Stuart Broad picks only one Indian in his best Test playing XI

Legendary England fast bowler Stuart Broad has picked his best Test-playing XI. However, the criteria for picking the team were to only choose players against whom Broad has actually played as an opposite counterpart. All the names taken by Broad are legendary, but there have been a few notable omissions as well. He picked only one Indian in the list.

Broad, who himself is a veteran of the modern-day era, with more than 600 wickets in Test cricket, is also regarded as one of the finest of his generation. He was tasked with cherry-picking the best he has shared the field with. 

For the starters, Broad picked South African opener and legendary captain Graeme Smith, who would open alongside wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sangakkara. To follow them at number three, the ex-paceman went with Australian batter Ricky Ponting. Completely ignoring the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, highest run-scorer ever in the format, Broad went for Virat Kohli, slotting the New Delhi-born at number four.

As his interaction with Wisden continued, Broad seemed to be confused with quite a few options in the middle order but eventually went with Steven Smith and Jacques Kallis at five and six. Kallis is also the only all-rounder in the list. The former cricketer chose the likes of AB de Villiers at number seven, who also emerges as a handy wicketkeeping option if needed.

When it comes to bowlers, Broad did not hesitate at all in picking the names of tearaway pacers – Mitchell Johnson and Dale Steyn, both of whom have held the position as No. 1-ranked bowlers in Test cricket during various times. Apart from Johnson, Mitchell Starc is another Australian left-arm seamer to have made it to the XI, while Muttiah Muralitharan, who has 800 Test wickets, would be the sole spinner. 

Stuart Broad’s Test XI

Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara (WK), Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Mitchell Johnson, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan, Mitchell Starc