All-time Test XI described by cricketing quotes

Lower middle order

This would be a scary batting line-up to come up against

#5 Sir Vivian Richards

"Viv kept you waiting. He would take guard, head tilted back slightly and cudding his gum, walk a few paces down the pitch to tap it while looking the bowler in the eye. It was calculated menace and magnificent theatre."

"So far forward could he get that he was able to plant that left foot outside the line of off, at once eliminating lbw and creating his own leg stump line from where he would flick bowlers relentlessly through mid-wicket? Or he might send a similar ball skimming through extra cover. He hooked devastatingly and never wore a helmet, rocking back from his front-foot base to take the ball from his eye-line in front of square. Occasionally, he would block an over in immaculate fashion. Then, refreshed, off he would go again." - S Berry

#6 Sir Garfield Sobers (C)

"A lot of people thought of Sobers as a natural who just played the game and did not think a hell of a lot. But he was very thoughtful. They were playing in England and Boycott came to him one day and said, "Garry, you seem to get me out lbw a lot. I don't understand it." Garry was quite good psychologically as well. He said, "Unlike a lot of people, I don't think your technique is that good." That would have cut Boycott to the quick because he prided himself on his technique. "Your front foot is too far across. You can't get your bat around your pad and my in-swinger gets you lbw." They go out on the field next day. Boycott is batting. Sobers runs up, angles it across, Boycott edges, gets caught at slip. As he is walking off, Sobers says to him, "Geoffrey, you didn't ask me about the other one." - I Chappell

#7. Adam Gilchrist

"It is simplistic to say that Gilly is an exciting batsman. But I doubt anyone bats with the same abandon or sense of certainty in strokeplay. He is lean and sinewy, with strong forearms that swing freely in his high back-lift and follow-through."

"Quick of eye and reflexes, he can adjust in a nanosecond to play off the front or back foot. I have not dwelt too much on his wicket-keeping because that is a given, otherwise, he would never have made it to this level. Gilchrist keeps wicket with great athleticism. Find me a More Valuable Player." - A Memon