Cricket Web - View Single Post

a massive zebra · 20-12-2004, 03:57 AM

For a start the Australian XI or 2000/01 was better than the current one.

However....The West Indies bowling (Marshall/Holding/Garner/Roberts/Walsh) was the most destructive bowling force ever in Test cricket, only McGrath or the current Australian bowlers would have a hope of making their side. However, the Australian batting seems much better, with Hayden being the best opener on either side, Ponting matching Richards in terms or run scoring if not reputation, and Gilchrist averaging over 50 at number 7. On their day the West Indies might run through Australia, but with 7 world class players runs invariably come from somewhere. On another day Australia might show their class and expose West Indies weaker lower middle order and tailenders.

So I for one cannot split them.

A combined XI might read

Greenidge
Hayden
Richards
Ponting
S Waugh
Lloyd
Gilchrist
Marshall
Holding
Garner
McGrath

20-12-2004, 03:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
a massive zebra International Debutant Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: on my ass @ the PC Posts: 2,775	For a start the Australian XI or 2000/01 was better than the current one. However....The West Indies bowling (Marshall/Holding/Garner/Roberts/Walsh) was the most destructive bowling force ever in Test cricket, only McGrath or the current Australian bowlers would have a hope of making their side. However, the Australian batting seems much better, with Hayden being the best opener on either side, Ponting matching Richards in terms or run scoring if not reputation, and Gilchrist averaging over 50 at number 7. On their day the West Indies might run through Australia, but with 7 world class players runs invariably come from somewhere. On another day Australia might show their class and expose West Indies weaker lower middle order and tailenders. So I for one cannot split them. A combined XI might read Greenidge Hayden Richards Ponting S Waugh Lloyd Gilchrist Marshall Holding Garner McGrath __________________ THE ULTIMATE CRICKET WEB ARCADE EGGS CHAMPION RIP Fardin Qayyumi (AKA "cricket player"; "Bob"), 1990-2006 RIP Craig Walsh (AKA "Craig"), 1985-2012 Last edited by a massive zebra; 20-12-2004 at 04:00 AM.