Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Best current Test XI - draft selection

Featured Replies

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.

No problems.

I don't mind your picks so far, H_T. Our teams are balanced a little differently so far - I have a spinner, you have an extra batsman - but it's shaping for an interesting match-up.

Now it's titan 'on the snake' with two picks.

 
  • Author

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 - Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind) - titan_uranus

Round Six

pick 41 - Alviro Petersen (RSA) - titan_uranus

pick 42 - Tillerkaratne Dilshan (SL) - H_T

pick 43 - Abdur Rehman (Pakistan) - Tall Defence

pick 44 - Shane Watson (Aus) - Macca

pick 45 - Brendan McCullum (NZ) - Biffen

pick 46 - Tim Southee (NZ) - 45HG16

pick 47 - thepassenger

pick 48 - Rogue

No problems.I don't mind your picks so far, H_T. Our teams are balanced a little differently so far - I have a spinner, you have an extra batsman - but it's shaping for an interesting match-up.Now it's titan 'on the snake' with two picks.

Yes, and Titan 'on the snake' had an interesting strategy from the beginning. It will be interesting to see how it pans out 'at the death.'

He's probably sweating already ... :)

Edited by Rogue
Picks 40-46

I might comment on that after he makes his two picks.

Anyone watching the ODI game at the moment?

If you still need a player from the Caribbean, you might want to pick up Extras (WI) - top scorer at the moment.

 

I was looking forward to watching after work... doesn't look like there'll be anything to see by 6.

Pick 40 - Cheteshwar Pujara (India)

Pick 41 - Alviro Petersen (RSA)

My man Hafeez, my opening batsman, last night took 4-for against the Proteas. Broke the de Villiers-du Plessis partnership. Golden arm. Tick.


  • Author
Round 6 pick 42 Tillerkaratne Dilshan (SL)

Round 6, Pick 43

Abdur Rehman (Pakistan)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/39091.html

Yes I know he's not playing in their current test match but he's often in the XI and only doesn't play if conditions don't suit two spinners. I figured if I have two Indians then I need two Pakistanis to balance team harmony out....

Ishant Sharma (The Far East)

Round 6, pick 44

Shane Watson (Oz)

Over to you, Biff

 

Brundun Maccullum ( Noo Zulland)

Corriction:Brendon McCullum (NZ)

Edited by Biffen

Tim Southee (NZ)


HT ,

Just looking at your team ,which is very solid .

Is Sachin only retired from 1 day stuff?

I like the look of The Passengers' team and Rogue has some battle hardened types in his.

  • Author

HT ,

Just looking at your team ,which is very solid .

Is Sachin only retired from 1 day stuff?

I like the look of The Passengers' team and Rogue has some battle hardened types in his.

Yes mate. He retired from ODI on the 23rd Dec 2012 to focus on Tests.

http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sachin/news/item/201087-sachin-tendulkar-announces-retirement-from-odis

PS. Good pick up in McCullum.

Like what the passenger has picked to date, now for his next pick...

:)

Pick 48 - Misbah-ul-haq (PAK)

Captaincy material.

Pick 49 - Chandimal (SL)

Every team needs a promising young player or two.

A good time to tick some countries off the list while I still liked what was left...

Gautam Gambhir, India.

Edit: spelling.

Edited by the passenger


I'm thinking Stafanie Taylor for my WI pick but will have to do a bit more research!

Ben Hilfenhaus (Aus)

I'm thinking Stafanie Taylor for my WI pick but will have to do a bit more research!

If only she can get that first test match cap, she'd be all yours 45HG!

  • Author

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 - Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind) - titan_uranus

Round Six

pick 41 - Alviro Petersen (RSA) - titan_uranus

pick 42 - Tillerkaratne Dilshan (SL) - H_T

pick 43 - Abdur Rehman (Pakistan) - Tall Defence

pick 44 - Shane Watson (Aus) - Macca

pick 45 - Brendan McCullum (NZ) - Biffen

pick 46 - Tim Southee (NZ) - 45HG16

pick 47 - Mitchell Johnson (Aust) - the passenger

pick 48 - Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak) - Rogue

Round Seven

pick 49 - Chandimal (SL) - Rogue

pick 50 - Gautam Gambhir (Ind) - the passenger

pick 51 - Ben Hilfenhaus (Aust) - 45HG16

pick 52 - Biffen

pick 53 - Macca

pick 54 - Tall Defence

pick 55 - H_T

pick 56 - titan_uranus

Nice to see my man Dale Steyn rip the Paki's apart with 6/8 off 8.1 overs. Not to mention M.Starc's continuation of his hot streak summer yesterday at the WACA in the ODI.... :)

Nice to see my man Dale Steyn rip the Paki's apart with 6/8 off 8.1 overs. Not to mention M.Starc's continuation of his hot streak summer yesterday at the WACA in the ODI.... :)

I couldn't overlook Kallis in the first round, but Steyn is a great bowler; I'm a fan.


  • Author

I couldn't overlook Kallis in the first round, but Steyn is a great bowler; I'm a fan.

Fwiw, had I had pick one I think Kallis would have been a short priced favourite to be in my team, too.

What a record. I couldn't pass Sachin up in the third round either. Although he's averaged around 30 with the bat in the ODI's of late, his Test record and form has been relatively good - although just a 76 against England recently in their series was about as productive as he could be. But his record is just, wow.

Interestingly the likes of India and Pakistan have played very few Test Matches of late compared to other Test playing nations. - I don't have the breakdown on numbers at hand but this was mentioned on 774ABC recently. Thought I'd mention that. I can understand Pakistan's predicament of late, but when India was mentioned I was surprised.

Fwiw, had I had pick one I think Kallis would have been a short priced favourite to be in my team, too.

What a record. I couldn't pass Sachin up in the third round either. Although he's averaged around 30 with the bat in the ODI's of late, his Test record and form has been relatively good - although just a 76 against England recently in their series was about as productive as he could be. But his record is just, wow.

Interestingly the likes of India and Pakistan have played very few Test Matches of late compared to other Test playing nations. - I don't have the breakdown on numbers at hand but this was mentioned on 774ABC recently. Thought I'd mention that. I can understand Pakistan's predicament of late, but when India was mentioned I was surprised.

Tendulkar was a great player, but I actually thought you went a little early on him. I had a look and he averaged just 24 from 15 bats in Tests last year (two 50s; no 100s). I've liked most of your picks, but I think I would have rated Trott and even Dilshan - your round four and six picks - more highly than Sachin in this draft. Tendulkar's record certainly is stellar though.

India follow the money, sadly, so they don't play a great deal of Test cricket. It's a shame.

  • Author

Tendulkar was a great player, but I actually thought you went a little early on him. I had a look and he averaged just 24 from 15 bats in Tests last year (two 50s; no 100s). I've liked most of your picks, but I think I would have rated Trott and even Dilshan - your round four and six picks - more highly than Sachin in this draft. Tendulkar's record certainly is stellar though.

India follow the money, sadly, so they don't play a great deal of Test cricket. It's a shame.

Yeah perhaps you're probably right with Trott. However, my next pick was at 39 and I thought ST would definitely be gone by then. Matchwinners don't grow on trees and the next best to the Don is hard to come by.

:)

 

Yeah perhaps you're probably right with Trott. However, my next pick was at 39 and I thought ST would definitely be gone by then. Matchwinners don't grow on trees and the next best to the Don is hard to come by.

:)

Right now I reckon they both win about the same number of Tests :P

(Just in case you're considering it, Biffen, the Don is ineligible).

  • Author

Right now I reckon they both win about the same number of Tests :P.

Ouch. Harsh on Sachin. He's one good innings away from his 52nd Test hundred. :P


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • PODCAST: 2026 Season Preview

    The boys previewed the 2026 Season sharing their early impressions of the new coach, the new players, observations from preseason training, and what they've made of the new game style. They also look ahead to the season with their predictions, the players they expect to rise, their expectations for the team, and what they see as a realistic pass mark for Melbourne in 2026.

    • 6 replies
  • PREVIEW: St. Kilda

    When the Demons blew their 46-point lead at Marvel Stadium in Round 20 last year, the fallout was enormous. Like an event straight out of a Shakespearean tragedy, Melbourne’s final-quarter collapse left fans reeling and the club grappling with the aftermath. 

    • 1 reply
  • PREGAME: St. Kilda

    With just over two weeks until their opening match of the 2026 AFL Premiership season, the Demons are already well on the path to redemption and have the Saints firmly in their sights ahead of their mid-March clash at the MCG. What do you think the team will look like when they run out on to the G?

      • Haha
      • Like
    • 376 replies
  • NON-MFC: 2026 Opening Round

    Finally the 2026 AFL Premiership Season is upon us. While Melbourne sits out Opening Round, there is still plenty of footy to enjoy with five non-MFC clashes to kick off the new season. It all begins on Thursday night with a blockbuster at the SCG as Sydney hosts Carlton in what should be a strong early test for both sides. On Friday night, Gold Coast gets its chance to open the season in front of a home crowd when the Suns and Christian Petracca take on Geelong at People First Stadium. Saturday features a double-header, starting in the afternoon with Greater Western Sydney and Clayton Oliver meeting the Hawks at Engie Stadium. That is followed on Saturday night by Brisbane Lions hosting the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, with the Lions embarking on their campaign to win the Threepeat. Opening Round wraps up on Sunday night at the MCG, where St Kilda takes on Collingwood in the only game in town in the first week of the season. There is no shortage of storylines across the round, so discuss all the action from the non-MFC games of Opening Round.

    • 557 replies
  • REPORT: Richmond

    Mars is not usually a place known for lighting strikes but on Friday evening it happened twice in the vicinity of the stadium in Ballarat that carries the name and is a half completed building site with limited capacity for spectators.

    • 4 replies
  • POSTGAME: Richmond

    The Dees ran another clinic for the second week in a row as they easily accounted for the Tigers in the lightning interrupted shortened match at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

    • 118 replies

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.