The ex-Test captain has picked his best Test side, with good mates and fierce rivals selected alongside one another
Clarke names Warne, Steyn in best Test XII
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has again assumed the role of selector, picking close friend Shane Warne as captain of his greatest-ever Test side while extending an olive branch to adversary Dale Steyn.
Warne skippers a well-rounded XI, edging out spin rival Muttiah Muralitharan – named as 12th man in the hypothetical team – for the lone slow-bowling spot in an XI made up of the best players Clarke has "shared a cricket field with”.
The 115-Test veteran revealed the line-up in his autobiography My Story, naming seven Australians alongside four players from opposing nations.
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Dashing duo Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden take on the new ball in the side, with Clarke’s predecessor as Test skipper Ricky Ponting coming in at first drop.
A star-studded middle-order features Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar at No.4, blazing West Indian Brian Lara at 5 and powerful Proteas allrounder Jacques Kallis at 6.
Adam Gilchrist takes the gloves, with 2013-14 Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson, fiery South African speedster Dale Steyn, legendary seamer Glenn McGrath and Warne forming a fearsome bowling attack
The selection of Johnson, who thrived under Clarke’s leadership to snare 37 wickets in the 13-14 Ashes, and McGrath, Australia’s leading Test wicket-taker among fast bowlers, are no surprises in a potent pace attack but Steyn’s inclusion may raise some eyebrows.
In the closing stages of an epic third Test in Cape Town in 2014, Clarke and Steyn clashed when the Australia skipper stepped in to defend his young charge James Pattinson, who was engaged in a heated exchange with Steyn.
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The South African later revealed he was unhappy with a particular sledge he’d received from Clarke, who admitted he’d overstepped the mark during the tense encounter.
Steyn nonetheless wins selection in the side from chief selector Clarke, who admitted that he rates the runs he scored off him more highly than any others he made in Test cricket.
Muralidaran rounds out the 12, with the Sri Lankan spin wizard named to carry the drinks in Clarke’s team.
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Michael Slater
“My first cricket hero,” Clarke wrote. “I fell in love with the refreshing, exuberant attitude Slats brought to the game.
“I didn’t play international cricket with him, but was lucky to share the field with him on a number of occasions for New South Wales.”
Matthew Hayden