At the quarter-way mark through the 21st century, a Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast panel has selected the best Test XI of the century so far.
On a special episode for the Wisden Cricket Patreon channel, a panel made up of Wisden.com managing editor, Ben Gardner, Wisden Cricket Monthly editor in chief, Phil Walker, and Wisden podcasts host Yas Rana selected their best XI since the year 2000.
Only performances and stats from January 1, 2000 were considered as criteria for selection.
Virender Sehwag
8,586 runs at 49.34; 23 100s, 32 50s, HS: 319
An Indian powerhouse kicks off the top of the batting order. After making his debut in 2001, scoring a century on debut against South Africa, Sehwag went on to carve a remarkable career of uncompromising power-hitting. Other options at the top included Alastair Cook and Matthew Hayden, but Sehwag's trailblazing ability to change the game, and watchability, won out in a packed field.
Graeme Smith
9,265 runs at 48.25; 27 100s, 38 50s, HS: 277
The dominating figure of South Africa cricket in the 21st century, Graeme Smith partners Sehwag at the top of the order. He finished his Test career with more than 9,000 runs, with a near enough complete record across the world. He also led South Africa to the top of the Test world rankings, leading from the front as a fearless presence at the top, never taking a backward step.
Ricky Ponting
11,286 runs at 60.96; 35 100s, 52 50s, HS: 257
Every English player and fan's nightmare, Ricky Ponting slots in at No.3 as a unanimous pick. Ponting began his Test career in 1995, and went on finish only short of Sachin Tendulkar (at the time) on Test cricket's all-time run-scorer chart. However, even with his extraordinary total career numbers, his stats in the 21st century alone are unmatched. He averaged over 60 in matches played after the turn of the century, and scored 35 of his 41 centuries in those years. He also led Australia to two Ashes series victories.
Steve Smith
10,477 runs at 56.02; 36 100s, 43 50s, HS: 239
The biggest run machine of the 2010s, Steve Smith will step out at No.4. Smith was at his most prolific between 2014 and 2017, when he scored 21 of his 36 Test hundreds and and average 75.81. At his best, there's no way to prize him from the crease as he ticks off run after run. While his numbers since that peak have dipped to more mortal standards, he remains one of the most important and sought after wickets in the world for oppositions. He's also the only batter in this side who is still an active player. Smith also edged out both his contemporaries, Joe Root and Kane Williamson, to make this XI. As a founding member of the fab four, in the Test format at least, for this XI he lands on top for his complete record around the world, volume of runs and consistency.
Jacques Kallis
11,440 runs at 58.66; 40 100s, 48 50s, HS: 224
239 wickets at 33.58; 4 five-fors, BBI: 6-54
Kallis balances the side as an all-rounder, but has the most runs of anyone in the team in the 21st century. Arguably the most complete all-rounder the game has ever seen, Kallis is one of three members of Graeme Smith's Proteas world-beaters from the early 2010s. He ground oppositions into the dirt over the course of his career, as an immovable force at the crease, a lynchpin and the greatest in a side of all-timers.
AB De Villiers
8,765 runs at 50.66; 22 100s, 46 50s, HS: 278*
Completing a South Africa combo in the middle-order is one of the most compelling players of the 21st century. De Villiers' Test career was marked not only by the translation of his white-ball pyrotechnics into the longer format, but by his versatility. He blocked out 220 balls to score 33 runs in Adelaide in 2012, saving a Test match South Africa had looked odds on to lose. While de Villiers' overall stats don't draw comparison to some others in this team, his spell as an opener downgrades his numbers slightly. So far, only Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Michael Clarke scored more runs at No.5 or No.6 this century.
Adam Gilchrist
5,130 runs at 46.63; 16 100s, 23 50s, HS: 204*
Another unanimous pick was Adam Gilchrist, Australia's trailblazing keeper. Gilchrist only played five of his Test matches before the turn of the century, with his stand-out year being 2002. He averaged 72.00 across 11 Tests that year, including a near enough run-a-ball double hundred against South Africa. While AB De Villiers is a second keeper in the XI, Gilchrist gets in as the outstanding keeper of the modern era, and a player who changed the game forever.
Shane Warne
357 wickets at 25.17; 21 five-fors, BBI: 7-94
In the running to be the spinner in this XI were Muttiah Muralitharan, Nathan Lyon and Shane Warne, with the King of Spin ultimately winning out. Warne was in the second half of his career after 2000, but put in some of his most prolific years. The 2005 Ashes year is the obvious stand-out, delivering him 96 wickets in 15 Test matches at 22.02.
Dale Steyn
439 wickets at 22.95; 26 five-fors, BBI: 7-51
Dale Steyn was an uncontested pick across the panel. No one compared to Steyn in the first half of the century so far, both in numbers or on the eye. He was a terrifying prospect for batters around the world, generating prodigious swing and finding reverse at pace. Injuries took over late in his career, but in his pomp he was a force of nature who blistered through batting lineups.
Pat Cummins
309 wickets at 22.10; 14 five-fors, BBI: 6-23
The second of the three still active players in this XI, Australia's current Test captain makes up one-third of the seam attack. Cummins has been Australia's go-to man when the going gets tough for many years, bowling as the first change bowler and ascending to the top of the ICC rankings in 2018. He's led Australia to back-to-back World Test Championship finals, as well as having yet to lose the Ashes as captain.
Jasprit Bumrah
219 wickets at 19.82; 15 five-fors, BBI: 6-27
India's one-man match-winning machine takes the final spot in the team. Despite boasting a smaller sample size than any other player in the side, having yet to play his 50th Test match, Bumrah has ascended to legendary status in his Test career. He became the first bowler to reach 200 Test wickets at an average of under 20 and delivered arguably the greatest year a fast-bowler has ever had in 2024. He took 71 wickets at an average of 14.92 in 2024, and took a wicket on average every 30.1 balls. By a mile, he is the best Test quick in the world at the time of selection.
All stats accurate from January 1, 2000 – September 10, 2025.
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