Australian batsman Brad Haddin (right) celebrates score 100 runs with Mike Hussey on the third day of the first Ashes test against England at the Gabba cricket ground, Brisbane, Nov. 27, 2010.(AAP Image/Steve Holland)
Having selected a World Test 2010 XI myself, I was interested to read Peter Roebuck’s World Test 2010 XI published in the Sydney Morning Herald [24 December]. There were interesting similarities and differences between these two World Test 2010 XIs selected three weeks and three Tests apart.
Obviously, my favourite cricket writer Peter has used additional statistics from the three vital Tests in Adelaide, Perth and Centurion.
The Roar XI: Virender Sehwag, Alastair Cook, Hashim Amla, Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni (wk), Graem Swann, Zaheer Khan, Dale Steyn and Jimmy Anderson.
The SMH XI: Sehwag, Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara, Tendulkar, Kallis, AB de Villiers, Brad Haddin (WK), Swann, Zaheer, Steyn and Anderson. 12th man: Shakib Al Hasan.
Thus the common selections are: Sehwag, Tendulkar, Kallis, Swann, Zaheer, Steyn and Anderson. Batsmen and wicket-keeper vary but the four bowlers and the all-rounder (Kallis) are the same.
At least an Aussie gets in Roebuck’s XI – wicket-keeper Haddin. But does he deserve the inclusion ahead of Dhoni, Prior and Boucher? I think not. Is it is a tokenism to have at least one Australian in the team?
Besides Dhoni is a dynamic captain. Look at India’s performances at Test level ever since he has taken over the leadership. Roebuck has not appointed a captain of his equally strong team. It has to be Graeme Smith.
I have nothing against Haddin, a gritty batsman, an acrobatic wicket-keeper, and a lovely man.
Just have a look at his today’s blog as published in the current SCG Newsletter. He writes: “The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne is one of the great moments of an Australian cricketer’s career and with over 90,000 fans expected on day one and a series well and truly on the line, this is going to be huge.
“This will be the third Boxing Day I will have played and by far the biggest and most important. Soaking up the scream of the fans as the game gets underway or standing in front of the masses for the national anthem are memories never to be forgotten or taken for granted.”
Roarers, what do you think of Roebuck’s inclusion of Bangladeshi Shakib Al Hasan as 12th man? I would have included South Africa’s Hashim Amla as my 12th man. He is a marvellous fielder to back up his stylish and consistent batting this year.
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