The world test XI . Review on Cricket World XI

Hi guys. Most of you might know that the super series is coming in cotober and an ICC commitee headed by Sunil Gavaskar is preparing a world XI to take on world champions Australia in 2 tests and 3 odis. I thought of preparing my world XI. The list is in order of appearence in batting.

Note:I have designed a 6-5 team.

1- Virender Sehwag:The Nawab of Najafgarh scored a double as I write today. He is the most destructive opener in the world if you leave out the Aussies. An average of around 54 makes him indispensable in the team. Australia will find him a tough customer.

2- Andrew Strauss: This English cricketer has played some brilliant knocks in South Africa and defienetly deserves to open with Sehwag.

3- Rahul Dravid:The best number 3 in the world today, Rahul 'the wall' Dravid will literally frustrate the Aussie bowlers. He is a tough customer and the great wall can't be broken by any country. An asset to India, he will be the key player for the world XI.

4- Jacques Kallis:The south-african all-rounder is at number 2 in the test rankings and is a brilliant player. Normally bats at number 3 for South Africa, but I think he must be content with number 4 for making way for the wall.

5- Brian Lara:He is a legend of our times. The world XI can't do without him, and well, Rahul is the best number 3. So I think that Lara may have to bat at number

1. (Let's say that the number 4 slot is up for grabs between Lara and Kallis.)

6- Kumar Sangakarra:This wicket-keeper batsman is an excellent stroke maker, though I think he has to be content with number 6. If the world XI requires some quick runs, he is the best person to get it.

7- Shaun Pollock:The south-african all rounder may not be very effective as far as wicket-taking ability is concerned, but his tight line and length will definetly frustrate the batsman and he can bowl quite effectively with Irfan Pathan.

8- Irfan Pathan:The present Sultan of Swing has impressed one and all in his short span. The seamer-friendly tracks of Australia will definetly suit his style of bowling, and you can expect him to get some good movement.

9- Shoaib Akhtar:The Rawalpindi Express can be the biggest difference in seamer-friendly australian conditions making his presence indispensable. Messrs. Ponting and Co. will have to face his fiery deliveries if they are to get anything.(Let's hope he isn't injured)

10- Anil Kumble:Anil Kumble is one person who will not get much turn even in extremely treacherous wickets but still pick up ten wickets. Such is his line and length. The sheer experience and hardwork in his bowling will definetly produce results in Australia.

11- Muttiah Muralitharan:The best off-spinner and maybe the best spinner in the world, Murali can prove the Aussies' nemesis even in their backyard with old Mr. Warne. Murali is one person who can turn the ball even if there is a cement track, so there is no question of the pitch coming in to play.

Others who made it close to the playing eleven are:Sachin Tendulkar(was very hard to drop him), Steve Harmisson, Inzamam Ul Haq, Andrew Flintoff, Michael Vaughan,Herschelle Gibbs, VVS Laxman.

I have tried to pick up my best. Do tell me if you like it.