Your World Test XI for 2014

Today’s frivolous diversion on a no sports news day was picking the World Test XI for 2014 on Radio Sport, with a bit of assistance from callers.  Here are the teams chosen.

Sportsfreak:

Warner

McCullum

Amla

Sangakkarra

Chanderpaul

AB de Villiers (wk)

Mathews

Shakib Al Hasan

Johnson

Steyn

Anderson

Note that Herath was originally picked in this XI, but an astute caller pointed out Al Hasan had the better form away from home, and obviously added more with the bat.

Daniel McHardy:

Warner

Cook (seriously; he said that)

Amla

Sangakkarra

Younus

AB de Villiers (wk)

Mathews

Johnson

Saeed Ajmal (never mind the fact he’s ineligible to bowl at the moment)

Steyn

Anderson

The real lesson from this was that the 2014 virtual Dream Team would get absolutely slaughtered buy its 1994 and 2004 counterparts.  Where have the openers, all-rounders, wicketkeeprs and spin bowlers gone again?

Most of the quibbling was around the number 5 spot.  In reality there is probably little to choose between Younus, Chanderpaul, Clarke, Smith, Root, Williamson, Jayawardene, and many others.  It’s the more specialist areas where the holes are.

Also; that is not a young side.