What’s cricket without all-rounders – the true symbols of versatility in the game? They lend balance to a team and offer more than any specialist can. We stretch the realms of imagination with a current world Test XI, made up solely of all-rounders.

It’s a decent mix, consisting of players from seven countries. We’ve got a batting that (naturally) runs till the end, and has everything from a left-arm quick to a leg-spinner.

The team consists of two players from each of England, Australia, India and West Indies, as well as one from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and South Africa.

Travis Head (wk)

Let’s start with the all-rounder among all-rounders. Head can bat, bowl, keep, open, play in the middle order, even captain. In this team, he opens and keeps. Ever since he returned to the team, Head has been in sensational touch: it began with an Ashes 150, two more centuries and six fifties. He’s also sent down a few useful spells of off-spin – none better than the incredibly astonishing 4-10 in Galle.

Joe Root

Root does a lot of things, but hasn’t opened in a Test match since 2016. But, while he hasn’t been slated to come out first, Root has found himself continuously batting early in England’s innings after top-order collapses. Since the start of 2020, Root has been sublime, scoring more runs (3,589) and hundreds (12) than any other player. The off-spin has been a handy side feature: the 29 wickets are the third-most by an English spinner in the same period, and includes an astonishing 5-8 in India.

Ben Stokes (c)

Unusually high, but this is an XI that demands flexibility. Stokes is everything you can dream in a player: dynamic batter, nifty bowler, gun fielder, and intuitive skipper. The poster boy of English cricket, Stokes has scored the fourth-most Test runs of anyone since 2020, and has taken the fifth-most wickets for England in that time. More than anything, it’s his leadership, alongside Brendon McCullum, that has heralded a defining era for the team.

Cam Green

Earmarked by many for a great future, Green is slowly charting his path towards being Australia’s premier all-rounder. A sturdy batter who can change gears at will, and a nippy seam bowler with the potential to support the first line of quicks, Green could well go on to establish himself in as one of the next Fab Four. And he’s just 23.

Shakib Al Hasan

Even at 36, Shakib continues to be one of the pillars of Bangladesh cricket. Their Test captain and leading wicket-taker in the format, he’s still the player around which their spin attack is constructed. He’s missed quite a few Tests of late, but is still the third-highest ranked all-rounder in the world.

Ravindra Jadeja

It’s a career progression that has gone steadily up, and is still far from done. Jadeja is, undoubtedly, one of the finest all-rounders of his generation. Primarily a spinner with complete control of his craft, and absolute domination at home, Jadeja has build into a formidable batter, capable of getting in based on that skill alone. In terms of fielding, there are few who can match his agility and speed. A complete package.

Kyle Mayers

Unpredictably glorious, Mayers has already made his mark in a short career. It started with a 210 on debut, steering West Indies to a record chase, and has continued with a magical 5-18 to fetch a famous home win over England. It’s been a bit boom and bust in the middle, but it’s definitely the kind of dynamism that West Indies need right now.

Jason Holder

Not too long ago, Holder was the No.1 ranked all-rounder in the world, and for most scenarios, the perfect crisis man for the West Indies. One of only three cricketers to score a double ton from No.8, Holder continues to be towering presence in the team despite not being captain. He’s taken the third-most wickets for West Indies since 2020. A good fit for any Test lineup.

R Ashwin

Probably the first name that goes up on the team sheet if India’s playing at home. Ashwin’s domination on home pitches is well documented, which has put him only behind Anil Kumble in terms of Test wickets for India. With the bat, he’s as good as any lower-order batter and has often played composed knocks under pressure. In a regular XI, he’d be batting much higher.

Rashid Khan

The face of Afghanistan cricket. Rashid Khan’s Test career has naturally been short, but he’s pounced on every opportunity that has come his way. So far, he has four five-fors in nine innings and could come close to being one of the fastest to 50 Test wickets if he continues in the same vein. And yes, the flashy batting strokes can be more than useful for some late runs.

Marco Jansen

The youngest of the lot. With pace and height, Jansen packs a serious punch and has enjoyed an impressive start to his career so far, quickly becoming their preferred left-arm seamer. It also covers most bases in this bowling attack. In terms of batting, he has a sturdy base and usually bats in the lower middle-order for South Africa.