England's best all-format playing XI comprising active cricketers

England is one of the best cricket teams right now. While the team has exerted dominance in the shorter formats, after the appointment of Brendon McCullum as the Head Coach, the Test Team is also on the rise. On that note, in this article, we take a look at England's best all-format playing XI comprising active cricketers.

"All-format cricketer" is a term that has gained prominence after the rise in T20 cricket. Now, players are categorized on the formats they can play in and sometimes, central contracts have also been awarded based on this. If England has to have one XI that must represent the nation in all the formats, the country does have good resources. We take a look at this unique XI in the below headings:

Openers: Joe Root and Jason Roy

Root and Roy are the openers in England's best all-format playing XI comprising active cricketers. Joe Root does not play a lot of shorter-format cricket but his form in Tests is such that it is not possible to leave him out. He is actually not a bad ODI cricketer while he can come good as a T20 batter if he can make use of the powerplay. Hence, he opens the batting along with Roy, who has the experience of playing in Tests.

Middle-Order: Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler (WK)

Dawid Malan has played in the middle-order in all three formats in recent months. Hence, he is the obvious choice here. Jonny Bairstow is the true all-format cricketer for England now. The player is undroppable in all the formats of the game for his nation. Jos Buttler might have been dropped from the Test squad but there are reports that he could soon make a comeback. He will keep wickets for this side.

All-Rounders: Ben Stokes (C), Moeen Ali and Sam Curran

Stokes, Moeen and Curran form this department in England's best all-format playing XI comprising active cricketers. Stokes might have prioritised Test cricket but he is a solid shorter-format player, as well. Moeen Ali has retired from Tests but he has confirmed that he will resume playing Test cricket under Brendon McCullum. Hence, he comes in here. Sam Curran can be the new-ball bowler for England across formats. In Tests, he has been used in a different role but for the restriction of this XI, he is a perfect fit. Chris Woakes is also a decent option here.

Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Matt Parkinson and Mark Wood

Jofra Archer is injured at the moment. If he is fit, he walks straightaway into the playing XI for all the formats. Mark Wood is also in good form at the moment and he can impact the game in all three formats. When it comes to the spin department, England has to either rely on Adil Rashid or Jack Leach. Both these players are not active in the opposite formats. Hence, the best option is Matt Parkinson, the leggie who has donned both the whites and coloured jersey of England in recent months.