Steyn's in obviously, but who else makes a current World Test XI?

Having declared our allegiance to Dale Steyn as the best bowler in the World (for once the rankings do not lie), how would the rest of a current World Test XI shape up?

 

Here is my team based on form over the last year or so... 

 

1. Graeme Smith (South Africa) – The heart says Dilshan or Gayle, but the head goes for the Proteas captain, who may not be the best batsman to watch but who always seems to score runs when his country most needs them - especially against England. Grrrr!  

2. Virender Sehwag (India) – Sehwag is not merely a man, he is a God.

3. Gautam Gambhir (India) – You cannot argue with his record over the last 12 months even though doubts remain whether he can do it against the very best (as shown against South Africa over the last few days) or away from the sub-continent. Would be a good number 3.

4. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, Captain) – Gets in ahead of Ponting as the Australian captain has not been in the best form over the last year or so. Sangakkara has scored runs both on and away from the sub-continent and is a class player. Gets the captain's role for being the most intelligent and articulate cricketer playing the game today.

5. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – I’d like to go to India one day, so the Little Master has to be in the XI! Seriously, though his record over the last three years is second to none as his ton today against South Africa ably demonstrated.

6. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – Three centuries in his last five tests with the most recent in Nagpur being one of his best. Like his countryman Smith, not the best player to watch but the proof in the pudding is the fact that he just keeps on scoring runs. And he can bowl too.

7. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India), The Indian captain has been in excellent form with both bat and gloves over the last year and just pips Boucher and Haddin.

8. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) – With Warne and Kumble gone, Murali fading and Harbhajan too inconsistent, it is New Zealand’s one man team who pips Swann for the spin role in the XI.   

9. Mitchell Johnson (Australia) – In the battle of the inconsistent quicks, it is MJ who beats Morne Morkel (and Zaheer Khan) to a place in the XI. Johnson has an uncanny knack of taking wickets when he is bowling pies a la Ian Botham, which gets him a place in my side.

10. Dale Steyn (South Africa) – The best bowler in the World. Any fast bowler who can take ten wickets in a match in India deserves to be worshipped. Thank God he was only match fit for the last two tests against England.

11. Mohammad Amir (Pakistan) – If he can steer clear of illicit and performance enhancing drugs, Amir’s nagging accuracy would be a good foil to the pace of Steyn and Johnson in this XI.

12^th Man. Graeme Swann (England) – Would come in for Johnson if two spinners were required. His first year in test cricket has been sensational.

Comments

[Arnold D'Souza]

Regarding Mohammad Amir - he stayed clear of the drugs!