Last week, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year programme named the 'England Cricket Team' as the Team of the Year. These days, of course, there is no one international side and what they really meant was the Test squad. The ODI and T20 lot have been inconsistent but in the five-day game England have undoubtedly reigned supreme, beating Australia away and Sri Lanka and India at home on their way to becoming world number one. When compiling my multinational team of 2011, it is therefore no surprise that for once England have more members than any other country. There aren's even any Australians! Here is my selection.
Opening batsmen have not fared well this year. Is it because they are so used to going for their shots in one-day Powerplays that they forget how to build an innings? Is it the result of more teams opening their bowling with a mix of seam and spin? For whatever reason, only one genuine opener deserves his place and that is Alastair Cook. In only eight Tests across the year he nevertheless notched up 927 runs at an average of 84 and nobody can touch him. While so much attention was directed at Sachin Tendulkar and his quest for that 100th hundred, it is his old partner Rahul Dravid who has scored more Test runs than anyone else in 2011. Because of his previous credentials and unflappability, I'm promoting himto open with Cook!
There were lots of candidates for the middle order. Darren Bravo made a late bid with centuries against Bangladesh and India, while fellow West Indian Chanderpaul, Pietersen and Laxman all had reasonable years. However, at number three I have gone for Kumar Sangakkara, the only other batsman to pass 1000 runs, finishing the year with his fifth century. At four, Pakistan's Younis Khan is recognised for his consistency, although his unbeaten 200 came against Bangladesh in December. Ian Bell has to be there. After all, nobody else finished the year with a three-figure batting average, outscoring even Cook.
I have opted for a traditional all-rounder rather than an extra batting specialist, and he comes in the form of Bangladeshi Shakib al Hasan. His ability as a left arm slow bowler has never been in doubt but his recent batting against Pakistan and the Windies on Asian pitches not known for being particularly kind to batsmen gives him the nod. There are no other obvious star Test all-rounders in world cricket at the moment.
For wicketkeeper, I have plumped for Matt Prior of England. If Sanga wore the gloves at Test level, he'd walk into the team but as he doesn't, the enthusiastic Sussex man deserves his place. Ever tidy behind the stumps, if not when near dressing room windows (!), his late-order strokeplay produced a 2011 average of almost 65, reaching three figures three times, and that's world-class.
Top wicket-taker this year (with 50) has been Pakistan's off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. Although he hasn't had the opportunity to test himself against the top ranked teams, his sheer volume of wickets just edges out Rangana Herath and colleague Abdur Rehaman for the second spinner spot. Seamers have also enjoyed a fine 2011. Later on, a raft of young quicks have enjoyed instant success. Think Pattinson, Cummins, Philander and now de Lange. However, I have picked three who performed well over a greater number of games this year. James Anderson has had a rollercoaster career which is now as high as it has ever been. He is probably the finest exponent of swing at pace in the game. Ravi Rampaul took fewer wickets (31) than Broad, Edwards or Umar Gul but his average (25) and economy rate were excellent and the Trinidadian proved his worth against Pakistan and India (home and away), whie also showing he can bat a bit, too.
Standing head and shoulders above all other Test bowlers is Dale Steyn. South Africa played few matches this year but whenever he had the opportunity he demonstrated his value to his country. He just never seems to have a bad game and ended the year with another 'five for' against Sri Lanka. Regularly claiming around five wickets per match at around only 20 apiece he is truly remarkable and is an automatic choice to round off my Test XI of 2011.
Cook (Eng), Dravid (Ind), Sangakkara (Sri L), Younis Khan (Pak), Bell (Eng), Shakib (Bang), Prior (Eng), Rampaul (WI), Steyn (SA), Anderson (Eng), Saeed Ajmal (Pak).
Now look out for my one-day team of the year, coming shortly!
