The greatest ever Champions Trophy XI picked by Cricket Australia

The 8th edition of the Champions Trophy is just 3 weeks away. England will be hosting this mega-event for a record second consecutive time. After being almost scrapped after the 2013 edition, the ICC decided to stage another edition following its huge success four years ago.

India have won the title twice – once in 2013 and the other time when they shared the title with Sri Lanka in 2002- alongside Australia who won successive titles in 2006 and 2009. Virat Kohli is set to lead the title defense of his side in England next month. There have been memorable games in the previous seven editions of the tournament in which a number of players across the world have produced majestic performances ever since the tournament was incepted in 1998 in Bangladesh.

Cricket Australia picked an all-time XI in Champions Trophy history and posted the team on its website cricket.co.au. The set of players picked involve a number of legends who have done well in this multi-country tournament.

Chris Gayle has been the highest scorer in the tournament’s history and features as an opening batsman in the XI. In 17 games, Gayle has 791 runs at 52.73 which include 3 centuries and one half-century. He also has 17 wickets to his name at an economy rate of 4.48 and average of 22.35. Gayle certainly enjoyed playing in this tournament. Former South African opener Herschelle Gibbs will open the innings alongside Gayle. With 3 hundreds to his name and 460 runs in the tournament, Gibbs had a wonderful time playing in the Champions Trophy.

Sourav Ganguly will captain the side and bat at No. 3. The former India skipper also has 3 hundreds to his name with the best score of 141*. He has lifted the trophy once in 2002 and has 665 runs in the tournament’s history, which is the second highest aggregate of runs after Gayle. South African all-rounder Kallis will occupy the No. 4 slot. With 653 runs at 46.64 and 20 wickets from 17 games, Kallis have the right reasons to feature in this XI.

Australia’s Damien Martyn was a part of Australia’s triumph in 2006. Martyn contributed to the win with telling knocks in the middle order which helps him to be a part of this all-time XI. The wicket-keeping duties will be assigned to Rahul Dravid, who has made 629 runs in 19 games in the tournament. He has hit 6 half-centuries and averages a healthy 48.23. Dravid played a big part in India’s win in 2002, where he also took on the wicket-keeping duties.

Shane Watson was named the man of the match in 2006 final as well as the semi-final and final of 2009 as Australia won consecutive tournaments. Watson’s tally of 453 runs, which include two hundreds, and 17 wickets from as many games underlines why he was hailed one of the best all-rounders in the world in his playing days. He will bat at 7 in this XI and play a crucial role with the ball in hand.

Daniel Vettori, the former Kiwi left-arm spinner, will be one of the two front-line spinners in the XI apart from Gayle. Vettori has been miser, as his economy rate of 3.65 in 17 games in the tournament reflects. With 18 wickets and 299 runs in this tournament, Vettori can be handy with the bat at No. 8 apart from his left-arm spin.

Fellow Kiwi Kyle Mills is also a part of the XI. Not many are aware that Mills has been the highest wicket-taker in Champions Trophy history with 28 wickets in 15 games. He has been a consistent performer for his country and will bowl with the new ball in this team. Muttiah Muralidaran will partner fellow spinner Vettori in the spin department. He has been phenomenal for Sri Lanka over the years and makes the cut for this team as he has captured 24 wickets from 17 games in Champions Trophy.

It is tough to make a team without including the legendary Glenn McGrath in the XI. 21 sticks from 12 Champions Trophy games are very good numbers and McGrath will share the new ball with Mills in this team.

Cricket Australia’s all-time Champions Trophy XI:

Chris Gayle, Herschelle Gibbs, Sourav Ganguly (C), Jacques Kallis, Damien Martyn, Rahul Dravid (WK), Shane Watson, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Muttiah Muralitharan and Glenn McGrath.