The Ultimate Test XI of the 21st century

Spinners:

#8 Shane Warne (Australia) Tests 61 | Wickets 342 | BB 7/94 | Ave 24.82 | Econ 2.96 | SR 50.3 | 5w 21 | Runs 1,542 | HS 99 | Ave 20.01 | SR 64.3 | 50s 8

Shane Warne bowling in his final Test.

Shane Warne redefined leg-spin bowling. There was skill, street-smartness and the ability to toy with a batter’s psyche. If 1990s saw him evolve as a magician, the 21st century witnessed a more attacking version.

England and South Africa aren't the best places to bowl if you are a spinner. Warne would defy the odds and prove to be a threat in these countries too.

Such was Warne’s charisma and skill-set that we often end up not talking about other aspects of his game. An excellent tactical mind, he was also a handy bat with good technique and an exceptional slip fielder.

A magnet to controversies, Warne’s penchant for trouble robbed the world of more of his artistry. Otherwise, cricket shall always be indebted to Warne.

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#9 Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

Tests 75 | Wickets 498 | BB 9/51 | Ave 21.23 | Econ 2.49 | SR 51 | 5w 43

Spin wizard - Muttiah Muralitharan

Wouldn't it be a treat to watch Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan bowling together? Despite the phenomenal numbers, the Sri Lankan wasn't an automatic choice in this line-up. It eventually became a contest between the two Tamilians from the subcontinent, with Muralitharan just managing to make the cut above India's Ravichandran Ashwin.

Considering the existing batting strength of the side, let's ignore Ashwin's batting prowess. Muralitharan bowled in an era where batters averaged more, and that worked in his favor in getting the nod. But the margin was very close, considering the impact Ashwin had on India's rise as the best Test side for the majority of the last 10 years.

Muralitharan was able to run through the sides, and he did it consistently. He could turn it on any surface and bowl all day. Unlike Warne, who had plenty of support from the other Australian bowlers, the Sri Lankan had only Chamind to fall back on.

Although he struggled in places like Australia and South Africa, he won games single-handedly whenever he found a little opening. Like Warne, Murali had his bouts with controversies, but they were related to his bowling action.

With a record 1,347 international wickets, Muralitharan was arguably the most impactful cricketer of the century.

Notable miss: Ravichandran Ashwin (India)

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Pacers:

#10 Dale Steyn (South Africa)

Tests 93 | Wickets 439 | BB 7/51 | Ave 22.95 | Econ 3.24 | SR 42.3 | 5w 26

Dale Steyn

Had injuries not plagued Dale Steyn’s career since 2015, he would have owned many bowling records. He picked up wickets across the world, which enabled South Africa not to lose an away series between 2006 and 2015. Steyn’s forte lay in accuracy and ability to swing it both ways – all of it at an incredible pace.

South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in Tests and one of the all-time greats, Steyn had no peers and dominated the no.1 spot in the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014. Taking a cut-off of 200 wickets, Steyn has the second-best strike rate in the history of Test cricket.

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#11 Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Tests 58 | Wickets 258 | BB 8/24 | Ave 21.64 | Econ 2.49 | SR 51.9 | 5w 29

Glenn McGrath playing the Super Test against ICC World XI.

An easy pick here. Glenn McGrath was the catalyst who converted a brilliant Australian side into a near-invincible force. He did all this with no superpowers, but by devoting himself to bowling’s thumb rule – being consistent with line and length.

Conditions didn’t bother McGrath. He cashed in on the livelier surfaces and even made it count in the arid ones. In fact, he averaged 23 in the subcontinent. McGrath’s absence would have an impact on Australia’s win-loss ratio. When he played, it also lifted the performances of his colleagues, and one of the hallmarks of his performances was the quality of wickets he got.

McGrath was a rare breed and will stroll into most all-time sides.

Notable misses: James Anderson (England), Pat Cummins (Australia), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) and Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

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12th Man: Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Ravindra Jadeja takes a spectacular catch.

According to CricViz, Ravindra Jadeja is the second-most valuable cricketer of the 21st century. Averaging 35 with the bat and 24 with the ball, he’s an asset that helped India’s rise in the past six years. One of the finest all-round fielders in the game, it’s fitting that Jadeja is named the 12th man in the side.

Ultimate Test Team of the 21st Century: Graeme Smith (c), Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara, Steve Smith, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath.

12th man: Ravindra Jadeja