Your World Test XI 2012
 

What is it? (only pick on performances in 2012)

For mine....

1. Cook
2. Smith
3. Amla
4. Kallis
5. Clarke
6. Chanderpaul
7. Prior
8. Philander
9. Herath
10. Siddle
11. Ajmal

Had a lot of trouble with the bowlers, batting seems fairly simple though.

throwing Roach/Hearath/Anderson/Veron out there

Batting:
Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Bowling:
Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo


Can't really argue with your side much. On those raw stats you could definitely make cases for Samuels or Roach I suppose but they mainly did their damages against Bangladesh's bowlers and New Zealand's batsmen respectively which puts it into context a bit.

1. Alistair Cook
2. Graeme Smith
3. Hashim Amla
4. Jacques Kallis/Marlon Samuels
5. Michael Clarke
6. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
7. Matt Prior+
8. Vernon Philander
9. Peter Siddle
10. Kemar Roach/Herath
11. Saeed Ajmal

Cook
Warner
Amlaaaa
Kallis
Clarke
Hussey
Prior
Philander
Steyn
Anderson
Ajmal

With the caveat that we only pick on 2012 performances this is easy.

Cook
Smith
Amla
Kallis
Clarke
Hussey
Prior
Philander or Herath if it's turning
Steyn
Ajmal
Anderson

I know Herath's taken ****loads of poles at ****-all but Ajmal has been clearly the best spinner this year IMO. Just hasn't played that many Tests. Anderson's actually been a bit below-part for much of the year but saves himself by his work in India which was top class.

And as good as Chanders has been, so has Hussey and he's a much, much better #6 than Chanders or really anyone else you care to name. I'm not picking Chanders at 6, sorry. 5 or above, fine, but those spots are taken and Chanders would be a really, really poor #6 IMO.

chanders puffed himself up against bangers

someone needs to call me out over my warner selection, but he's scored only a smidge less runs than smith, played a couple of blinders, and fits in the lineup well too imo. smith would also be a destabilising force in the changeroom, he'd never handle clarkeh's aggressive and innovative captaincy

Nah, Smith wouldn't be destabilising at all IMO. Not in his MO. Warner's scored some blinders, but Smith is a tough ****nugget and that's always handy. Perfect 1st/2nd slip too, though Warner is amazing at point.

Would select Ian Bell to play at short leg

otherwise fine

look if you want to pick a comedy XI start a new thread

Howe_zat got told!

I think Chanderpaul often loses out in exercises like this because he has the technique of a number 6 but the temperament of a number 3. He bats five for the West Indies as a matter of choice so you'd think he'd make a perfectly good six, but in reality he'd probably get stranded quite a bit.

Yeah that's the thing. You wouldn't get anything like the output you'd expect (even if his stats look awesome) because he keeps getting stuck. Don't think he'd work brilliantly with the tail either, as opposed to Muss who'd squeeze every last run out of the lower order.

How did Chanders go against Australia again this year? Can't remember.