Summary

  • BBC Sport readers' world Test XI

  • Current players only

  • First in weekly series of selectors

  • Next week: women's world T20 team

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:36 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    #bbccricket

    Matt Stubbs: Starc? That's ridiculous. Not even sure many Aussies would make an argument for his inclusion.

    Ryan Gilbert: It was all going so well up to 8 - then Starc and no spinner.

    Neil Virani: Thank you! After a very sensible XI with some discussion points, a true shocker for me to rage about.

  2. Postpublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Back to selections it's hard to argue with.

    Jasprit Bumrah might have the bowling action of a malfunctioning puppet, but he is thrilling to watch.

    Like Cummins, his numbers are barely believable. If India's tour of Australia later this year goes ahead, what a battle it will be between the two attacks.

  3. 10. Jasprit Bumrah (39%)published at 13:32 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    India

    Jasprit Bumrah graphicImage source, BBC Sport
  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Text 81111

    Wicketkeeper was my toughest pick and I just feel De kock is the best gloveman on the planet. Having Mark Boucher around the South African set up must help. What a wicketkeeper he was!

    Dave, Cheltenham

    De Kock fits well in this line-up given the batting up top but I'd have BJ Watling over him in any normal side with more fragility. Rohit Sharma has a shocking record away from home. Tom Latham deserved a place at the top.

    Jamie

  5. Postpublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    And, with that inclusion of Mitchell Starc, I can reveal that there will be no frontline spinner.

    Remember, I'm just the messenger here. You are the selectors.

    Buck passed...

  6. Postpublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Now, there's no doubt that in the right circumstances, Mitchell Starc can be absolutely devastating.

    Pace, swing, the left-arm option. But it also has the tendency to go a little awry, doesn't it?

    He's not always in Australia's first-choice XI.

    I wonder if those votes came from Alyssa Healy hitting refresh.

  7. 9. Mitchell Starc (35%)published at 13:27 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Australia

    Mitchell Starc graphicImage source, BBC Sport
  8. Postpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Yep, Cummins a shoo-in for me, but the next pick is, for my money, a little iffy.

    It has consequences, too...

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:24 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    #bbccricket

    Henry Wisson: 5 minutes to spare - my world Test team. (Selection criteria; Cutting off nose to spite face a prerequisite.)

    Henry Wisson world Test teamImage source, BBC Sport
  10. Postpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    If Steve Smith is England's biggest obstacle to regaining the Ashes next winter, then this man is a close second.

    Pat Cummins combines the accuracy of Glenn McGrath with the pace of Mitchell Johnson.

    Look at those numbers. Averaging 21.82 with a strike-rate of 47.2 is ridiculous.

  11. 8. Pat Cummins (63%)published at 13:21 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Australia

    Pat Cummins graphic
  12. Postpublished at 13:20 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    On to the bowlers.

    Remember that controversy I mentioned?

    Sit tight.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:18 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Text 81111

    Your tennis analogy is excellent because it means Root is Andy Murray - a good as any of the other three on his day but just not quite as consistently brilliant as the rest.

    Mash

  14. Postpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    There's no doubt Jos Buttler can do things mere mortals can only dream of, but he only averages 27 with the bat when he's keeping in Tests. No hundreds, either.

    That's not going to get you into a World XI.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    #bbccricket

    Michael Mueller: Why wasn’t Jos Buttler nominated? I know he had a poor Ashes series but he was magnificent against India and Pakistan in 2018 and ended both of the recent series with strong performances.

  16. Postpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    I'm a big fan of BJ Watling, too. Underrated.

  17. Postpublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    I said before that I thought the openers were an area of weakness for this World XI, and you might throw wicketkeepers in there too. At the moment, it doesn't feel like there is the weight of great keeper-batsmen that there has been in the recent past.

    Having said that, Quinton de Kock is some player, isn't he? Good enough to get in most teams as a batsman alone, and a helluva keeper.

  18. 7. Quinton de Kock (77%)published at 13:09 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    South Africa

    Quinton de KockImage source, BBC Sport
  19. My World Test teampublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special

    1. Tom Latham (NZ)
    2. Rohit Sharma (Ind)
    3. Virat Kohli (Ind)
    4. Steve Smith (Aus)
    5. Kane Williamson (NZ, capt)
    6. Ben Stokes (Eng)
    7. Quinton de Kock (SA, wk)
    8. Pat Cummins (Aus)
    9. Nathan Lyon (Aus)
    10. Josh Hazlewood (Aus)
    11. Jasprit Bumrah (Ind)
    • Coach: Mickey Arthur (SL)

    You didn't let me pick Ollie Pope, who would get in ahead of Williamson in my ideal XI. De Kock would then become captain.

  20. Postpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    The thing to notice with Stokes is those averages. Not too long ago, his batting and bowling numbers were very similar.

    Now, they are diverging, with the sign of the great all-rounders being that batting mark getting higher than the bowling.

    It's not just that, though. It's his influence on matches, force of personality and the ability to grasp the big moments.

    There is no World XI without Ben Stokes.