Current best Test XI made up of one cricketer from each country
The purest form of the sport of Cricket, Test matches have been the fan favourites for years now. There are many players who have a burst of good performances and then, unfortunately, fade away. But there are a handful of those players, who power through days of training and then wake up every morning to stay on the field for as many as 100 overs in a single day. And, it is these players who are called the greats of the sport. So, here we will have a look at an XI with the best active players from every Test-playing nation in the world at the moment.
1. Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
Filling up the first opener’s spot in this team is the Sri Lankan batsman Dimuth Karunaratne. Currently ranked as the 14th best batsman in Test cricket, the 32-year-old, in the 66 Test matches that he has played in, has scored 4524 runs, at an average of 36.78, which includes his 9 centuries and 24 half-centuries.
2. Tom Latham (New Zealand)
Karunatane’s opening partner in this team would be the New Zealander Tom Latham. Since his Test cricket debut in 2014, Latham has grown to be a vital cog in the Kiwi Test team. He is placed at the 12th spot in ICC Men’s Test Batsmen rankings. He has represented New Zealand in 52 Test matches, where he has managed to score 3726 runs to his name.
3. Steve Smith (Australia)
Coming in at number three in this team is Steve Smith, a leg spinner turned batsman who is currently ranked as the top Test batsman in the world. Having represented Australia in as many as 73 Test matches, he has ample amount of experience behind his back and runs too. He has scored 7227 runs, including 26 centuries, 3 double-centuries and 29 half-centuries.
4. Virat Kohli (India)
Probably one of the most decorated and skilled players in this list alongside Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, the current team India captain is placed at the second spot in the rankings, and never leaves a chance to surpass Smith to reach the top. Over the years, Virat Kohli has matured as a batsman and this reflects in his numbers too. He has played 86 Test matches, where he has scored 7240 runs, at an average of 53.63.
5. Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Taking the 5th place in this XI is the Pakistani ace batsman Babar Azam. A talent that has been developed carefully by Pakistan Cricket administration right since the beginning. Azam has played for Pakistan in 29 Test matches and has built a reputation for himself, scoring 2045 runs, which includes 5 centuries and 15 half-centuries. Azam currently holds the 5th position in ICC Men’s Test Batsmen Rankings.
6. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
Mushfiqur Rahim will fill up the 6th position in this XI. The 33-year-old wicket-keeper batsman from Bangladesh has made 70 international Test match appearances for his national sid. He has accumulated a total of 4413 runs, and his wicket-keeping skills are one of the best in his national team. He has, over the years, kept the wickets and batted in situations that were very difficult and he has risen against the odds to become the player he is.
7. Ben Stokes (England)
An all-round powerhouse from England, Ben Stokes comes in at number 7 in this XI, providing his pace bowling and batting abilities to the team. He has played for England in 67 Test matches and has scored 4428 runs and while picking 158 wickets. This has made him rise as a world-class player, and this is shown in his ICC Test All-rounder rank, which at the moment is number 2.
8. Jason Holder (West Indies)
The top-ranked all-rounder in the world at the moment in Test cricket, and the captain of West Indies Test team, Jason Holder fills in the second all-rounder spot in this team. Holder made his debut in 2014, and after having an on and off start he has made several improvements to his style of play and has grown immensely as a player. He has played 43 Test matches and has 2012 runs and 116 wickets to his name in total.
9. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
The pace bowling sensation from South Africa comes in at number 9 into this team. The 25-year-old bowler has played in 43 Test matches and his exploits as a pacer have brought him to the 6th spot in the ICC Men’s Test Bowlers’ Rankings. He has 197 wickets to his name and has scored 606 runs too.
10. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
After making his debut for Afghanistan, when he barely crossed the age barrier to hold a drivers’ license, Rashid Khan has come to be one the best spin bowlers in international cricket at the moment. Owing to the fact that Afghanistan got their Test match permits in 2018, he has played in just 4 matches. But, even in those, he has impressed everyone, taking as many as 23 wickets, including 3, 5 wicket-hauls and one 10 wicket-match-haul.
11. Tim Murtagh (Ireland)
Tim Murtagh comes in at the 11th position in this XI. The pacer has lent his services to the Irish national team for many years now and has come to be one of the most important players of the Ireland team’s setup. The Irish team too made their Test match debut not long ago, so he just has 3 matches’ worth experience behind him. And, in those three matches, he has 13 wickets to his name and 109 runs too, which includes his highest score of 54 runs.
