A few months ago, I made a retired Test XI of the 21st century. Similarly to when choosing the retired Test XI of the 21st century, I can only select one player from each Test-playing nation in this XI. When selecting the XI, I chose both retired and current players.
1. Ed Joyce (Ireland)
FC stats – 18461 runs, 47.95 average, 47 hundreds
Test stats – 47 runs, 23.5 average, zero hundreds
An Irish legend, Joyce’s first-class career shows how hungry he was to score runs in County Cricket and for Ireland. Making his Test debut at the age of 39, Joyce played one solitary Test match for Ireland against Pakistan before calling it quits from professional cricket. Now the head coach of Ireland’s women’s team, Ed Joyce can continue to mentor Ireland’s next generation of superstars.
2. Sir Alastair Cook (England)
FC stats – 24230 runs, 47.79 average, 67 hundreds
Test stats – 12472 runs, 45.35 average, 33 hundreds
Despite nicking off to the slip cordon countless times, Alastair Cook cut and clipped his way to over 12,000 Test runs. An English legend, players like Cook are hardly seen in Test cricket nowadays. Defending bowlers into boredom, Cook could bat for hours on end and fail to play a false stroke to bring his innings to an end.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
FC stats – 20911 runs, 52.4 average, 64 hundreds
Test stats – 12400 runs, 57.4 average, 38 hundreds
Sangakkara retiring at the age of 37 was one of the worst things to happen in Sri Lankan cricket. While many players declined at the latter stages of their career, the left-hander from Sri Lanka got better as his Test career went on. With an iconic cover-drive that oozed class, Sangakkara would have to wait until the age of 36 to score a Test hundred at Lord’s and get his name on the Lord’s Honours board for the first time in Test cricket.
The way Sangakkara batted in County Cricket after his international retirement, he could’ve easily played international cricket for Sri Lanka until 2017.
4. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
FC stats – 25396 runs, 57.84 average, 81 hundreds
Test stats – 15921 runs, 53.78 average, 51 hundreds
Where do I even start with India’s greatest ever Test batsman? Facing Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan on debut at the age of 16, the “Little Master” carried the weight of expectations a billion Indians had placed on him for 24 years; scoring runs in all conditions. Only Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli came close to selecting an Indian batsman in this line-up, but there’s no way Tendulkar stays out of this XI.
5. Younis Khan (Pakistan)
FC stats – 17116 runs, 49.9 average, 56 hundreds
Test stats – 10099 runs, 52.05 average, 34 hundreds
Just like Sangakkara, Younis Khan aged like a fine wine. Scoring a Test hundred in every country he’s played in, Khan’s record exemplifies how good he was for Pakistan. With an unusual stance and a rock-solid defence, Khan was one of the most reliable batsmen Pakistan had in Test cricket – and he’s got plenty of hundreds in the fourth innings of a Test.
6. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
FC stats – 5777 runs, 37.27 average, eight hundreds, 310 wickets, 30.03 average, 2.91 economy
Test stats – 3862 runs, 39.4 average, five hundreds, 210 wickets, 31.12 average, 3.01 economy
When it comes to choosing the Bangladesh cricketer in this XI, Shakib was a shoo-in. The greatest cricketer to come out of Bangladesh, his numbers speak for themselves. TO be the number one all-rounder on the ICC rankings in all formats while playing for a developing cricketing nation shows how good he is. With five-wicket hauls in South Africa and England, while scoring a majestic 217 in Wellington, it’ll be a shame if he never plays a Test on Australian soil in his career.
7. Andy Flower (Zimbabwe) (Wicketkeeper)
FC stats – 16379 runs, 54.05 average, 49 hundreds, 361 catches, 21 stumpings
Test stats – 4794 runs, 51.54 average, 12 hundreds, 151 catches, nine stumpings
Andy Flower’s numbers with the bat are so good, he’d have averaged 65 for Zimbabwe had he played as a specialist batsman. With opposition bowlers struggling to dismiss Flower many times during his Test career, they’d often focus on dismissing the rest of the Zimbabwe line-up and leaving Flower stranded. Retiring from international cricket in 2003 following a death to democracy protest alongside Henry Olanga, Flower played the rest of his professional cricket career in England.
8. Jason Holder (West Indies) (Captain)
FC stats – 2727 runs, 25.97 average, three hundreds, 196 wickets, 24.88 average, 2.64 economy
Test stats – 2012 runs, 31.93 average, three hundreds, 116 wickets, 26.69 average, 2.57 economy
Holder will go down as a West Indian legend. What he has done after being thrust with the West Indies captaincy in 2015 has been extraordinary. Leading from the front, Holder has been a wicket-taker, and when not dismissing batsmen, he’ll be holding up an end with his immense accuracy. Oh, and he can bat well too. Turning 29 in a few weeks, I still believe Holder will take over 300 wickets in Test cricket if he has no long-term injuries.
9. Shane Warne (Australia)
FC stats – 1319 wickets, 26.11 average, 2.76 economy
Test stats – 708 wickets, 25.41 average, 2.65 economy
The greatest leg-spinner to grace the game of cricket, not even the most biased New South Wales fan would disregard Shane Warne’s efforts with the ball.
Shane Warne. (Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
10. Dale Steyn (South Africa)
FC stats – 618 wickets, 23.57 average, 3.21 economy
Test stats – 439 wickets, 22.95 average, 3.24 economy
The greatest fast-bowler of his generation, Steyn’s reputation helped him win many mental battles against opposition batsmen. His 7/51 versus India at Nagpur in 2010 made me ensure never to doubt his abilities on any surface. While it is a massive shame injuries ended his Test career, one can hope the old Steyn can fire for the Proteas in white-ball games.
11. Neil Wagner (New Zealand)
FC stats – 722 wickets, 26.68 average, 3.21 economy
Test stats – 206 wickets, 26.6 average, 3.06 economy
A mean, aggressive fast-bowler, New Zealand have been blessed to have a bowler like Neil Wagner. Although he doesn’t bowl express pace, Wagner’s bouncers are always accurate and forced the best of batsmen playing his bouncers in awkward positions. A man who gives his 100 per cent every time he steps out onto the field, Wagner will want to end his career with over 300 Test scalps.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Anyway enough of this silly nonsense. This whole saga started because of your silly idea that Kallis is one of the best 6 batsmen of the 21st century so far and he quite simply is not. Not a big deal. He was a very good batsman, a genuinely good bowler, and one of the greatest allrounders for sure. So let’s just leave it at that reality. Cheers.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
No I’m not. I’m merely proving that Kallis’s prolific run scoring in tests was also stodgy. He couldn’t break out of such stodginess in one day cricket. He was not a stroke player and his test strike rate of low 40s was decades out of date. Kallis would have been better trading off 10 runs from his average in favour of an extra 10 on his strike rate – in both forms of the game.
Brian
Guest
Taylor Joyce Williamson Lara Kohli Sangakarra Shakib Warne Steyn Asif Anderson The bowling attack a bit loose on morals but its good quality
Nick
Roar Guru
Kindly point out where I said that ODIs are used to build a test team, otherwise give up yourself for goodness sake. You tell me...you're the one recounting anecdotes of ODI matches to justify why someone should/shouldn't be in a test team.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
And obviously Kallis did next to nothing in that 3 test series that preceded that WSC that Aussie summer, or indeed on the immediate follow up test tour to saffie land immediately after … This was after all supposed to be a showdown for the crown in test cricket, but the embarrassing gap between the Number 1 and 2 sides that summer was highlighted by South Africa’s best batsman simply not being up for the challenge. I never said he was a rubbish test batsman, just not a truly great one. He rates as the sort of player that if he is your 5th or 6th best batsman then you have an extremely powerful line-up. However, if he is your best batsman, then you have a rather ordinary line-up.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
The other enduring image I have of Kallis as a one-day batsman was in late January 2002. It was the last WSC match before the finals series, and after a dirty unethical trick by the kiwis in the 2nd last match against you saffies designed to keep Australia out of the finals, it left the last match in one of those situations, where South Africa batting second didn’t have to overhaul our 270 odd, but had to get to around 230ish to go into the finals ahead of us based on overall run rate across the tournament, a really dumb way to deal with tie-breakers by anyone’s reckoning. Anyway, Kallis made a rare century against us for the McGrath-Warne era, and it was a typical stodgy innings by him, batting most of the innings for about 110. It got them past the 230 odd, but only just, and nowhere near the victory figure. Genuine stroke players of the class of say Lara, Tendulkar, Ponting, Clarke, Smith, Kohli and dare I say Hussey would have at all times been chasing the higher figure, i.e. the one to actually win the match. But, I guess Kallis had his limitations and this no doubt represented his crowning glory against those great Australian sides in them days. Still, it was pretty comical him raising his bat in triumph as he walked off the ground at match end acting as if he had blazed his team to one of the all-time great victories when they had actually been defeated by about 30 runs, quite a convincing margin in limited overs cricket in any era.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
And Kallis was not one of the best 6 test batsmen this century, end of story. In fact, I could think of at least 3 playing currently who are better, just off the top of my head, and a 4th who is at least just as good.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Kindly point out where I said that ODIs are used to build a test team, otherwise give up yourself for goodness sake. Obviously those who played prior to 1970 won’t be judged on one day cricket as well as test cricket but those who played post world series cricket will be. And Kallis’s stodgy batting made him considerably less than great in one day cricket. In fact, while I would actually have Kallis in an all time saffie test XI, Clive Rice would take his place in an all-time saffie one day XI, and that really is saying something.
Nick
Roar Guru
What nonsense. Some of the greatest players to ever play the game didn't get the chance at ODI's. Don Bradman, Sobers, Gavaskar, Ian Chappell, Benaud....endless lists. It's precisely why the two forms are always separated when making test XI's. It's why Bevan is still talked about in ODI conversations despite an average test record. You are clutching at straws and trying to change the goal posts to suit your argument. At least have the integrity to admit that. Give up. We are talking test XI's. Only chimpanzees, or Andrew Hilditch would use ODI records to build a test team. I'm really done arguing the toss with someone who cheats in their arguments.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
The greatest players succeed in both test and one day cricket. T20 is glorified continuous cricket.
Nick
Roar Guru
Come 107 tests, I guarantee he'll be compared to Ponting.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yes - you were watching a one day match. I'd freely concede Kallis is nowhere near a conversation in a one day all time XI. But then considering this entire conversation and article has focused on Test cricket, I thought we'd both be intelligent enough to focus on test match performances only. Because as we well know, players can clearly be stronger at one mode and not the other. By your absurd chopping and changing of the parameters to suit your fading argument, I could say that Chris Gayle should be in an all time test XI cause of his T20 powers. Good lord....
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
But I thought Kallis was one of the greatest batsman and he has his bowling … It’s not as if Steyn, genuinely great bowler that he was, has a batting string to his bow …
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I always remember the world cup match 2007 ... Hayden scored the fastest ODI ton for Australia both Clarke and Ponting made blazing 90s and they totalled 377. Skipper Smith and a rookie named ab de Villiers were going along great guns to take the saffies to 1 for 220 off 30 overs and they should have won from there. Fortunately Australia broke the partnership and got Kallis in to slow the scoring and disrupt the chasing side's momentum. At the post match press conference a jubilant Ricky Ponting said of Kallis's contribution "He's a great cricketer but the tempo of his innings was not what his team needed." Were we watching a different match perhaps?
Nick
Roar Guru
??? Sehwag is an opener for a start, so you trying to compare him to Kallis is ridiculous. Kallis isn't in my team because you have to pick one, and clearly Steyn is the pick out of the south africans for balance reason. You were the one who implied that Kallis didn't belong in a conversation of the greats and then embarrassed yourself thoroughly by suggesting Hussey was better. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I notice u put Sehwag in your team but have left out Kallis ...
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
What are u talking about Clarke made runs in England India Sri Lanka, New Zealand and south africa so yeah u r obviously watching a different Clarke and only 7 of the 18 players I listed were Aussies. The best batsmen are those that make big scores quickly and Kallis only made big scores. Those that get big scores quickly are the ones captains want in their team and the ones opposition skippers don’t want in their opponent’s ranks. They are also the ones paying spectators most like to watch.
Nick
Roar Guru
"OK forget Hussey"...well, at least that's something. Test cricket isn't about strike rates. Using your twisted logic, if it was about strike rates then Sehwag, Hayden and Gilchrists are the three greatest cricketers to walk the earth. I was telling to start with Karachi...not start and finish with one test like you Hussey people always do. 2007 for the Karachi test. You can also look at the 5 centuries in five tests in the early part of the first decade this century, or his single handed rescue against the West Indies in 1999...you know, a dossier of innings, not just one. You are watching a different Clarke to the rest of us. He wasn't a stroke player. He was as turgid as Kallis, but did score faster. He put the stroke playing away when he was recalled. Don't use those early centuries as examples. He didn't play like that after 2006. Dominating attacks in test cricket with fast strike rates has never been the yardstick for quality players. Which is why we still talk highly of people like Boycott, Border, Gavaskar... Clarke ranks only behind Warner in terms of the biggest disparity between home and away performances (with Hussey just behind in 3rd). I'm sorry, but I will never rank anyone who cannot perform consistently away from home in the same category as someone who can. Clarke, Hussey, Warner are never making any best of team of mine. Kallis, Lara, Sangakkara, Tendulkar, Ponting, Dravid will always rate higher than these faster scoring home town heroes. Players who have crafted a formidable record at home and away over a decade plus. And that's not just me who says that - that's the wider cricketing fraternity opinion as well. The fact I'm having to direct you to Kallis performances instead of you knowing this, AND you keep citing Australian players indicates you don't follow much beyond Australian shores.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Ok forget Hussey. Look at the other 14 names plus gilly and add Hayden Sehwag GSmith. And tell me about the Karachi test starting with the year. You don’t want to run the risk of just looking at one innings though … Clarke was a match winning stroke player btw and his test strike rate was at least 10 runs higher than Kallis’s. It makes no difference to me whether you ‘engage’ or not and that is certainly not my aim at any time.
Nick
Roar Guru
Hahaha. Everyone looks at that one innings Hussey did (admittedly a good one) and then ignores the rest of his career, and then says "averages aren't everything" to try and cover the fact that you can only provide one example. I refuse to engage further. You've not taken the time to seriously look at Kallis' career. No one with half a cricket brain could possibly suggest with a straight face Hussey was a better cricketer. No one. Kallis is rightly considered one of the greatest cricketers and greatest batsman of this century. Wisden, cricinfo etc rate him higher than Hussey. In fact, I can't think of a single list where Hussey is rated higher. Me thinks your comment smacks of typical Australian jingoism. Do your research and proper analysis and then I'll engage. You are starting to embarrass yourself. Perhaps look at his test match in Karachi to start.