Test Team of the Year 2010
The last year of the first decade of the millennium saw some enthralling cricket being played, some records being broken, some players that refused to come out of their purple patch and some landmarks that might never be touched. As the year comes to an end, the following is the list of players that would make my Test team of the year.
- Virender Sehwag: The Nawab of Najafgarh had yet another remarkable year in Test cricket scoring 1365 runs in 13 matches and is an obvious selection for the opener’s slot. The blazing start he provides at the top is one of the prime reasons that India stands on top the ranking charts.
- Andrew Strauss (Captain): The Muppet, as he is called, didn’t have the best of years in 2010 where he averaged only 32 in 11 matches. However his captaincy instincts fetch him a place in my squad as the second opener ahead of the likes of Watson, Katich and Cook.
- Hashim Amla: With a beard as long as Santa Claus, Hashim Amla is an automatic choice for the No.3 place as he was just unstoppable in 2010 plundering 1200 runs in just 10 matches including a career best of 253* in India.
- Sachin Tendulkar: It would be next to impossible to pick a World team and not have a place for Sachin Tendulkar in it. In a year in which the maestro reached 50 Test centuries, he also scored 1543 runs at an average of over 85, making it one of the best years in his illustrious career.
- AB de Villiers: 2010 will be remembered as the year in which Abraham de Villiers came of age and transformed into a world class player. After showing glimpses of what was to come, De Villiers hammered 963 runs in just 16 innings including a South African best of 278*.
- Mike Hussey: Hussey’s recent form in the Ashes where he scored a half century every time he went out to bat in the first 3 Tests fetches him the No.6 slot in the team ahead of V.V.S Laxman and Ian Bell.
- Brendon McCullum (Wicketkeeper): Despite it being a year to forget for the Kiwis, McCullum ended up with an average of over 75. His gritty knock of 225 against India at Hyderabad fetches him the wicketkeeper’s slot ahead of Haddin and Dhoni.
- Graeme Swann: With 62 wickets in 13 matches and useful knocks down the order, Swann has no competition in bagging the spinner’s place in the team of the year.
- Dale Steyn: With a beautiful action complemented by stinging pace on even the flattest of surfaces, Steyn is the obvious choice to lead the pace attack.
- James Anderson: The right arm swing bowler from England had a glorious year bowling match winning spells in England, Australia and South Africa and is my choice to share the new ball with Steyn.
- Morne Morkel: The tall intimidating pacer, who has taken 44 wickets this year at an average of 24, completes my XI and makes it a quartet of players from South Africa.
Tags: AB de Villiers, Andrew Strauss, Brendon McCullum, Cricket, Dale Steyn, Graeme Swann, Hashim Amla, James Anderson, Mike Hussey, Morne Morkel, Sachin Tendulkar, Test Team, Virender Sehwag
