Best Test XI Of The Big Three In Cricket

There are more than 90 nations that are associate members of the ICC council but there are only 12 countries that have the Test, ODI, and T20I status. Even among these 12 countries, India, England, and Australia are called the Big Three in Cricket. These three nations have generated more than 70 percent of revenue in World Cricket in the last decade. Although many countries have national cricket teams, the fan-following and craze of the sport in these three countries is sky-high.

Players from India, Australia, and England also earn a huge amount of money from their cricket boards. Some cricketers from these countries have also bagged the enormous limelight and success in their career with their batting and bowling performances. They are among the best players in international cricket currently. In this listicle, we take a look at the Best Test XI of the Big Three in cricket.

Best Test XI Of The Big Three In Cricket

David Warner

For the Best XI of the Big Three in cricket, Australian cricketer David Warner should be one of the openers.  The left-handed batsman is one of the best openers in Tests at the global stage currently. He has played 86 matches so far. He has piled up 7311 runs in 159 innings at an average of 48.10.

He has also smashed centuries and half-centuries in the longest format of the game. His highest score in the Test is a triple hundred, which is a 335-run knock against Pakistan in November 2019. Warner is a hard-hitting batsman and the perfect choice for an opener in this list.

Rohit Sharma

Since his promotion as an opener in Test in 2019 against the home series against South Africa, Rohit Sharma has shown that he is a spectacular opener in the longest format of the game as well. The Indian cricketer should be the other opener in Best Test XI of Big three in Cricket.

The right-handed batsman has played 38 Tests so far, smashing 2615 runs in 64 innings. The 34-year-old has an average of 467 in the format. He has smashed 7 centuries out of which 1 was a double century. He has also hit 12 half-centuries in his career.

Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne should be the no.3 batsman in this team. The Australian player has emerged as a prominent batsman in Tests for his country. In 18 matches so far, he has scored 1885 runs in 31 innings at an amazing average of 60.81. He has also smashed 5 centuries and 10 half-centuries that include 1 double ton of 215 runs.

Labuschagne is also the highest run-scorer in the ICC World Test Championship tournament. The 26-year-old cricketer is also a useful part-time bowler. The right-arm leg spinner has picked 12 wickets in 26 innings at an average of 41.67.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is another crucial player in this list. The former Australian skipper has played 77 matches in the longest format of cricket. In 139 innings, he has scored 7540 runs at an average of 61.80. He accounts for 27 centuries in out of which there were 3 double centuries.

The right-handed batsman has also smashed 31 fifties in the format. In ICC World Test Championship 2019-21, Smith is the 3rd highest run-scorer with 1341 runs in 22 innings.

Virat Kohli (Captain)

Virat Kohli should be the captain of Best Test XI of the Big Three. The Indian skipper is unarguably the best batsman in the world currently. In his Test career, the right-handed batsman has scored 7490 runs in 153 innings. He has an impressive average of 52.38.

The 32-year-old cricketer has also smacked 27 centuries and 25 half-centuries, along with 7 double tons. If we considered the Test captains of Big Three of Cricket, Virat Kohli quite more powerful as a batsman and a skipper than his Australia and England counterparts.

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes will be another powerful edition in this team. The English cricketer is among the best all-rounders in world cricket at present. In 130 innings in the longest format, the left-handed batsman has scored 4631 runs at an average of 37.05. The batting all-rounder has hit 10 centuries and 24 half-centuries, including a doubleton.

The right-arm pacer has also scalped 163 wickets at an average of 31.39. He has picked 5-wicket hauls 4 times in his career. In ICC World Test Championship, Stokes is the 4th highest run-scorer with 1334 runs in 32 innings at an average of 57.79. He has also hit 4 centuries and 6 half-centuries in the tournament.

Rishabh Pant (Wicket-Keeper)

For the wicket-keeper choice in this team, Rishabh Pant is the best pick. The Indian cricketer has risen to the limelight in Test format after his fearless batting against England and Australia in ICC World Test Championship. His unbeaten 89-run knock in India vs Australia 4^th Test was the leading force behind India’s victory in the series.

In 33 innings so far, the left-handed batsman has scored 1358 runs at an average of 45.27. He has also hit 3 centuries and 6 half-centuries. Pant is also the highest run-scorer for India in Tests in 2021 so far.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin should be the primary spinner in this team. Ashwin has always been a powerful spinner in the Test format for India. His bowling performance in the ICC World Test Championship tournament has been phenomenal. He has picked 67 wickets in the tournament in 24 innings and is the 3rd highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

He also smashed a century in the series against England in February-March 2021. Overall, the right-arm spinner accounts for 409 wickets in 78 matches along with 30 five-wicket hauls and 7 ten-wicket hauls. He also has an average of 24.69 while bowling.

Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins is another bowler who makes it into this list. The Australian pacer is the world no.1 Test bowler at present. The right-arm pacer rose to the top of the ICC rankings with his incredible performances in the ICC World Test Championship tournament. He is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 70 wickets in 28 innings.

In his overall career, Cummins accounts for 164 wickets in 34 matches. He has an average of 21.6. He has taken a five-wicket haul 5 times and a ten-wicket haul once.

Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad is another pacer who should be part of the Best Test XI of Best Three in cricket. The English pacer represents England only in the Test format at present. In 148 games, he accounts for 520 wickets. He has an average of 27.85 and has taken five-wicket hauls 18 times and ten-wicket hauls 3 times.

The right-arm pacer is also a useful tailender and has smashed 1 century in the longest format of the game. In ICC World Test Championship, Broad is the 2nd highest wicket-taker with 69 wickets in 32 innings.

James Anderson

James Anderson is another pace bowler who qualifies for this list. The English pacer has been a legend in the longest format, accounting for 616 wickets in 162 matches (300 innings). The right-arm pacer has an average of 26.69. He has picked a five-wicket haul 30 times and a ten-wicket haul 3 times.

The 38-year-old has picked 39 wickets in 20 innings in ICC World Test Championship. He is the third-highest wicket-taker in Test and the highest wicket-taker among the pace bowlers in the format.