Aakash Chopra reveals his best Test XI of the decade

Former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra picked his Test XI of the decade with 2020 ending in a couple of days. Chopra considered the performance of the players since 2011 in the international circuit and only two Indians have featured in this prestigious list. England’s Alastair Cook made it to Aakash’s line-up as the first opener for his sheer class and stunning numbers in the purest format of the game.

Chopra believes that Cook’s name will be written in golden letters when the annals of Test cricket are written. The renowned commentator then picked South Africa batting great Hashim Amla over Australia’s David Warner as he believes that the latter doesn’t have good records in the sub-continents especially in England and New Zealand.

Explaining his pick, Aakash Chopra said in a video shared on his Facebook page, “I have picked Alastair Cook as the opener. He has scored 7531 runs at an average of 44.8 and struck 18 centuries in this decade. This is a colossal Test career and his name will be written in golden letters when the annals of Test cricket are written.”

“The second player I have picked is Hashim Amla. There was David Warner‘s name as well but the thing against him was that his numbers in the sub-continent, England and New Zealand are not that good. Amla has scored 5446 runs at an average of 46 and hit 16 hundreds,” he added.

For the crucial Number 3 spot, the veteran cricketer went with Steve Smith instead of Joe Root, who was the second-highest run-getter in this decade. According to Chopra, Smith is the best Test batsman of the decade and his inclusion is a must in the line-up.

Virat Kohli occupies the number 4 position

It is no surprise that Virat Kohli made it to the number 4 position of Aakash Chopra’s Test XI of the decade. Virat has amassed a whopping 7240 runs at an average of 53 and has struck 27 centuries. The Indian skipper was followed by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson who has hammered 6515 runs at an average of 53, including 21 centuries.

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara is added to Chopra’s marquee list as the wicketkeeper-batsman of the side followed by England’s Ben Stokes at seventh position. Though Sangakkara has not played for the entire decade, he has some unbelievable numbers to his name in Test cricket. Stokes, on the other hand, is a proper package and needs to be included in the team as he strikes with both bat and ball.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Rangana Herath are the two spinners in the line-up. Ashwin is a legend in the purest format of the game as he has 365 wickets to his name in 71 matches including 27 five-wicket hauls while Rangana has taken 355 wickets in 69 matches at an average of 26.3. He has taken five or more wickets 30 times.

The pace attack of Chopra’s Test XI comprises South African great Dale Steyn and England’s James Anderson. “Dale Steyn. There was a lot of competition here as well but I went with him. 207 wickets in 48 matches at an average of 22 with 11 five-wicket hauls. And then James Anderson. He has taken 395 wickets at an average of 24 with five-wicket hauls on 19 occasions,” Chopra concluded.

Aakash Chopra’s Test XI of the decade:

Alastair Cook, Hashim Amla, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rangana Herath, Dale Steyn, James Anderson