Sky Cricket presenter's XI features Australia's captain, three Ashes debutants and the fastest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets....
Thursday 30 November 2017 17:49, UK
This week's line-up has an incredibly strong top eight. I've gone with only four bowlers but they are of such a high calibre that I don't think any more would be needed!
Australians and Indians dominate, as you'd expect, after their crushing victories over England and Sri Lanka respectively...
Bancroft showed few first Test nerves as his composed, unbeaten 82 helped Australia cruise to what could have been a tricky target. He also made sure England lost the off-field battle, with 'headbutt-gate' conveniently coming out during the game. Hs press conference on the topic was hilarious! The 25-year-old will have to take the gloves in this side, too.
Vijay celebrated his return to the Indian side after eight months out with a typically silky century. India have to choose two openers from Vijay, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan for the South Africa tour and although he has the lowest average of the three, I would play Vijay. He has a game most suited to all conditions.
A 14th Test ton in Nagpur for the rock-solid Indian number three. He loves batting with Vijay - they have an average partnership of 72, higher than any other regular pair in the history of Indian cricket.
Three of India's batsmen scored centuries against Sri Lanka but Kohli trumped them all with a sumptuous double hundred. Much has been made of Steve Smith's conversion rate this week but Kohli's is the best in world cricket. He is yet to lose a Test series as captain, so he leads this side.
Smith's slowest Test hundred may well have been his best. Time will tell if the unbeaten 141 in the face of extremely patient and diligent tactics by England could prove to be a defining moment in the series. How are Root's men going to get him out?
'The Hitman' completed a near-perfect first innings for India when he became the fourth frontline batsman to pass three figures. He is far too talented a player to have only played 22 Test matches by the age of 30.
Vince answered some of the doubts over his suitability as a Test number three with a composed 83 at the Gabba. He'll be gutted he ran himself out, though, and still has plenty to prove over the rest of the series.
Ashwin became the fastest man to 300 Test wickets when he reached the landmark in his 54th match. To put that in context, he got there 477 overs quicker than the great Shane Warne! How many might he end up with?
Starc was some way below his best in Brisbane but still took six important wickets. With him around, England's tail could be in for a chastening series.
Despite having never played a home Test match, Cummins was given a big build-up by the Australian media and he lived up to the hype. He was the most threatening Aussie quick in the first innings and then with the bat his partnership with Smith was the turning point in the match.
Lyon's pre-match comments put his own performance under the spotlight and he responded by playing a crucial role in tying England down. He also picked up some crucial wickets and if England can't find a way of disrupting his rhythm the three seamers will be able to charge in all day.
