This week, the Wisden panel selected a current World Test XI, based on performances since June 2023. Here are the toughest selection calls that had to be made.
Note: The time period under consideration for selecting the World XI was June 1, 2023 to June 24, 2025.
Ravindra Jadeja v Ben Stokes
The all-rounder's spot in any Test team is tricky – usually, they need to be good enough to get in as a specialist in at least one domain. And that is before taking into account conditions, as had to be done in the case of Jadeja v Stokes, thanks to one being a spinner and the other a seam bowler.
Neither player has been overly impressive of late (by their own high standards). But two major points went against the England captain. One, perhaps slightly more minor, given this is a hypothetical team, was that he has only recently returned to bowling.
More significantly, Jadeja probably holds up as an all-rounder across more conditions than Stokes. At home, or in Asia, Jadeja remains an all-rounder in the truest sense, capable of running through teams with the ball as well as scoring useful runs. In less friendly conditions, he is still a slid containment option with the ball, and a solid lower-order batter.
Stokes's form with the bat against spin, and in the subcontinent in general, is not great. In the period under consideration, he also averaged just 18 from 14 innings, not quite enough to earn him a spot over Jadeja.
Pat Cummins v Kagiso Rabada
Both these modern-greats couldn't make the side simultaneously. On paper, it seems straightforward to simply select both of them, and Jasprit Bumrah, as the three quicks. But since June 2023, Matt Henry's record – 48 wickets in nine Tests at 18.6 – was too hard to ignore, meaning Cummins or Rabada had to miss out.
Cummins could have been the third seamer, slotting into a first-change role as he has done for Australia (Rabada does not for South Africa). But Cummins' average of 35 away from home in the given timeframe pokes a hole in his excellent overall record, that does not exist for Rabada.
As for concerns over Rabada not being a first-change bowler, his naturally attacking nature and ability to use different weapons to his advantage mean he should be able to adapt to that kind of role.
Read more: Revealed: Wisden's current World Test XI
Ben Duckett v Aiden Markram
When one innings changes the pick, you know it's a tight call. Markraminitially made the XI as Yashasvi Jaiswal's opening partner, thanks to a couple of standout centuries: in the 2025 WTC final against Australia and in the 2024 series against India, to go with a solid overall record.
But Ben Duckett stole the show in the first Test against India at Headingley, his 149 in the fourth innings helping England chase down 371 on the final day; and earning him a spot in this XI.
On paper, Duckett's average of 46 is far superior to Markram's 37, but considering the conditions the two have played in – the overall average in this timeframe in South Africa is 27, to 34 in England – there isn't much between their records.
The middle order: Root and who else?
In the form of his life for most of the time period under consideration, Joe Root was a shoo-in for this XI. His partners in the middle-order were slightly less straightforward, though.
Between Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Temba Bavuma, Kamindu Mendis, Travis Head, and Harry Brook, only two could make it alongside Root. Smith slots in at No.3, partly thanks to a dearth of real options at that spot, and the fact that he has begun to look like the Smith of old over the past few years.
While Bavuma has been excellent as a captain, and starred in the WTC final, his low sample size of Tests (eight) makes it hard to push him in ahead of the others. A similar argument can be extended to Williamson, who did not have the opportunity to play high-quality opposition often, and missed New Zealand's toughest tour, of India.
Head is beaten out at No.5 by the sheer weight of Harry Brook and Kamindu Mendis' numbers. The statistical cases for Brook and Mendis are similar, but Brook's inclusion is warranted by his runs actually coming at No.5. The majority of Mendis' golden run came at No.7, before he was pushed up.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
