Wisden announces Test XI of the decade; names Virat Kohli as captain 

The XI features some outstanding cricketers who have done a remarkable service to the Test match game.

Virat Kohli leads Wisden's Test XI of the decade | GettyAs the decade nears its end, Wisden went about enlisting a Test XI featuring cricketers who have done remarkably well for their respective countries in the longest format of the game over the last 10 years. 

After many discussions and debates over each name that they came across, an elite panel picked a great side at the behest of Wisden. 

Former England captain Alastair Cook was selected to open alongside Australia's David Warner for their outstanding record in the phase; while Cook retired last year after 8,818 runs at 46.41 in 111 Tests since the beginning of 2010, Warner tallies 7,009 runs at 48.33 in 82 Tests. 

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Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara has been slotted at No.3 with 4,851 runs at 61.40 in 46 Tests in the accounted for. Followed by the amazing Steve Smith, who just can't help but keep scoring runs for Australia, with his record in this period giving an astonishing read - 7,072 runs at 63.14 in 71 Tests. 

Virat Kohli has been appointed the leader of this team for a successful record as India captain and dominating bowling attacks all over the world with his bat, scoring 7,202 runs at 54.97 in 82 Test matches.  

AB de Villiers, who made batting look so easy before his untimely retirement last year, also features in this line-up with 5,059 runs at 57.48 in 60 Tests for South Africa this decade. 

England's Ben Stokes is the team's premier all-rounder as he has done fantastically well with both bat and ball; 3738 runs at 35.94 and 137 wickets at 33.45 since his Test debut. 

Interestingly, the panel didn't pick the Australian Nathan Lyon and instead went for India's Ravichandran Ashwin as the team's lone spinner. But Ashwin, to his credit, has taken a remarkable 362 wickets at 25.36 in just 70 Tests since his debut in 2011. 

The fast bowling attack includes both Dale Steyn and James Anderson besides young Kagiso Rabada with their stellar records; Steyn taking 267 wickets at 22.29 in 59 Tests this decade followed by Anderson (427 wickets at 24.19 in 105 Tests) and Rabada (183 wickets at 22.50 in 40 Tests). 

Wisden's Test XI of the Decade: Alastair Cook, David Warner, Kumar Sangakkara, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dale Steyn, James Anderson, Kagiso Rabada 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 24 Dec, 2019

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