World Test XI to take on team India

The Indian team has been in phenomenal form recently. In the grand home season of 2016-17, India won 10 Tests out of 13. Since then team India is unstoppable as spinners have picked up lots of wickets and hence India are comfortably placed No.1 in Test cricket rankings.

The gap between the first two teams on the table is too vast and hence India are bound to comfortably remain on top. This year having drawn the 3 match series 1-1 in South Africa, they comfortably trounced the new entrants to Test cricket, Afghanistan.

To beat team India at home it requires big names on paper who have got experience and the capability to successfully adapt themselves to the sub-continental conditions. Hence, we have drafted a team which will give a tough fight to the Indian team in their own backyard. This team is balanced and contains the best players in the business who haven't retired from Test cricket till now.

Let us have a look at the World Test XI to take on India.

Note: Players who have been banned from International Cricket by their boards have been considered.

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Openers

#1 Alastair Cook

Cook has scored 12145 runs in 156 matches at an average of 45.65. After Sangakkara, he is probably the second best left-handed in Test cricket in the modern era. He is one out of those rare species of batsmen who can negotiate both swing and spin pretty well.

In 2012, Cook single-handedly secured a series victory for England in India by scoring 562 runs in 4 matches at an average of 80.28. He also scored 3 hundreds in 8 innings in that monumental series for England.

Hence, these stats prove that Cook is quite quick in adapting to sub-continental pitches and has no weakness against spin bowling. Incidentally, Cook's highest score of 294 has also come against India at Birmingham in 2011.

#2 David Warner

David Warner is one of the most dangerous opening batsmen after Sehwag. He times the ball with perfection and also has the brutal power to clear the fence of any cricket ground in the world.

Against India, Warner has scored 1081 runs in 16 matches at an average of 36.03. He has also scored 4 hundreds against them. His score of 180 at the bouncy WACA surface was outstanding. His aggressive batting style brings shivers even to the best bowlers in the world.

Having captained the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, Warner is no stranger to sub-continental conditions.

Middle Order

#3 Steve Smith

Steve Smith is probably the best No.3 batsman today in Test cricket. Despite not being technically sound due to his stance, he has scored 6199 runs in 64 matches at an average of 61.37.

Despite being suspended from cricket due to his involvement in ball tampering, he still retains his spot at the top of ICC's Test rankings. Smith has scored 660 runs in 6 matches at an average of 60 in India. He has also scored 3 hundreds against them.

Hence the above stats prove that Steve Smith has been a standout performer for Australia in India and is well suited to bat at No. 3 for this team.

#4 Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson has all the traits and techniques which are required from a world-class Test batsman. He patiently waits for the ball on the back foot and has the skill to find the gap with perfection. He is cool headed and hence is not tempted to give away his wicket by playing a rash shot.

Kane Williamson has scored 461 runs in 7 matches at an average of 35.46 in India. His hundred on debut against India on a rank-turner in Ahmedabad was rated highly by cricket pundits. He has probably been the best player for the Kiwis whenever they have toured India.

Among all the current Kiwis, Williamson has the most refined technique against quality spin bowling.

5) Joe Root

Joe Root has a wonderful technique and is an excellent batsman in Test cricket. He is a prolific run machine for England. He moves his feet perfectly and is adept at facing both spin and fast bowling.

Having made his Test debut against India in India, he has scored 584 runs in 6 matches at an average of 53.09 in India. He is one of the few English batsmen who can play wrist spin decently.

He is one of the players to watch out for in Test cricket in the coming years.

Wicket-keeper and All-rounder

#6 Shakib al Hasan

Shakib al Hasan is probably the best player Bangladesh have ever produced in Test cricket. He is recognized globally for his skills with both bat and ball. He is a slippery customer who keeps bowling tightly due to his accurate line and length.

With the bat, Shakib has scored 260 runs in 6 matches at an average of 26 against India. He has also picked up 15 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 42.79 and economy rate of 3.55. His slinging action makes it quite difficult for the batsman to read him.

Hence, he is one of the best all-rounders in the world at present.

#7 Jonny Bairstow

Bairstow is an excellent wicket-keeper batsman capable of giving valuable contributions for England in the lower-order. He has been instrumental in stabilizing England's batting performance whenever there has been a collapse.

In 6 matches, Bairstow has scored 361 runs at an average of 40.11 in India. He also has the ability to negotiate spin bowling well on turning pitches. As a wicket-keeper, he has made 8 stumping and taken 143 catches.

Hence, from the above stats, it is quite clear that Bairstow is the best wicket-keeper batsman in the world right now.

Fast Bowlers

#8 Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad has been a phenomenal bowler and a great servant of English cricket over the years. He is a hard-working bowler who hits the deck hard with his excellent seam position. Due to his height, he gets extra-bounce from any surface. Hence, he complements the swing bowling of Anderson perfectly.

Against India, Broad has taken 54 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 24.48. The Indian batsmen have always found it hard to negotiate his bowling in English conditions. He is also a useful lower-order batsman whose runs are vital for England.

#9 Kagiso Rabada

Rabada is an extremely talented young fast bowler who with his subtle pace can surprise a world-class batsman. Coupled with effective pace, he also has the unique ability to swing the ball both ways. Hence, this makes him a very dangerous bowler to face on any surface.

Having made his test debut against India, he has picked up 17 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 24.41 against them. When India played the 3 test match series in South Africa in January 2018, Rabada was the picked up 15 wickets in just 3 matches at an average of 20.26.

Hence, he is one of those few fast bowlers against whom the Indian batsman have struggled against.

#10 James Anderson

James Anderson is currently the best bowler in test cricket. He is particularly deadly in English conditions due to his ability to swing the ball both the ways. He has formed a formidable new-ball partnership with Broad for England.

Anderson has been a very successful bowler against the Indian batsmen as he has picked up 86 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 28.17. He has also got the better of the great Sachin Tendulkar and the current best Indian batsman Virat Kohli. His wickets were influential for England in their 2012 series win in India.

Hence, from the above stats, it is quite evident that Anderson has been a brilliant bowler against India.

Spinner: Rangana Herath

#11 Rangana Herath

Rangana Herath is the best spinner in the world right now. He is a hard-working bowler who balls accurate line and length. He is a tricky customer as he has an arm ball which is subtle and very difficult to read for the batsman.

Against India, Herath has picked up 33 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 48.06. He is quite deadly on sub-continent pitches. Overall, he has picked up 430 wickets in 92 matches at an average of 27.95.

Hence, from the above stats, it is clear that Herath is one of the best spinners in the world in the modern era.