Wasim Jaffer picks all-time left-handers ODI and Test XI; Zaheer Khan and Kuldeep Yadav make both sides
Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer paid tribute to International Lefthanders Day (August 13) by picking his all-time left-handers ODI and Test XI. The list boasted some of the most accomplished cricketers in the sport's history.
Jaffer picked Australia's Matthew Hayden and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara as openers for the Test XI. While Sangakkara is the sixth all-time leading run-scorer in Tests with 12,400 runs, Hayden is 27th with 8,625 runs.
At one down, Jaffer went with West Indian legend Brian Lara, who boasts the highest-ever first-class and Test score in an innings with 501* and 400*, respectively. The southpaw is also eighth all-time in the Test scoring charts with 11,953 runs.
Former South African batter Graeme Pollock, who averaged an incredible 60.97 in his brief 23-Test career came in at No. 4. Australia's Allan Border was next in the batting order as he finished his Test career with 11,174 runs ( 11th all-time). The champion batter was also named Jaffer's left-handed Test XI captain.
One of the most accomplished all-rounders, Sir Garfield Sobers came in at No. 6. The West Indian is one of only three cricketers to have scaled the 6000-200 runs-wickets mark, finishing his Test career with an extraordinary 8,032 runs and 235 scalps.
Former Australian Adam Gilchrist was named Jaffer's wicketkeeper, finishing his illustrious Test career with an amazing 47.60 average despite batting in the lower-middle order and 416 dismissals behind the stumps.
Jaffer's Test left-handed bowling line-up included three seamers and a spinner, with Pakistan's Wasim Akram and India's Zaheer Khan coming in first. The former Indian batter selected three pacers - Mitchell Johnson, Chaminda Vaas, and Trent Boult - for his final seam-bowling spot.
India's left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav rounded off Jaffer's left-handed Test XI as the lone spinner.
Jaffer's left-handed ODI XI includes three Indians
![Kuldeep Yadav was part of Jaffer's Test and ODi left-handers XI [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/08/c84cc-17236188057866-1920.jpg?w=500)
Coming to Wasim Jaffer's left-handed ODI XI, the batting lineup consisted of several players from his Test side.
Hayden, Sangakkara, and Lara were part of his top order in the ODI XI, with Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, India's Yuvraj Singh, and Australia's Michael Bevan completing the top six.
Jaffer went with the 1999 ODI World Cup Player of the Tournament, Lance Klusener as his all-rounder at No. 7.
Wasim Akram, Zaheer Khan, and Kuldeep Yadav took three of the four bowling spots in the ODI XI, much like Jaffer's Test XI. Akram is sixth all-time in overall international wickets with 916 scalps.
The final bowling spot was an either/or between Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas and Australia's Mitchell Starc.