An unbeatable all-time Test World XI

We have seen Tendulkar, Shastri, Chappell, Lara, and others announcing their list for all time Test XI. Being a cricket lover, I have watched and played cricket for almost 30 years now and hence I feel entitled to do this exercise myself.

Here I have discussed the best of the best Test players from all major cricket playing nations who form my Test World XI of all time. The team comprises of players from India, Australia, Pakistan, Srilanka, England, South Africa and West Indies.

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#1: Sunil Gavaskar

This position is only meant for Sunil Gavaskar. His cricketing records (first to score 10000+ runs, first to break Bradman's record of 29 centuries etc.) and temperament make him worthy of this position. Geoffrey Boycott, opener from England, was good but he was too slow and at times self-centred while batting. Gavaskar's ability to play genuine pace as well as spinners with equal tenacity puts him miles ahead of his competitors.

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#2: Virender Sehwag

He will be a perfect foil to Sunny's defensive batting. Sehwag redefined the modern-day Test-cricket with his explosive batting, hitting boundaries and maximums at will. He holds the distinction of being one of the four batsmen in the world to have ever surpassed 300 twice in Test cricket. In 2005 he was described by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as the "most exciting opener" in the world

#3: Viv Richards

Viv was brutal, devastating and could crush any opponent with his explosive hitting all around the park. The word "swagger" is often used to describe his batting style. In 2000, Richards was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century. Another batsman Rahul Dravid comes to my mind for this position but he falls slightly short of Richards in terms of expectations from a number 3 batsman.

#4: Sachin Tendulkar

He is one of the best batsmen to have ever played the game. Sachin played 179 Tests out of his 200 Tests at the number four spot. He scored 44 centuries and his highest score of 248* also came at this position. His record speaks volumes about his stature in the game and any and every praise is insufficient. The expectation from Sachin to perform in every match and his ability to deliver most of the time makes him worthy of this place. Brian Lara was another choice for this place, but he was not as consistent as Sachin.

#5: Jacques Kallis

Perhaps the best all-rounder the game has ever seen. He scored 13000+ runs and took 292 wickets. He could play shots anywhere and against any bowler. Gary Sobers was another choice but his records do not match up to him.

#6: Alec Stewart

He was one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year 1993. As a wicketkeeper-batsman, he averaged 34.92 from 82 Tests, higher than many of his contemporaries and many of the current batch of international wicketkeepers. He scored 8000+ runs and catches/stumpings were 263/14.

#7: Dennis Lillee

Lillee had the perfect action, genuine pace of 90+ mph and devastating bouncers and his in-cutters were a nightmare to even the best of the best batsmen. He took 355 wickets at an average of 23.92, which is phenomenal by any standard.

On 17 December 2009, Lillee was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. The impact of the Lillee/Thomson bowling attack was summarised during the 1974-75 Ashes series when Sydney newspaper The Sunday Telegraph ran a photo of Lillee and Thomson with a cartoon caption underneath that read “Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust if Thomson doesn't get ya, Lillee must.”

#8: Wasim Akram

The best left-hand swing bowler of all time. A genuine pace bowler who could swing the bowl both sides at ease. Also known as 'Sultan of Swing', he could murder any batting attack at will.

Wasim Akram was the only Pakistani cricketer to be named in an all-time Test World XI to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. He took 414 wickets at an average of 22.64 which is enviable by any standard. A useful batsman, he could bat easily against spin and pace.

#9: Malcolm Marshall

The most frightening bowler which the world of cricket has seen, so far. His name evoked fear. Marshall's in-cutters and bouncers made him almost unplayable.

He took 376 wickets at an average of 20.94, which is phenomenal. He was a useful batsman who scored around 2000 runs.

#10: Shane Warne

A wizard who could spin the ball at an almost right angle. Probably the best leg spinner of all time. He is credited to have bowled 'Ball of the Century'. A bowler with an astute mind, he took 708 wickets at an average of 25.41. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century.

#11: Muttiah Muralitharan

Muralitharan is the best off-spinner to have played the game. He could deceive any batsman and he held the number one spot in the International Cricket Council’s player rankings for Test bowlers for a record period of 1,711 days, spanning 214 Test matches. Overall he took 800 wickets at an average of 22.72.