Ravi Shastri picks combined India-Australia Test XI ahead of WTC final

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New Delhi | Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed his combined Test XI, which includes players from India and Australia, the two finalists of the ICC World Test Championship.

As preparations for next month’s WTC final between India and Australia at The Oval gather pace, Shastri was faced with the unenviable task of naming his best combined XI.

The former India head coach admitted that he found the task tough due to the sheer number of world-class players on both sides. But, he picked a playing XI with four stars from India and seven stars from Australia.

Shastri, 60, is a long-time supporter of Rohit Sharma. He said that the India skipper gets a nod as captain over Australian counterpart Pat Cummins and consequently a spot as one of the two openers.

“I will give the captaincy to Rohit as he is much more experienced than Pat. He has captained the team for a longer period of time,” Shastri said in the latest episode of ICC Review.

He said, “If Steve Smith was Australia’s captain, it might have been a different story, but since it’s Pat Cummins and Rohit Sharma, Rohit wins it. Also, you know, as a captain, you Sure in the XI, that’s why he opens.”

According to Shastri, the decision of who will replace Rohit at the top of the order is a tough one, with Australian duo David Warner and Usman Khawaja and India’s rising right-hander Shubman Gill in the running for the crucial spot.

Only England star Joe Root has scored more runs than Khawaja during the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle and Shastri said the Australian left-hander should get a nod.

Shastri admitted, “There is a tough competition between Usman Khawaja and Shubman Gill. Shubman is a rising young star and he is a great player, but Usman Khawaja, the current form and the number of runs he has scored over the years, I think That he has reached the opening.”

The renowned commentator said it was an easy decision as to who bats at No.3, No.4 and No.5, with No.1 Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne and the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith the obvious choices to fill in. Number three is a no brainer as Labushen’s performance in Test match cricket has been stupendous. His average is close to 60, so he gets straight there.”

“Kohli is at number four for what he has done over the years and Smith is at number five for what he has done over the years,” he added.

Shastri is a big fan of Australia’s young all-rounder Cameron Green but believes that Ravindra Jadeja earns the slot to bat at No.6 because of his ability to act as a second spinning option. He said, “At number 6, I include Jadeja, because I believe he is one of the best all-rounders in the world.”

“We know there’s (England captain) Ben Stokes, but Ben’s got issues with his fitness, so Jadeja comes in there and gives a lot of balance to that team,” he added.

Australia keeper Alex Carey moved up as wicket-keeper and to bat ahead of India’s KS Bharath at No.7, while Shastri admitted that he had dropped India’s veteran Ravichandran Ashwin and brought Nathan Lyon up front in the playing XI. Found it difficult to pick as a line spinner.

Shastri said, “I picked Nathan Lyon ahead of Ashwin because Nathan has a good overseas record. Not just in Australia, but outside Australia and (Lyon) probably strong enough to bowl those overs in England if needed.” So he comes in with Jadeja as the second spinner, Jadeja as the all-rounder and Lyon as the spinner.”

The former India skipper said it was relatively easy to decide on the pace attack, with experienced left-armer Mitchell Starc providing variety along with the in-form right-armer duo.

Shastri noted, “(Pat) Cummins, definitely, for me, he is a top-class operator and Mohammed Shami, he is like vintage and he is getting better and better as we are seeing in this IPL.” They are. That’s why they come there.”

“And then it was also a tough one between (Josh) Hazlewood, Starc and Cameron Green. But I preferred Jadeja because you get a better balance with two spinners, three fast bowlers and I take Starc.”

Ravi Shastri’s combined India-Australia Test XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mohammed Shami

–IANS

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