Test XI of the year 2005

[BoyBrumby]

Well there's been a spate of best of/end of year threads &, not wishing to feel left out, I thought I'd add my contribution. Here's my selection for the World test XI to take on the rest of the universe based solely on 2005 performances:

1) M E Trescothick (1323 runs @ 55.13)
2) V Sehwag (815 runs @ 62.69)
3) R T Ponting (1533 runs @ 69.68, 1 wicket @ 19.00)
4) J H Kallis (996 runs @ 83.00, 17 wickets @ 42.88)
5) B C Lara (1110 runs @ 65.29)
6) Inzamam-ul-Haq (1000 runs @ 83.00)*
7) A C Gilchrist (836 runs @ 44.00, 46 catches, 4 stumpings)+
8) A Flintoff (68 wickets @ 24.41, 710 runs @ 30.87)
9) S K Warne (90 wickets @ 22.43, 416 runs @ 20.80)
10) M Muralitharan (52 wickets @ 18.52, 100 runs @ 11.11)
11) G D McGrath (59 wickets @ 21.49, 83 runs @ 9.22)

I'm a bit worried I've left myself a seamer light, but I couldn't bring myself to leave one of Ponting/Kallis/Lara/Inzi out. If I were to play the extra bowler (probably Vaas with 32 wickets @ 19.63 & 223 runs @ 22.30) I think I'd have to leave Lara out &, frankly, I don't wanna. Inzi to captain as he quite impressed me during our tour over there.

Fred plays as a specialist bowler as, Ashes aside, he's pretty much batted like one.

Perhaps interesting to note that, in the year we regained The Ashes, 3 Aussies (with maybe Hussey a bit unlucky to miss out with over 500 runs @ an average of 94) make my best XI but only two Englishmen. Happily we seemed to reserve our best form for that series!

 

[marc71178]

What, no Symonds?!

 

[aussie]

seems the best team, it is real though to leave any of those batsmen out they all have been superb. But just wondering dunno if u checked but is Sehwag averaging more than Hayden this year still?, also if you want to another seamer you could check Ntini's record i think he has done well this year.

 

[archie mac]

Well there's been a spate of best of/end of year threads &, not wishing to feel left out, I thought I'd add my contribution. Here's my selection for the World test XI to take on the rest of the universe based solely on 2005 performances:

1) M E Trescothick (1323 runs @ 55.13)
2) V Sehwag (815 runs @ 62.69)
3) R T Ponting (1533 runs @ 69.68, 1 wicket @ 19.00)
4) J H Kallis (996 runs @ 83.00, 17 wickets @ 42.88)
5) B C Lara (1110 runs @ 65.29)
6) Inzamam-ul-Haq (1000 runs @ 83.00)*
7) A C Gilchrist (836 runs @ 44.00, 46 catches, 4 stumpings)+
8) A Flintoff (68 wickets @ 24.41, 710 runs @ 30.87)
9) S K Warne (90 wickets @ 22.43, 416 runs @ 20.80)
10) M Muralitharan (52 wickets @ 18.52, 100 runs @ 11.11)
11) G D McGrath (59 wickets @ 21.49, 83 runs @ 9.22)

I'm a bit worried I've left myself a seamer light, but I couldn't bring myself to leave one of Ponting/Kallis/Lara/Inzi out. If I were to play the extra bowler (probably Vaas with 32 wickets @ 19.63 & 223 runs @ 22.30) I think I'd have to leave Lara out &, frankly, I don't wanna. Inzi to captain as he quite impressed me during our tour over there.

Fred plays as a specialist bowler as, Ashes aside, he's pretty much batted like one.

Perhaps interesting to note that, in the year we regained The Ashes, 3 Aussies (with maybe Hussey a bit unlucky to miss out with over 500 runs @ an average of 94) make my best XI but only two Englishmen. Happily we seemed to reserve our best form for that series!

Based on stats alone I would go for that team. Also Kallis could provide a few overs, bowled well at the G agaist the Aussies without luck.

 

[Neil Pickup]

seems the best team, it is real though to leave any of those batsmen out they all have been superb. But just wondering dunno if u checked but is Sehwag averaging more than Hayden this year still?, also if you want to another seamer you could check Ntini's record i think he has done well this year.

Even if he was, there would be no way Hayden would ever make a team of 2005.

Some things run deeper than figures.

 

[Autobahn]

One of inzi's big challenges is going to be getting Kallis to bowl more than a couple of overs otherwise flintoff and mcgrath are going to have a lot of work on their hands.

Might i suggest dropping one of the spinners and adding a paceman instead, i mean both of those spinners can very easily (and often) work alone, and if the pitch is a complete minefield then sehwag can turn his arm over a bit.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Seamers in 2005...

Flintoff 68 @ 24.41
Hoggard 58 @ 26.10
McGrath 58 @ 21.56
Lee 46 @ 31.97
Harmison 46 @ 34.86
Ntini 44 @ 24.56
Pathan 34 @ 24.38
Vaas 32 @ 19.62
Jones 31 @ 22.29
Nel 30 @ 19.70

 

[Autobahn]

Vaas.

- Best figures
- Perfect foil to one of the spinners (e.g. keeping things tight)
- Experience of bowling on dead wickets

But on the another hand it would leave with only Flintoff as a shock bowler because the rest of them at the moment aren't very pacy.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I'd also throw Kamran "I look like I'm twelve" Akmal's name into the hat ahead of Gilly.

 

[Pratters]

I'd also throw Kamran "I look like I'm twelve" Akmal's name into the hat ahead of Gilly.

Yeah it hasnt been Gilly's year. Would be much better to choose Akmal over him.

I would like to go for Taibu emotionally but Akmal pips him statistically if we exclude Taibu vs Bangladesh batting wise.

And Akmal has been keeping well as well..

 

[Prince EWS]

I'd go with that side, but with Taibu replacing Gilchrist.

 

[BoyBrumby]

If I was picking on current form Gilly probably would miss out; despite his ropey Ashes & after form tho he's still managed 3 centuries for the calendar year.

Akmal batted v well against us in the tests & the ODIs, but actually averages under 35 for 2005.

 

[Pothas]

id like to get Simon Jones in the side somewhare

 

[aussie]

Vaas.

- Best figures
- Perfect foil to one of the spinners (e.g. keeping things tight)
- Experience of bowling on dead wickets

But on the another hand it would leave with only Flintoff as a shock bowler because the rest of them at the moment aren't very pacy.

he's the perfect 12th man, i'd say.

 

[James90]

id like to get Simon Jones in the side somewhare

Maybe like this?

+De Villiers
Sehwag
Ponting
Kallis
Lara
Inzamam
Flintoff
Warne
Murali
Jones
McGrath

 

[Pratters]

Maybe like this?

+De Villiers
Sehwag
Ponting
Kallis
Lara
Inzamam
Flintoff
Warne
Murali
Jones
McGrath

I was thinking of having AB Devilliers keep as well. He has had a brilliant year with the bat. But he has not kept in many matches for RSA this year has he? Then why bring him to keep for the World XI..

 

[Pratters]

Trescothic vs Smith

Trescothic had 350 runs vs Bangladesh in 2 innings in 2 tests.

Smith should in fact be in the XI ahead of him.

 

[aussie]

even if you take that out i think Tres has still had a better year than Smith.

 

[Pratters]

umm Trescothic's average would drop but Smith has innings versus Zimbabwe and Windies too.

So yes I am wrong here. Trescothic is the one who has had the better year.

 

[chaminda_00]

I would have AB in as well as the keeper, it allows the team to be more balanced. I don't rate Kallis anymore as 5th bowlers, his probably a 6th type bowler these days. My team would follow as:

AB De Villers (wk)
M Trescothick
R Pointing
B Lara
I Ul Haq
J Kallis
A Flintoff
C Vaas
S Warne
M Muralitharan
G McGarth

I added Vaas as the extra seamer over Ntini, Nel and Jones cus i wanted extra depth in the batting and he adds variety as a left armer. Pathan also fells this role but he needs to do more against quality batting line ups.