Stuart Broad Names His All-Time Test XI, Excluding Cricket Icon Sachin Tendulkar

Selecting an all‑time Test XI is never a straightforward task, especially for a player who spent nearly two decades competing against the sport’s greatest talents. Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad tackled that challenge by naming his best Test XI composed exclusively of players he faced throughout his illustrious international career.

Broad, who finished with more than 600 Test wickets and carved a place as one of England’s premier seamers, listed his selections while reflecting on the toughest opponents he encountered. Unsurprisingly, his lineup includes a constellation of legendary batters, all‑rounders, and bowlers who have dominated the longest format across different eras.

Opening up the top spot, Broad chose two iconic captains: Graeme Smith of South Africa, who finished with over 9,000 runs, and Kumar Sangakkara, one of the most elegant Test batters, who amassed 12,400 runs and also provided wicket‑keeping cover. In the middle order, he assembled a trio of Australian greats: Ricky Ponting at No. 3, followed by Virat Kohli at No. 4 and Steve Smith at No. 5. The inclusion of Kohli is noteworthy as he is the sole Indian player in Broad’s XI.

At No. 6, Broad selected the legendary South African all‑rounder Jacques Kallis, widely regarded as one of the finest all‑rounders ever, combining over 13,000 Test runs with nearly 300 wickets. The final opening batting spot went to former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, whose versatility and ability to adapt earned him 8,765 Test runs at an average above 50.

A World‑Class Bowling Attack Featuring Pace and Spin Legends

Broad’s bowling selection was equally decisive. He chose the two left‑arm pacers, Australia’s Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, both known for their pace and aggression. Joining them was South African great Dale Steyn, whose pace, swing, and accuracy gathered him 439 Test wickets. The lone spinner in the side was Sri Lankan icon Muttiah Muralitharan, the highest wicket‑taker in Test history with 800 wickets.

While Broad’s XI is a collection of some of the sport’s greatest names, the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run‑scorer in Test history with 15,921 runs and 51 centuries, sparked considerable discussion among fans.

Stuart Broad’s Greatest Test XI

• Graeme Smith
• Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
• Ricky Ponting
• Virat Kohli
• Steve Smith
• Jacques Kallis
• AB de Villiers
• Mitchell Johnson
• Mitchell Starc
• Dale Steyn
• Muttiah Muralitharan

Source link