Finally, the first-ever historical World Test Championship (WTC) came to end on the 23rd of June. The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test championship tournament was a major success. Fans witnessed absolute class battles between the teams in the two-year cycle. In the end, the two worlds’ best teams; New Zealand and India faced in the finals.
Eventually, New Zealand led by Kane Williamson lifted the Mace by defeating Virat Kohli and co. by 8 wickets in a fascinating contest.
After the first-ever WTC cycle ended, many cricket experts and fans picked their team for the tournament. Brad Hogg joined the party on 30 June by announcing his best XI of WTC. The two highest run-scoring openers; Indian Rohit Sharma and Sri Lankan Dimuth Karunaratne made it into his side.
Kane Williamson led 🇳🇿 with the bat throughout the World Test Championship 👏 #WTC21
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 26, 2021
However Australian opener David Warner scored a triple century in this tournament still Karunaratne was included in his team due to his sensational away performance. The ICC top two ranked Test batsman Steve Smith and Kane Williamson also made it to his side. This means that Indian captain Virat Kohli and England captain Joe root missed out on his list. However, the biggest shocker was the exclusion of Aussie Marnus Labuschagne from his squad. Because he was the highest run-getter in the WTC cycle.
Brad Hogg picks Babar Azam in his WTC final playing XI
Pakistan captain Babar Azam got his slot at number five. The England all-rounder Ben Stokes was at number 6. The next player in the order was Rishabh Pant for his remarkable match-winning performances in the tough Australia tour.
“The way that he (Pant) got runs in Australian soil, you could not leave him out. He also made a crucial 40 in the World Test Championship final,” added Hogg.
Brad Hogg’s WTC bowling unit started with the highest wicket-taker of the tournament Ravichandran Ashwin. Also, Ashwin is the only spinner in his lineup. The other spots were given to lanky pacer Kyle Jamieson, Stuart Broad, and Indian Mohammad Shami. Meanwhile, the second-highest wicket-taker of the WTC Patt Cummins was not included. Also, notable names like Kagiso Rabada and Tim Southee missed out on Hogg’s elite list.
Two incredible years 🇮🇳🙌
They might've fallen short in the final, but let's not forget India's remarkable campaign in the inaugural World Test Championship 🔥#WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/fuZefe7ekx
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 24, 2021
Brad Hogg’s WTC Team of the Tournament: Rohit Sharma, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kane Williamson (C), Steve Smith, Babar Azam, Ben Stokes, Rishabh Pant (WK), Kyle Jamieson, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Broad, Mohammed Shami
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