Your current Test World XI - 2014

[Surkin]

Warner (AUS)
Amla (SA)
Sangakkara (SL)
Taylor (NZ)
De Villiers (SA) +
Chanderpaul (WI)
Johnson (AUS)
Broad (Eng)
Philander (SA)
Steyn (SA)
Ajmal (PAK)

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Warner (AUS)
Amla (SA)
Sangakkara (SL)
Taylor (NZ)
De Villiers (SA) +
Chanderpaul (WI)
Johnson (AUS)
Broad (Eng)
Philander (SA)
Steyn (SA)
Ajmal (PAK)

Johnson at 7 when he doesn't even bat there for his country? Nah.

 

[The_Reaper]

1. Hashim Amla (South Africa)
2. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
3. Virat Kohli (India)
4. Ross Taylor (New Zealand)
5. Michael Clarke* (Australia)
6. AB de Villiers+ (South Africa)
7. Shakib al Hasan (Bangladesh)
8. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
9. Stuart Broad (England)
10. Vernon Philander (South Africa)
11. Dale Steyn (South Africa)

12. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

Difficult choice between Williamson and Warner but I went with Kane because I wanted the second spin option.
Clarke gets in ahead of a a few other contenders due to his Captaincy.

 

[Blackout]

Smith
Katich
Sangakara
De Villiers
M. Clarke
Duminy
Al Hasan
Johnson
Steyn
Sharma
Murali

Oh, hindsight.

 

[God Save Max King]

Oh, hindsight.

Sharma has 11 wickets at 25 this year! He's a poor bowler, but he's been pretty solid in 2014.

Warner
Amla
Sangakarra
Kohli
McCullum (c)
Rahane
de Villiers (+)
Johnson
Steyn
Philander
Ajmal

Very tough leaving Williamson and Pujara out of this lineup and it was hard to keep Warner in it. Ajmal got the nod ahead of Shakib, McCullum is in because a captain is needed and I don't want to keep too much to the best batsman in the world, AB de Villiers. Ajinkya Rahane being an incredible fielder as well as a supremely talented batsman had to be in the side.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Warner - can't argue with runs and he has them in spades at the moment, even if he is a tossbag.
McCullum (c) - ditto. Captaincy has been good too considering the circumstances. Have him opening to free up middle order.
Amla - Best number 3 batsman in the world. Just perfect timing, fluid shots, knows how to build an innings.
Sangakkara - Love seeing him making runs even if it's against minnows, great to watch.
Kohli - Scary good already and only 25
Pujara - In most teams would want to put 5 specialist bats and an all-rounder in but De Villiers can be the 'allrounder' as Johnson can bat a bit.
De Villiers+ - goes without saying
Johnson - Caused England to implode and dominated South Africa in Centurion, as good a 6 straight Tests as I've seen by any player
Broad - narrowly gets the nod over Steyn. He was brilliant in the Ashes, his already good stats would've been better if not for the poor showing of the rest.
Philander - been pretty average this series but a wrecking ball before that.
Ajmal - Have a feeling he's going to destroy us in the Emirates

 

[brisbane13]

1. Graeme Smith* (RSA)
2. Simon Katich (AUS)
3. Kumar Sangakkara (SRL)
4. Kevin Pietersen (ENG)
5. Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
6. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WIN)
7. Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)
8. Brendon McCullum+ (NZL)
9. Dale Steyn (RSA)
10. Shane Bond (NZL) - Still the best fast man in the world.
11. Ishant Sharma (IND)
12th Man: AB de Villers (RSA)

And I know what you're thinking, why is there no Ricky? He's averaged just over 38 in the last year, that doesnt get you in my world XI.

11. Ishant Sharma (IND)

 

[Patron]

Warner
Smith (VC)
Amla
Sangakarra (back up keeper)
Clarke (C) (just about as specialist captain atm)
De Villiers (+)
Ashwin
Johnson
Broad
Philander
Steyn

12th man - Ajmal

5 Saffas
3 Aussies
1 Indian
1 Pom
1 Sri Lankan

 

[Surkin]

Warner
Smith (VC)
Amla
Sangakarra (back up keeper)
Clarke (C) (just about as specialist captain atm)
De Villiers (+)
Ashwin
Johnson
Broad
Philander
Steyn

12th man - Ajmal

5 Saffas
3 Aussies
1 Indian
1 Pom
1 Sri Lankan

Ashwin doesn't even get a game for India

 

[kenneje]

1. Warner
2. McCullum
3. Amla
4. Sangakkara
5. Clarke *
6. Kohli
7. De Villiers
8. Johnson
9. Philander
10. Broad
11. Steyn

 

[RobbyRoy]

Just picking the best team purely on recent output, with openers who actually open in tests-

1. Warner
2. Dhawan
3. Amla
4. Kohli
5. Sangakarra
6. McCullum (c)
7. deVilliers (+)
8. Johnson
9. Philander
10. Steyn
11. Ajmal

May as well throw up an alternate side as well.

1. Smith
2. Rogers (thin opening stocks atm!)
3. Pujara
4. Williamson
5. Clarke (c)
6. Taylor
7. Haddin (Chandimal has a good record, but gets to play Bangladesh a lot) (+)
8. Al Hasan
9. Southee
10. Harris
11. Boult

 

[Hellgood]

Those sides seem pretty reasonable. Reckon Herath is a bit stiff not to get a look in at all though.

 

[Patron]

Ashwin doesn't even get a game for India

I wanted a spinning all rounder. Otherwise its Ajmal and 5 bowlers.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

People picking Ashwin/Johnson etc. to bat at 7 in these teams, well, it just defies logic. A World XI with a bowler batting at 7 is ludicrous.

 

[RobbyRoy]

Those sides seem pretty reasonable. Reckon Herath is a bit stiff not to get a look in at all though.

Definitely stiff. If you're willing to have Southee coming in at 8, on a turning pitch you could drop one of the batsmen out and throw Herath in. Al Hasan is more than decent as a bat.

 

[courtjester]

Warner
Amla
Pujara
Kohil
Clarke
DeVilliers
Haddin
Johnson
Philander
Steyn
Lyon

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

People picking Ashwin/Johnson etc. to bat at 7 in these teams, well, it just defies logic. A World XI with a bowler batting at 7 is ludicrous.

Usually, I would agree with you but the presence of De Villiers throws in the possibility of five bowlers.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Usually, I would agree with you but the presence of De Villiers throws in the possibility of five bowlers.

How does having de Villiers in the side justify having a bowler at 7? Just because it means you have a keeper higher up the order it doesn't mean you should shorten the batting.

 

[Yoda_]

People picking Ashwin/Johnson etc. to bat at 7 in these teams, well, it just defies logic. A World XI with a bowler batting at 7 is ludicrous.

are we playing in India?

If so Ashwin is a lock, if not he can GTFO!!

 

[eth-dog]

Tests

Rogers
Warner
Amla
Sangakara
Kohli
de Villiers (+)
Al Hasan
Johnson
Broad
Steyn
Ajmal

ODIs

de Kock
Amla
Kohli
Bailey
de Villiers
Dohni (+, c)
Al Hasan
Johnson
Steyn
McKay
Ajmal

T20s

Finch
Warner
McCullum
Kohli
Y Singh
Dohni (+, c)
Hafeez
Narine
Starc
Kulasekara
Steyn

 

[Slax]

Warner (AUS)
Amla (SA)
Sangakkara (SL)
Taylor (NZ)
De Villiers (SA) +
Chanderpaul (WI)
Johnson (AUS)
Broad (Eng)
Philander (SA)
Steyn (SA)
Ajmal (PAK)

If you work off current form would have Southee over Philander by a mile.

Southee last 3 series (7 tests) 41 wickets @20
Philander last 3 series (7 tests) 23 wickets @31.6

 

[God Save Max King]

Warner (AUS)
Amla (SA)
Sangakkara (SL)
Taylor (NZ)
De Villiers (SA) +
Chanderpaul (WI)
Johnson (AUS)
Broad (Eng)
Philander (SA)
Steyn (SA)
Ajmal (PAK)

No Kohli, Pujara or Clarke?

 

[Surkin]

No Kohli, Pujara or Clarke?

All have arguments to make the team. Personally I think the only locks are Warner, Sangakarra, De Villiers, Steyn and Johnson.

 

[God Save Max King]

All have arguments to make the team. Personally I think the only locks are Warner, Sangakarra, De Villiers, Steyn and Johnson.

I'd take Kohli over Amla, Taylor, maybe Chanderpaul right now and Sanga, although I can see the case made for the quiet achiever, Hash. Clarke I think makes it as captain as you have no other captains in that squad. Can't give AB that many responsibilities IMO.

 

[drummond2fevola]

A lot of people with short memories in this thread.