another feather to his already decorated captain's hat and he seems to be well on his way in adding more.

#5 Jonny Bairstow(WK)

New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 2

Jonny Bairstow, clearly the second best batsman in a lineup consisting of Root, Cook, Stokes, Woakes and Ali to follow is a great complement to have. Ever since his first test century that came against South Africa in Cape Town 2 seasons ago, he has transformed.

In fact, the transformation has been so stark that he has gone on to score 2588 test runs in 37 test matches with all of his 5 centuries coming in this period. The recent exploits in the limited overs as an opener extrapolate him to another level but it was due to his test match batting that he achieved it.

He averages 43.86 in this period and to have that number is a luxury for a specialist keeper batsman who is not only attacking but can also play the role of sheet anchor if and when required at will. He is also a safe gloveman to go with his batting exploits.

#6 Ben Stokes

England v West Indies - 2nd Investec Test: Day One

A standout amongst the most dangerous all-rounders of the modern period, Ben Stokes' vitality is irresistible on the cricket field. He is greatly energetic at everything that he does and being a lively character implies that there is only sometimes a dull minute when he is around.

An assaulting southpaw with an affinity for the huge hits as well as being equipped for playing long innings, Stokes is as relentless with the ball. He can bowl at moderately high speeds and has a talent of providing breakthroughs when nothing appears to work for his group.

The spell of 4/40 changed the fortunes in favour of the hosts, and they went on to win closely contested first test match by 31 runs. Be it with the bat or the ball, his contribution has always been valuable to his team.

#7 Ravichandran Ashwin

England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day One

It is Ravi Ashwin's form that has come as one of the biggest positives for India. He has not only taken 10 wickets in the series at an average of 27.70 but has also scored 101 runs to be exact in the series.

He has also been the second most economical bowler in the series with an economy rate of 2.66. One of the most shrewd and contemplating minds of the game, Ashwin has picked up the tools of the trade from his county stints to get successful in this part of the world.

Ashwin has made it a propensity to get wickets, particularly in dry and dusty conditions that help in turning the ball. So his record while not impressive in this series, given his lofty standards, he has proven that he can take wickets outside the subcontinental conditions.

#8 Stuart Broad

England v India: Specsavers 4th Test - Day Two

Stuart Broad with his sharp in-duckers leaving the batsman gobsmacked and in awe of his bowling has not been at his vicious best of late. While his accomplice, on the other hand, is in a form of his life at 36, Broad has not been effective at all.

But, bowlers of Broad's capability just need one good spell to get back into the rhythm. Being a bowler who takes wickets in clusters by coming in for short bursts, Broad for all his reputation may have been underutilized in this series.

Nonetheless, that does not take away his ability to bowl magical spells at will and choke the opposing batsmen from scoring runs. The spell of 8/15 at Trent Bridge against Australia in Ashes 2015 is a testament to his capability as a frontline bowler.

#9 Jasprit Bumrah

England v India: Specsavers 4th Test - Day One

Jasprit Bumrah has come of age as a test bowler. He debuted early this year against South Africa and impressed everyone by taking a fifer in the 3rd test match of the series on a spiteful pitch.

He was unfortunately not fit to play in the first two test matches and with Bhuvneshwar Kumar injured, India succumbed to great losses in the first two test matches. It was his arrival in the 3rd test match that changed the course of the test match.

He took 5/85 in the second innings to bowl England out for 317 to win the test match for India by 203 runs. There is a nagging problem of overstepping that persists in his run-up, but his awkward action coupled with the pace he generates makes him a vital cog in the Indian XI.

#10 Ishant Sharma

England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day Three

Ishant Sharma has had a decent series against England this summer. He has had a tough time over the years to make the spearhead position his own. But, there has been a stark and important change in Ishant's bowling arsenal.

Ever since his county stint under coach Jason Gillespie, he has started to swing and seam the ball around prodigiously. Ishant Sharma was always a hit-the-deck hard kind of a bowler, but this new look Ishant has completely changed the results of the series in India's favour.

The fifer that eventually came in a losing cause showed to the world what this new and improved Ishant possesses. He has not only bowled with accurate line and length but also with a metronomic consistency pitching it up regularly thus troubling the batsman.

#11 James Anderson

England v India: Specsavers 2nd Test - Day Four

The list will be incomplete without mentioning the name of England's highest wicket-taker in tests, James Anderson. He is also on the verge of breaking Glenn Mcgrath's record of 563 scalps in test cricket to become highest wickets taken by a pacer in the longest format.

Anderson has been bowling as good as he has ever bowled and not only he baffles the batsman with jaffa of a delivery but he does it with an unreal consistency. The ability to swing the ball both ways resulting in top nuts of a delivery can only be credited to Anderson's mastery.

He has been sensational in the series and unsurprisingly the highest wicket taker as well with 17 wickets to his name. This says a lot about his experience as well as his fitness levels at the ripe age of 36.The 9 wicket haul at Lord's being a highlight reel of his bowling in this series.