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Opinion
As a postscript to one of the most riveting Test series in years, if not decades, I thought it would be interesting to travel down memory lane to construct the best XI for India and Australia over the last 50 years, noting all the caveats associated with trying to compare different eras.
Batting
My openers are Mark Taylor and David Boon.
For both sides, I have opted for specialist openers, rather than simply elevating non-openers for the sake of bringing them in. As a left-right combination, this duo would get Australia off to a fine start.
In many ways, both of these players perhaps have not received their due acknowledgment.
Taylor and Boon confronted some fierce opening attacks, including arguably the world’s finest ever pace attack, the West Indies, in the case of Boon, and the likes of Allan Donald, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, more so for Taylor.
While I considered Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden, the quality of the bowling they faced was not quite as deadly. Mark Taylor is also the captain of this XI.
At number three, I plump for Ricky Ponting, in a close call ahead of Ian Chappell. Ponting’s longevity, and the sheer weight of runs (13,378), and his average (51.9) gets him over the line. Both were superb back-foot players, ideal for Australian conditions.
Ian Chappell was the better player of spin, but after a rocky start, Ponting improved considerably in this respect.
Ricky Ponting in 2006. (James Knowler/Getty Images)
For the number four spot, I select Greg Chappell. Oozing class, elbow cocked in classic fashion, playing in the “V” initially, Chappell was a text book dream.
A century in Perth in his very first Test innings earmarked him for great things.
Apart from an inexplicable run of ducks in the early 1980s, Chappell was a model of consistency.
At number five, we move from orthodoxy to complete unorthodoxy, in the form of Steve Smith.
With his fidgety movements, exaggerated leaves, and propensity to wander across the crease, Smith is now second only to Don Bradman in averages for Australia. When in full flight, Smith is a big hundred scorer.
In the highly unlikely event that this batting line-up would collapse, I’ve gone for the redoubtable Allan Border at number six. He was the ultimate for a team looking to bat itself out of trouble.
This is not to decry his ability to set up match-winning performances.
Also, Border demonstrated his ability to work with the tail, never more famously so than in the 1982-1983 Ashes series in a partnership with Jeff Thomson, which almost secured a memorable victory.
Commiserations to Ian Chappell, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh and Kim Hughes (who I thought was an under-rated player).
Wicketkeeping
I have opted for Adam Gilchrist here, not necessarily for the technical purity of his wicket keeping per se, but his rare ability to turn a match in a session with the bat.
Who could forget that onslaught against Monty Panesar at the WACA in the 2006-2007 Ashes series?
Commiserations to Rod Marsh, Ian Healy and Brad Haddin.
Pace bowling
While their reign of terror was not especially long, the sheer impact of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson cannot be overlooked. In many ways, Lillee and Thomson, and the Chappell era more broadly, was the time cricket came into alignment with society in the 1970s.
Brash, bold, aggressive with more than a touch of larrikinism, Lillee and Thomson symbolised a new era of cricket. Lillee was the ultimate professional and competitor, who was certainly not immune to carrying out gamesmanship.
No game was ever lost for him, no matter how hopeless the situation. After losing his sheer early pace due to injury, Lillee added many, many strings to his bow, including the famous leg cutter. Thomson was simply frightening with his electrifying speed, his ability to extract unnerving bounce due to his javelin-like action, and his proclivity for outlandish statements.
Remember when he claimed, however facetiously, that he liked to see batsmen hit?
For my third paceman, I opt for Glenn McGrath. With his metronomic accuracy and ability to do just enough with the ball to keep batsmen guessing, McGrath was a model of consistency. His 563 wickets at 21.6 alone tell the story.
Glenn McGrath. Mandatory Credit: Hamish Blair/ALLSPORT
Commiserations to a desperately unlucky Pat Cummins and to Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Geoff Lawson, Ryan Harris, and Josh Hazlewood.
Spin bowling
For spin bowling, there is no contest.
With 708 wickets at 25.4, Shane Warne ruled the roost in Australian cricket. For extravagant spin, a variety of deadly deliveries, including flippers and zooters, Warne was the master.
His legacy is much more than just a statistical one. His ability to “psyche” out the opposition was legendary.
Who could forget the mental scars he inflicted on the Englishman in the Adelaide Test of 2006-2007, when he paralysed their scoring, ultimately leading to a collapse and their losing an almost unloseable game?
Commiserations: nil.
Batting
For openers, I have selected Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag, for completely contrasting styles. The former was all elegance and technique over a lengthy period of time, the latter a sledgehammer with a ferocious array of strokes and fearless approach to batting.
These two would complement each other beautifully.
At number three, I was weighing up between a rock and a wall. In the end, I went for Rahul Dravid, the wall ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara, the rock. Being more pro-active and having a greater array of shots gave Dravid the edge.
At number four, there is no other contender. Sachin Tendulkar, the game’s highest Test run-scorer of all time, with 15,921 runs at 53.8, dominated for India at home and abroad.
Two centuries in Australia in the 1991-1992 Test series, including on a fast and bouncy track at the WACA, as an 18-year-old says a great deal. Even more telling is the oft-quoted anecdote that Sir Donald Bradman called out to his wife Jessie when Tendulkar was batting, saying that Tendulkar’s batting reminded him of himself.
There can really be no higher praise.
For the number five slot, Virat Kohli is an easy fit. Kohli’s batting is both easy on the eye and pugnacious, with an ability to change gears as required. His fierce determination and assertiveness adds steel to this line-up.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Batting/Wicketkeeping
At number six, I have gone with MS Dhoni.
This might surprise, but in this fictitious line-up, India might need an extra bowler, hence Dhoni at six.
While Dhoni arguably made a name for himself more in the one-day arena, his fine keeping, cool-as-ice demeanor on the field, tactical nous and stroke-filled batting earns him both a spot and the captaincy.
Batting commiserations: VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Gundappa Viswanath.
Wicketkeeping commiserations: Syed Kirmani and Farokh Engineer.
Bowlers
Reflecting India’s traditional strengths in spin bowling, I have opted for three spinners: BS Chandrasekhar, Anil Kumble and Erapalli Prasanna.
With his fizz off the wicket and unusual action, in part because of polio, Chandrasekhar bowled almost as quickly as a medium-pacer, and had an array of deliveries.
Erapalli Prasanna, although arguably a bit past his prime during the period covered here, was nonetheless rated by Ian Chappell as the best off-spinner he faced.
Anil Kumble also rates a spot for his consistency, ability to pose challenges on all types of wickets, and for his solid batting.
In the pace department, I find room for two.
Kapil Dev is an automatic choice with his fierce competitiveness, subtle swing and seam, and reasonable pace. Add to this, his explosive batting at number seven and you have a complete cricketer.
The other pace slot goes to Javagal Srinath, who was a model of consistency over a lengthy period of time.
It is only recently that India’s pace stocks have begun to blossom, and while it’s tempting to include Jasprit Bumrah, it is perhaps still a bit too soon.
Bowling commiserations: BS Bedi, Dilip Doshi, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah.
Should this fantasy match-up go ahead, I would lean to Australia, particularly if it’s played in Australia, as the bowling looks more well-rounded and threatening.
On a turning dustbowl in India, the home side may well secure the result.
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