The year 2013 ended on a high note for Australia, recovering the Ashes 4-0 with a 5-0 whitewash in the pipeline in Sydney next week.
The year can be summed up as from zero to hero for skipper Michael Clarke and Australia, losing seven Tests overseas without winning one and then turning it around on home soil sensationally.
However it was from hero to zero for captain Alastair Cook and for England on Australian soil.
The enduring memories for me are:
• the return of Mitchell Johnson to Test-fold with a bang that turned England’s master batsmen to jelly.
• the debut of spinner Ashton Agar. He came from nowhere when he scored 98 as a no. 11 batsman — a Test record — in the first Test at Nottingham in July. But after one more Test he disappeared in oblivion. Will he be a two-Test wonder?
• highly acclaimed farewells to Test legends Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis and
• the least applauded farewell by England’s spinner Graeme Swann who refused to become “the boy who stood on a burning deck”, or rather, on bouncing pitch.
Now to select the Best Test XI of 2013.
I’ll go by statistics, using both aggregates and averages (minimum five Tests, 400 runs or 30 wickets), as also the impact a player had in winning a match.
Who will open the batting? Here are the contenders:
England’s Cook (916 runs at 33.92 in 14 Tests), Australia’s David Warner (909 at 39.52 in 12), Australia’s Chris Rogers (700 at 41.17 in 9) and South Africa’s Graeme Smith 651 at 50.07 in 9).
My choice: Smith and Warner. In 2013 G Smith also scored the highest individual score 234. Warner is also a brilliant fielder and can bowl spin.
No. 3 batsman candidates are England’s Ian Bell (1005 runs at 41.87 in 14 Tests) and India’s Cheteshwar Pujara (829 at 75.36 in 8).
Bell has had a forgettable season down under the last two months whereas Pujara excelled himself in South Africa in two Tests in December with scores of 25, 153, 70 and 32 against the speed trio of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.
So the selection is Pujara.
South Africa’s bearded Hashim Amla will walk in at no. 4 having stroked 633 runs at 57.54 in eight Tests.
His two rivals would be New Zealand’s Ross Taylor (866 at 72.16 in 10) and India’s Virat Kohli (616 at 56.00 in 8). On stats in 2013 Taylor is ahead but Amla is a match-winner.
No argument about the selection of no. 5 bat, Michael Clarke who scored 1093 runs (the most this calendar year) at 47.52 in 13 Tests. Only two batsmen have hit four centuries in 2013, Clarke and South Africa’s AB de Villiers.
de Villiers will be my next batsman and he will keep wickets as well. Apart from his 933 runs at a terrific average of 77.75 he also dismissed 46 batsmen (45 caught, one stumped in nine Tests).
Australia’s Brad Haddin is his only competitor with 647 runs at 38.05 and 52 dismissals (51 caught and one stumped) in 10. Both are temperamentally sound and crisis specialists but AB’s batting average is significantly higher.
Who will be the all-rounder? Neither Shane Watson nor Kallis nor Ravi Ashwin has done enough to be included.
The best we have is England’s Stuart Broad (326 runs at 16.30 and 62 wickets at 25.80 in 14 Tests). His tally of 62 wickets was the highest in 2013.
Not exactly an all-rounder but he will bat no.7 and be the first change bowler.
The new ball will be shared by South Africa’s Dale Steyn (51 scalps at 17.66 in nine Tests) and the moustached Mitchell Johnson with a killer instinct.
He took 34 wickets at 17.52 in only six Tests.
Aussie Ryan Harris (38 wickets at 21.94 in eight Tests) with pinpoint accuracy will be the fourth seamer if the match is to be played in Perth, Brisbane or Durban.
But if it is staged in the subcontinent I’ll go for India’s versatile Ravi Ashwin (41 wickets at 22.51 in seven Tests).
He also scored a century this calendar year. Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has also credentials, 37 victims at 24.72 in seven Tests.
The specialist spinner will be Australia’s off-spinner Nathan Lyon who captured 42 at 34.02 in 11 Tests. England’s Swann also did extremely well outside Australia, with 43 wickets at 34.09 in 10 Tests but give me Lyon anytime.
So here is my XI in batting order:
1.Graeme Smith (SA), 2. David Warner (Aus), 3. Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind), 4. Michael Clarke (Aus), 5. Hashim Amla (SA), 6. AB de Villiers (SA) w.k., 7. Stuart Broad (Eng), 8. Mitchell Johnson (Aus), 9. Ryan Harris (Aus)*, 10. Dale Steyn (SA), 11. Nathan Lyon (Aus).
* If this match is played in the subcontinent, Ashwin will replace Harris.
12th man: Ross Taylor (New Zealand).
Reserves: Fast bowler Jimmy Anderson (Eng), opening bat Alastair Cook (Eng), middle order bat Virat Kohli (Ind) and spinner Saeed Ajmal (Pak).
Who will captain the side, Michael Clarke or Graeme Smith? My choice is Smith under whom his country is ranked no. 1.
I do not expect Roarers to agree with me in the selection. So start the New Year by giving your Test XI of 2013.
Let the debate begin.
Vikramsinh
Guest
Well they are counting aus in india to
Vikramsinh
Guest
TheCunningLinguistic well we are counting a year and not month or so Evean if you count last month or so Philander got adge
Vikramsinh
Guest
Bang on Philander must be in just see 2013
Vikramsinh
Guest
Me 2
Vikramsinh
Guest
Lyon Ha ha ha Ho ho ho Big joke Ha ha ha
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
Compiling my own list, I couldn't escape the conclusion that it was a middle-order year. Only one full-time opening batsman who has played five or more Tests has managed to average over 50 for the year (Graeme Smith). By contrast, five or six middle-order batsmen surpassed that average by the year's end - and funnily enough, Michael Clarke was not among them. I've retained him, however, with consideration to the sheer tally of runs that he has scored, and also for his aggressive and imaginative captaincy. Given the relatively modest talent at his disposal, I really don't think he gets enough credit for the considerable achievements earned under his stewardship. AB de Villiers is my preferred vice-captain. Apart from being a role that I like to give to the 'keeper, I feel that he would be a better lieutenant than the other candidates - who realistically have either to be the Captain or just a player. Dave Warner is not among my first choices for the XI, but he does nail down a reserve spot and he would be an obvious choice to be the 12th Man. Rob's 2013 XI and extended squad: 01. Graeme Smith (South Africa) 02. Cheteshwar Pujara (India) 03. Hashim Amla (South Africa) 04. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) 05. Ross Taylor (New Zealand) 06. Michael Clarke (Australia)(c) 07. AB de Villiers (South Africa)(+)(vc) 08. Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) 09. Stuart Broad (England) 10. Vernon Philander (South Africa) 11. Dale Steyn (South Africa) Reserves: Murali Vijay (India) - First Top Order Batsman Reserve David Warner (Australia) - Second Top Order Batsman Reserve (also the Preferred Match Day Twelfth Man) Younis Khan (Pakistan) - First Middle Order Batsman Reserve Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) - Second Middle Order Batsman Reserve MS Dhoni (India) - Wicket Keeper Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - Spin Bowler Trent Boult (New Zealand) - First Fast Bowler Reserve Ryan Harris (Australia) - Second Fast Bowler Reserve
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
It boggles the mind that you are the first and only person to mention him on this webpage. I just cannot explain his absence from everyone else's Elevens. The heat (or maybe Channel Nine) must be getting to them.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
I'd skip the all-rounder, if you can't take ten wickets with the five best bowlers in the world, then you're in trouble. Having Devilliers in the team allows another bowler anyway. Smith Warner Pujara Amla Clarke Devilliers Johnson Harris Steyn Philander Ajmal Honerable mentions: Broad, Taylor, Kholi, Ashwin, Haddin, Bell
Steve
Guest
1. Smith 2. Warner 3. Amla 4. Kohli 5. Clarke 6. De Villiers 7. Johnson 8. Philander 9. Harris 10. Steyn 11. Lyon 12. Southee
DingoGray
Roar Guru
As 1 who likes a good old debate I've got a few comments / ideas for Best Test XI of the year keeping in mind selection criteria as set out by the author.... Unlucky not to be mentioned at all, ,little own push for selection, Mominul Haque in his 1st year of test Cricket 584 runs at 83.42 with HS 181 & Misbah ul-Haq 675 runs at 56.25 with HS 105* / Younis Khan 685 runs at 52 with highest score 200*. David Warner should not be anywhere near this team. I'd take plethora of players before him. Vijay or Rogers of the openers...otherwise you could just have Amla or Pujara opening the batting. Generally if you are averaging under 40 for the year there's no way you should be picked in a side when there's players averaging mid 40's early 50;s. Same with the wickets. Guys with averages around the 30 mark, shouldn't be included. They've had good years, but BEST? I don't think so. So taking that into consideration...my best Team of 2013 1. Pujara (India) 2. Amla (RSA) 3. Khan (Pak) 4. Clarke (Aus) 5. Taylor (NZ) 6. Kohli (India) 7. De Villiers (RSA) 8. Steyn (RSA) 9. Johnson (Aus) 10. Harris (Aus) 11. Ajmal (Pak) 12th Man- Haque (Bang)
Matt F
Roar Guru
Good record in NZ as well though I'm not sure how much you can read into that
Hossey
Roar Guru
Philander very unlucky to miss out.
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
Dhawan on the back of one decent innings?
ak
Roar Guru
Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Bearfax
Guest
I doubt that you can call someone a giant or great until they are reaching the final years of their career. Clarke was a very good batsman at 30, but is only now truly reaching his potential. I think Amla has a few years yet before we see the very best he has to offer and only after that could we really call him 'great'. If he retired today, we wouldnt be describing him as a 'great'' of the game, just a very good player on the rise with immense potential.
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
Like most others, i differ in two choices..ajmal for lyon, philander or morkel for jimmy.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
I think it's fair to say that Johnson has turned the corner, at least for now. His exploits in the recent One-Day Series leave me fairly comfortable with his selection on slower pitches, as do his results in the Adelaide & Melbourne Tests.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Excellent team, there will always be conjecture when any of these teams are thrown up. Bell had a great northern Ashes and great year overall. He should be pushing for selection.
colvin
Guest
I don't want to question your logic Mits but I would have thought that the ICC would consider all that when they do their rankings.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
Amla is thirty. Wouldn't call him potential for a giant. He is a great player and will be remembered as one of their best. Probably already a giant in South African history.