Wisden, one of the premier sports magazines in the world has named a world Test XI which features players all aged 25 or under that could dominate test cricket in the years to come.
Young batting sensation Kusal Mendis is the only Sri Lankan cricketer who features in this team. Wisden Cricket Magazine, also known as the Cricketers’ Almanack and colloquially “the Bible of cricket”, named the Test XI, ODI XI and T20I XI of the century in recent times.
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A World Test XI which comprises of players aged 25 years old or younger, as of July 17, 2020 was chosen by the Wisden team that includes Yas Rana, head of content, Ben Gardner, managing editor, and Taha Hashim, features editor.
25-year old Babar Azam has been named as the captain of Wisden‘s Under-25 World Test XI while Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis will occupy the vital number three position in the batting order. The 25-year old Kusal Mendis has so far played 44 Test matches and scored 2995 runs at an average of 36.97 including 7 centuries.
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Mendis played one of the greatest Test innings ever played by a Sri Lankan less than a year after making his Test debut in 2015. The knock of 176 played against Australia at Pallekele not only showcased the potential of young Mendis but also paved the way for Sri Lanka to register only their second win against Australia in Test cricket.
After being bowled out for just 117 runs in the first innings, and trailing by almost 100 runs, Mendis’ 176 was the only 50 plus score by a Sri Lankan in the match.
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In addition to this knock, there have been a couple of brilliant standout performances with the bat by Kusal Mendis. The match saving hundred (141*) against New Zealand scored at Wellington last year and fascinating 84 runs against South Africa scored at Port Elizabeth which sealed another historic whitewash for Sri Lanka confirmed that this young cricketer has something special in him.
Wisden’s Under-25 World Test XI
1. Aiden Markram – South Africa, 25
20 Tests, 1,424 runs @ 38.48, 4 100s, HS: 152
2. Dom Sibley – England, 24
8 Tests, 532 runs @ 44.33, 2 100s, HS: 133
3. Kusal Mendis – Sri Lanka, 25
44 Tests, 2,995 runs @ 36.97, 7 100s, HS: 196
4. Babar Azam (c) – Pakistan, 25
26 Tests, 1,850 runs @ 45.12, 5 100s, HS: 143
5. Ollie Pope – England, 22
9 Tests, 473 runs @ 39.42, 1 100, HS: 135
6. Rishabh Pant (wk) – India, 22
13 Tests, 814 runs @ 38.76, 2 100s, HS: 159*
7. Sam Curran – England, 22
18 Tests, 728 runs @ 26.96, HS: 78, 40 wickets @ 31.82, BBI: 4-58
8. Rashid Khan – Afghanistan, 21
4 Tests, 23 wickets @ 21.08, 3 five-wicket hauls, BBI: 6-49
9. Jofra Archer – England, 25
8 Tests, 33 wickets @ 28.12, 3 five-wicket hauls, BBI: 6-45
10. Kagiso Rabada – South Africa, 25
43 Tests, 197 wickets @ 22.95, 9 five-wicket hauls, BBI: 7-112
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi – Pakistan, 20
8 Tests, 30 wickets @ 27.96, 1 five-wicket haul, BBI: 5-77
