On Left Hander's Day An all-time lefties Test XI

[Khalpat]

http://www.gocricket.com/news/On-Left-Handers-Day-an-all-time-lefties-Test-XI/articleshow/40178163.cms

There is something about watching left handed cricketers at play, isn't there? There is an elegance unique to them, irrespective of whether they are batting or bowling. On World Left Hander's Day, gocricket.com picks an all-time Test XI of left-handed players that we believe can be a world-beater. 1. Mathew Hayden (Australia) Hayden's second coming as a Test opener came in the epic series in India in 2001, when he swept all before him and never really looked back until he retired with 8625 runs. Hayden had a huge role to play in changing the way Test openers went about their game, and his association with fellow southpaw Justin Langer helped Australia become an all-conquering side in the 2000s - twice. His large frame made his presence at the crease a dominating one, and Hayden regularly bossed opposing attacks. A true Aussie champion. 2. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) Indians will not forget him for that 340 in a record partnership of 576 in 1997. The English will remember him for a superb double-century at The Oval in 1998. Sri Lankans will forever cherish him for helping put the country on cricket's map. With nearly 7000 runs in Tests, Jayasuriya is a true star. His worth as an attacking opener speaks for itself, and his ability to wade into bowling attacks made for an exciting package. 3. Brian Lara (West Indies) What does one say about Lara? Grace, power, precision, style, attitude, talent - he had it in abundance. He could flay attacks at will, across countries, while looking bloody cool at it. His flair was unmatched, and the image of him pulling while airborne has left an indelible mark on Test cricket's fabric. Lara is the most successful West Indian batsman of all time, and fifth across all teams, with 11953 at 52.88. Set the highest score of 375, then took it back from Hayden with a 400 not out against England. 4. David Gower (England) Elegance personified, Gower was England's twinkle-toed, blue-eyed boy wonder. That mop of curly hair and cherubic face added to the allure of one of Test cricket's most artistic batsmen. His cover drive was to die for, and Gower used it sumptuously on his way to 8231 Test runs at an average of 44.25. 5. Clive Lloyd (West Indies) Super Cat, they called him. Tall, moustachioed, hulking but almost dopey-looking, Lloyd could hit the cricket ball with ferocity. An astute mind made him a sharp leader and he led the West Indies to the top of world cricket for two decades. Lloyd played 110 Tests, 74 as captain, from which he made 7515 runs at 46.67. 6. Garry Sobers (captain, West Indies) The greatest allrounder to play Test cricket. A genius, capable of bowling left-arm fast-medium, slow left-arm orthodox and slow left-arm chinaman stuff. At 21, Sobers broke the record for the highest Test score - 365 - and was an exceptional fielder wherever he stood. He was also the first player to hit six sixes in an over of first-class cricket. With 8032 Test runs at an average of 57.78, and 235 wickets at 34.03, Sobers is - and will always be - a legend. There was none like him. 7. Adam Gilchrist (wicketkeeper, Australia) Was there a more destructive wicketkeeper-batsman? Gilchrist could belt the ball and was capable of changing Test matches in a session. This southpaw's game consisted of essentially three shots - the cut, pull and push past mid-off - but he used it to devastating effect, amassing 5570 runs in 96 Tests at an average of 47.60 and strike-rate of 81.95. And he was very, very good behind the wickets, as 416 Test dismissals show (the second highest in history). 8. Alan Davidson (Australia) Until Wasim Akram came along, Davidson was considered the best left-arm pacer. From a short run up, this supremely gifted allrounder could bowl quick and swing the ball into right-handed batsmen viciously, in the process accumulating 186 wickets in 44 Tests. Davidson could bat too, scoring nine first-class centuries. 9. Wasim Akram (Pakistan) Without a doubt, the greatest left-arm fast bowler in the history of the sport. Pace, swing and aggression were his assets and coupled with a thinking brain, Akram collected 414 wickets in 104 Tests, leaving countless batsmen flattened and battered. That swing, oh that swing. The guile he loaded his bowling with would have done a spin bowler proud. 10. Zaheer Khan (India) The third most successful left-arm bowler in Tests, and one of four Indians to take more than 300 wickets in the format. Zaheer was India's pace spearhead in the last decade, and a crafty exponent of swing and reverse swing. Injuries took a toll in his body, but his success overseas and on flatter subcontinent surfaces made him a special bowler. Just ask Graeme Smith. 11. Bishan Bedi (India) Widely regarded as the best left-arm spinner, and with a graceful action to compliment a crafty bowler's mind, Bedi was India's leading wicket-taking spinner until Anil Kumble surpassed him. His bowling was poetry in motion, and very effective too: 266 wickets in 67 Tests, 22 of which he captained in.

Awesome batting lineup but Bowling looks a little weak.

[Number]

Vaas over Zaheer probably. But there haven't been many great left arm pacers. Lets see how MJ goes.

[India-KXIP fan]

4. David Gower (England) Elegance personified, Gower was England's twinkle-toed, blue-eyed boy wonder. That mop of curly hair and cherubic face added to the allure of one of Test cricket's most artistic batsmen. His cover drive was to die for, and Gower used it sumptuously on his way to 8231 Test runs at an average of 44.25.

lol average 44 whats he doing in all time XI? Sangakarra comes in at 3, Lara moves down to 4. This team needs to replace Zaheer with Mitchell Johnson (no brainer)

[adi B]

Lol jayasurya in this team :hysterical: .he was a poor test player avging 35 with the bat. Where the hell is sangakara?where is border? Mj should replace zak. Sanga replaces Gower,border replaces jayasurya. Graeme smith inplace of Hayden can also be made a case

[sensible-indian]

Sanga has got to be there.

[India-KXIP fan]

Better team Matthew Hayden Graeme Smith Kumar Sangakarra Brian Lara Allan Border © Gary Sobers Adam Gilchrist Wasim Akram Mitchell Johnson Chaminda Vaas Bishan Bedi 12th man: Michael Hussey

[adi B]

Any better left arm spinner than bedi? Some really good players missing out like Andy flower,Langer,ganguly,cook,chanderpaul etc

[adi B]

Better team Matthew Hayden Graeme Smith Kumar Sangakarra Brian Lara Allan Border © Gary Sobers Adam Gilchrist Wasim Akram Mitchell Johnson Chaminda Vaas Bishan Bedi 12th man: Michael Hussey

Vaas over davidson? :rofl

[mancalledsting]

My team Hayden Smith Sangakarra Lara Border Sobers Gilchrist Wasim Zaheer Vaas Bedi

[GautiMaan]

Sadagopan Ramesh Gautam Gambhir Vinod Kambli Ganguly© Yuvraj Raina Parthiv Patel(wk) Irfan Pathan Zaheer RP Singh Bedi :isalute:

[Lord]

Sadagopan Ramesh Gautam Gambhir Vinod Kambli Ganguly© Yuvraj Raina Parthiv Patel(wk) Irfan Pathan Zaheer RP Singh Bedi :isalute:

no Sir Jaddu?ban this guy :protest:

[velu]

in b4 sachinstas .. sachin is a technically a left handed player .. probably he can replace lara

[velu]

no Sir Jaddu?ban this guy :protest:

and no miller :protest:

[GautiMaan]

no Sir Jaddu?ban this guy :protest:

He can be 12th man nah 12th man would be murli karthik

[RedFever]

How can Zaheer be in this team, isnt he a right handed batsman ?

[BlueBee]

How can Zaheer be in this team' date=' isnt he a right handed batsman ?[/quote'] He is/was mainly a bowler.

[Lord]

He can be 12th man nah 12th man would be murli karthik

Sir Jaddu has already achieved more than Kartik :beee:

[Gunner]

Mitch over Zaheer

[Sooda]

Any better left arm spinner than bedi? Some really good players missing out like Andy flower,Langer,ganguly,cook,chanderpaul etc

Underwood is the only other spinner that springs to mind, not better than Bedi though surely

[Sooda]

Sadagopan Ramesh Gautam Gambhir Vinod Kambli Ganguly© Yuvraj Raina Parthiv Patel(wk) Irfan Pathan Zaheer RP Singh Bedi Nilesh Kulkarni :isalute: