Englishman Stuart Broad (AP/PTI)
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has unveiled a toughest Test XI made up entirely of players he faced during his illustrious international career, and the selection has already sparked debate among cricket fans.Broad, who finished his Test career with 604 wickets and ranks among the most successful of their bowlers, was asked by Wisden to assemble his latest team of opponents he had faced over nearly two decades at the highest level.
The English great picked a squad packed with some of the best cricketers of the modern era, although some notable omissions were immediately apparent.At the top of the order, Broad selected former South Africa captain Graeme Smith alongside Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara.
While Sangakkara enjoyed enormous success as a specialist batsman during the latter stages of his career, Broad assigned him wicket-keeping duties in the side.Australian icon Ricky Ponting finished third, while Virat Kohli finished fourth. Kohli emerged as the only Indian representative in the line-up, ahead of several other legendary names from the country.One omission that caught the eye is Sachin Tendulkar. Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket, the former India star did not find a place in Broad’s final selection despite the Englishman having bowled against him during his playing days.
The middle order features two modern-day giants of the game. Steven Smith was named fifth, while South African legend Jacques Kallis was named sixth. Kallis also acts as the only true all-rounder in the team, adding tremendous balance with his contributions with both bat and ball.AB de Villiers was named at No. 7, providing explosive firepower and extra cover to keep wickets if required.When it came to the bowling attack, Broad seemed to have little difficulty making his choices.The pace battery is led by former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, whose aggressive outbursts have troubled scalpers around the world. South Africa joined him with great frequency
Dale Stein
one of the most feared fast bowlers of his generation.Another Australian left-arm spinner, Mitchell Starc, completed the three-man seam attack, while Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan was named as the only specialist fielder in the team.
Muralitharan remains the leading wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket.It was another surprising omission
Jasprit Bumrah
. The Indian pacer has established himself as one of the best fast bowlers of the modern era and shares a memorable relationship with Broad.In 2022, Bumrah smashed Broad for 35 runs in a single match at Edgbaston, setting the record for the most expensive run in the history of Test cricket and helping to create one of the most memorable moments of the England bowler’s career.Broad’s final line-up ultimately reflects the players who made the biggest impact on him during his time in international cricket, providing a fascinating look at the opponents he rates highest after years of competing against some of the game’s greatest stars.Stuart Broad’s 11th Test all-time (against opponents): Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Mitchell Johnson, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan, Mitchell Starc.