AS OLD Man 2008 makes his way back to the pavilion after another knock of 360-plus, the next man in, Youngster 2009, looks like he'll also be ushering in a new world cricket order.

While long-time No. 1 Test side Australia remains atop the standings due to legacy more than any recent on-field exploits as the year turns, a strong argument can be made that the Aussies are really no better than three in the standings and possibly even fourth.

You simply can't replace all-world talents like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist and the Australians are finding that out the hard way now as they toil to be bowl out sides twice.

For mine, South Africa and India are both better Test sides. The former lead the three-Test series 1-0 Down Under after drawing with India in India and the latter beat Australia 2-0 in the subcontinent.

England probably aren't too far behind the Australians now either and must be feeling good about their prospects of recapturing the Ashes next summer.

In selecting Walkabout's 2008 Test XI, the decline of the men from Down Under became even more apparent as only two baggy green caps made the side - and perhaps a little fortuitously at that.

But, hey, it's my team and I select who I want to.

Not surprisingly, Indians (four) and South Africans (three) fill up more than half the roster and several others from those countries can feel a little hard done by to miss out on joining my 'Lucrative 'Leven'.

Smith, gambhir at the top

At the top, I have prolific SA skipper Graeme Smith opening with Indian whirlwind Gautum Gambhir. Smith (1,519 and still counting) has made more runs than anyone else this fading year, while Gambhir burst on to the scene, making a massive 1,134 runs in only eight Tests at 70.87. His teammate, Virender Sehwag (1,462 at 56.23), is the first of the unlucky runners-up.

Sorry, the Walkabout XI only needs two openers.

At first drop comes Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting who's had a less than stellar year by his standards but has still managed more than 1,000 runs at just over 45. He just keeps out Sachin Tendulkar in an almost statistical stalemate. A bit of a home decision, I must confess. Anyway, as I said, my team, my team.

Coming in at four is another captain, England's Kevin Pietersen (1,015 runs at 50.75 with five centuries). He could average 20 and I'd probably still pick him because he's just pure entertainment at the crease.

At five, I want some bang for my buck, so it's A.B. de Villiers of SA over Shiv Chanderpaul of WI. Chanderpaul averaged 101 in a Cricketer of the Year performance but I want my No. 5 to get on with it and there's nothing shabby about the way the young South African went about his work this year, compiling 1,054 runs at an even 62 with four tons.

I also want some pep at six, and Aussie killer V.V.S. Laxman of India supplies that in bunches (1,086 at 47.21).

In a side full of skippers (Smith, Ponting and Pietersen), next comes mine, Indian Mahendra Singh Dhoni. M.S. didn't have the greatest year with the bat, averaging 35.16, but I like the way he has taken on the toughest job in cricket - skippering India, and done it well in all forms of the game. He's innovative, generally attacking and always thinking.

In lieu of an outstanding allrounder this year (sorry Jacques Kallis), I've gone with three quicks and a spinner as my attack.

Fronting the attack are South African firebrand Dale Steyn (a world-leading 66 wickets at 21.03) and exciting Indian 20-year-old Ishant Sharma (38 at 31.6). Backing them up is Aussie lefty Mitchell Johnson (61 at 27.29), who came into his own towards the end of the year, and the quirky Sri Lankan offie Muttiah Muralitharan who picked up 33 wickets (at 26.12) in only six Tests. He just holds out Harbhajan Singh, who claimed 63 wickets at 31.53 but ran hot and cold for India.

Twelfth man, for what it's worth, SA's No. 3, Hashim Amla. So that's the 2008 Walkabout XI, look out for them at a curry-goat match near you.

Later.

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