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How's this for a Test cricket World Cup idea? (Part 2)

Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson are a record-breaking pair. But that's Joe Root on the left. You know what Jimmy Anderson looks like though, right? (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Expert
10th February, 2016
5

In Part 1, I fantasised about organising a Test World Cup to be played between continents – Australia-New Zealand, Europe, Africa, Asia and America – based on their players’ performances in 2025 Tests.

I selected the combined team for Australia-New Zealand based on the criteria in Part 1.

Using similar criteria, I will select teams for Europe, Africa, Asia and America in this instalment.

More cricket:
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» Aussie rookies face litmus Tests in New Zealand
» Have the Australian selectors at last got it right for the T20 World Cup?
» Nevill the shock inclusion as Australia announce World T20 squad
» The Liebke Ratings: New Zealand vs Australia third ODI
» Watch: New Zealand retain Chappell-Hadlee Trophy amid controversy
» Scorecard: New Zealand vs Australia third ODI

Europe XII will be made up of UK cricketers, in batting order: Alastair Cook (captain), Ian Bell, Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Steven Finch. 12th man: James Taylor.

What a contrast! Finn (6’7”) and Taylor (5’6”) represent the long and short of English cricket.

Now let’s select the Africa XII from South Africa and Zimbabwe. As Zimbabwe did not play a Test in 2015, only South Africans are considered for selection.

In batting order: Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (captain and wicketkeeper), Faf du Plessis, Jean-Paul Duminy, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir and Dane Pledt. 12th man: Temba Bavuma.

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The America XII will be made up of West Indies cricketers.

The Windies dominated Test cricket from 1960s to ’80s and won the first two ODI World Cups, in 1975 and 1979. While they have lost most of their glam and fame in the new millennium, what would you expect when Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy and Lendl Simmons prefer to play T20 than for their country?

American XII: Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Jermaine Blackwood, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin (captain and wicketkeeper), Jason Holder, Jerome Taylor, Sharon Gabriel and Devendra Bishoo. 12th man: Kemar Roach.

Finally to the Asia XII, from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Dimuth Karunaratne (SL), Tamin Iqbal (B), Younis Khan (Pak), Virat Kohli (Ind), Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak, captain) Angelo Mathews (SL), Sarfraz Ahmed (Pak, wicketkeeper), Ravi Ashwin (Ind), Wahab Riaz (Pak), Dhamika Prasad (SL), Ranjana Herath(SL). 12th man: Mohammad Hafeez (Pak).

Pakistanis dominate the Asia XII with five players. Sri Lanka comes next with four, India two and Bangladesh one.

I fancy Asia and Australia-New Zealand to meet in the final. Who will win? Whoever gets to play at home.

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At the time of writing, the idea of a Continent World Cup appears fanciful. But so did colour clothing and white balls in 1977. So did T20 matches and DRS a few decades ago.

Fanciful or futuristic, the team selection should create debates among the Roarers. I have my helmet on and am awaiting bouncers and beamers!

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