The World's Best Test XI of the current era

#7 Jonny Bairstow (Wicket-keeper)

The Yorkshire wicket-keeping batsman has been one of the most improved cricketers in the past few years

Donning the wicket-keeping gloves will be England's, Jonny Bairstow. The Yorkshire wicket-keeping batsman has been one of the most improved cricketers in the past few years.

After making consistent performances for his team Yorkshire, that saw him score two back-to-back hundreds at the beginning of the 2012 season, Bairstow was handed his Test debut against the West Indies at Lords in 2012. After an uneventful appearance, Bairstow was recalled for the third Test of the following South African series, after Kebin Pieterson was dropped due to disciplinary breach. Bairstow cashed in onto his opportunity with a gritty 95 and followed it up with a fifty in the second innings.

However, it was only the 2015 tour of South Africa that saw the re-emergence of Jonny Bairstow. The wicket-keeper batsman made his maiden Test hundred in Cape Town and was involved in a stunning 399-run stand with Ben Stokes, and ended the series with 359 runs at an average of 89.75, and followed it up by a solid showing in 2016, scoring 1470 runs at an average of 58.8 has been a regular feature in the England side since then.

In 52 Tests thus far, Bairstow has accumulated 3293 runs at an average of 39.2, including five hundred and seventeen fifties.

#8 Ravichandran Ashwin

The leading off-spin bowling of the current era

The leading off-spin bowling of the current era, India's Ravi Ashwin makes our list as the sole spinner in this coveted list.

After a series of consistent performances in white-ball cricket, Ashwin was fast-tracked into Indian Test side in the season of 2011 against the Windies in favor of ace-spinner Harbhajan Singh, and the vile off-spinner has proceeded to become the leader of the attack since.

With a plethora of skills like the off-break and the carrom ball at his disposal, Ashwin has proceeded to bamboozle batsmen with his guile and technical understanding. The 2017 recipient of Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, Ashwin is also the fastest to claim 300 Test wickets (54 Tests) leaving behind Dennis Lillie. In 57 Tests thus far, Ashwin has accumulated 311 wickets at an average of 25.57 which includes 26 five-wicket hauls and seven 10-fers.

#9 Kagiso Rabada

With raw aggression and pace, Rabada has proceeded to lead the Proteas pace-attack

After propelling his side to the U-19 World Cup glory with a scintillating 6-25 against the Australians, Kagiso Rabada was earmarked as the successor to the great Dale Steyn when he was handed his Test debut in 2015 against India.

With raw aggression and pace, Rabada has proceeded to lead the Proteas pace-attack in the absence of the injury-ridden Dale Steyn, with flabbergasting consistency. He bamboozled the helpless English top-order last summer in England, accumulating three five-wicket hauls in six innings. Rabada was at his menacing best in the home summer against India and Australia and emerged as an indispensable part of the Proteas pace attack.

The 22-year-old has featured in 30 Test matches thus far and have accumulated 143 wickets at an average of 21.59 which includes nine five-wicket hauls and four 10-fer.