World Test Over-30 XI: The veterans

Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.-AldousHuxleyThere is a reason why veterans are always in demand. It is because they are veterans, they have seen grasses of several grounds change colour while their own hair turned grey.I thought it will be funto make a team of players who areagedover30 but are still active i.e.not retired.This list is surely controversial as there are legends in this list anda few big names will miss out.Hence, I am also creatinga benchfor every position. The likes of Sehwag and Vettori miss out from the playing XI due to their longabsence while Michael Clarke loses the battle to AB de Villiers closely.NOTE: Records and age as on 2ndJuly 2014.

#1 Chris Rogers

If Virender Sehwag had not been absent for so long, he would have been my choice for this position. If Chris Gayle was in at least some form, he would have been the second choice. Alas! None of that is the case.

Chris Rogers of Australia remains the only viable choice. His recent first class form has been exceptional, much like his entire first-class career, decorated with 69 hundreds and 102 fifties. He has scored a total of 22364 runs at a batting average of over 50 in 269 games.

Only if he had got a chance earlier, his Test records would have been far more impressive, but he has contributed impressively for Australia in Ashes and remains a great bet at the top of the order.

Age: 36 years 306 days

Records:

Matches: 14, Innings: 27

Runs: 1030, Average: 38.14

Highest Score: 119, Hundreds: 4, Fifties: 5

Reserve: Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle

#2 Hashim Amla

He has been absolutely tremendous over last few years, consolidating Proteas’ top order in all formats. His Test form though, continues to reap like old wine. He is just getting better and better.

Putting him out of a Test squad will be a crime given his temperament and patience on the pitch. He may not be an opener in Tests for SA, but he has ample experience opening in ODIs and that means he can come out to face the new ball.

Sorry Gautam Gambhir, you have been highly inconsistent and rather absent for last year and half. You may sit on bench.

Age: 31 years 91 days

Records:

Matches: 76, Innings: 132

Runs: 6214, Average: 51.35

Highest Score: 311, Hundreds: 21, Fifties: 27

Reserve: Gautam Gambhir

#3 Kumar Sangakkara (c) (wk)

People are talking about him being the greatest batsman of all time. There is this whole new controversy about that story. Greatest or not, Sanga is one of the all time legends when it comes to batting. His cool headed clinical approach to cricket, whether he is batting, keeping the stumps or captaining his side, is absolutely amazing.

In the recently concluded Test series in England, he was the shining star. He broke records and won hearts. Take a bow Sanga!

His inclusion means that MS Dhoni and Brendon McCullum will be sitting out. Sorry guys, he is just too good!

Age: 36 years 246 days

Records:

Matches: 124, Innings: 213

Runs: 11493, Average: 58.63

Highest Score: 319, Hundreds: 36, Fifties: 48

Only if he is injured: Younis Khan

#4 AB de Villiers

He is arguably the best batsman in the world today, his fielding is second to none and his records stupendous.

VVS Laxman calls him the most complete batsman of present times with exceptional batting technique.

You can not find flaws when AB is batting. Let’s just stop talking and adore his suave and swag.

Michael Clarke though shall sit out despite his greatness to make way for this gentleman.

Age: 30 years 135 days

Records:

Matches: 92, Innings: 154

Runs: 7164 , Average: 51.94

Highest Score: 278*, Hundreds: 19, Fifties: 35

Other options: Michael Clarke, Ian Bell

#5 Mahela Jayawardene

When cricket’s greatest batsmen are talked about, Mahela remains the least hyped and talked about performer along with the man next on the list. These guys have been the best their teams had for over a decade.

Jayawardene has this amazing knack of playing long marathon innings. He is one of those special names who have completed 10,000 runs in both ODIs and Tests. He is one of the most elegant player to watch while batting.

Age: 37 years 36 days

Records:

Matches: 145, Innings: 244

Runs: 11493, Average: 50.18

Highest Score: 374, Hundreds: 33, Fifties: 48

Reserves for the position: Ross Taylor , Brendon McCullum

#6 Shivnarine Chanderpaul

The most successful Caribbean in Tests after only Brian Lara, Chanderpaul has been the spine of West Indies Test team for last 2 decades. He, much like Jayawardene, goes under the radar most of the times but that has not stopped this southpaw from becoming one of the greatest Test batsmen of all time.

Let’s not even start counting the countless times he saved his side from hopeless situations. He is also one of the most respected veterans in cricket fraternity.

Age: 39 years 320 days

Records:

Matches: 156, Innings: 266

Runs: 11414, Average: 51.88

Highest Score: 203*, Hundreds: 29, Fifties: 63

Only in case he is injured he can be replaced by: Misbah-Ul-Haq, MS Dhoni

#7 Mitchell Johnson

A once in a generation bowler and arugably the best bowler today contending only with Dale Steyn.

He bowls with a slight awkward action but ever since his return, has found the hitherto missing accuracy to make it unplayable for batsmen. His performance last season has granted him a legendary status Down Under.

Age: 32 years 242 days

Records:

Matches: 59, Innings: 113

Wickets: 264, Average: 27.42

Best Bowling: 8/61, 5WI: 12, 10WM: 3

Reserve - Ryan Harris

#8 Rangana Herath

A very underrated bowler, Herath had the impossible task to carry on from where Muttiah Muralitharan left. No one can fill Murali’s shoes, but this man has been getting the job done for his team for quite some time now. He recently added “mystery ball” into his arsenal making him a tricky customer to face.

He gets a pick over the likes of Vettori and Harbhajan despite their better records because he has been on the scene while they have totally vanished.

Age: 36 years 106 days

Records:

Matches: 53, Innings: 95

Wickets: 225, Average: 30.51

Best Bowling: 7/89, 5WI: 17, 10WM: 3

Reserve: Daniel Vettori

#9 Saeed Ajmal

Batsmen have found him one of the toughest spinners to face in recent times. His deadly combo of flight and speed suffocates the batsmen so much so that they finally perish. For any bowling fan, he is a treat to watch.

Ajmal has been an absolute asset for Pakistan and World cricket. Wish he had entered cricket a bit earlier, his records would have been as good as he himself is. For someone who played his first Test at 32, his stats are still pretty impressive.

Age: 36 years 262 days

Records:

Matches: 33, Innings: 63

Wickets: 169, Average: 27.46

Best Bowling: 7/55, 5WI: 9, 10WM: 4

Reserve: Harbhajan Singh

#10 Dale Steyn

He would feature in any playing XI of last 20 years. He is now deemed as the greatest bowler of present era and his ability to generate pace as well as keep it as straight as a pinpoint is absolutely horrifying for the batters.

Its a priviledge that we live in Dale Steyn era.

Age: 31 years 6 days

Records:

Matches: 72, Innings: 136

Wickets: 362, Average: 23.01

Best Bowling: 7/51, 5WI: 22, 10WM: 5

Reserve: Zaheer Khan

#11 James Anderson

He has been England’s best bet in bowling since Andrew Caddick and Darren Gough. His first stint in international cricket might have been ordinary and rather inconsistent but his second innings has been scintillating. After playing 94 Test matches, he finds himself as one of the most experienced and successful bowlers in English Test cricket history.

Age: 31 years 338 days

Records:

Matches: 94, Innings: 175

Wickets: 355, Average: 30.36

Best Bowling: 7/43, 5WI: 15, 10WM: 2

Reserve: Mohammad Irfan