Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has revealed his Test team of the last decade, including four England players, which has proven to be somewhat controversial. Yesterday, Ponting tweeted his list to a mixed reception.Among others, the 45-year-old chose Alastair Cook, Ben Stokes, James Anderson and Stuart Broad to represent the English in the star-studded line-up. Former England captain Cook was one of the strongest openers this decade, scoring an incredible 33 centuries in 161 Tests before he decided to hang up his boots last year.Alongside Cook, Ponting chose David Warner to sit at the top of the order. First bursting onto the international scene in T20 cricket, Warner has been able to excellently transfer his skills to the longer Test format since making his debut in 2011.After a shocking Ashes series in the summer, Warner was able to return to form earlier this month with an incredible and unbeaten 335 against Pakistan in Adelaide. Kiwi captain Kane Williamson and former Australia skipper Steve Smith also find themselves a place on Ponting's dream team.Captaining the team is Indian superstar Virat Kohli, who averages almost 50 in Test cricket and has scored 27 red-ball tons.In the gloves, Ponting chose Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in history.
England all-rounder Stokes, who arguably produced the greatest innings in history to win the third Ashes Test in the summer, also makes the team alongside South African hero Dale Steyn.
Ponting also opted for Australia's Nathan Lyon as his sole spinner, with both Anderson and Broad alongside him.
Lyon has been a main feature in Australia's Test side over the past few years, taking almost 400 wickets in 95 Tests, and playing no small part in the Australian victories in the last two Ashes series.
Anderson and Broad sit fourth and seventh respectively in the list of all-time wicket-takers in Test cricket.
Not everyone was happy with Ponting's line-up, with some confused at the selection of just one Indian player, but it's difficult to argue with a team made by arguably one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
Both England and Australia return to Test action next week, with England looking to level their series against South Africa and New Zealand hoping to strike back against the dominant Aussie side.