Best Test XI of right-handed players
Most of the cricketers in the world are right-handed. While the left-handed players are more attractive to look at, the right-handed batsmen have ruled the roost since the inception of the sport.
England-born Australian batsman, Charles Bannerman, who scored the first century in Test cricket, was also right-handed. Sir Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar were also right-handed batsmen.
Even right-handed bowlers like Michael Holding, Imran Khan, Glen McGrath, and many more ruled the sport during their eras. Keeping the dominance of right-handers in Test cricket in mind, here is the current World Test XI comprised of the best right-handed players:
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit is a white-ball genius, but slowly and surely has grasped the longest format, ever since he was asked to open the innings. So far, Rohit has played 39 Tests for Team India, scoring 2,649 runs at an average of 46.47.
The 34-year-old has also slammed 7 centuries and 1 double ton in the longest format of the game. He is currently ranked sixth in the ICC test rankings for batsmen and he has scored the most runs by an opener in the World Test Championship.
2. Kane Williamson (C)
Currently the no. 2 Test batsman in the world, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson is an absolute genius when it comes to Test cricket. Ever since he made his Test debut in 2010 against India, Williamson has been ruling the batting charts.
In 83 Tests, Williamson averages over 53 and has scored 7,143 runs with the help of 24 centuries and 4 double tons. The 30-year-old can also bat anywhere in the middle-order, but, we’ve decided to put him at the top for this hypothetical playing XI.
3. Joe Root
England’s Test skipper Joe Root is the only batsman from the ‘fab four’ to play over 100 games in the purest format. He also has the most number of runs among his peers, having notched up 8,714 runs since making his debut in 2012.
The 30-year-old averages over 48 and has 20 centuries and 5 double tons to his name. He is currently fifth in the ICC Test batsman rankings.
4. Virat Kohli (vc)
There cannot a World XI without Virat Kohli in it. Though often criticized for his captaincy, Virat Kohli is arguably the best batsman in the world, averaging over 50 across all three formats of the game.
So far, the 32-year-old has featured in 92 Tests for Team India, amassing 7,534 runs with the help of 27 centuries and 7 double tons. Currently the no. 4 ranked batsman in Test cricket, the Indian skipper is also the vice-captain of this presumed XI.
5. Steve Smith
As many of us know, Steve Smith played at the number five position for a long time before Michael Clarke and Shane Watson’s retirement. Currently a part of the modern-day ‘Fab-Four’, Smith has the best average in Tests among his contemporaries.
In 77 Tests, Smith has amassed 7,540 runs at an average of 61.8 in the ‘Baggy Green’. So far, he has slammed 27 centuries and 3 double tons in the purest format of the game. Smith is also leading the ICC batsmen charts.
6. Tim Paine (wk)
From almost turning his back on professional cricket in 2017, to leading Australia following the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, Tim Paine has had many ups and downs in his career.
In 35 Tests, Paine has scored 1,534 runs at a decent average of 32.63. Though he is yet to score a Test ton, Paine has bailed out Australia on many occasions with his handy batting. Considering the experience he has, Paine will keep the gloves for this hypothetical XI.
7. Jason Holder
The lanky all-rounder is currently leading the West Indies team in the longest format. Though the Windies aren’t a force to reckon anymore, Holder’s exploits with both bat and ball have pretty much kept them in the thick of things.
So far, Holder has played 49 Tests for the Windies, scalping 129 wickets with the help of 8 fifers and one 10-wicket haul. He has also amassed more than 2,200 runs, including 3 centuries and 1 double ton.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin will be the only spinner in this supposed team. A proven wicket-taker, Ashwin has the ability to trouble any batting line-up in the world. However, his batting abilities shouldn’t be doubted as well.
Apart from his tally of 409 Test wickets, which includes 30 fifers and 7 10-wicket hauls, Ashwin has also amassed 2,656 runs in 78 Tests at an average of 27.95. He also has 5 centuries and 11 fifties in the longest format of the game.
9. Pat Cummins
After making his debut as an 18-year-old, Pat Cummins’ Test career was halted by repeated stress fractures. However, he returned to action in 2017, and the rest is history. He is currently the no. 1 ranked bowler in the world.
In 34 Tests, the 28-year-old has bagged 164 wickets at an economy rate of 2.74, including 5 fifers and a 10-wicket haul. In fact, no one has taken more international wickets than Pat Cummins since 2017 (243). He can be a pretty handy batsman as well, having scored two half-centuries so far.
10. Tim Southee
Tim Southee has been a match-winner for New Zealand in the longest format. He led g the pace-attack of the Kiwis in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) Final against India.
So far in his Test career, Southee has played 78 matches, scalping 309 wickets at an economy rate of 2.97. He also has 12 fifers and one 10-wicket haul to his name. The 32-year-old can be pretty useful with the bat, down the order, as well.
11. Mohammed Shami
Shami has been a regular member of Team India’s Test team since making his debut in 2013. A proven wicket-taker, Shami has the tendency to provide important breakthroughs. He has been Virat Kohli’s go-to-bowler in Test cricket. In 50 Tests, Shami has picked up 180 wickets with the help of five 5-wicket hauls.
