Best current Test XI - draft selection

[45HG 1,539]

In truth, I was just being cheeky!

I'd tossed up selecting him with my pick.

Good get Passenger.

[Rogue 585]

Pick 32 - Kemar Roach (WI)

I almost took Roach at #17, so I'm very happy to see he slipped to #32.

Pick 33 - Chris Gayle (WI)

[Scipio 5,899]

What's the go with Bangladesh? Can we choose players or does it have to be strictly from the 8 sides selected?

[MadAsHell 4,089]

What's the go with Bangladesh? Can we choose players or does it have to be strictly from the 8 sides selected?

Pretty sure from H_T's opening post that it has to be from the 8 main nations, so Bangladesh & Zimbabwe are out.

Unless of course you can use them in substitute of a 2nd player from one of the 8 nations???

Again a question for H_T I guess.

[Scipio 5,899]

Pretty sure from H_T's opening post that it has to be from the 8 main nations, so Bangladesh & Zimbabwe are out.

Unless of course you can use them in substitute of a 2nd player from one of the 8 nations???

Again a question for H_T I guess.

That's what I gathered but want to make sure because I'm quite keen on Shakib Al Hasan.

[Rogue 585]

What's the go with Bangladesh? Can we choose players or does it have to be strictly from the 8 sides selected?

It's the eight mentioned in the original post.

[45HG 1,539]

Everyone's pretty keen on Shakib and about zero of his teammates - so Bangladesh are a no go.

[Scipio 5,899]

It's the eight mentioned in the original post.

No worries... Darren Bravo (WI).

Everyone's pretty keen on Shakib and about zero of his teammates - so Bangladesh are a no go.

I seriously think he'd be a genuine star in a decent team, it's disappointing that we won't see him have the support of a better side.

[Scipio 5,899]

Hm should have thought more about selecting a bowler, I'm going to end up with a pedestrian attack.

[45HG 1,539]

Azhar Ali (Pak)

[45HG 1,539]

I seriously think he'd be a genuine star in a decent team, it's disappointing that we won't see him have the support of a better side.

Yeah I know, I wasn't being facetious - he'd be one of my first picked. Shakib's been one of the best all rounders for a few years now.

[Rogue 585]

Yeah I know, I wasn't being facetious - he'd be one of my first picked. Shakib's been one of the best all rounders for a few years now.

It must be tough being such a good player in such a poor team.

[Scipio 5,899]

Azhar Ali (Pak)

Nice choice

Yeah I know, I wasn't being facetious - he'd be one of my first picked. Shakib's been one of the best all rounders for a few years now.

Sorry I didn't mean it to sound as if I thought you were sarcastic... he is pretty underrated around the world but top 3 ICC allrounders every year. Also top 10 bowlers the last year too I think.

[H_T 2,941]

It's the eight mentioned in the original post.

Correct.

It will soon be getting difficult in another couple of rounds.

[H_T 2,941]

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 - Kemar Roach (WI) - Rogue

Round Five

pick 33 - Chris Gayle (WI) - Rogue

pick 34 - Darren Bravo (WI) - thepassenger

pick 35 - Azhar Ali (Pak) - 45HG16

pick 36 - Ishant Sharma (Ind) - Biffen

pick 37 - Daniel Vettori (NZ) - Macca

pick 38 - Younis Khan (Pak) - Tall Defence

pick 39 - Mitchell Starc (Aust) - 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

Edited February 1, 2013 by H_T

[Rogue 585]

It will soon be getting difficult in another couple of rounds.

Definitely.

I think there'll be some decent players left at my next two picks (48/49) but after that it may be slim pickings.

[Biffen 12,441]

Ishant Sharma (The Far East)

[Macca 16,174]

Daniel Vettori (NZ)

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Round 5, Pick 38

Younis Khan (Pakistan)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/43652.html

Was optimistic but didn't think he'd last this long. Test average over 50 so I'm going to consider him a steal at this late a pick.

[Rogue 585]

Round 5, Pick 38

Younis Khan (Pakistan)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/43652.html

Was optimistic but didn't think he'd last this long. Test average over 50 so I'm going to consider him a steal at this late a pick.

He's been a very good player over the years and I picked up Khan last time we did the Best XI game. (Sadly, the thread has disappeared).

However, I think Khan's recent form has probably played a part in him lasting so long in the draft; he averaged 36 last year, passing 50 only twice in 10 innings.

Still a solid pick at this stage though - he was on the shortlist for my next pick.

[Scipio 5,899]

Round 5, Pick 38 Younis Khan (Pakistan) http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/43652.html Was optimistic but didn't think he'd last this long. Test average over 50 so I'm going to consider him a steal at this late a pick.

Jeez I thought he retired. How old is he these days?

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Jeez I thought he retired. How old is he these days?

Just turned 35 late last year.

As Rogue said, he's probably past his best and hasn't had the best 12 months but still a very solid player. Will be interesting to see how he goes in their series against South Africa which is about to start shortly.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Daniel Vettori (NZ)

Going with the two spinners Macca. Always like to see these types of attacking moves.

[Macca 16,174]

Going with the two spinners Macca. Always like to see these types of attacking moves.

Yes TD, I reckon DRS will bring both types of finger spinners more into the game and there are a reasonable amount of Test matches where 2 spinners are played. The doosra is another reason we're seeing more and more front foot LBW's. Vettori has terrific all round skills as well.

Test match starts tonight Between South Africa and Pakistan. A feast of Test cricket in the next 2 months. England are also in New Zealand for 3 Tests.

Edited February 1, 2013 by Macca

[H_T 2,941]

Round 5, pick 39 - Mitchell Starc (Aust)

Fancy resting him from the Boxing Day Test; every kids dream Test.

Thanks Rogue for updating above update post.