Former South Africa great Hashim Amla has revealed his all-time Test XI, a star-studded lineup featuring two Indian legends — Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid — but surprisingly leaving out modern-day icon Virat Kohli. Amla’s selection has already sparked debate among fans, as he went for a mix of consistency, temperament, and match-winning ability over sheer flair.

Amla picked his former teammate Graeme Smith and Australian powerhouse Matthew Hayden to open the innings. Smith, one of South Africa’s most successful captains, scored 9,265 Test runs, with 9,030 of those coming as an opener. Hayden, meanwhile, amassed 8,625 runs in 103 Tests, renowned for his dominance against both pace and spin.

At No. 3, Amla went for “The Wall” — Rahul Dravid, who scored 13,288 Test runs and remains one of the most dependable batters in cricket history. Following him is Australia’s Ricky Ponting, sitting third on the all-time run-scoring charts with 13,378 runs and known for his aggressive stroke play and tactical brilliance.

ALSO READ: Abhimanyu Easwaran Breaks Silence On National Team Snub: “It Does Hurt Sometimes”

At No. 5, Amla chose his compatriot Jacques Kallis, arguably cricket’s greatest all-rounder, with over 10,000 runs and 292 wickets in Tests. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar was slotted in at No. 6, leading Amla’s lineup with an unparalleled 15,921 Test runs — a record that stands tall even decades after his retirement.

AB de Villiers was Amla’s choice at No. 7, donning the wicketkeeping gloves and bringing explosive versatility to the middle order. The bowling attack features a dream combination of skill and menace — Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne as the two spinners, boasting 800 and 708 wickets respectively, along with Glenn McGrath and Dale Steyn as the pacers.

ALSO READ: Virat Kohli’s Unrenewed RCB Contract Sparks Confusion, Aakash Chopra Clears the Air

Interestingly, Amla left out not just Kohli but also the rest of the “Fab Four” — Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson — proving that in his view, consistency over eras matters more than modern brilliance.

Hashim Amla’s All-Time Test XI: Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar, AB de Villiers (wk), Shane Warne, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath