On their day, this XI of Test specialists could be a serious threat to the best T20 sides in the world.

While cricket has now evolved to accept and develop format specialists, some players on extreme ends of the spectrum might just do well on the opposite side. A look at the ‘purists’ in this list, who could be more than effective as a T20 team.

Mayank Agarwal

Before his India debut, Mayank Agarwal was known for scoring heaps of runs in Ranji Trophy cricket. However, he also has impressive numbers in domestic white-ball cricket, which are overshadowed by his excellent first-class record. The right-hander has scored 3,393 runs in 147 T20 appearances, with two centuries and 20 fifties in the shortest format of the game.

While he struggled with his average and strike-rate in the early editions of the IPL, the 30-year-old has paced his innings expertly since the 2018 edition. He was particularly impressive in IPL 2020, where he accumulated 484 runs for Kings XI Punjab at an average of 38.54 and strike-rate over 156.

Dean Elgar 

Widely considered a Test specialist, Dean Elgar also has a solid record in T20 cricket. The left-hander has piled on 1,968 runs in 79 games in the format, averaging above 34. He is among the top 10 run-getters of the Mzansi Super League in South Africa, where he scored 418 runs across 16 games, including three half-centuries.

Alongside his batting credentials, Elgar also offers a part-time off-spin option. He has 29 T20 wickets to his name, including a four-wicket haul.

Marnus Labuschagne

While Labuschagne does not have standout batting numbers in T20 cricket yet – 273 runs at 19.5 – he is likely to get a call-up to Australia’s T20I squad in the near future. The 26-year-old has had excellent starts to both his Test and ODI career and will be keen to extend that run to the shortest format too.

In the 2020-21 Big Bash League, he scored 176 runs in six innings for Brisbane Heat. His best performances, however, came with the ball – 10 wickets at 14.6.

Ollie Pope

With a century and six fifties in just 16 Tests, 23-year-old Ollie Pope has already made heads turn in his nascent international career. While the youngster hasn’t played white-ball cricket for England yet, like Labuschagne, he is likely to get an opportunity sooner rather than later.

In 36 T20 appearances, Pope has accumulated 736 runs. While he has no fifty in the format, he boasts of a decent average of 28.3 and an impressive strike-rate of 134.06.

Wiaan Mulder

Young South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder is among their more impressive current cricketers. He was in fine form in their recent Asia tour, picking up 10 wickets across three Tests.

While he hasn’t gotten a chance at the T20I level yet, but his T20 stats are fairly decent. The 23-year-old has 425 runs and 23 wickets in the format across 36 games, with five half-centuries to his name.

Wriddhiman Saha (wk)

While fans know Wriddhiman Saha as one of the best Test wicketkeepers in the world, many forget that he was the first player to score a century in an IPL final. While Punjab lost that final against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014, Saha played a knock for the ages. He slammed 115 unbeaten runs in that game in just 55 balls, with 18 boundaries.

The 36-year-old has featured in as many as 190 T20s, scoring 3,446 runs at 25.52, including two hundreds and 18 fifties.

Roston Chase

The Barbados all-rounder is among the most potent T20 players yet to make their T20I debut. The 28-year-old bats at an average of 37.75 and bowls at 21.33 in the format. He also concedes less than six runs in the format and has a bowling strike-rate of 23.3.

Chase averaged 15 with the ball in CPL 2020, where he picked up 9 wickets in 11 games.

Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj’s absence from international T20 cricket is a mystery. The 31-year-old has featured in over 100 professional T20s but is yet to make his T20I debut for the Proteas.

The left-arm spinner has picked up 82 wickets in the format, with an average of 28.9 and an excellent economy rate of 6.63. He also averages a handy 20.92 with the bat and has a high score of 45* in the format.

Alzarri Joseph

Alzarri Joseph might have gone unsold in the 2021 IPL auction, but his debut in the tournament, in 2019, remains one of the most memorable events from that edition. The pace bowler picked up six wickets on the day, helping Mumbai Indians to a 40-run win over Hyderabad. His 6-23 remain the best bowling figures in the tournament.

Overall, Joseph has picked up 27 wickets across 26 T20s. Having improved with the bat of late, he also has 107 runs in the format.

Neil Wagner

While Neil Wagner might not have a bunch of variations up his sleeve, the New Zealand bowler is probably the most consistent quicks in the world. The 34-year-old rarely bowls a bad ball and is always difficult for the batsman to put away.

The left-arm pace bowler can definitely play a role in T20 cricket while adding experience and consistency to the bowling line-up. Wagner has played 76 T20s in his career, picking up 79 wickets at 27.82. He also has one four-wicket haul in the format.

Zahir Khan

Afghanistan wrist-spinner Zahir Khan has played two Tests and an ODI so far, but is yet to make his international debut in the shortest format. The 22-year-old, however, has a promising T20 record.

In 63 games in the format, he has picked up 73 wickets at 21.73, giving away just 6.99 runs per over. Like most of the spinners from his country, Zahir is likely to be a potent weapon in the shortest format of the game.