MS Dhoni: captain and wicketkeeper of Wisden's inaugural Test XI

For the first time, Wisden has selected a Test XI, which recognises the best Test cricketers and endorses Test cricket as the highest, most skilled form of the game.

The criteria for selection were: the best 11 to play a Test match, no matter the opposition, guided by performances in 2008, and taking into consideration the amount of Test cricket they played in the year, the quality of their opponents and that indefinable blend of class and form.

The selectors were Ian Bishop, the fast bowler who played 43 Tests for West Indies; Ravi Shastri, who played 80 Tests for India, initially as a left-arm spinner and later as an opening batsman; and Ian Smith, who kept wicket for New Zealand in 63 Tests. Shastri and Smith also captained their countries briefly, while Bishop regularly led Trinidad & Tobago. All three now watch cricket around the world as television commentators.

Unlike other selection panels, this one is an open forum and we can see the reasoning. In the case of six players, the selectors were unanimous. In three cases, there was a 2-1 majority. In the other two, the three selectors each voted for a different player and the editor - as convener of the panel - had the casting vote.

Sadly, Pakistan did not play a Test match during the whole year, which ruled their players out of consideration.

The opening pair were unanimously agreed to be Virender Sehwag and Graeme Smith, the two leading Test run-scorers of 2008. Sehwag was also named Wisden's Leading Cricketer in the World for the year.