world test IX. a player from each country.

[slugger]

A world test IX. Made up of a player from each test nation. NZ, Aust, Zim, RSA, Pak, Ind, SrL, WI, Eng (9 Teams) No Bangladesh. 2 of your teams will have 2 players in the squard.

L.Hutton Eng.
S.Gavaskar Ind.
R.Pollock RSA
D.Bradman Aust.
S.Tendulkar Ind.
B.Lara WI
A.Flower Zim.+
R.Hadlee NZ
W.Yonus Pak
G.McGarth Aust.
M Muralitharan SrL.

I find it quite challenging, but i'm not usually good at these things. I'm sure my team can be improved.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Not bad at all. Here's my team.

Jack Hobbs (ENG)
Sunil Gavaskar (IND)
Donald Bradman (AUS) (c)
Graeme Pollock (RSA)
Garfield Sobers (WI)
Andrew Flower (ZIM) (k)
Imran Khan (PAK)
Richard Hadlee (NZL)
Alan Davidson (AUS)
Michael Holding (WI)
Muttiah Muralitharan (SRL)

Five bowlers, but three of them are quality batsmen in their own right. Only one spinner, but Sobers can assist in that capacity. Holding picked over Marshall and Ambrose, but they are interchangable as the second West Indies player. Miller and Davidson also interchangable as the second Australian player, I picked Davidson because I think he's a better bowler and the team bats to 9 as it is.

For your team, I think you have to include Hobbs over Hutton, and Sobers is in my opinion comfortably the second best player in test history and warrants inclusion in any All-time XI. Imran Khan is both a better bowler than Waqar and a good batsman as well, so he's a better choice from Pakistan in my view.

 

[chaminda_00]

Don't mind this one, makes u think a little bit more about selections. BTW i think were getting chose to over kill when it comes to All time XIs. Here is mine anyway:

1. S Gavaskar (IND)
2. J Hobbs (ENG)
3. D Bradman (c) (AUS)
4. G Pollock (RSA)
5. G Sobers (WI)
6. A Flower (wk) (ZIM)
7. I Khan (PAK)
8. R Hadlee (NZL)
9. M Marshall (WI)
10. S Warne (AUS)
11. M Muralithran (SRL)

i went for Warne over Davison and McGrath cus with i see no reason to play 4 Fast Bowlers when u have Sobers in the side. If the pitch has pace in it he can bowl medo and if the pitch turns he can bowl spin. Having the 5 main bowlers made 3 fast bowlers and two spin bowlers give u more variety. I went for Marshall over Holding cus of his batting ability, for me there on par when it comes to bowling but Marshall's batting gets him infront, IMO.

Also when selecting the side it made me think who is the best English cricketer of all time. Would it be Hobbs, Hutton, Barnes, Trueman, Hammond, WG Grace or even Botham. For me it would be Hammond, but in this side i need a opener so i went for Hobbs. No real reason why i went for him over Hutton but it was just one of those 50/50 calls

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Also when selecting the side it made me think who is the best English cricketer of all time.

Yeah, it's interesting considering that, same with second best. I think some countries are clear cut and I didn't have too much trouble picking them. Second best is always much tougher.

Australia: Bradman
Bangaldesh: Bashar
England: Hobbs
West Indies: Sobers
Pakistan: Imran
New Zealand: Hadlee
Sri Lanka: Murali
Zimbabwe: Flower

India and South Africa are tough though. Gavaskar, Tendulkar and Dravid all make a good case, as do various Pollocks, Donald, Proctor etc for South Africa.

 

[chaminda_00]

Yeah, it's interesting considering that, same with second best. I think some countries are clear cut and I didn't have too much trouble picking them. Second best is always much tougher.

Australia: Bradman
Bangaldesh: Bashar
England: Hobbs
West Indies: Sobers
Pakistan: Imran
New Zealand: Hadlee
Sri Lanka: Murali

India and South Africa are tough though. Gavaskar, Tendulkar and Dravid all make a good case, as do various Pollocks, Donald, Proctor etc for South Africa.

For me Rafique is the best Bangla player, but that just IMO. Also i think Donald is the only player from RSA that comes close to Greame Pollock. Shaun Pollock has a good record but is a class below both of them IMO. Also why would u say that Hobbs is clearly the best player ever from England, i think there are other guys that are close to him. Hammond the pick for me, but not by much.

 

[Jamee999]

Aus: Bradman
Eng: Hobbs/ Hutton
WI Sobers
Ind: Tendulkar
Pak: Khan/Akram
SA: Donald
NZ: Hadlee
SL: Muralli
Zim: A Flower

Hobbs
Hutton
Bradman
Tendulkar
A Flower+
Sobers
Khan
Hadlee
Akram
Donald
Muralitharan

 

[slugger]

I for got about G Sobers my middle order looked alittle fragile with B Lara coming in so late. Also I notice most you had A Flower more as late middle order. I evened considered D.Gower for one of my englishmen for the middle order. You possibly could get A.Gilchrist in there and use A Flower as a batsmen or even consider H.Streak with the ball.

but hey it was a pretty cool idea and required alot more thought than just picking the best of the best.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

For me Rafique is the best Bangla player, but that just IMO. Also i think Donald is the only player from RSA that comes close to Greame Pollock. Shaun Pollock has a good record but is a class below both of them IMO. Also why would u say that Hobbs is clearly the best player ever from England, i think there are other guys that are close to him. Hammond the pick for me, but not by much.

Well, Proctor I think could have been one of the greatest ever players if he had the opportunity to play a bit more test cricket. He had an incredible start to his test career before South Africa were kicked out with 41 wickets at just 15, and took 1400 first class wickets at under 20, with a batting average of 36 and 48 centuries to back it up. However, from test stats only, Donald probably shades Peter and Shaun Pollock and Neil Adcock for the second best SA player.

As far as England goes, well they have had lots of great players. Hammond, Hutton, Sutcliffe, Barrington, Gooch and May with the bat, Trueman, Barnes, Bedser, Tyson, Laker and Willis with the ball, Botham's all-round abilities and so on. However for me Hobbs is one of the greatest players to ever pick up a bat, in the same league as Sobers, Grace and Bradman as players who just owned an era in which they played. He is an automatic pick in any all-time XI for me with Gilchrist, Sobers and Bradman.

 

[chaminda_00]

Well, Proctor I think could have been one of the greatest ever players if he had the opportunity to play a bit more test cricket. He had an incredible start to his test career before South Africa were kicked out with 41 wickets at just 15, and took 1400 first class wickets at under 20, with a batting average of 36 and 48 centuries to back it up. However, from test stats only, Donald probably shades Peter and Shaun Pollock and Neil Adcock for the second best SA player.

As far as England goes, well they have had lots of great players. Hammond, Hutton, Sutcliffe, Barrington, Gooch and May with the bat, Trueman, Barnes, Bedser, Tyson, Laker and Willis with the ball, Botham's all-round abilities and so on. However for me Hobbs is one of the greatest players to ever pick up a bat, in the same league as Sobers, Grace and Bradman as players who just owned an era in which they played. He is an automatic pick in any all-time XI for me with Gilchrist, Sobers and Bradman.

That the problem i have with Proctor he didn't play enough Test Cricket, picking him in any all time side would be down his FC record not his Test record. It would be like picking WG Grace, over other Englishman like Hobbs, Hammond etc. I also think Hammond is slightly better then Hobbs, cus they are about even when it comes to batting. Walter for me is slighlty better then him on the back of his under-rated medium pace. 83 wickets @ 37 is a fair record and would add greater balance to a side. One of the reason why people rate Sobers higher then other batsmen is cus of his bowling which for me is only slightly better then Hammond. I think when u look at some like Hommand u have to consider him a bit of a bowling all rounder, he did take 732 wickets in FC matches.

 

[honestbharani]

India: Gavaskar
WI : Sobers
Australia : McGrath
New Zealand: Hadlee
England: Botham
Zimbabwe: Andy Flower
Sri Lanka: Murali
Pakistan: Wasim Akram
South Africa: Barry Richards



Barry Richards
Sunil Gavaskar
Don Bradman
Brian Lara
Gary Sobers
Andy Flower
Ian Botham
Richard Hadlee
Wasim Akram
Murali
McGrath



The reason I didn't choose Bradman as the best player from Australia was because I never watched him. I honestly don't think there is any question about him being the best Australian player, but I thought it would be fun to rack my brains about picking the best Aussie player from what I have seen.

 

[SJS]

A world test IX. Made up of a player from each test nation. NZ, Aust, Zim, RSA, Pak, Ind, SrL, WI, Eng (9 Teams) No Bangladesh. 2 of your teams will have 2 players in the squard.

L.Hutton Eng.
S.Gavaskar Ind.
R.Pollock RSA
D.Bradman Aust.
S.Tendulkar Ind.
B.Lara WI
A.Flower Zim.+
R.Hadlee NZ
W.Yonus Pak
G.McGarth Aust.
M Muralitharan SrL.

I find it quite challenging, but i'm not usually good at these things. I'm sure my team can be improved.

You could include Bart King from USA. The greatest cricketer to come from a non test playing country.

 

[Adamc]

1.Jack Hobbs (ENG)
2.Sunil Gavaskar (IND)
3.Don Bradman* (AUS)
4.Graeme Pollock (RSA)
5.Gary Sobers (WI)
6.Andy Flower+ (ZIM)
7.Imran Khan (PAK)
8.Keith Miller (AUS)
9.Richard Hadlee (NZ)
10.Malcolm Marshall (WI)
11.Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)

Obviously I am fairly biased in favour of allrounders, with four conventional allrounders in that squad. Quite a lot of bowlers (five frontliners + Sobers), but still more than enough batting with Hadlee coming in at nine.
Difficult choice between Gavaskar and Tendulkar, but the former gets in simply because I needed a second opener. Interesting that not many people rate Miller. Weakest link I think is Flower, not entirely convinced as to his 'keeping skills, and will be difficult for him to contribute a great deal with the bat when surrounded by much bigger names. Gilchrist would be more useful in that position, not necessarily because he's better with the bat or gloves, but simply because he scores quicker.

 

[SJS]

1 Richards (SAF)
2 Gavaskar (IND)
3 Bradman (AUS)
4 Headley (WIN)
5 Hammond (ENG)
6 Sobers (WIN)
7 Flower (ZIM)
8 Imran (PAK)
9 Hadlee (NZL)
10 Murali (SRL)
11 Barnes (ENG)

 

[cameeel]

Sehwag (IND)
Vaughn (ENG)
Lara (WI)
S Fleming (NZ)
A Flower (ZIM)
Gilchrist (AUS)
Akhtar (PAK)
Rafique (BAN)
Harmison (ENG)
McGrath (AUS)
Murilidian (SL)

All current day players

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Walter for me is slighlty better then him on the back of his under-rated medium pace. 83 wickets @ 37 is a fair record and would add greater balance to a side. One of the reason why people rate Sobers higher then other batsmen is cus of his bowling which for me is only slightly better then Hammond. I think when u look at some like Hommand u have to consider him a bit of a bowling all rounder, he did take 732 wickets in FC matches.

Sobers was a SUPERB bowler, he was a hell of a lot better than Hammond, who was merely handy. During the 1960s he was the fourth highest wicket taker in the world, behind just McKenzie, Gibbs and Trueman. He also regularly opened the bowling for his country with his fast-mediums, as well as being a capable bowler of both finger and wrist spin. He took five wicket hauls, and took more wickets than Wes Hall. Before judging him on his average, it is worth remembering that he played in an era similar to today with few dominant bowlers, flat pitches and strong batting stocks. In the 1960s only four bowlers managed to take 50+ wickets at an average under 25, while a handful of great batsmen averaged in the high 50s and Walters as well as Sobers himself making it into the 60s.

 

[slugger]

J.Hobbs Eng.
S.Gavaskar Ind.
D.Bradman Aust.
R.Pollock RSA.
S.Tendulkar Ind.
G.Sobers WI.
A.Gilchrist. Aust. +
I.Khan Pak. *
R.Hadlee. NZ.
H.Streak Zim.
M Muralitharan SrL.

This is the only way to get A.Gilchrist in the team by replacing A.Flower (Zim) with H.Streak. This batting line up runs all the way to 10th, mind you by the time A Gilchrist is out the score could be anything from 400/6 to 600/6

 

[Adamc]

J.Hobbs Eng.
S.Gavaskar Ind.
D.Bradman Aust.
R.Pollock RSA.
S.Tendulkar Ind.
G.Sobers WI.
A.Gilchrist. Aust. +
I.Khan Pak. *
R.Hadlee. NZ.
H.Streak Zim.
M Muralitharan SrL.

This is the only way to get A.Gilchrist in the team by replacing A.Flower (Zim) with H.Streak. This batting line up runs all the way to 10th, mind you by the time A Gilchrist is out the score could be anything from 400/6 to 600/6

I would put Flower in and replace Streak with an Australian bowler (may I suggest Keith Miller ), simply because you have far more to gain by doing that than by replacing Flower with Gilchrist. Streak is good but doesn't belong in the company of the other bowlers, whereas Flower can hold his own reasonably well by virtue of a 50+ Test average.

 

[slugger]

i did place a team with Flower as keeper. My 2nd post is simply the only way to get Gilchrist in the team. I'm only asking how much do you lose for how much you gain. maybe the lucky thing for us "here" is Zim do have one great player (Flower) unfortantly he is the keeper. Which is the only reason Gilchrst doesn't get the gloves. In this World Team (player from each country).

 

[Adamc]

i did place a team with Flower as keeper. My 2nd post is simply the only way to get Gilchrist in the team. I'm only asking how much do you lose for how much you gain. maybe the lucky thing for us "here" is Zim do have one great player (Flower) unfortantly he is the keeper. Which is the only reason Gilchrst doesn't get the gloves. In this World Team (player from each country).

Flower played the latter part of his career as a specialist batsman (i.e. not 'keeping), so there is no reason why both can't play in the same lineup.

 

[James90]

I think this would be a lot more interesting...current players...11 teams

1. Sehwag (IND)
2. Strauss (ENG)
3. Ponting (AUS)
4. Lara (WI)
5. Tikolo (KEN)
6. Kallis (RSA)
7. McCullum (NZ)
8. Streak (ZIM)
9. Mashrafe (BAN)
10. Akhtar (PAK)
11. Muralitharan (SL)