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Legends name World XI No.1 draft pick

Three Australian champions answer an age-old question

It’s a question that’s been asked in grandstands, backyards and pubs since forever: Who would you pick first in a World XI?

Do you go with an allrounder, a player who can both bat and bowl and provide balance to a team?

Do you pick a batsman, someone capable of scoring big runs and demoralising bowling attacks with precision or power, or both?

Or do you opt for a bowler, spin or seam, knowing the only way to win a Test match is to bowl the opposition out twice?

All of the above are questions three Australia legends asked themselves when deciding who would be their No.1 pick when drafting a World XI to play a Test match at the Gabba on perhaps the fairest cricket wicket on tour.

For the full interviews, listen to The Unplayable Podcast below or subscribe here. Who's your No.1?


Ian Chappell

The pick: I’m looking for someone who can win you matches so I’m probably going to be looking for a bowler rather than a batsman. There’s plenty of good batsmen – Kohli, Smith, Williamson, Root – any of those four you could pick any one and they’re going to do a good job. I’d be picking Mitchell Starc first up. The hardest thing to do in a cricket match is get the 20 wickets. You can always find enough batsmen to get you 300 runs. If you get 300-350 run with a decent attack you can win more than you lose, but that’s only if you’ve got a decent attack. That’s why I’d go for a bowler No.1.

The numbers | Matches: 36 | Wickets: 148 | Average: 28.35 | SR: 49.6 | 5w/10w: 7/1 | BB: 6-50

Starc's brute of a ball removes Shafiq

Michael Clarke

The pick: I’m probably picking Ben Stokes as my first player. Bat, bowl, field. I think he’s the best allrounder in the world. The last three years he’s come on in leaps and bounds. I think he’s an amazing talent and he’s an entertainer – I love watching him play.

I’m probably picking Virat Kohli as my first batsman. Smithy (Steve Smith) is not far behind. He’s either my No.3 or No.4 in that team. Smithy’s runs are unbelievable, all forms of the game, he’s been playing some unbelievable cricket.

The numbers | Matches: 32 | Runs: 1,902 | Average (bat): 33.96 | 50s/100s: 8/4 |HS: 258 | Wickets: 79 | Average (bowl): 34.46 | 5w/10w: 3/0 | BB: 6-36

Stokes wraps up dramatic Test win

Ian Healy

David Warner. I just think he’s a scary proposition for the opposition. He’s got a double effect; his side loves him and he can make a mockery of difficult batting conditions. He can come out and peel of 50 or 100 when everyone else is battling away for 30s. So his side loves that and the opposition know it. I think he’s an even more scary a proposition than Steve Smith, who’s very, very consistent and a wonderful player – I think he’d be No.2 – but I’ll go Warner at the top of the order.

The numbers | Matches: 64 | Runs: 5,454 | Average: 47.42 | SR: 78.08 | 50s/100s: 24/18 | HS: 253

Complete highlights of Warner's WACA epic