Ian Chappell World Test XI: Stokes in as vice-captain, Williamson, Elgar out of ultimate side
THE official Test World Championship is due to commence in 2019 but in the meantime, the next couple of months in South Africa will confirm who is currently the best team. IAN CHAPPELL’S WORLD TEST XI.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE official Test World Championship is due to commence in 2019 but in the meantime, the next couple of months in South Africa will confirm who is currently the best team.
Following Australia’s comprehensive Ashes victory, India, South Africa and Australia — in that order — are the top three computer ranked Test teams.
Despite winning the opening Test of their series, South Africa will find it hard to dislodge India from top spot and Australia has to whitewash the Proteas to ascend into second position.
FLAT AS A TACK: MCG learn fate over ‘poor’ pitch
WEAPON: Why Pat Cummins is only getting better
The superiority of these three teams becomes obvious when picking the outstanding Test players from 2017. I have four representatives from both Australia and South Africa in my 12 best and two Indians. The remaining two players are from England, albeit one of them currently suspended from action.
In addition to considering the best players I was also conscious of selecting a combination to cover all eventualities. As always there are those unlucky to miss out and to whom I refer in their position.
My team in batting order
David Warner [Australia]
Tests: 11. Runs: 997 at 49.85. HS:123.
Despite a career low strike rate in 2017, Warner showed further maturity in his batting. He finally cracked the code on the sub-continent with back-to-back centuries in Bangladesh and underlined his consistency by not being dismissed in single figures during the Ashes series.
Joe Root [England]
Tests: 11. Runs: 966 at 50.84. HS: 190.
While Root doesn’t open now he’s done it in the past. South African opener Dean Elgar is unlucky to miss out but I went for the left-right combination. Despite not converting many half-centuries into three figures scores, Root had a good year and displayed his gritty qualities during the Ashes series. The other right-handed option was New Zealand’s consistent captain Kane Williamson.
Cheteshwar Pujara [India]
Tests: 11. Runs: 1140 at 67.05. HS: 202.
A solid number three who is at home against pace or spin. He has a thirst for runs only matched by the player who follows him in the batting order.
Steve Smith [C] [Australia]
Tests: 11. Runs: 1305 at 76.76. HS: 239.
Entirely at ease with his quirky technique, as a batsman Smith has a mind like a steel trap. His escalation to a higher level with continued mind-boggling success is underlined by his appearance at number two on many all-time batting lists dominated by Don Bradman.
Virat Kohli [India]
Tests: 10. Runs: 1059 at 75.64. HS: 243.
An extremely emotional cricketer but a very good one, Kohli is an aggressive batsman who can take an attack apart. His strike rate for 2017 of 76 is easily the best of the elite batsmen and he had an excellent century conversion rate.
Ben Stokes [vc] [England]
Tests: 7. Runs: 527 at 43.91. Wickets: 16 at 31.31.
Not only did Root miss his adventurous play, he could also have used his aggressive input as vice-captain in the Ashes series. Despite missing the Australian tour, Stokes had a good year on the field and just pipped Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan for the allrounder’s spot.
Quinton de Kock [wk] [South Africa]
Tests: 12. Runs: 619 at 36.41. HS: 101. Catches: 45. Stumpings: 5.
Like most modern keepers de Kock is better known for his bat but he had an excellent year with the gloves. His bat can turn a game quickly from the middle-order and he shaded England’s Jonny Bairstow for the keeper’s job.
Mitchell Starc [Australia]
Tests: 6. Wickets: 26 at 26.34. 5WI: 1.
Dangerous when he swings the new ball, he produces deadly yorkers with the old one; Starc can decimate an innings in a hurry. Australia’s enforcer during the Ashes series, it was no coincidence the only draw occurred when he was missing through injury.
Kagiso Rabada [South Africa]
Tests: 11. Wickets 57 at 20.28.
Rapid Rabada complements his pace with late swing and a yorker that compares with Starc. A fine athlete, he seems to have avoided the young fast bowler’s injury bug despite a heavy workload.
Keshav Maharaj [South Africa]
Tests: 11. Wickets: 48 at 23.41. 5WI: 3.
A fine left-arm orthodox spinner who was an immediate success in Test cricket. Unlike his South African spin predecessors he’s an attacking bowler who understands his role perfectly. In seeking variety in the attack, Maharaj edged out the prolific Indian off-spinner Ravi Ashwin.
Nathan Lyon [Australia]
Tests: 11. Wickets: 63 at 23.55. 5WI: 5.
A vastly improved off-spinner he showcased his ability to attack or defend in a highly successful Ashes series. As a cult figure, Lyon has proved himself to a once doubting captain who now uses him wisely in a variety of situations. He’s a great fielder, especially off his own bowling.
Jimmy Anderson [England]
Tests: 11. Wickets: 55 at 17.58. 5WI: 4.
Devastating when the ball swings, Anderson was tireless and competitive when Australian conditions were tough. Despite being thirty-five he had one of his best years that culminated in his first five-wicket haul in Australia. He rates just ahead of Josh Hazlewood because there’s no one better when the ball swings.
It’s a balanced team, there are good catchers to complement a strong and varied attack. With allrounder Stokes filling a top-order spot there’s the flexibility to play five bowlers - a balance of three pace and two spin bowlers or four and one - depending on the prevailing conditions.
The only concern is the concentration of players from so few Test playing nations. This highlights one of Test cricket’s biggest failings; too many un-competitive matches and series.