Test Cricket is the purest form of a game. From acquiring a test cap to proving his worth in the longest format of the game is highest glory for any player who has played red-ball cricket. Since the time it's first game in 1877, the test remains the pinnacle level of cricket regardless of how much cricket has evolved over the years.
Playing a test match is not the same as other forms of cricket as it requires persistence, aptitudes, demeanor, quality, athleticism to succeed in this format of a game. It doesn't make a difference if you're a batsman, bowler or a fielder the test to be best in test cricket is a daunting task.
With more T-20 cricket played over the last two decades test cricket came to its existence yet regardless of how much cricket will evolve test cricket remains the best form of cricket. The time before the 2000s was all the more better when test matches were played in a very expert manner.
Regularly said by many test cricket is a boring and slow challenge yet players who have played it turned it engaging with their exhibitions. Having stated, take a look at the players who have made it to the greatest test XI of all-time.
Openers:
1. Virender Sehwag
Among Sehwag and Gavaskar it is very clear. Gavaskar made the ball old by leaving it while Sehwag made the ball old by hitting it harder. The sort of effect and impact which has been changed by Sehwag for the opening batsman can be defined in two eras – the pre-Sehwag era and the post-Sehwag era.
Virender Sehwag is the best opener the world cricket has ever seen. Only Indian player to register two triple hundreds and one of the four batsmen in the world to have this achievement. In 2005, Wisden Cricketer Almanack described him as the most dangerous openers all-time. During his career, Sehwag has scored 8586 runs at an average of 49.34 and with a strike rate of 82.23 which is a very difficult achievement to have as an opener in test cricket.
2. Sir Don Bradman (Captain):
At the point when you have the absolute best batsman in a great deal you won't search for different alternatives. Preferably, he is a No.3 batsman however two destructive openers at the top would destroy any bowling attack on any day in any condition. Blend of understanding and uncommon measure of abilities, Bradman had everything to be a dangerous test opener.
Although Don Bradman was the player ahead of time. His decision of changing the batting order and knowledge of a game was simply immaculate which made him a shrewd peruser of this game.
Aside from the leadership skills, Bradman had an incredible ability to play large innings or to change his batting style as per the situations to play defensive inning or to switch his gears to play aggressive cricket.
An average of 99.94 would undoubtedly defined him greatest batsman has ever played in cricket. Under his captaincy Australian side of 1950s had never lost the series. Bradman also holds the record of 12 Double hundreds most by the any batsman in the history. In his 52 tests Bradman scored 6996 runs at an average of 99.94 and furthermore he also holds the record of highest score of 270 while batting at No.7
Without any doubt Don Bradman would be Captain of this test XI in the wake of holding tremendous numbers of records
Middle-Order:
3. Rahul Dravid
In any test XI the No.3 batsman would be Rahul Dravid. The player who has justified the tag of enormity or No.3 batsman like no other. The role of No.3 batsman is very Crucial after the early wickets player needs to stop further more dents into the line-up or prop the scoring force up after an indispensable opening partnership.
Player like Rahul Dravid effectively makes it to this spot. With more than 13000 runs in 164 tests at an average of 52.88 including 36 hundreds and 63 fifties. Dravid has 3 double tons in the alien conditions out of his 5 Double hundreds which easily characterized he is the most reliable player for a team in the alien conditions where any team typically battles a great deal.
Dravid had that ability to play long hours innings to rule any opposition mentally which in turn led them to surrender. Dravid additionally holds the record of most number of catches at slip position (210) by any non-wicket player in a history. From facing most number of deliveries in the longest Format of game to scoring a century against each test playing nation in his career to ended up with the fourth highest run-scorer in a test cricket history.
4. Kumar Sangakkara
One of the most prolific stroke-makers of a ball and the greatest left-handed batsman world cricket has ever seen. 11 Double hundreds next best to Sir Don Bradman 12 double hundreds and the 12,400 runs the most by any left-handed batsman in the history. The most number of hundreds by any left-handed batsman - 38. No captain actually need to miss a player like him in his test XI.
Despite the fact that Kumar Sangakkara has the highest average of 57.60 among the batsmen who have scored at least 10000 test runs. For the 10 long years between 2005 to 2015 he was the number test batsman which unmistakably characterized how extraordinary this player was. His capacity to play giant knocks alongside the propensity of making enormous partnerships all through his career make the even great team run for cash. A batsman as well as he was an outstanding wicket-keeper batsman as well. To the extent in this team he will just stepping up as a batsman only.
5. Brian Lara
The Prince of Trinidad and Tobago is one of the greatest left-handed batsman in a red-ball cricket. A list of the greatest players is inadequate without this legend of a game. If we could state him the multi-dimensional cricketer it won't not be wrong in any way.
Lara had the capacity to shape himself into the circumstance to play the defensive innings while simultaneously he would crushed the line and length of any extraordinary bowler on his day. Lara has scored 11,953 runs at an average of 52.89 including 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries which could characterise the enormity of this player.
Lara holds numerous records however his 400* stays at the top which is as yet a record hold by him and he has scored over 26% of runs than his team during his career. Playing for 17 long years at the most highest level of cricket and an inspired the generation that even left-handed batsman can Succeed in a game of cricket which is dominate by right-handers throughout the long term.
Interesting Read | Top 5 batsman with fastest double centuries in Test Cricket
All-Rounder:
6. Sir Garfield Sobers
It was the tough decision to make among Kallis and Sobers. Both are the best all-rounders in test cricket history. Be that as it may, there is clear contrast between these two. Both have played in a different eras where one has played less matches other has played more number of matches
Kallis has scored 13,279 at an average of 55.37 including 45 hundreds in 166 tests where Sobers had scored 8032 runs at a normal of 57.78 including 26 hundreds in 93 tests. So comparison is very out of line as kallis has played a large number of matches than sobers. If we envision Sobers had same number of matches then he could have been ended at higher numbers than kallis.
Sobers began his career as a bowler however ended as the greatest all-rounder to has ever played in cricket. A multi-dimensional cricketer if we state sobers it won't not be wrong in any manner. Aside from wicket-keeping sobers can do anything on the cricket field and No.6 batsman having such measure of abilities implies player was the special talent.
7. Adam Gilchrist (Wicket-Keeper)
A wicket-keeping talent as well as Gilchrist was the most prolific batsman. Gilchrist was the part of Golden era of Australian Team under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting.
A legitimate game-changer and a hard hitter of a ball. The wicket-keeping role was straightforward before the gilchrist begun his career player needs to all the more great behind the stumps then with his batting abilities. However, this flamboyant left-handed batsman has totally redefined the role of wicket-keeping. His magnificent planning and hostility is as yet an uncommon thing to find in a cricket.
Averaging 47.61 in 96 tests in which he has amassed 5570 runs at a strike rate of 81.96 which stayed same during long career.
Bowlers:
8. Wasim Akram
A test XI without this bowler is a complete disrespect to him. The greatest left-arm pacer in the history and the undisputed ‘king of Swing'. 414 wickets in 104 tests at an average of 23.62 these numbers are sufficient to back the case of Wasim Akram.
Not having a first-class experience however once he got chose into the National side wasim Akram was the complete different bowler. Could swing the ball the two different ways and make old ball reversed swing turned him into the most difficult bowler of his era. Akram was the part of golden era of Pakistan team of 90s where he formed the most deadly bowling Pairs in history alongside Waqar Younis.
9. Dennis Lillee
70 matches 355 wickets at an average of 23.92 when Lillee retired he holds the record of highest wicket-takers in test cricket. Having such amount of numbers he will make it to this test XI without any doubt. Fast bowling and Dennis Lillee bowling with sheer pace this sight was the best thing anybody could have imbued.
A frontline bowler of Australia during the 70s and the early 80s who had formed the greatest bowling pairs in history alongside Jeff Thomson. Lillee had the ability to clock the bowling speed over 90 mph at the consistent base alongside his fiery bouncers and in-cutters which has insinuated the best batsman like no other.
10. Dale Steyn
I might want to go with another quick bowler when there is a player like Dale Steyn. 93 tests 439 wickets at an average of 22.95 and in the subcontinent pitches he has the highest wicket-taker in the history with 93 wickets in 22 tests. All these numbers are from a player who has played in batting-friendly conditions.
Just envisioned if Dale Steyn has played during the 70s or 80s what kind of an effect Steyn could have been just unimaginable. Dale Steyn has intimated each batsman who has stood his way with his fiery pace.
11. Muttiah Muralitharan
Cricket is a numbers game. Finally, this spot with no speculation is taken away by Spin wizard Muttaih Muralitharan. 800 Test Wickets in 133 tests at an average of 22.73 – most by any bowler in international cricket. If batting has Sachin Tendulkar, at that point bowling has Muttiah Muralitharan.
During his career he made each batsman confused with his variations. Making his debut in 1992 till the last match in 2010 he had done everything a player longs to achieve for his nation. Speculation and rumours were that he had most wickets by playing against minnows like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
By far, if we remove those wickets still he has 612 wickets at an average of 24.73 which is a route better than Shane Warne.
