6 Indians players in Guardian's World Test XI

New Delhi, Dec 29: In what can be said an honour to Indian Cricket, six of India's best players are featured for the first time in the Guardian Newspaper's 'World Test XI of the Year'. An interesting point to be noted is that the team not even a single Australian player made into the list.

Ironically Oz team stands first in the ICC ratings. The six Indians who are included in the team are 'little master' Sachin Tendulkar, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Indian pace bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh as the only spinner.

Former England all-rounder Vic Marks drew up the list, which was published on Sunday, Dec 28. He said, "This is brilliant; we do not really know which is the best team in the world. For a decade, it has been Australia and there has been nothing to argue about. Now there are three contenders as India and South Africa challenge Australia's supremacy."

Marks picked South African Captain Graeme Smith as the skipper of his World XI and the other opener alongside Sehwag. "He (Smith) is the best ugly batsman in the world," quipped the former Somerset player.

Vic Marks' select XI: Graeme Smith (captain), Virender Sehwag, Kevin Pietersen, Sachin Tendulkar, A B De Villiers, Andrew Flintoff, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Dale Steyn.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)