Wasim Jaffer picks his Test left-hander and ODI XI; leaves Sourav Ganguly

In honor of International Left-Handers Day on Tuesday (August 13), former Indian pioneer Wasim Jaffer took to social media to reveal his left-handed playing XI for both Test and ODI cricket.

Legendary left-handers: Wasim Jaffer’s final XI

Jaffer, who is known for his extensive cricket knowledge, shared the list with captions, “There is a day to go but here is my Test and ODI left handers XI,” honoring southern football players who have left an indelible mark on this game.

Jaffer’s selection marked the most respected left-handed cricketers in the history of the game. His teams were a mix of players who not only held records but also shaped the cricket industry with their unique styles and amazing performances. These XIs are a testament to the ability and influence of left-handers in the rich history of cricket.

Test XI for all left-handers:

1. Matthew Hayden (Australia): Hayden was known not only for his strength but also for his mental toughness and ability to thrive in challenging situations. His famous innings of 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 was the highest Test for an Australian, showing his penchant for big knocks.
2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): Sangakkara was not only a top scorer but also a brilliant goalkeeper and captain. His 11 doubles in Tests is second only to Sir Donald Bradman, highlighting his ability to play long innings.
3. Brian Lara (West Indies): Lara’s batting is marked by elegance and the ability to score big runs under pressure. His unbeaten 153 against Australia in 1999 is widely regarded as one of the greatest Test innings of all time, demonstrating his match-winning abilities.
4. Graeme Pollock (South Africa): Pollock’s career was cut short by South Africa’s exclusion from international cricket due to apartheid, but his impact on the games he played was immense. His average of 60.97 is the second highest in Test history for any player with more than 20 innings, underscoring his consistency with the category.
5. Allan Border (Australia) – Captain: Border is credited with reviving Australian cricket in the 1980s. He was known for his hard hitting, determination and led Australia to their first World Cup title in 1987, and the Ashes victory in 1989.
6. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies): Sobers was an almost flawless cricketer, excelling in batting, bowling and fielding. His versatility as a bowler allowed him to be an option for the devastating pace and guile of the left-arm spinner.
7. Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – Wicketkeeper: Gilchrist revolutionized the role of wicketkeeper-batsman with his aggressive batting. His ability to change the course of a game mid-session has made him one of the most feared lower-order batsmen in test history.
8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan): Akram is often regarded as the fastest left-arm fast bowler of all time. His backswing ability and ability to throw the ball with speed and accuracy made him lethal in all situations. Akram’s contribution as a lower-order batsman, where he scored nearly 3,000 with three centuries, added to his tally.
9. Zaheer Khan (India): Zaheer was India’s fast bowler for most of his career, known for his ability to swing the ball from both sides and make important plays. His performance in the 2011 World Cup contributed to India’s victory.
10. Mitchell Johnson (Australia): Johnson’s sheer speed and fearsome bowling were key features of his career. His innings during the 2013-14 Ashes series, where he took 37 wickets, is still remembered as one of the best feats by a fast bowler.
11. Kuldeep Yadav (India): Yadav is one of the few left-arm spinners in cricket, and his ability to spin the ball from both sides makes him a unique threat. His hat-tricks in ODIs and five wickets in Tests show his match-winning prowess.

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ODI XI used left-handers all the time:

1. Matthew Hayden (Australia): Hayden has been a force to be reckoned with in ODIs, with his powerful batting at the top of the order helping Australia to many successes, including the 2007 World Cup where he was the top run-scorer.
2. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): Jayasuriya changed the role of opener in ODIs with his explosive batting during the 1996 World Cup. His all-round skills, both with bat and ball, made him a key player in Sri Lanka’s rise to world cricket.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): Sangakkara’s ODI career has been equally impressive, especially in the latter stages where he scored four consecutive big scores in the 2015 World Cup, leading Sri Lanka to the knockout stage.
4. Brian Lara (West Indies): Lara’s ODI career was marked by his ability to play match-winning innings. His 153* against Pakistan in 2005 is regarded as the best chase in ODI history.
5. Yuvraj Singh (India): Yuvraj was the hero of India’s 2011 World Cup win, where he was named Player of the Tournament for his all-round brilliance. His ability to hit sixes at will and deliver crucial success with the ball has made him one of the most important ODI players.
6. Michael Bevan (Australia): Bevan was known as ‘the finisher’ in ODIs, for his ability to guide Australia to victory in critical situations. His unbeaten 78 against the West Indies in 1996, in which he led Australia to a one-wicket victory, is one of the most iconic moments in ODI cricket.
7. Lance Klusener (South Africa): Klusener was a low order batsman and utility bowler. The way he played in the 1999 World Cup, when he almost single-handedly led South Africa to the final, remains famous.
8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan): In ODIs, Akram was not only a lethal bowler but also a powerful batsman down the order, capable of changing the game with the bat as well.
9. Zaheer Khan (India): Zaheer has been an integral part of India’s bowling attack in ODIs, especially in the 2011 World Cup where he finished as the top wicket-taker, playing a key role in India’s title win.
10. Mitchell Starc (Australia): Starc’s quick delivery and swing have made him one of the most dangerous ODI bowlers. His performances in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, where he was the highest wicket-taker in both tournaments, underscore his match-winning abilities.
11. Kuldeep Yadav (India): Yadav’s wrist-spin has brought a new dimension to the Indian bowling attack in ODIs, with his ability to deceive the batsmen with spin and flight making him a potent weapon, especially in the middle overs.

A day to go but here is my Test and ODI left handers XI. What is yours? #LeftHandersDay pic.twitter.com/4BjGkNJ5Jh

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 14, 2024

Omission of Sourav Ganguly in XI

Despite being one of India’s best left-handed batsmen and a successful captain, Sourav Ganguly I didn’t make it to Jaffer’s XI in any format. Ganguly’s ODI records are impressive, with 11,363 runs at an average of 41.02, including 22 hundreds. In Tests, he scored 7,212 runs at an average of 42.17 in his 16th century.

As a captain, he changed Indian cricket, instilling a fighting spirit that led to several victories overseas. However, tough competition with the inclusion of many players like Sir Garfield Sobers again Yuvraj Singhwho provided more bowling options, may have contributed to his dismissal. Additionally, in the context of Jaffer’s selected XI, players like Lara, Sangakkara, and Hayden have been prioritized for their consistent and game-changing performances across various conditions and seasons.

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