KEVIN Pietersen is the only England player in Wisden’s Test match Dream XI, published for the first time yesterday.

In its 146th year, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has nominated its own world elite team.

South Africa-born Pietersen finds his place at number five in the team which, editor Scyld Berry explains, pertains to five-day cricket because ‘‘almost every international cricketer, when questioned, says the ultimate form of the game is Test cricket’’.

Above him in the Dream batting order are opening pair Virender Sehwag, of India, and South Africa captain Graeme Smith; Australia captain Ricky Ponting claims the pivotal number three spot, and India’s master batsman Sachin Tendulkar is number four.

Below Pietersen are West Indies lynchpin Shivnarine Chanderpaul, just above India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The tail starts with India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh – followed by Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson and South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, with India’s Zaheer Khan at number 11.

Sehwag is not only number one by virtue of his position in the batting order but for good measure is identified as the sixth player to be recognised as the Leading Cricketer in the World.

It is an annual accolade previously bestowed on the likes of Shane Warne, Andrew Flintoff and Muttiah Muralitharan.