Best retired XI from 21st century

The first-ever international cricket match was played in 1844 when the USA took the stage alongside Canada at the St George's Cricket Club in New York. However, it was in the year 1877 when Test cricket into the scene as Australia locked horns with England in the longest format of the game. Since then, the stature of cricket has grown by leaps and bounds, it has now become the second-most popular sport after football. In the glorious history of cricket, there have been many champion players who have taken the stage and left the world in awe. From Sir Donald Bradman to Sir Vivian Richards to Shane Warne, there have been many legendary cricketers to have graced the sport. On that note, let us look at the best playing XI of the retired cricketers (Only players retired in 21st century considered): Here is the Best retired XI: 1. Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers the game has seen. He made world cricket his happy hunting ground and became the most prolific run-getter of all time. Sachin was more than handy with the ball and provided India with crucial breakthroughs. The Mumbai-born has featured in 200 Tests and amassed 15921 runs at an average of 53.78. On the bowling front, he picked up 46 wickets at an economy of 3.52. In the ODIs, Sachin notched up 18426 runs in 463 matches at an average of 44.83 and bagged 154 wickets at an economy of 5.10. The legendary cricketer broke heaps of records and also created many. Sachin hung his boots from international cricket in November 2013, calling time on his 24-year illustrious career. 2. Matthew Hayden Matthew Hayden was a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and was known to dismantle bowling attacks with his swashbuckling stroke play. Hayden featured in 103 matches in the longest format of the game and scored 8625 runs at an average of 50.73., which comprised of 30 centuries. In the ODIs, he scored 6133 runs in 161 matches at an average of 43.80, including 10 tons. The former Australian cricketer also made nine appearances for Australia in the shortest format and scored 308 runs at a strike rate of 143.92. Hayden was way ahead of his time when it came to playing a fearless brand of cricket. He took the attack to the opposition right from the get-go and provided his side with brisk starts. The former Australian opener retired from international cricket on January 2009. 3. Ricky Ponting Ricky Ponting was a run-machine in the international circuit. He was rock-solid at the top of the order and provided stability to the batting line-up. The former Australian cricketer featured in 168 Tests and amassed 13378 runs at an average of 51.85, consisting of 41 centuries. Talking about the ODIs, Ponting piled on 13,704 runs in 375 matches at an average of 42.03, including 30 tons. He also represented Australia in the shortest format on 17 occasions and scored 401 runs at a strike rate of 132.78. Besides Ponting’s batting might, he was an astute tactician of the game and proved his leadership prowess in the international arena time and time again. He led the Aussies from 2004 to 2011 in Test cricket and from 2002 to 2011 in ODIs and under him, Australia became the world-beaters. The veteran batter also guided his team to two ODI World Cup victories. Ponting last donned the Australia jersey in December 2012. 4. Brian Lara Brian Lara was the pillar of the West Indies batting line-up and amassed truckloads of runs across formats. He steadied the ship when the team was in trouble and also took top-quality bowling line-ups to the cleaners with his marauding bat. Lara featured in 131 Tests and accumulated 11,953 runs at an average of 52.88, including 34 centuries. When the West Indies locked horns with England in the final game of the four-match Test series in April 2004, he was in pristine touch and played a marathon knock of 400* runs off 582 balls, which remains to be the highest individual score in the longest format of the game. The former West Indies cricketer was prolific in the 50-over format as well and plundered 10,405 runs in 299 ODIs at an average of 40.48, comprising 19 centuries. Lara retired from international cricket on April 2007. 5. Jacques Kallis Jacques Kallis is arguably the finest all-rounder to have played the sport. The Cape Town-born was a run-bank and was known for his immense grit and determination on the cricket field. With the ball, he was a wily customer and provided timely breakthroughs to the side. Kallis featured in 166 Tests and amassed 13,289 at an average of 55.37. On the bowling front, he picked up 292 wickets at an average of 32.65. He was exceptional in the 50-over format too, notching up 11,579 runs in 328 matches at an average of 44.36 and bagging 273 wickets for his side. Kallis retired from all forms of international cricket in July 2014. It has been over eight years since the former South Africa all-rounder hung his boots and he is still the only cricketer to have scored over 10000 runs and taken over 250 wickets in both ODIs and Tests. 6. AB de Villers (wk) Whenever AB de Villers stepped onto the cricket field, he made fans sit on the edge of their seats. He toyed with bowling attacks with his 360-degree stroke play and stamped his authority on the game time and time again. de Villers is the only retired cricketer to average over 50 in both ODIs and Tests. He featured in 114 matches in the longest format of the game and plundered 8765 runs at an average of 50.66. In the ODIs, the former South African player scored 9577 runs in 228 matches at a strike rate of 101.09. When it came to the shortest format, he hammered 1672 runs in 78 T20Is at a strike rate of 135.16. It seemed as if de Villers was cut from a different cloth as one runs out of superlatives to describe the mastery of the man. He bid adieu to international cricket on May 2018. 7. Andrew Flintoff Andrew Flintoff was one of the all-rounders who made heads turn every time he stepped into the cricket field. He destroyed bowling attacks with his power-hitting might and also left the world in awe with his wholehearted bowling displays. Flintoff featured in 79 Tests and scored 3845 runs at an average of 31.77. On the bowling front, he picked up 226 wickets at an average of 32.88. The Lancashire-born also displayed his all-round prowess in the ODIs, smashing 3394 runs in 141 games at a strike rate of 88.82 and picking up 169 wickets at an economy of 4.39. Flintoff took The Ashes 2005 by storm with his all-round exploits. He led England’s charge with the ball and picked up 24 wickets at an average of 21.27. With the bat, the former England cricketer scored 402 runs in five matches at an average of 40.20. He retired from Test cricket after the 2009 Ashes series and from other formats in 2010. 8. Wasim Akram Pakistan has produced many match-winners but there has been hardly any of the caliber of Wasim Akram. Touted as the best left-arm seamer of all time, he moved the ball both ways and dismantled batting line-ups for fun. Akram featured in 104 Tests and picked up 414 wickets at an average of 23.62. In the ODIs, the former Pakistan cricketer is the only pacer to have breached the tally of 500 wickets and has 502 scalps to his name in 356 matches at an economy of 3.89. Besides his bowling might, Akram provided crucial contributions with the bat and has three international centuries to his name. The ‘Sultan of Swing’ hung his boots from international cricket in May 2003, calling time on an 18-year illustrious career. 9. Shane Warne Late Shane Warne was a superstar of the game in the international arena. The Australian legend was a wily customer and bamboozled batters with his variations. He even brought docile surfaces to life and wreaked havoc with the ball. Test cricket was Warne’s strongest suit, where he took a staggering tally of 708 wickets in 145 matches at an average of 25.41. He was in fact the first cricketer to reach 700 Test scalps. He also showed his class in the 50-over format as well and picked up 293 scalps in 194 matches for Australia at an economy of 4.25. Warne was quite magnificent whenever the urn was at stake. He played 36 matches in The Ashes and took 195 wickets at an economy of 23.25. The champion bowler last donned the Australia jersey in the SCG Test against the Three Lions on January 2007. 10. Glenn McGrath Glenn McGrath is the finest fast bowler that Australia produced. The longest format of the game was his stronger suit where he demolished batting line-ups with ease and bagged an insane tally of 563 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64. McGrath was phenomenal in the ODIs as well and picked up 381 wickets in 250 matches at an economy of 3.88. The former Australian seamer also represented his national side in the shortest format on two occasions and picked up five scalps. McGrath came to his own in World Cups. He featured in 39 matches in the marquee event and bagged 71 wickets at an economy of 3.96. The legendary cricketer retired from all forms of international cricket after Australia’s 2007 World Cup triumph. 11. Muttiah Muralitharan Muttiah Muralitharan was a giant of a player in world cricket. He has etched his name in record books after claiming the most number of wickets in both ODIs and Tests. Muralitharan featured in 133 matches in the longest format of the game and picked up an record tally of 800 wickets at an average of 22.72. Talking about the 50-over format, Muralitharan made 350 appearances for his national side and bagged 534 wickets at an economy of 3.93. He was Sri Lanka’s go-to man when in need of wickets and the former Sri Lankan spinner delivered on most occasions. Be it turning tracks or flat tracks, Muralitharan weaved his magic and helped change the course of the game in the favour of his side. The spin maestro last donned the Sri Lanka jersey at the Finals of the 2011 World Cup.

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Best retired XI from 21st century

In the glorious history of cricket, there have been many champion players who have taken the stage and left the world in awe of them.

6. AB de Villers (wk)

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