The Wisden Test XI of 2009 was chosen with no fundamental disagreementsamong the selectors, although some countries played too little Test cricket tosupply much evidence of individual worth
18-Aug-2010The Wisden Test XI of 2009 was chosen with no fundamental disagreementsamong the selectors, although some countries played too little Test cricket tosupply much evidence of individual worth. There was an unhealthy lack ofcontact between West and East: New Zealand were the only non-Asian countryto complete a Test series against an Asian one in 2009 (excluding Bangladesh’svictories over a below-strength West Indies). Direct comparisons weretherefore more difficult in the absence of head-to-head confrontations.Our Test XI consists of the eleven cricketers who received either two orthree votes from the panel of three selectors, all of them prominentcommentators. This year they were the West Indian fast bowler Ian Bishop;Ian Chappell, who captained Australia in the 1970s; and the former Indian allrounderRavi Shastri.Four members of the Wisden Test XI were unanimous choices: KumarSangakkara, although his position in the batting order was the subject ofdispute; Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the wicketkeeper, captain and No. 7, like lastyear; Mitchell Johnson, the one unanimous selection among the world’s fastbowlers; and Graeme Swann, unopposed as the first-choice spinner, a fineachievement for one who was virtually a newcomer to Test cricket.Bishop, always on the look-out for new talent, did not select the sometimesinjured Virender Sehwag to open for the Wisden Test XI, which is basedmore on form than the Leading Cricketer of the World, where class dictates.But the others did. Shastri defines Sehwag as “simply the most destructiveopener”; to Chappell, Sehwag is “the type of player who keeps opposingcaptains awake at night, and he produced the feat of the year in scoring 284off 79 overs against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.”Andrew Strauss was selected by Bishop and Chappell as the secondopening batsman, but not by Shastri, who preferred Gautam Gambhir. Chappellnotes that Strauss in 2009 enhanced his reputation as a batsman and skipper;Bishop says he led England with “distinction”, and his team depended on hisbatting and captaincy, while observing that Chris Gayle and Simon Katich hadbeen “very impressive” too. As for Graeme Smith, he enjoyed a wonderfulyear in 2008, and at the start of 2010, but not in between.As Gautam Gambhir – who got two votes, like Sehwag and Strauss – is afine player of spin, he is the opener who has to drop down to No. 3, in theopinion of the convenor, the editor. Shastri believes Gambhir is the finestplayer of spin among all contemporary openers: this was demonstrated notleast when India had to follow on in New Zealand and Gambhir batted Indiato safety over ten hours in scoring 137 against Daniel Vettori. He hit fourcenturies in his nine Test innings in 2009.Sachin Tendulkar still holds on to the No. 4 position, in the eyes of Bishopand Shastri. In fact Shastri, who has probably seen more of Tendulkar’s batting- as team-mate and commentator – than anybody, thinks he is better than ever:”His hunger hasn’t diminished after 20 years in the game, and he seems tohave more time for his shots than a few years ago.” Tendulkar, he says, is”more relaxed” too, or at least he gives the impression that the pressure on himaffects him less.Kumar Sangakkara, the only unanimous choice among the batsmen, wasNo. 3 in the eyes of Bishop – who thinks the Sri Lankan is “a class act theworld over” – and of Chappell, who rates Sangakkara “an ideal No. 3 who canrecover a poor start or counter-attack”. Somebody, however, has to drop downand Shastri, who had opted for Ricky Ponting as his No. 3, voted forSangakkara as his No. 5, just ahead of Mahela Jayawardene, “one of the best timers on a slow wicket of all time”. Sangakkara has had relativelymore successoutside Asia than his team-mate, and can act as reserve wicketkeeper.Although his normal position is No. 4, JacquesKallis has to give way to Tendulkar and drop to No. 6.There, as Shastri says, “Kallis’s technique can counter the second new ball,and his hunger – like Sachin’s – has not diminished, and he is batting moreaggressively.” Chappell, who would have had Kallis at No. 4, calls him “oneof the most underrated quiet achievers in the game”. Chappell would also havehad Tillekeratne Dilshan, as “perhaps the most improved performer of theyear. He has benefited from a promotion to the top of Sri Lanka’s order but inthis side he could move things along quickly at No. 6.”Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the unanimous choice as captain and keeper, ledIndia to No. 1 in the Test rankings last year, for the first time. Indeed, by theend of 2009 Dhoni had yet to lose a Test match, let alone a series while incharge. “A man who handles multiple roles with aplomb and always seems tomake runs when they are needed,” Chappell calls him. Shastri, who haswatched him so often, observes that Dhoni “is a superb leader of men as hecan look after egos”.Although he was wayward in the Ashes series, shunning the limelight andthe new ball, the fast left-handed Mitchell Johnson was still the one unanimousselection among the world’s pace bowlers. “By sheer numbers he is the leadingfast bowler of the year,” Bishop notes: Johnson took 63 Test wickets in his 13Tests. “At times he is inaccurate and inconsistent, but even during thoseperiods he still takes wickets,” says Chappell, “and he has the great attribute oftaking wickets in groups.”Graeme Swann was unanimously selected as the specialist spinner•Getty ImagesGraeme Swann was unanimously selected as the specialist spinner,supplanting Harbhajan Singh from last year’s XI. Shastri, a former spinnerhimself, said that playing so much 50- and 20-over cricket during the yearmade Harbhajan lose his flight and pitch too short. He admires Swann’sattitude: “He is aggressive and likes the big stage, and he is improving all thetime.” Chappell remarks that Swann “would challenge Dilshan as the year’sbiggest improver. A wicket-taking spinner with good flight and variation whothinks aggressively in all departments of the game.” For good measure, asBishop says, Swann is “a valuable lower-order batsman”.Bishop, the fast-bowling expert on the panel, went for Peter Siddle’s”durability and aggression over the year, which has been impressive for arelatively young international player”. Chappell was tempted to give the WestIndian newcomer Kemar Roach a spot, but settled for Siddle because he “isstrong, relentless and always gives everything he’s got”. Shastri opted for DaleSteyn, but the South African was too often below par in 2009, and as theWisden Test XI pays heed to form, Siddle with 45 Test wickets beats Steynwith 22 at an average of 32.James Anderson takes the final position on the strength of the votes ofBishop and Shastri: and he would take the new ball with Siddle, allowingJohnson to be more comfortable as first change. According to Bishop: “BenHilfenhaus has grown and carried himself admirably in 2009. However, I feelAnderson as England’s leader in the bowling department has moved to the topof his game.” Shastri, who considered Mohammad Asif but thought he had notbowled quite enough, went for Anderson as “a match-winner in overcastconditions”.THE WISDEN TEST XI OF 2009
V. Sehwag (India)A. J. Strauss (England)G. Gambhir (India)S. R. Tendulkar (India)K. C. Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)J. H. Kallis (South Africa)*†M. S. Dhoni (India)M. G. Johnson (Australia)G. P. Swann (England)P. M. Siddle (Australia)J. M. Anderson (England)
