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weldone · 16-07-2010, 03:13 AM

Don't know if this is the right thread to post my All-Time ODI XI, but I'll do that anyway. An All-Time ODI XI is never as straightforward as an All-Time Test XI for me. I have two favorite teams, and I like one of them more depending on my mood. For example, if I'm asked today I'll go with the first team:

Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Vivian Richards
Zaheer Abbas
Michael Bevan
Mahendra Dhoni
Kapil Dev
Shaun Pollock
Wasim Akram
Richard Hadlee
Muttiah Muralitharan

I love the way this team has 5 specialist bowlers and still bats till 10! An alternative XI, which is probably as good a team as this one, but manages its balance in a more conventional way, is as follows:

Sanath Jayasuriya
Sachin Tendulkar
Vivian Richards
Zaheer Abbas
Michael Bevan
Mahendra Dhoni
Lance Klusener
Joel Garner
Curtly Ambrose
Glenn McGrath
Muttiah Muralitharan

The 6 bolded players are the ones common in both teams. For me, Dhoni is definitely a better wicketkeeper-batsman option than Gilchrist. Also, I consider Gilchrist to be a better batsman than Jayasuriya, but Jayasuriya is there in the 2nd team because he adds so much value as a bowler (and I have Dhoni as a keeper). It might also be interesting to note that I consider Javed Miandad to be a better ODI batsman than Michael Bevan, but I believe he's more suited for a weaker team and Bevan is the better option in a stronger batting lineup (that is, when he's surrounded by All-Time ODI greats). As you see, I have no pace bowler common in both the teams. That's because I find it very difficult to choose 3-4 among those greats. More so, because the ones who seem to be slightly better with the ball are probably slightly worse with the bat.

16-07-2010, 03:13 AM	#47 (permalink)
weldone International Captain Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kolkata --> Mumbai, India Posts: 5,950	Don't know if this is the right thread to post my All-Time ODI XI, but I'll do that anyway. An All-Time ODI XI is never as straightforward as an All-Time Test XI for me. I have two favorite teams, and I like one of them more depending on my mood. For example, if I'm asked today I'll go with the first team: Brian Lara Sachin Tendulkar Vivian Richards Zaheer Abbas Michael Bevan Mahendra Dhoni Kapil Dev Shaun Pollock Wasim Akram Richard Hadlee Muttiah Muralitharan I love the way this team has 5 specialist bowlers and still bats till 10! An alternative XI, which is probably as good a team as this one, but manages its balance in a more conventional way, is as follows: Sanath Jayasuriya Sachin Tendulkar Vivian Richards Zaheer Abbas Michael Bevan Mahendra Dhoni Lance Klusener Joel Garner Curtly Ambrose Glenn McGrath Muttiah Muralitharan The 6 bolded players are the ones common in both teams. For me, Dhoni is definitely a better wicketkeeper-batsman option than Gilchrist. Also, I consider Gilchrist to be a better batsman than Jayasuriya, but Jayasuriya is there in the 2nd team because he adds so much value as a bowler (and I have Dhoni as a keeper). It might also be interesting to note that I consider Javed Miandad to be a better ODI batsman than Michael Bevan, but I believe he's more suited for a weaker team and Bevan is the better option in a stronger batting lineup (that is, when he's surrounded by All-Time ODI greats). As you see, I have no pace bowler common in both the teams. That's because I find it very difficult to choose 3-4 among those greats. More so, because the ones who seem to be slightly better with the ball are probably slightly worse with the bat. __________________ "I want to raise my hand and say one thing. Those who complain about my love for the game or commitment to the game are clueless. These are the only 2 areas where I give myself 100 out of 100." - Sachin Tendulkar, as told in an interview published in Bengali newspaper Anandabazar Patrika after his 100th International century (translated by weldone) Last edited by weldone; 16-07-2010 at 05:28 AM.