Warne’s sensational snub of Aussie Ashes foe in shock team of the decade pick
Shane Warne’s men’s Test Team of the Decade is in and it features one massive difference compared to that of the ICC’s.
The ICC this week released its Teams of the Decade with two Australians, David Warner and Steve Smith, getting the nod in the men’s Test XI alongside two Englishmen.
Both Australians made their way into Warne’s team, too, but there was room for only one Englishman, Ben Stokes.
The other, who made the ICC’s XI but not Warne’s, is Ashes legend and 161-Test player Sir Alastair Cook.
Only Joe Root has made more runs in Test cricket since January 1, 2011 than Cook, who made 7,531 at 44.82 in the decade, along with 18 centuries.
However, Warne opted to open Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara to make room for South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis at No.3.
Kallis is an undisputed legend of the game, leaving with a Test average of 55.37 and 292 wickets at 32.65.
Kallis played his last Test in 2013 but left his mark across the first three years of the decade, scoring 1612 runs at 48.84 with seven tons and taking 22 wickets.
“I looked at all the numbers and the stats and I thought, ‘you know what, you can’t leave Jacques Kallis’ out’,” Warne explained on Fox Cricket. “He’s got a very similar record to our own Ricky Ponting, who is one of the greatest batsmen of all time. How can he not be in the side?
“And if you add 290 Test wickets as well, that’s a pretty handy cricketer.
Warne added: “I moved Sangakkara up to open because you’re not going to move (Kane) Williamson, (Virat) Kohli or (Steve) Smith … so unfortunately, Alastair Cook has to miss out.
“When you look at the side, does it look a stronger side with Kallis in than the first one? Yes it does, so that’s what I went with.”
Shane Warne’s Men’s Test Team of the Decade
- David Warner (AUS)
- Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
- Jacques Kallis (SA)
- Kane Williamson (NZ)
- Virat Kohli (IND)
- Steve Smith (AUS)
- Ben Stokes (ENG)
- Ravi Ashwin (IND)
- Dale Steyn (SA)
- Stuart Broad (ENG)
- James Anderson (ENG)
ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade
- Alastair Cook (ENG)
- David Warner (AUS)
- Kane Williamson (NZ)
- Virat Kohli – C (IND)
- Steve Smith (AUS)
- Kumar Sangakkara – WK (SL)
- Ben Stokes (ENG)
- Ravichandran Ashwin (IND)
- Dale Steyn (RSA)
- Stuart Broad (ENG)
- Jimmy Anderson (ENG)
