The ideal Test XI of cricketers who made their debut in the first decade of the 21st century

#8 Graeme Swann (2008- 2014)

Swann- A late bloomer

The first English spinner to register fifty wickets in a calendar year (2009), Graeme Swann came as a fresh breath of air to England's long-standing search for a quality spinner.

Swann had a sensational debut in 2008 when he claimed Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid in his very first over- only the second instance for a debutant.

In a career spanning over six years, Swann claimed 255 Test wickets (only the second English spinner after Derek Underwood) at an average of 29.97 playing crucial roles in England's 2010-11 Ashes win Down Under before combing with Monty Panesar in 2012 to script a memorable 2-1 series win in India after 28 years.

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#9 Dale Steyn (2004- present)

The greatest fast bowler of this generation

One of the most endearing sights of the 21st century has been Dale Steyn running in full-throttle, clocking 150+ kph, shaping his conventional out-swinger from a leg-side length and knocking the top of off-stump.

Steyn made his debut alongside a certain rookie AB de Villiers in 2004 and announced himself with a vicious outswinger to England's captain Michael Vaughn. However, with just three wickets in his first game, Steyn was dropped from the side that boasted of stalwarts like Pollock and Ntini for not possessing the 'intensity' of a fast bowler.

Steyn's strike-rate (42.06) is second only to England's George Lohmann in the history of the game

On his second coming after a series of ousters from the side, Steyn had become a monster with a cranked up pace and searing intensity during the 2007 tour of Pakistan and subsequent home series against the Kiwis, to nail his spot in the team.

Steyn's legacy would forever be the pivotal role that he played in making South Africa the best traveling side of the 21st century, decimating Australia in 2008-09 and claiming 7-51 on a flat wicket at Nagpur to script a memorable innings win in 2010.

The fastest to reach 250 wickets for South Africa, Steyn is currently locked with Shaun Pollock with 421 wickets to become the leading wicket-taker for the Rainbow Nation.