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Test Cricket: A World XI from the Moon

Pablo Luna - moonlighting for Betfair. We indulged Pablo's penchant for discussing his favourite test cricketers. Find his best World XI right here. You can play spot the Englishman, too.

The crash bang wallop of Twenty20 may be all the rage at the minute but Test Cricket is real cricket for the purists. Whilst accepting the fun and excitement of Twenty20 it lacks mental depth and profundity. It is capricious entertainment - not sport! I acknowledge that it has a rightful place in cricket, more so than the fatigued and dreary 50-over game but it will never possess the history, subtlety or enduring quality of Test Cricket!

Assessing current English Test Cricket I am struck with the fact that we would not have one player worthy of a place in a World X1 Test team and looking fervently on the horizon I see no one about to break through either. A damning indictment indeed! My present World XI Test team in batting order would be:

1. Matthew Hayden: Although this 'world sledging champion' is near his 'sell by date' I still prefer the belligerent left-hander to bolshie Graeme Smith. I keep waiting for his performances to fade but sense he might want one more Ashes series. An imposing enforcer, he has been the most potent opener in World cricket for years and sets the standard and tempo for any match.

2. Mahela Jayawardene: Not a captain and not an opener but I want to fit this marvellous cricketer into my team. A steadfast pillar who values his wicket and is a hard man to dislodge. He is a prolific compiler of runs on the most difficult of wickets, undeniably a wily individual.

3. Ricky Ponting: My favourite cricketer! The inclusive captain, he ticks all my boxes. Australia has had some great captains and he is up there with the best. He relishes the role and has no weaknesses. A fighter extraordinaire and my skipper at number three.

4. Sachin Tendulkar: The best batsman of all time! I appreciate that aged 35 he is on the wane but I could not select a team without him. Maybe a sentimental choice but I feel privileged to have watched him. Please revisit Tendulkar is better than Bradman.

5. Mohammad Yousuf: He is truly world class and this composed stroke player has magnificent technique. Scores big hundreds and always keeps the scoreboard moving no matter what the situation.

6. Kumar Sangakkara: In the absence of Adam Gilchrist he is a worthy nomination. He is not the greatest wicket-keeper but is competent. An aggressive left-hander; sharp, and able to spark a team. Able to open if the game dictates.

7. Andrew Symonds: Would have selected Kumble if he could bat. Symonds energy and drive wins him a place. He is a fine bowler, batsman and fielder and this all-rounder gives the side balance. I believe he has a big role to play for Australia in the coming years and we might not have seen the best of him yet. He is my wild card!

8. Brett Lee: I admire this wholehearted cricketer, he brings the crowd alive. Just short of being top class, his attitude personifies all that a sportsman should possess and his searing pace with line and length has got better with age.

9. Stuart Clarke: This McGrath impersonator impresses me all the time, he bowls very few bad balls and because he bowls straight you have to play him. He would be my stock bowler. Selected because the fast bowling fraternity is mediocre to poor at the moment!

10. Dale Steyn: A tentative selection but his efforts in the last year have proved he is rapidly improving. Great strike rate in Test cricket. He is competitive, bowls fast and can swing the ball miles. Can reverse swing the cherry also. Watch him continue to improve!

11. Muttiah Muralitharan: I have always viewed the action of this wrist-spinning offspinner as suspicious and sometimes illegal and often find myself at odds with the general consensus but putting my reservations to one side he would be in the team. His record speaks for itself.

Those that were near to selection were Kumble and Dravid. Anil Kumble a tireless right arm leg spinner would compliment Murali. He is the second highest wicket taker among leg spinners in Test cricket (behind Shane Warne). One of only two bowlers in history to have taken all 10 wickets in a test innings. An intelligent world class bowler who has sadly neglected his batting.

Rahul Dravid, known as 'The Wall' has had a fabulous career. He is a Mike Atherton and Ken Barrington rolled into one, plus a bit extra. Despite his triumphs I could not find a place in the team for him (just lost out to Mahela).

I am waiting patiently for Kevin Pietersen to claim a world spot but wonder if he has the intelligence or application. I sense he will continue to promise greatness but not deliver it! I would love to see him bat for a day and a half and score a huge double century on a bowler's wicket and against a top side in a winning cause. Am I dreaming?

Our only other pretender would have been Andrew Flintoff as number seven but I believe that despite only being 30 years old he has 'gone' physically and mentally and will never get back to the 2005 Ashes form...

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