Building A Side From Scratch: Which Player Do You Choose First?

[pskov]

Simple enough question. If you have to build an XI from nothing, which player in world cricket do you selec with your first pick. Who do you build the team around?

 

[steds]

Dave Mohammed.

 

[archie mac]

I picked Flintoff, bowlers win matches always have always will. Just so happens he can bat pretty well also.

As well fast bowlers almost always start off the innings so can set the dye early

 

[silentstriker]

I would start with Flintoff and overbowl him. He'd have to retire by 30, but it'd be a good two years for my team.

 

[steds]

I would start with Flintoff and overbowl him. He'd have to retire by 30, but it'd be a good two years for my team.

Good stuff.

 

[Jono]

If McGrath is at his best I'd usually choose him, but Flintoff seems the obvious choice at the moment. I'd always choose a bowler though, because there are far less quality bowlers going around compared to quality batsman.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I was tossing up between Flintoff and Warne, but Warne's age ruled him out. Coupled with Freddy's captaincy experience now, I'd be happy to choose him first.

 

[What-A-Player]

I'll start with Mcgrath

 

[Robertinho]

I chose McGrath. Flintoff was close, but McGrath is a better bowler and there are other batsmen out there who can pick up the slack.

 

[Jdz]

Hard choice but I chose Ponting, experienced captain and a great batting average. What's the point in taking wickets if you don't have enough runs.

 

[Blaze]

Warne... by heaps.

 

[Dasa]

Hard choice but I chose Ponting, experienced captain and a great batting average. What's the point in taking wickets if you don't have enough runs.

...because bowlers win Test matches, not batsman (most of the time). No matter how good your batting is, you need to take 20 wickets to win.

I'd go with Flintoff as well.

 

[James]

I'd take Brett Lee for New Zealand, seeing Bond and Lee opening the bowling would be great fun.

 

[adharcric]

Flintoff, easily. He's good enough to lead an attack and can bat a decent amount. Now we know he can be a skipper as well.

 

[luckyeddie]

I've gone for Freddie - the guy is fast approaching legend status.

Now go back a quarter of a century, and this is how we felt about Botham - and probably explains why every time a so-called all-rounder popped his head out from village cricket, the press went mad with the 'New Botham' label.

 

[luckyeddie]

I would start with Flintoff and overbowl him. He'd have to retire by 30, but it'd be a good two years for my team.

Nasser? Is that you?

 

[marc71178]

Hard choice but I chose Ponting, experienced captain and a great batting average.

Experienced yes, good no.

 

[Richard]

Hard choice but I chose Ponting, experienced captain and a great batting average. What's the point in taking wickets if you don't have enough runs.

Err - bowlers win matches.
Batsmen help avoid them being lost.

 

[Richard]

Nasser? Is that you?

Nay, it be Micahel.

 

[Richard]

I'd take Brett Lee for New Zealand, seeing Bond and Lee opening the bowling would be great fun.

Why, because Bond would make Lee look like a joke?