The Greatest Test XI of All Time

Test Cricket is the earliest and longest format in which the game is played. It is the ultimate challenge for a player as it is a test of endurance, temperament and physical capacity at the highest level.

A Test cap is an unprecedented glory for any cricketer and one of the defining moments of his career. Sound technique, strong temperament, critical evaluation of the conditions and a high degree of athleticism are required to succeed in the longest format of the game.

Even in the face of rising popularity of limited overs cricket in terms of commercial gains and viewership, Test Cricket remains the apex to be conquered by any player. With sundry conditions, pitches and oppositions, red ball cricket forms the perfect parameter for testing the expertise of an athlete in terms of technique and temperament.

With due respect to all the legends of the game and keeping in mind the squad balance, we have a look at the greatest XI of Test cricket.

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Sir Donald Bradman (Captain - Australia)

If Sir Donald Bradman could be defined in one word, that word would be 'brilliance'. Practising Cricket on the outskirts of Bowral with a cricket stump and a golf ball to dominating the globe with his pristine batting, Bradman's journey was a result of his ingenuity, finesse and tenacity.

Predominantly playing as a No.3 batsman, I have decided to open the team's innings with the legend, keeping in mind the balance of the team. With the vast amount of experience and skill, he boasts of all the requisites of a resourceful Test opener.

His knack for playing giant knocks, and the ability to accelerate and negotiate as per the situation were invaluable to set up the foundation of a strong display on the board, as he ended up with a prodigious average of 99.94 in the format

Don Bradman was also a genius leader, known for his unorthodox decisions and an erudite understanding of the game.. His decisions to reverse the batting order and an inspired leadership of 'The Invincibles' are testimonies to his leadership capacity.

Sunil Gavaskar (India)

Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to score 10,000 Test Runs

Sunil Gavaskar is unarguably the best opening batsman the world has ever witnessed. Long before the advent of legends like Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly, it was Gavaskar who defined consistency, establishing India on a pedestal in world cricket.

The Little Master possessed all the traits of a classic Test batsman. An unparalleled technique, impeccable concentration and astute timing characterized his batting. Gavaskar had a particularly pristine technique against seamers. In an era dominated by a vicious Caribbean attack, he enjoyed an astounding average of 65.45 against them.

Sunny personified consistency, courage and exuberance as he became the first player in the world to achieve an unprecedented milestone of 10,000 Test runs. He also held the record for most Test centuries (34) for almost two decades.

Rahul Dravid (India)

Rahul Dravid is popularly hailed as The Wall

The role of a No.3 batsman is indispensable in Test cricket. In case of an early wicket, the batsman has to set the tone for the innings, and coming in after a huge opening partnership he has to maintain the momentum.

Rahul Dravid forms the perfect choice for this slot, as he personifies class, elegance and discipline. Labelled as "The Wall', he had the ability to frustrate the opposition with his patient and meticulous approach, mentally more than physically.

Dravid can be typecast as a quintessential Test batsman, as he ended up facing the most deliveries and facing the most number of balls in the format, in his illustrious career. He proved his mettle on all turfs and bowling attacks, as he is the only player to score a century in all 10 Test playing nations during his career.

He was also a sharp fielder in the slip cordon, with the record for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper, 210.

Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Tendulkar has the highest runs and centuries in Test Cricket

There cannot be a squad of greatest players without Master Blaster's name. Sachin Tendulkar has been a prolific run scorer in red ball cricket, in a career spanning over two decades.

Sachin Tendulkar's career defined a benchmark of longevity, as he successfully competed with almost five generations of players. His inclusion in the squad ushers in a sense of tranquillity and solidarity as he ticks all the checkboxes of a complete batsman.

Sachin was a multi-dimensional player, who had the ability to step up in all sorts of situations. He had the ability to build the innings patiently, score at a brisk pace and negotiate some of the finest bowling attacks to save a match. He could wear as well as tear the bowling attack with his wide array of shots.

The maestro also had a golden arm, contributing with crucial breakthroughs and breaking giant partnerships. Statistically, Tendulkar ended up as the most successful batsman, with the most runs and centuries in red ball cricket.

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Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are complete batsmen in all respects, with the mettle to score overseas and play match-changing innings. They form a formidable middle order

Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis is hailed as one of the greatest all-rounders of the game, and undoubtedly the best seam-all rounder. Kallis has the third highest aggregate of runs in Tests and is second in the number of centuries.

Largely regarded as a defensive batsman, the Protea could bury any opposition into dust when on song. He is one of the 4 cricketers to score 5 centuries in 5 consecutive matches.

His excellence with the willow overshadowed his bowling on many occasions. Kallis was an impressive bowler, who could get the ball swinging very well. He is the only all-rounder with more than 10,00 runs and 250 wickets. Kallis is the perfect choice at No.5 to marshall the innings and promises to be instrumental with the ball.

Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies)

Sir Garfield Sobers is widely regarded as the best to have played the game

Sir Garfield Sobers is the most multi-dimensional player in the history of cricket. Besides wicketkeeping, there was nothing that the escaped the Caribbean's grasp.

Sobers, a majestic batsman, entered into the international scenario predominantly as a bowler. He epitomized versatility, as he could generate pace as well as extract pace from the tracks, both as an orthodox and chinaman bowler. If this would not suffice, he topped it up with his immaculate batsmanship at No.6, with technique and average par excellence for the position.

The southpaw pioneered his journey with an iconic 365* against Pakistan in 1958, which remained the highest score in Test cricket till 1994. He continued amassing runs and devastating batting lineups with his prodigious skills and is not just regarded as the best all-rounder, but the as one of best cricketers to have ever played.

Adam Gilchrist (Australia)

Adam Gilchrist redefined the role of a wicketkeeper

One of the most exciting talents to have been produced by Australia, Adam Gilchrist redefined the role of a wicketkeeper. The influence wielded by him was such that wicketkeeping can be classified into two eras- the pre-Gilchrist era, and the post-Gilchrist era.

Gilchrist was a ferocious striker of the ball who came out all guns blazing irrespective of the situation and opposition. An unparalleled game changer, Gilly bludgeoned bowling attacks lower down the order, as he enjoyed a whooping Strike Rate of 81 in the longest format.

Gilchrist's expertise behind and in front of the stumps were unblemished. His glovework was equally electric on the deliveries of seamers as well as spinners, as he consistently converted the chances.

Adam Gilchrist finished with the second-highest number of dismissals in Tests, although his contribution to the game is far superior than the statistics suggests.

Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Wasim Akram is hailed as the King of Swing

Wasim Akram's international career was the testimony of the saying 'Talent meets Opportunity'. Paving way into the national squad on the recommendation of Javed Miandad, Akram proved his worth in the international circuit in a very short span of time.

He is the undisputed 'King of Swing', as he was adept at swinging the ball both ways. Akram was also the pioneer and major exponent of the art of reverse swing, which made him lethal both at the beginning and the end of the innings. His vicious pace further added to his destructive game, making him one of the most feared bowlers of the '90s decade.

Wasim Akram was also a handy batsman, and in fact, played with the capacity of a bowling all-rounder. With a double-ton on his records, he can also give a good whack to the ball lower down the order.

Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Glenn McGrath finished as the most successful fast bowler

A spot which was largely competitive between Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lilee, I have decided to opt for McGrath considering his exhibits in the overseas conditions.

Though not the fastest, McGrath had all the weapons in his arsenal to run through the opposition's lineups. He was a metaphor of accuracy and consistency and continued his regimen throughout his career.

Glenn McGrath also had the penchant for picking up the wickets of the linchpins of the opposition, which he demonstrated by regularly dominating the likes of Brian Lara and Mike Atherton.

The spearhead of a golden generation of Australia, the McGrath finished as the most successful fast bowler and the fourth overall, with an aggregate of 563 wickets.

Shane Warne (Australia)

Shane Warne could extract

prodigious

turn from the pitch

A rare spin paragon nurtured in the midst the plethora of seamers, Shane Warne emerged as one of most terrifying bowlers of his generation.

Shane Warne could extract the prodigious amount of turn from the track, a trait mastered by very few. Warne beguiled even the best in the business with his line and length coupled with a surreal spin.

Warne exhibited his expertise with the 'Ball of the Century', a delivery pitched well outside off stump, that went on to clip the off-stump bail, leaving a seasoned Mike Gatting baffled. The leggie was also a handy lower order batsman and contributed some crucial knocks down the order with the willow.

Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

Muttiah Muralitharan ended up as the highest wicket-taker in Tests

The spin wizard is the first and remains the only bowler to conquer the summit of 800 Test wickets.

The off-break bowler weaved magic on the 22 yards in his era, leaving many technically sound batsmen perplexed. Prodigious spin, backed by subtle variations led to his surge at the zenith of the world.

Although his career was largely plagued by criticisms on his bowling action, Murali managed to defy the odds on all occasions and end as the highest wicket-taker in the format.