How a World Test XI could line up in 2020

Virat Kohli | India

Virat Kohli is regarded as the finest cricket in the world across all formats

There are a lot of players who could have filled in the middle order in this XI. England’s Joe Root is a fine batsman, but at times hasn’t quite made the most of his talent, especially since being made the captain. Pakistan’s Babar Azam is one of the best players to watch in world cricket and has really found his feet in Test cricket of late, having previously dominated in white ball cricket.

But it is impossible to leave out Virat Kohli who is possibly the most recognised and revered player still playing the game. He has had a difficult time in certain conditions, but has improved on that part of his game. He has scored 7,240 Test runs, and an average of just under 54, while scoring an impressive 27 tons.

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Ben Stokes | England

Very few players have had as good a 12 months as Ben Stokes in international cricket. He had a fine World Cup, and then played a superb innings in the final to take England to a Super Over, in which he played a part in taking his side to victory in perhaps the finest ODI game ever played. Then in the subsequent Ashes series, he played one of the great Test match innings of all time, hitting a brilliant 135 not out as England chased down 359, putting on a terrific 76-run partnership with number 11 Jack Leach.

The remarkable thing about Stokes, is that he turns up when England need him most. His statistics may not suggest that he is a great cricketer yet, but he may be the first name on the team sheet for any team in world cricket. He averages over 36 in Test cricket with nine hundreds, and has also had an impact with the ball, picking up 147 wickets, at an average of under 33.