Quote:
Originally Posted by SJS
Seems likely. At least he shows a strong bias.
Here is my 16 with some stats to explain WHY.
The Batsmen (8) : Openers : Hayden, Jayasuriya......and the keeper batsman - Gilchrist
Middle Order : Ponting, Jayawardhane, Kallis, Pietersen, Clarke, Styris Wicket Keeper (1) :
9. Gilchrist The Frontline Bowlers (7) : Pacers : McGrath, Tait, Malinga, Bracken, Bond
Spinners : Murali, Hogg Others who can bowl : Regularly : Jayasuriya, Kallis, Styris
....and, sometimes : Pietersen, Clarke. Its tough nominating a captain between the popular choice of Ponting and the "critic's choice" of Jayawardane  I choose Ponting, not least because the team consiss so many of his countrymen particularly so many of the frontline bowlers.
The stats of these players are given below. It is imposible to argue with these stats. I have some concern for Tait's profligacy (corrected from original 'Tit's profligacy') with the ball and would probably not have him in a final eleven if Bond was available.
Kallis would be dropped if I was asked to reduce the numbers from 16 to 15.
So the squad reads
1. Ponting (captain)
2. Gilchrist (keeper)
3. Hayden
4. Jayasuriya
5. Jayawardane
6. Pietersen
7. Kallis
8. Clarke
9. Styris
10. McGrath
11. Tait
12. Malinga
13. Bond
14. Bracken
15. Murali
16. Hogg.
The highlighted would be my first preference for 12 to play. |
I can see their point in why they chose Sangakkara over Gilchrist.
Sangakkara had an amazing World Cup with regard to his keeping.
Batting wise despite his struggle in some games, he made at least 5 scores of over 50 , and 2 of these against NZ and Australia. Gilchrist's World Cup was pretty poor until the 149 in the Final. Now while any one could argue that was the single most important innings of the World cup, if you think in terms of points awarded by performance at each game (ie some of the blinders Sangakkara took wicket keeping + his scores in 5 games IIRC and considering Sangakkara faced the Australian bowling attack in scoring the runs he did as opposed to Gillys innings against SL) you can see why they picked Sangakkara.
Not saying they are right (but that's how they came about picking Sangakkara I suspect).
{Being A biased Sri Lankan and considering the additional cricketing paraphernalia Gilly Used
I have to agree with them .
}