The Rival XI - A team which can beat the Wisden XI
Wisden World XI: Jack Hobbs, W G Grace, Don Bradman (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Vivian Richards, Garry Sobers, Alan Knott, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, Malcolm Marshall, Sydney Barnes.
Quite a team, isn’t it?
To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Wisden, the world famous cricket publication, named its all-time Test XI.
Although most of the players in the team are obvious selections, the inclusion of a few has raised some eyebrows. Some of the greats like Sir Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Garry Sobers and Shane Warne automatically pick themselves.
However, the inclusion of wicketkeeper Alan Knott, WG Grace, Sydney Barnes and Malcolm Marshall ahead of the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Denis Lillee and Walter Hammond respectively has predictably ruffled plenty of feathers in the cricketing fraternity.
Again, World XIs have always stirred up a lot of debate and Wisden must have had their own criteria and delved into hours of research before naming the above eleven.
So instead of criticising it or harping over the ones who missed out, let’s look at a team that might rival the Wisden XI if ever a Test match was played between them.
Here is the XI which, according to me, can put up a stiff challenge for the Wisden team.
Openers
Herbert Sutcliffe
Tests – 54
Runs – 4555
Average – 60.73
Hundreds – 16
The opening partner of the legendary Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe was one of the greatest openers of all time in Test cricket. In a cricketing career that extended over two World Wars, Herbert Sutcliffe scored more 50,000 runs in all forms of cricket.
Known for his courage and concentration, this right-hander from Yorkshire was one of the greatest players of the new ball. A ferocious player of the hook shot, Sutcliffe was also an example of how to use the dead bat while facing the faster men.
Although his countryman Jack Hobbs is much more widely celebrated as an opener, Herbert Sutcliffe’s Test average of 60.73 is still the highest among all Englishmen.