Wasim Jaffer unveils his all-time Left-Handed XI for Tests and ODIs on International Lefthaanders Day

On International Lefthanders Day, celebrated on August 13, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer honored the occasion by crafting his ultimate all-time left-handed XIs for both Test and ODI formats of the game. Jaffer has selected some of the greatest legends of the game in his left-handed XIs.

In the Test XI, the former Indian batter named Australian opener Matthew Hayden and Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara. Sangakkara, with his impressive tally of 12,400 runs, ranks sixth in the all-time Test run-scoring charts, while Hayden has 8,625 runs to his name.

Wasim Jaffer celebrates International Lefthanders Day with star-studded all-time Test and ODI XI

At No. 3, the cricket pandit picked West Indies legend Brian Lara in his all-time left-handed XIs in Tests. Lara is known for his record-breaking innings of 501* in first-class cricket and 400* in Tests. The West Indies great is the eighth-highest Test run scorer with 11,953 runs.

Graeme Pollock, the South African batting legend with a career average of 60.97 from his 23 Tests, took the No. 4 position in Jaffer’s Test XI of the left-handers.

The commentator named Australian legend Allan Border as his captain and assigned him the number-five spot. Border has 11,174 runs to his name, making him the 11th all-time highest Test run scorer.

Sir Garfield Sobers, renowned for his all-round abilities, was selected as the No. 6 batter by Jaffer. The West Indies legend, one of only three cricketers to achieve 6,000 runs and 200 wickets, finished his Test career with 8,032 runs and 235 wickets.

Jaffer picked legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist as wicketkeeper-batter in his unique Test XI.

Jaffer’s bowling attack featured Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and India’s Zaheer Khan as the primary seamers, complemented by one of Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas, and New Zealand’s Trent Boult. Kuldeep Yadav, India’s left-arm Chinaman bowler, is the only spinner in his XI.

Wasim Jaffer’s Test XI of left-handers:

Matthew Hayden, Kumar Sangakkara, Brian Lara, Graeme Pollock, Allan Border (c), Gary Sobers, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Wasim Akram, Zaheer Khan, Mitchell Johnson/Chaminda Vaas/Trent Boult, Kuldeep Yadav.

In the ODI format, Jaffer’s lineup is not much different from the Test selections, with Hayden, Sangakkara, and Lara occupying the top order.

The middle order was bolstered by Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya, India’s legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, and Australia’s Michael Bevan.

The former Indian opener also named Lance Klusener, the 1999 ODI World Cup Player of the Tournament, as his all-rounder in his all-time left-handed XIs for the ODIs.

Jaffer’s ODI bowling attack comprised of Akram, Zaheer, and Kuldeep, the same attack he picked in Tests. The final bowling spot was a contest between Sri Lanka’s Chaminda and Australia’s Mitchell Starc.

Wasim Jaffer’s ODI XI of left-handers:

Matthew Hayden, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Brian Lara (c), Yuvraj Singh, Michael Bevan, Lance Klusener, Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vaas/Mitchell Starc, Zaheer Khan, Kuldeep Yadav.

A day late but here's my Test and ODI left handers XI. What's yours? #LeftHandersDay pic.twitter.com/4BjGkNJ5Jh

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 14, 2024