World Test Championship final: Pick your combined India & New Zealand team

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Virat Kohli and Kane WilliamsonImage source, Getty Images
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Who would join Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson in a combined India and New Zealand Test team?

India and New Zealand are battling it out in the World Test Championship final, but who would make a combined XI from the two best teams on the planet?

Batters Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson are surely shoo-ins, but who keeps wicket? And how do you choose between all of those quality fast bowlers?

You can pick your side below, with help from some analysis from the BBC Test Match Special team, who have picked their XI.

You can follow the remainder of the World Test Championship final on Test Match Special, with video highlights on the BBC Sport website.

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The openers

Your selection meeting begins with one of the most difficult decisions - picking between openers Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tom Latham and Devon Conway.

Latham has the best record, he averages 47 as an opener since 2017, Rohit is the most destructive, Gill the rising star while Conway has made a remarkable start to his Test career, with a double century on debut.

Phil Tufnell, ex-England spinner: You have to have Rohit in there. The elegance, the poise, the power, the aggressive nature who can take the game away from you. I wouldn't fancy bowling at him.

Andy Zaltzman, TMS statistician: Conway is the first player to score a double hundred on debut and follow it with a half-century in their second and third Tests.

Tufnell: It is a little bit tough on Latham but from what I have seen on Conway he seems to have the all-round game.

TMS picks: Rohit and Conway

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Rohit Sharma averages 46.69 in 38 Tests for India

The middle order

As two modern greats, Williamson and Kohli look to be certainties with India's number three Cheteshwar Pujara another option.

There's a more intriguing battle for the number five spot after that between New Zealand pair Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls or India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Zaltzman: Pujara seems to be a player in decline. On current form, I don't think he can put up a challenge, although he's been a fine player for many years.

Tufnell: I'd have Kohli at four. If you lose one of the openers early, I want Williamson at three and Kohli at four when the ball's a bit older and the bowlers are a bit tired. Taylor has bags of experience and gives you a bit more attacking flair than Rahane.

Zaltzman: Nicholls is not a particularly flamboyant player but very consistent. On recent form, you might have him above Taylor, but Taylor has also been one of the finest slip catchers in the history of Test cricket.

TMS picks: Williamson, Kohli, Taylor

The wicketkeeper and spinner

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The choice of a wicketkeeper is a decision between two world-class performers but also a choice of style, between the obdurate BJ Watling or the attacking flair of Rishabh Pant.

With the Kiwis not fielding a front-line spinner in the World Test Championship final, the spin option is a shootout between India team-mates Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Tufnell: It has got to be Pant at six. He's a box-office player. He can turn a game in a session. Watling is a very good player, but I'm looking for entertainment.

Simon Mann, TMS commentator: I'd be loathe to leave out Pant. I want to be entertained. I saw Watling's double century against England in Mount Maunganui, but I'd rather watch an hour of Pant.

Tufnell: Jadeja hasn't got as much mystery as Ashwin. On flat pitches, Ashwin threatens both edges of the bat, Jadeja doesn't.

TMS picks: Pant and Ashwin

The fast bowlers

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New Zealand's Tim Southee is currently third in the ICC Test bowling rankings

Now comes another incredibly difficult selection decision between two of the best fast bowling line-ups in world cricket.

New Zealand have Kyle Jamieson, who has a remarkable 44 wickets in seven-and-a-half Tests, experienced duo Trent Boult and Tim Southee, plus Neil Wagner - the fifth-ranked bowler in the world.

India's current pace attack is arguably their greatest ever with Ishant Sharma's skill, Mohammed Shami's accuracy and movement and Jasprit Bumrah's unorthodox brilliance.

Tufnell: Jamieson has got to be at seven. He is tall, swings it, performed beautifully here, and he can bat too. Another reason for picking Ashwin, is I'm picking left-armer Boult who will create footmarks outside off stump to the right-handers. Bumrah is in too.

Zaltzman: Bumrah has 83 Test wickets in 19 Tests - the best start to a Test career by an Indian seamer. He has been very successful in Australia too, among the best visiting bowlers.

Tufnell: After that, I'm going to plump for Southee but it could be any of those remaining. Southee can give it a whack down the order, and he's also a good slipper which is where all the fielders are going to be for this team!

TMS picks: Jamieson, Southee, Bumrah, Boult

But have TMS got it right? Pick your team using the selector above.