The International Cricket Council's Test team of the year: Cook, Amla, Trott, Tendulkar, Sangakkara (capt, wk), AB de Villiers, Kallis, Broad, Swann, Steyn and Anderson. 12th man: Zaheer Khan.
Well, this will go down well in Melbourne and Sydney. Not a single Australian in the ICC's best Test team, chosen by Clive Lloyd, Paul Adams, Zaheer Abbas, Danny Morrison and Mike Gatting. And there are five Poms.
Moreover three of the four nominees for Test cricketer of the Year are English (Jonathan Trott, Alastair Cook and Jimmy Anderson).
It may be a little too early in the cycle to feel too much sympathy for the Australians about this, but spare a thought for … well, there must have been one fairly close … Shane Watson.
This ICC team never actually take the field. If they did there would have been a few raised eyebrows from those selected. Kumar Sangakkara may be honoured to lead the side, but even more surprised to be asked to keep wicket. He does not do that for Sri Lanka any more. And Jacques Kallis is being asked to bat at No7. Nearly 12,000 runs from 145 Tests and they want him in the team – at seven – because he may be able to deliver a few handy overs as a fifth bowler as well as some runs.
Stuart Broad is there, which suggests that the team must have been picked very recently (and that they must have disregarded Sachin Tendulkar's little slump against England). Broad was very close to being dropped by England before the series against India. A month is a long time.
The ICC selectors may be grateful that they do not actually have to watch this team at the crease. All the batsmen selected have churned out great wads of runs over the past 12 months. They are very methodical, which is one reason why they are so successful. But they may not be the most enchanting combination available. Cook. Then Trott. Sangakkara … and, eventually, Kallis. All admirable but give us a nudge when Swann comes in.
Oh and Zaheer Khan will make a wonderful 12th man – provided he does not have to field.
However, no one can quibble with Nos 9,10 and 11. So for the sake of an argument let me offer you a hastily selected alternative first eight to join Swann, Steyn and Anderson, which will include a proper wicketkeeper and an unlikely Yorkshireman from Pontefract, who may also be a tad surprised to be there.
Strauss (captain – since he has done that rather well in that role over the last 12 months even if he has not been so prolific as a batsman)
Watson (token Aussie)
Dravid (well, he's outshone all the other Indians against the best Test team in the world)
Then to ensure something easy on the eye this trio: Jayawardene, Pietersen, Bell
Prior (a proper wicketkeeper – now)
Bresnan (of course)
Swann, Steyn, Anderson.
You may take a different view …
