It's that time of the year again - have a few drinks with friends, look back at the cricketing year and try to come up with a World XI which would knock the c**p out of most teams (including Australia). Selections were made on performances over the past year and also where they fit in the team, (so no question of selection of, say, Sachin Tendulkar).

Matthew Hayden: The burly left-hander had one of his more subdued years in 2006. The usual arrogance has been missing from the game and the swagger was absent in the middle of the year. Scoring just two hundreds and three nineties, Hayden has still managed a place in the team owing to inconsistent performances of many openers around the world. He might not be at his best but he will fight it out in the middle. Never discount Hayden, who on his day can destroy any bowling line-up. Stats: 10 matches, 789 runs, two centuries. Average: 43.83.

Kumara Sangakarra: Ask the Kiwis and the Springboks why Sangakarra is in the team. Without a doubt, he has overtaken Adam Gilchrist as the best wicketkeeper-batsman. Consistent performances in England over the summer helped the Sri Lankans draw the three-Test series. Sangakarra then went on to smash 287 as the Sri Lankans beat the Proteas 2-0 at home. He probably saved his best form for the Kiwis, with fabulous centuries at Christchurch and Wellington. With Sangakarra finally doing full justice to his potential in front and behind the wicket, the Lankan squad look very strong contenders for the World Cup. Stats: 11 matches, 1242 runs, four centuries. Average: 69.

Ricky Ponting: Criticised for his captaincy after the Ashes defeat in England last year, Ponting has made a great comeback as Australian skipper this year. And he hasn’t stopped scoring runs. He started the year with a remarkable match in Sydney against the Springboks (his 100th Test),scoring a century in each innings as Australia easily achieved the competitive total that Graeme Smith had set his team. Ponting then went on to save his team a lot of embarrassment as he scored 118 to thwart Bangladesh from achieving one of the biggest upsets in Test history. But as expected, he saved his best for the hapless Englishmen. Centuries at Brisbane and Adelaide have taken Ponting’s tally to an incredible 33 tons. If he manages to keep this form for the next two years, he might well hit 50 Test centuries, making him the perfect man for the number three spot. Stats: 10 matches, 1333 runs, seven centuries. Average: 88.86.

Jacques Kallis: Kallis has not had a great year either with bat or ball, falling from his mid-fifties average with the bat to an average of 45. There might be readers who believe that in such a strong team, the presence of an all-rounder is not necessary. But Kallis is more than an ordinary all-rounder. He can swing the ball both ways (just ask Tendulkar) and is also a fine slip fielder. A wonderful player who is, paradoxically, also one of the most boring people to have played the game. His century against Australia at Sydney was a painstakingly compiled effort as was his other century effort of the year in Cape Town against the same opposition. He brings the kind of balance that most teams would kill to have. Stats: Batting - eight matches, 620 runs, 2 centuries. Average: 44.28. Bowling - 491 runs, 15 wickets. Average: 32.73.

Mohammed Yousuf: What a year this man has had! There have been many good batsmen who haven’t made 1800 runs in an entire Test career. Yousuf broke Sir Vivian Richards’ 30-year-old record for the most runs in a calendar year, scoring an incredible 1,788 in 2006, including nine centuries, at an average of 99.33. He made big hundreds against India at home, in England and then ended the year by plundering runs against  the West Indies in Pakistan. Yousuf also achieved the record for most Test centuries (nine) in a calendar year. This remarkable run makes him one of the first names on our list. Stats: 11 matches, 1788 runs, nine centuries. Average: 99.33.

Kevin Pietersen: Pietersen has been one of the few bright spots for England in the Ashes campaign in Australia. He has had a very consistent 2006 as he scored centuries against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia. It's a treat to watch Pietersen play and there is never a dull moment when he is around. Any player who can tonk Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan] around has to be special. Stats: 14 matches, 1343 runs, four centuries. Average: 53.72.

Michael Hussey: 'Mr. Cricket', the Australian vice-captain and one of the best performers of 2006. Hussey seemed to have an answer to every challenge thrown at him. At 31, he has firmly established himself in the middle of the Australian line-up and should be around for another five to six  years. After a string of mediocre performances in South Africa, Hussey warmed up for the Ashes by belting the Bangladeshis before hammering the hapless Poms. Probably the best aspect about Hussey is the fact that he never seems to be fazed by the pressure (much like Michael Bevan). In the unlikely chance that the top half of this batting order collapses, you can be sure that Hussey will be around to help the team post a competitive total. Stats: 10 matches, 965 runs, two centuries. Average: 80.41.

Shane Warne: The legend himself. Few sports personalities retire at the top and it is a testament to Warne’s genius that he is going out right up there at the ripe old age of 37. He may not have enjoyed much success against the Indians but he has dominated every other team. Monty Panesar makes a strong case for a position in the line-up. He will bring variation, I hear you say. But Warne’s experience and the sheer intimidation factor that he brings to the line-up means he makes the line-up ahead of Panesar. We love you Monty, 2008 for sure! Stats: 10 matches, 49 wickets, five wickets in innings - three times. Average 30.

Makhaya Ntini: Ntini has emerged as one of the most consistent pace bowlers over the last two years and it's been a remarkable transformation for this cricketer. After a turbulent period in the late nineties when he was initially charged and later acquitted of rape, he is now one of the premier pace bowlers in the world and his fabulous spell against the Indians in the second innings at Kingsmead proved just that. Ntini is 29 and should be around for another three or four years as he helps the new breed of South African pace bowlers develop their game. Stats: 10 matches, 58 wickets, five wickets in innings - five times, 10 wickets in match - twice. Average 21.60.