Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, right, and V.V.S Laxman return for the tea interval on the final day of the first cricket test match between India and Australia, in Bangalore, India, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008. AP Photo/Gautam Singh
It’s been an obsession of amateur selectors to pick World XIs: an all-time great Earth XI to take on Mars; a pre-World War II Eleven Vs a Post WW II Eleven; Right-handers Vs Left-handers; Living Vs Dead.
Here’s a new idea: wow about a World XI from the northern hemisphere taking on a World XI from the southern hemisphere?
This was inspired by the fact that the last four World Cup finals have been contested between countries from southern and northern hemispheres – Australia beating Sri Lanka in the 2007 final, India in the 2003 final, and Pakistan in the 1999 final, while Sri Lanka defeated Australia in the 1996 final.
So why not select the best World XI from the northern hemisphere and pit them against the best World XI from the southern hemisphere? And to make it topical, the cricketers should have played at least one Test match in or after 2000.
Optimally, each team should have a pair of opening batsmen, four specialist batsmen, an all-rounder who can bowl first change, a wicket-keeper batsman, two fast to fast-medium bowlers and a spinner.
So here is my Northern Hemisphere Test XI of the new millennium (in batting order): Michael Atherton (capt.), Sanath Jayasuriya, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Mohammad Yousuf, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose and Muttiah Muralitharan.
12th man: Rahul Dravid. Reserves: Chaminda Vaas, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
It was hard to leave out India’s Dravid, Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Kumble from the XI, as they have been high achievers in this decade.
But then who to leave out?
Perhaps Sangakkara could open the batting in place of Atherton and Dravid can bat at no.7.
Ambrose and Akram will open the attack, with all-rounder Flintoff at first change. Muralitharan will bamboozle batsmen with his off-spin and ‘doosras’ and receive support from part-timer Jayasuriya.
Southern Hemisphere Test XI of the new millennium (in batting order): Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Jacques Kallis, Steve Waugh (capt.), Adam Gilchrist (wk), Chris Cairns, Shane Warne, Allan Donald and Glenn McGrath.
12th man: Brett Lee. Reserves: Andy Flower, Shane Bond, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Jean-Paul Duminy, Mitchell Johnson and Daniel Vettori.
Donald and McGrath will take the new ball with all-rounders Cairns or Kallis at first change. Warne will be the master spinner with assistance from Mark Waugh.
Only a fool can predict a winner.
Most batting records in Tests are held by North’s Tendulkar and Lara, but the bowling is well-matched as the hemispheres clash. But any team with eight Aussies (including Warney, Ricky and Gilly) would be hard to beat.
More than the result of this imaginary super Test, the selection of the teams should arouse never-ending debates among Roarers.
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