Why not the Best?
R Mohan picks his World XI
To be asked to pick a World XI is always the most interesting
task for a cricket writer. The one aspect of cricket which lends
itself so easily to such discussions is the time span the game
occupies. At a match you are never short of time to indulge in
this favourite pastime of discussing cricket and one of the topics
that invariably crops up is the exercise of picking World XIs.
It is something scribes may on rainy days carry to the extremes
of picking all sorts of teams including a Smokers XI as well as
a Left-hander's XI.
There is, of course, a distinction to be made between the best,
the strongest or the finest World XI and the World XI made up
of players who will be worth watching. But in the modern context
in which winning has been elevated to a desire to be attained
at any cost, one must first pick the best possible World XI on
current form. Since the debate can be endless in such a subjective
exercise, it is probably best to put down the XI first and explain
the reasons why. And then, of course, you can always pick a side
out of those we would dearly have loved to put in the first XI.
My World XI picked on recent form plus career achievements rather
than current form which can vary so much is:
Sanath Jayasuriya
Saeed Anwar
Brian Lara (captain)
Sachin Tendulkar
Aravinda De Silva
Wasim Akram
Ian Healy (wicket-keeper)
Curtly Ambrose
Saqlain Mushtaq
Shane Warne
Allan Donald
12th man: Jonty Rhodes
There can be no dispute at all over which batsman you would pick
first in one-day cricket. Jayasuriya epitomises what the modern
one-day game is all about -- outright aggression. There is no one
better qualified at the moment to represent the spirit of the
game. Saeed Anwar is picked to go in with him not only because
he has a similar approach to the game.
The world's best fast bowlers
of the day are uncomfortable in bowling at left-handers and there
is no off-spinner who qualifies to open the bowling against these
giant strikers of the ball because the only off-spinner of merit
is Saqlain Mushtaq and he should be playing for this XI.
The world's two best batsmen pick themselves. Brian Lara is one
who has this amazing repertoire which he is not afraid to draw
from. There may be batsmen who have achieved greater consistency
but for his sheer talent he gets the nod. So much of his game
has to do with a natural quality of aggression that I have no
hesitation in voting him in. The second batsman is, of course,
Sachin Tendulkar.
It can be argued that Sachin should be picked as an opener in
one-day cricket. Since he has scored all his one-day hundreds
as an opener, he should technically qualify as an opener. Although
such a talented batsman must stand a great advantage in batting
in the first 15 overs when there is so much empty real estate
to aim his shots into, his real place is in the early order where
he can expect a reasonable amount of overs to build his innings
up. And if the openers and one drop have already established the
innings, there can be no more dangerous batsman in the second
half of the innings and in the end overs than Sachin.
There may be any number of claimants to the fifth batting slot.
My choice is Aravinda de Silva simply because he is the more technically
sound than most other contenders and he is a joy to watch when
he is flowing. It is the only great batsmen who can combine elegance
and power in off driving. Aravinda's cover drives are a part of
the magic of the game. And if the situation demands there is,
perhaps, no one who can play the pull shot more hard.
The top five make such a fine batting line-up that the need for
finding all-rounders should not really arise. The fact that there
are no all-rounders of the calibre of the four who graced the
game throughout the 1980s also restricts the choice in this regard.
The one all-rounder who may not have lived up to his full potential
as a batsman is Wasim Akram. But he is also so very capable of
making the quick runs in the slog he slips into the number six
slot by right.
Is there a more creative bowler with the new ball in world cricket
today? Is there a better bowler at reverse swing who can dip his
yorkers at the tail in the end overs? On both counts, Akram is
the outstanding bowler of the limited-overs game who compares
with Joel Garner in terms of economy while being far more successful
in terms of strike rate. I would choose as his pace bowling partner
Curtly Ambrose, who is still capable of some amazing economy and
consistency with the new ball. In such a team, he might even be
asked to bowl his 10 overs at a stretch.
Allan Donald is the third
seamer who has made a fine art of bowling the older ball in the
one-day game. His variations of pace simply enhance the other
great qualities in him.
The two spinners are, naturally enough, Shane Warne and Saqlain
Mushtaq. For sheer bamboozling variety there is no one to match
Warne. And his very presence at the bowling crease makes for gripping
drama. To lend variety to the attack would be Saqlain whose strike
rate must open the eyes of anyone who thinks off-spin is a dead
art. His undercutters are probably the balls that fetch him more
wickets and he is equally capable of bowling the end overs, a
task at which he might be a shade better than Warne.
That brings us to 10 and the wicket-keeper's place should go to
none other than Ian Healy. His record speaks for his consistency.
Considering his cricketing intelligence, it would have been sorely
tempting to name him to lead this side. But that would be too
unconventional a view. I do not abandon the idea only because
it will not conform to the majority viewpoint. But that is because
I believe Lara to be the most astute of the cricketing brains.
His captaincy in the Barbados Test convinced me that there is
none who is more adept at handing the bowling.
The view that it will do him a world of good to be captain so
that he will concentrate more on his cricket should also be taken
into consideration. I plump for him as captain ahead of Sachin
who can tie himself down to routine maneuvers and Akram who can
be inspiring enough but not necessarily the best handler of bowling
changes and field placements.
Any number of views are bound to be there regarding so many of
those who make up my choice of the best World XI of December 1997.
But I am prepared to place this as the best team in my knowledge
and experience. To make up for the regret of leaving out so many
quality players, I pick the XI to play this World XI.
The Alternate World XI
Mike Atherton
Lance Klusener
Mark Waugh
Mohammad Azharuddin
Arjuna Ranatunga (captain)
Inzamam-ul Haq
Hansie Cronje
Andy Flower (wicket-keeper)
Anil Kumble
Aaqib Javed
Glenn McGrath
12th man: Ricky Pointing
R Mohan, former cricket correspondent for The Hindu, is a frequent contributor to these pages.
R Mohan
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