Picking the best eleven players in the world, keeping in mind the batting line-up, a balanced bowling composition and other such factors, is quite tricky. The following World XI does not necessarily place each player in the position he is generally associated with, but instead tries to accommodate the best of the best, keeping in mind the squad’s balance. I have tried to include some left-handed players, the right combination of spinners and seamers, to form the XI. So, let’s take a look at the all-time men’s cricket world XI.
Also Read – All-time Indian Men’s cricket XI
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar is an obvious choice for the opening batter spot on this World XI side. Over his career, he scored over 10,000 Test runs and Averaged over 50. He was a run-scoring machine for India at a time when the Indian side was not the best of teams in the world. He was also a part of the famous 1983 side that brought home the World Cup. All in all, Gavaskar redefined the way Indians approached batting at the top of the order.
Matthew Hayden
One of the most feared batters of his era, Matthew Hayden was an explosive left-handed opener. His most successful years came batting alongside Justin Langer. Hayden knew one way to bat, and that was to bat in an aggressive manner, and he played all forms of the game in the same manner. Hayden scored over 14,000 international runs and is the perfect explosive batter to partner Sunil Gavaskar as a part of this World XI.
Ricky Ponting
The toss-up for the best No. 3 batter to have ever played the game is, for me, between Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid. Unfortunately for Dravid, Ponting outshone him in nearly every department over his career. The Aussie scored over 13,000 runs in both ODIs and Tests. He further Averaged 58 in Tests and a stunning 80 in ODIs. He fits the bill to take the No. 3 spot in this World XI.
Sachin Tendulkar
It is impossible to form a World XI without including arguably the best cricketer ever to play the game. Sachin Tendulkar proved himself to be the best No. 4 to have ever played Test cricket over his career. He was quite handy in white-ball cricket as well. He could open the batting and also play in the middle order when needed. Tendulkar was also quite handy with the ball and could roll his arm over if his captain ever called for him.
Sir Vivian Richards
The choice to put Sir Viv as the No. 5 is a forced one. Unfortunately, neither Ricky Ponting nor Sachin Tendulkar can be moved from their spots to accommodate him. Sir Viv was far ahead of his time and played nearly every shot in the book at the time. Although a little lower than many would have expected, it would be great to have a player of his calibre batting in the lower-middle order.
Jacques Kallis
The South African all-rounder finds himself at No. 6 on this list. Although it is not his ideal batting position, Kallis would prove more than capable of playing this role. He could easily score when the ball got old and face the new ball if and when taken by the other side. He was quite handy with the ball as well and could play as the fifth bowling option on this side. Over his career, Kallis scored over 25,000 international runs and took over 500 international wickets.
Kumar Sangakkara
The wicketkeeper-batter at No. 7 for this side is Kumar Sangakkara. Although Adam Gilchrist would be a more suited batter for the No. 7 role and an obvious choice to take the gloves, Sanga’s runs in international cricket speak volumes of his quality as a batter. He scored over 28,000 international runs, and it would be unfair to not include him in this side.
Shane Warne
With over 700 Test wickets, the choice for the leg-spin option on this side has to be the late great Shane Warne. Although Anil Kumble comes close to taking the spot, the conditions in which Warne generally operated gives him the edge over Kumble for me. It is astonishing as to how Warne picked up more wickets than Kumble, given the latter generally played in spinner-friendly conditions.
Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram would be the No. 9 batter for this side and share the new ball with Glenn McGrath. Akram was an excellent option to have upfront with the new ball and also in the back end when he could get the ball to reverse. At No. 9, Akram could also contribute a little with the bat. The Pakistani legend has over 900 international wickets to his name — a monumental feat.
Muttiah Muralitharan
There is no spinner who has been more successful than Muttiah Muralitharan, and thus he becomes the obvious choice for the off-spin option for this side. Murali is the only bowler to have picked up 800 Test wickets. He was the key to much of Sri Lanka’s success until 2010. He continues to play a role in the game he loves as a mentor and coach.
Glenn McGrath
The Australians produced some of the game’s unquestionable greats. Glenn McGrath is the fourth Aussie on this list and the man to take the new ball. The Australian seamer was known to hit the right areas upfront with consistency. He was a nightmare to face with both the red and white balls. He took over 950 international wickets and has rightfully gone down as one of the best quicks to have ever played the game.
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