Ravi Shastri picks his best India-Australia XI ahead of WTC final, names Rohit Sharma as captain
Former Team India coach Ravi Shastri has named his best India-Australia XI in Test cricket among current players.
Speaking to host Sanjana Ganesan on an episode of the ICC Review, Shastri admitted having a hard time choosing the players from the two World Test Championship finalists.
Shastri started by naming Rohit Sharma as his opener. The 60-year-old admitted that Pat Cummins is a tempting choice as captain, but highlighted that Rohit has more experience. He said:
"I would give the captaincy to Rohit because he's much more experienced than Pat. He's been around and he's captained sides for a long time. If Steve Smith was captain of Australia, then maybe it’s a different story, but since it's Pat Cummins and Rohit Sharma, Rohit wins it. Plus, you know, as a captain, you're a certainty in the XI so he opens the batting."
He conceded that it was tough to choose between Shubman Gill and Usman Khawaja to partner Rohit at the top, but decided to go with Khawaja, given his outstanding in the last two years. He explained:
"It's a tight one between Usman Khawaja and Shubman Gill. Shubman is the rising young star and he's a terrific player, but Usman Khawaja, just by current form and the number of runs he's got over the last couple of years, I think he gets in there."
The former cricketer picked Marnus Labuschagne, Virat Kohli, and Steve Smith to capture the next three spots. He said Labuschagne's batting average of nearly 60 makes him a 'no-brainer'. He added:
"Number three is a no-brainer as Marnus has been outstanding in Test match cricket. He averages close to 60, so he gets in there straight away. Kohli at four for just what he's done over the years and Smith at five for what he's done over the years and the kind of quality they bring to the table."
At number six, Shastri chose left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and rated him ahead of Ben Stokes as an all-rounder, saying:
"At No.6, I get in Jadeja, because I believe he is one of the best all-rounders in the world. We know there's Ben Stokes, but Ben has had problems with his fitness, so Jadeja comes in there and gives a lot of balance to that side."
The former Team India coach picked Nathan Lyon over Ravichandran Ashwin as the second spinner due to the former's superior overseas record. He opined:
"The reason why I picked Nathan Lyon ahead of Ashwin is because of Nathan's overseas record. Not just in Australia, but outside Australia and Lyon is probably stronger to bowl those overs in England if needed. So he comes in with Jadeja as the second spinner, with Jadeja more the all-rounder and Lyon the spinner."
Lyon, Australia's best off-spinner, was their highest wicket-taker in the four-Test series in India earlier this year. Although the veteran had a forgettable start to the series, he took a fifer in the next two Tests to finish with 22 scalps at 22.36.
Ravi Shastri picks a left-arm seamer in his pace-bowling attack
When asked about his choice of pace bowlers, Ravi Shastri suggested that Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami are his first-choice picks. He said:
"Cummins, of course, for me, he's a top-class operator and Mohammed Shami, he's like vintage and he's just getting better and better as we're seeing in this IPL. And stronger. So he comes in there."
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Shastri reasoned the rationale behind opting for Starc, stating that he is an out-and-out fast bowler and brings a variety. He added:
"And then it was a tough one between Hazelwood, Starc and there's Cameron Green also there. But I preferred Jadeja because you get a better balance with two spinners, three fast bowlers, out and out fast bowlers and I would take Starc (to complement them) because of pace and variety being the left-armer."
Ravi Shastri combined India-Australia Test XI:
Rohit Sharma (c), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mohammad Shami