Robert “Crash” Craddock names his World Test XI of 2016
STEVE Smith and Mitchell Starc make the cut but there are danger signs for Australia. Check out Robert “Crash” Craddock’s World Test XI for 2016.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
STEVE Smith and Mitchell Starc are worthy inclusions in our World Test XI for 2016 but if you are an Australian fan look away now.
Because the men whose yearly returns take the breath away are coming Australia’s way at full force in their own backyard in a couple of months.
Off-spinner Ravi Ashwin was a mesmerising force of nature in all sorts of ways for India in 2016 and captain Virat Kohli seems to grow in stature by the series.
Ashwin was the first man chosen in our team and a drum roll please for …
Azhar Ali (Pakistan): Under-rated fighter whose defiant half century on Sunday yielded his 1000th Test run of a year in which he also scored 302 not out against the West Indies and another century against England at Edgbaston.
Joe Root (England): Outstanding player in all conditions and is getting better by the year. Made a double century against Pakistan but his most courageous deeds have been in India where he has boldly challenged India’s fleet of crafty tweakers to post a century and four 50s in the current series.
Virat Kohli (India): Is this man single-handedly saving Test cricket? Not quite but it feels like it. India stops when he bats. Rarely has a cricketer from any nation had such charisma. He makes big scores quickly. Four Test tons have bankrolled his best year. Australia beware.
Steve Smith (Australia): Three centuries in three different countries spotlighted his adaptability. Would have loved for one of them to be against South Africa recently where his series best was 59 but another top year.
Faf du Plessis (South Africa): Contrary, defiant and inspirational in equal measure, he didn’t score the volume of the others (still averaged 50) but his epic leadership of the Proteas where they trounced Australia despite missing two key players will never be forgotten.
Jonny Bairstow (England): The sneaky star of 2016. He had to be to edge out South Africa’s gifted keeper-batsman Quinton de Kock. A remarkable 1400-plus run breakthrough year including three centuries made him an essential inclusion.
Ravi Ashwin (India): Tough, competitive, creative, fit and tireless … easily our choice for player of the year. As of last night he had 72 wickets for the year (18 more than anyone else) with his magical mixture of spinners. Occasionally bats No 6 for India as well.
Mitchell Starc (Australia): Didn’t play a Test until July but took four wickets or more six times and was outstanding in a whitewashed team in Sri Lanka. Australia would be lost without him.
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Outstanding prospect. Played eight of his 11 Tests this year and his 42 wickets at 22 included some epic moments. When Dale Steyn went down in Perth he said “I’ll handle this’’ and his five second innings wickets sealed the deal.
Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka): It was a great year for bowlers so his 54 wicket year — at 17 a piece if you don’t mind — stood out, especially for a 38-year-old. Most of them came against Australia.
Neil Wagner (New Zealand): Hearty, underrated seamer who took five-wicket hauls against three nations including Australia and South Africa. Gutsy fighter.
Originally published as Robert “Crash” Craddock names his World Test XI of 2016
Kuhnemann undergoes secret action testing, set to learn fate
Matt Kuhnemann has been put through his paces by the International Cricket Council’s biomechanics team in a secret testing session. Full details on what it means for his future inside.
Konstas gets message to tone it down
Eyebrows were raised after a wild Sam Konstas SCG effort on Tuesday, but given a second chance to bat he went a different way, albeit with a similar result.