Wasim Jaffer selects his all-time left-handed Take a look at and ODI XI; leaves out Sourav Ganguly

In honor of Worldwide Left handers Day on Tuesday (August 13), former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer took to social media to disclose his all-time left-handers XI for each Take a look at and ODI cricket.

Legendary left-handers: Wasim Jaffer’s final XI

Jaffer, identified for his sharp cricketing insights, shared the record with the caption, “A day late however right here’s my Take a look at and ODI left-handers XI,” paying tribute to the legendary southpaws who’ve left an indelible mark on the game.

Jaffer’s picks featured among the most iconic left-handed cricketers within the historical past of the sport. His groups have been a mix of gamers who haven’t solely dominated the data however have additionally formed the course of cricket with their distinctive kinds and distinctive performances. These XI’s are a testomony to the ability and affect of left-handers in cricket’s wealthy historical past.

All time left-handers’ Take a look at XI:

1. Matthew Hayden (Australia): Hayden was identified not just for his energy but additionally for his psychological toughness and skill to thrive in difficult situations. His well-known innings of 380 towards Zimbabwe in 2003 was then the very best particular person Take a look at rating by an Australian, showcasing his penchant for giant knocks.
2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): Sangakkara was not only a prolific run-scorer but additionally an excellent wicketkeeper and captain. His 11 double centuries in Assessments are second solely to Sir Donald Bradman, highlighting his capability to play lengthy innings.
3. Brian Lara (West Indies): Lara’s batting was marked by magnificence and a capability to attain massive runs underneath stress. His unbeaten 153 towards Australia in 1999 is broadly thought to be one of many best Take a look at innings ever, demonstrating his match-winning capabilities.
4. Graeme Pollock (South Africa): Pollock’s profession was reduce brief by South Africa’s exclusion from worldwide cricket on account of apartheid, however his influence within the matches he performed was profound. His common of 60.97 is the second-highest in Take a look at historical past for any participant with over 20 innings, underscoring his consistency and sophistication.
5. Allan Border (Australia) – Captain: Border is credited with resurrecting Australian cricket through the Nineteen Eighties. He was identified for his gritty, decided batting and led Australia to their first World Cup title in 1987, together with a well-known Ashes victory in 1989.
6. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies): Sobers was a cricketer with virtually no weak spot, able to excelling with bat, ball, and within the subject. His versatility as a bowler allowed him to be each a harmful tempo choice and a crafty left-arm spinner.
7. Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – Wicketkeeper: Gilchrist revolutionized the position of a wicketkeeper-batsman along with his aggressive batting. His capacity to alter the course of a sport inside a session made him one of the feared lower-order batsmen in Take a look at historical past.
8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan): Akram is usually thought of the best left-arm quick bowler of all time. His mastery of reverse swing and skill to bowl with tempo and accuracy made him deadly in all situations. Akram’s contribution as a lower-order batsman, the place he scored round 3,000 with three centuries, added to his worth.
9. Zaheer Khan (India): Zaheer was India’s premier quick bowler for a lot of his profession, identified for his capacity to swing the ball each methods and ship in essential matches. His efficiency within the 2011 World Cup was instrumental in India’s triumph.
10. Mitchell Johnson (Australia): Johnson’s specific tempo and intimidating bowling have been key options of his profession. His devastating spells through the 2013-14 Ashes collection, the place he took 37 wickets, are nonetheless remembered as one of the dominant performances by a quick bowler.
11. Kuldeep Yadav (India): Yadav is likely one of the few left-arm wrist spinners in cricket, and his capacity to show the ball each methods makes him a singular risk. His hat-tricks in ODIs and five-wicket hauls in Assessments show his potential to be a match-winner.

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All time left-handers’ ODI XI:

1. Matthew Hayden (Australia): Hayden was a dominant power in ODIs, along with his aggressive batting on the prime of the order serving to Australia to a number of successes, together with the 2007 World Cup the place he was the main run-scorer.
2. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): Jayasuriya modified the position of an opener in ODIs along with his explosive batting through the 1996 World Cup. His all-around skills, with each bat and ball, made him a pivotal determine in Sri Lanka’s rise in world cricket.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): Sangakkara’s ODI profession was equally spectacular, significantly within the later levels the place he scored 4 consecutive centuries within the 2015 World Cup, main Sri Lanka to the knockout levels.
4. Brian Lara (West Indies): Lara’s ODI profession was marked by his capacity to play match-winning innings. His 153* towards Pakistan in 2005 is taken into account one of many best chases in ODI historical past.
5. Yuvraj Singh (India): Yuvraj was the hero of India’s 2011 World Cup win, the place he was named Participant of the Match for his all-round brilliance. His capacity to hit sixes at will and supply essential breakthroughs with the ball made him one of the worthwhile ODI gamers.
6. Michael Bevan (Australia): Bevan was generally known as the ‘finisher’ in ODIs, along with his capacity to information Australia to victory from precarious conditions. His unbeaten 78 towards West Indies in 1996, the place he led Australia to a one-wicket win, is likely one of the most iconic moments in ODI cricket.
7. Lance Klusener (South Africa): Klusener was a harmful lower-order batsman and a useful bowler. His efficiency within the 1999 World Cup, the place he virtually single-handedly took South Africa to the ultimate, stays legendary.
8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan): In ODIs, Akram was not only a deadly bowler but additionally a robust hitter decrease down the order, able to altering the sport with the bat as nicely.
9. Zaheer Khan (India): Zaheer was a key element of India’s bowling assault in ODIs, significantly within the 2011 World Cup the place he completed because the joint-highest wicket-taker, enjoying a significant position in India’s title win.
10. Mitchell Starc (Australia): Starc’s quick, swinging deliveries have made him one of the harmful ODI bowlers. His performances within the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, the place he was the very best wicket-taker in each tournaments, underline his match-winning capabilities.
11. Kuldeep Yadav (India): Yadav’s wrist-spin has introduced a brand new dimension to India’s bowling assault in ODIs, along with his capacity to deceive batsmen with flip and flight making him a potent weapon, significantly within the center overs.

A day late however this is my Take a look at and ODI left handers XI. What’s yours? #LeftHandersDay pic.twitter.com/4BjGkNJ5Jh

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 14, 2024

Sourav Ganguly’s omission from the XI

Regardless of being one in every of India’s best left-handed batters and a profitable captain, Sourav Ganguly didn’t make it to Jaffer’s XI in both format. Ganguly’s ODI data are spectacular, with 11,363 runs at a median of 41.02, together with 22 centuries. In Assessments, he amassed 7,212 runs at a median of 42.17 with 16 centuries.

As a captain, he reworked Indian cricket, instilling a preventing spirit that led to a number of abroad victories. Nevertheless, the stiff competitors and the inclusion of multi-faceted gamers like Sir Garfield Sobers and Yuvraj Singh, who provided extra bowling choices, might need influenced his exclusion. Moreover, within the context of Jaffer’s chosen XI, gamers like Lara, Sangakkara, and Hayden have been prioritized for his or her constant and game-changing performances throughout numerous situations and eras.

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