Best current Test XI - draft selection

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Kevin Pietersen (SA...no...no... England)

Close to the biggest draft blunder since Luke Molan!

[H_T 3,049]

Close to the biggest draft blunder since Luke Molan!

Would he get a game for Australia if an Aussie?

I think he would. And what would that say about Australia's batting strength?

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Would he get a game for Australia if an Aussie?

I think he would. And what would that say about Australia's batting strength?

Sorry H_T, bad joke lost in the text translation, one of those one's that works better verbally.

Not meaning the guys ability, rather the nation that 45 said and being suck with an Alviro or Robin Petersen rather then Kevin as obviously intended.

I didn't word what I meant very well.

[Macca 17,034]

Mahela Jayawardene. (Ceylon)

When you think of Ceylon, you think of tea and you think of Kamahl (though he was born in Malaysia)

[Biffen 12,947]

Need wickets , Need a Zaffer soon.

Uum... er

James Pattinson (Player of the Ashes)

[Macca 17,034]

Matt Prior (England)

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Matt Prior (England)

Well palyed Macca, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of the exact same player with this very pick.....

Round 3, Pick 22

Ravichandran Ashwin (India)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/26421.html

As mentioned earlier, the pool of quality spinners is pretty low so thought I should still strike while there's something there.

Also of note, 22 players down and still no love for New Zealand yet.....

[H_T 3,049]

UPDATE:

Round One

pick 1 - Jacques Kallis (RSA) - Rogue

pick 2 - Michael Clarke (Aust) - thepassenger

pick 3 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL) - 45HG16

pick 4 - David Warner (Aust) - Biffen

pick 5 - Hashim Amla (RSA) - Macca

pick 6 - Alistair Cook (England) - Tall Defence

pick 7 - Dale Steyn (RSA) - H_T

pick 8 - Rangana Herath (SL) - titan_uranus

Round Two

pick 9 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) - titan_uranus

pick 10 - AB de Villiers (RSA) - H_T

pick 11 - Morne Morkel (RSA) - Tall Defence

pick 12 - Saeed Ajmal (Pak) - Macca

pick 13 - Mahela Jayawardene - (SL) - Biffen

pick 14 - Vernon Philander (RSA) - 45HG16

pick 15 - Jimmy Anderson (Eng) - thepassenger

pick 16 - Graeme Swann (Eng) - Rogue

Round Three

pick 17 - Peter Siddle (Aust) - Rogue

pick 18 - MS Dhoni (Ind) - thepassenger

pick 19 - Kevin Pietersen (Eng) - 45HG16

pick 20 - James Pattinson (Aust) - Biffen

pick 21 - Matt Prior (Eng) - Macca

pick 22 - Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind) - Tall Defence

pick 23 - Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) - H_T

pick 24 - Steven Finn (Eng) - (titan)

Round Four

pick 25 - Mohammed Hafeez (Pak) - titan

pick 26 - Jonathan Trott (Eng) - H_T

pick 27 - Virender Sehwag (India) - Tall Defence

pick 28 - Graeme Smith (RSA) - Macca

pick 29 - Stuart Broad (Eng) - Biffen

pick 30 - Pragyan Ojha (Ind) - 45HG16

pick 31 - Ross Taylor (NZ) - thepassenger

pick 32 - (Rogue)

Round Five

pick 33 - Rogue

pick 34 - thepassenger

pick 35 - 45HG16

pick 36 - Biffen

pick 37 - Macca

pick 38 - Tall Defence

pick 39 - H_T

pick 40 - titan_uranus

My Pick:

Round Three pick 23 - Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Next pick TD.

[titan_uranus 25,045]

Pick 24 - Steve Finn (England)

Pick 25 - Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)

[H_T 3,049]

Pick 26 - Jonathan Trott (Eng)

[MadAsHell 4,215]

pick 26 - Jonathan Trott (Eng)

Macca did it to me with his pick before mine at 22 and you've done it to me again with this one H_T. Haha.

Round 4, Pick 27

Virender Sehwag (India)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/35263.html

To good a player to ignore and with Alastair Cook it gives me a pretty good openning combination.

Also this is my 2nd pick from India, so I'm now done with them.

[Macca 17,034]

Macca did it to me with his pick before mine at 22 and you've done it to me again with this one H_T. Haha.

Round 4, Pick 27

Virender Sehwag (India)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/35263.html

To good a player to ignore and with Alastair Cook it gives me a pretty good openning combination.

Also this is my 2nd pick from India, so I'm now done with them.

Ah yes TD, and every team needs a top class captain . Love him or loathe him he leads the no.1 nation ...

Round 4, pick 28

Graeme Smith (South Africa)

That's my 2nd Protea gone and I still haven't picked a fast bowler (who says that bowler's win games?)

Is DK Lillee available ?

All yours Biff....

[MadAsHell 4,215]

The suspense is killing me Biffen.......

[Biffen 12,947]

Sorry guys -Thanks for your patience .

Staurt Broad.(Blighty)

[45HG 1,559]

Pragyan Ojha (India)

[Little Richard 6,265]

Ross Taylor (NZ).

[45HG 1,559]

Currently, Ross Taylor is sitting out of tests - not best XI material in my book

[MadAsHell 4,215]

Currently, Ross Taylor is sitting out of tests - not best XI material in my book

Might call for a decision from H_T or a vote?

He's certainly best XI and his exit was self imposed. I think he's suppose to return for the upcoming series against England.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-england-2013/content/story/601784.html

[Rogue 585]

I'll hold off on my picks until this is resolved.

Fwiw, I was about to pick Taylor.

Talking of NZers, it's interesting to see how far Vettori's stocks have fallen in the Best XI game.

[Little Richard 6,265]

Taylor is still a Test player until retired, I thought?

Thought I had a gem at pick 31 there!

[Rogue 585]

Taylor is still a Test player until retired, I thought?

Thought I had a gem at pick 31 there!

I see his current predicament as being similar to someone who has been out with an injury. He's back playing for NZ in a side versus England in the lead-up to the Tests and wouldn't be surprised if he's selected for the upcoming series.

[H_T 3,049]

I'd accept Taylor guys. Heard a interview on the radio the other day from a guy from radio sports NZ on SEN. There has been a bit of political fighting among the cricket officials in NZ and the Taylor saga. My understanding is it's being sorted out and it wont be long before he returns to the NZ line up.

Had something to do with his personal IPL committments or something.

45HG - good pick mate. Beat me to it. You've been researching well.

[H_T 3,049]

Taylor is still a Test player until retired, I thought?

Thought I had a gem at pick 31 there!

Accepted.

Your turn Rogue.

[H_T 3,049]

NEW UPDATE:

Round One

pick 1 - Jacques Kallis (RSA) - Rogue

pick 2 - Michael Clarke (Aust) - thepassenger

pick 3 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL) - 45HG16

pick 4 - David Warner (Aust) - Biffen

pick 5 - Hashim Amla (RSA) - Macca

pick 6 - Alistair Cook (England) - Tall Defence

pick 7 - Dale Steyn (RSA) - H_T

pick 8 - Rangana Herath (SL) - titan_uranus

Round Two

pick 9 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) - titan_uranus

pick 10 - AB de Villiers (RSA) - H_T

pick 11 - Morne Morkel (RSA) - Tall Defence

pick 12 - Saeed Ajmal (Pak) - Macca

pick 13 - Mahela Jayawardene - (SL) - Biffen

pick 14 - Vernon Philander (RSA) - 45HG16

pick 15 - Jimmy Anderson (Eng) - thepassenger

pick 16 - Graeme Swann (Eng) - Rogue

Round Three

pick 17 - Peter Siddle (Aust) - Rogue

pick 18 - MS Dhoni (Ind) - thepassenger

pick 19 - Kevin Pietersen (Eng) - 45HG16

pick 20 - James Pattinson (Aust) - Biffen

pick 21 - Matt Prior (Eng) - Macca

pick 22 - Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind) - Tall Defence

pick 23 - Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) - H_T

pick 24 - Steven Finn (Eng) - titan_uranus

Round Four

pick 25 - Mohammed Hafeez (Pak) - titan_uranus

pick 26 - Jonathan Trott (Eng) - H_T

pick 27 - Virender Sehwag (India) - Tall Defence

pick 28 - Graeme Smith (RSA) - Macca

pick 29 - Stuart Broad (Eng) - Biffen

pick 30 - Pragyan Ojha (Ind) - 45HG16

pick 31 - Ross Taylor (NZ) - thepassenger

pick 32 - Rogue

Round Five

pick 33 - Rogue

pick 34 - thepassenger

pick 35 - 45HG16

pick 36 - Biffen

pick 37 - Macca

pick 38 - Tall Defence

pick 39 - H_T

pick 40 - titan_uranus

Round Six

pick 41 - titan_uranus

pick 42 - H_T

pick 43 - Tall Defence

pick 44 - Macca

pick 45 - Biffen

pick 46 - 45HG16

pick 47 - thepassenger

pick 48 - Rogue

[MadAsHell 4,215]

I'll hold off on my picks until this is resolved.

Fwiw, I was about to pick Taylor.

Talking of NZers, it's interesting to see how far Vettori's stocks have fallen in the Best XI game.

I was considering Vettori at Pick 22, came down to a choice between he and Ashwin for mine. Only went for Ashwin because with Vettori injured so much you probably start to forget of just how good he is.