Pick Two Opening Batsmen for the 1946-65 World Test XI

[aussie tragic]

This is a 4-day poll to select the two Openers for the 1946-65 World Test XI

Eddie Barlow (SA): 21 tests, 1970 runs @ 50.51 (4/13) HS 201 ----- (as Opener: 1894 @ 49.84) ----- 14 wkts @ 55.78
Colin Cowdrey (Eng): 79 tests, 5590 runs @ 47.37 (17/28) HS 182 ----- (1438 @ 46.38)
Conrad Hunte (WI): 36 tests, 2743 runs @ 46.49 (6/13) HS 260 ----- (2743 @ 46.49)
Len Hutton (Eng): 66 tests, 5626 runs @ 54.62 (14/30) HS 206 ----- (5376 @ 54.30)
Bill Lawry (Aus): 31 tests, 2450 runs @ 48.03 (6/13) HS 210 ----- (2450 @ 48.03)
Jackie McGlew (SA): 34 tests, 2440 runs @ 42.06 (7/10) HS 255* ----- (2316 @ 44.53)
Hanif Mohammad (Pak): 48 tests, 3584 runs @ 44.80 (11/15) HS 337 ----- (2578 @ 42.96)
Arthur Morris (Aus): 46 tests, 3533 runs @ 46.48 (12/12) HS 206 ----- (3381 @ 45.68)
Geoff Pullar (Eng): 28 tests, 1974 runs @ 43.86 (4/12) HS 175 ----- (1973 @ 43.84)
Bob Simpson (Aus): 41 tests, 2999 runs @ 45.43 (4/19) HS 311 ----- (2599 @ 52.22) ----- 37 wkts @ 47.21
Jeffrey Stollmeyer (WI): 29 tests, 2026 runs @ 44.04 (4/10) HS 160 ----- (2006 @ 43.60) ----- 13 wkts @ 39.00
Bert Sutcliffe (NZ): 42 tests, 2727 runs @ 40.10 (5/15) HS 230* ----- (1763 @ 45.20)
Cyril Washbrook (Eng): 36 tests, 2552 runs @ 43.25 (6/12) HS 195 ----- (2448 @ 43.71)

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Hutton and Morris.

 

[oz_fan]

I'm going to go with Hutton and Morris.

 

[Dasa]

Hutton is an automatic pick, the second opener is harder to choose. I went for Hunte.

 

[_Ed_]

As much as I'd love to vote for the NZ legend that is Bert Sutcliffe, I went for Hutton and Barlow.

 

[aussie tragic]

Hutton was easy and I went for Morris due to his high century conversion rate (i.e. he has 12 hundreds and 12 fifties in only 46 tests)

 

[silentstriker]

Vijay Merchant has an average of 154 as an opener during the period.


OK, so only one test match.

 

[silentstriker]

I went Hutton and Barlow.

 

[Poker Boy]

I don't think I'll be accused of bias by saying Hutton is a cert. Close between the three Aussies for his partner but I chose his opposite number in the Aussie team - Morris.

 

[Matt79]

Hutton and Simpson. Morris fell off too sharply in the second half of his career. Simpson was a quality player into his 40s, and would contribute as a lethal 1st slipper and bits and pieces bowlers as well. Len is an automatic selection I'd have thought.

 

[SA]

Len Hutton & Bob Simpson

 

[adharcric]

Hutton and Merchant.
Since this list is clearly missing the second-best opener of this era ... Hutton and Barlow.

 

[a massive zebra]

Where is Vijay Merchant?

 

[silentstriker]

Where is Vijay Merchant?

I don't think he played enough tests to qualify. In the same boat as Barry Richards was in the last battle. And I argued against his inclusion, so even though my Indian bias says he should be in, I'll be consistent and say he shouldn't because he didn't play.

 

[adharcric]

First of all, he played 10 tests which isn't as poor as it sounds. By the standards of those days, that's like playing 25 tests in today's times. Furthermore, it's not like he wasn't good enough to make the test side and thus didn't play many tests. He didn't just do it in India either; he did well in tours of England as well.

He averaged 48 in his 10 tests which clearly shows that he was "test-class".
Fair enough, if this is a Test XI maybe he shouldn't be in ... but if it's a cricket XI (no, I'm not referring to ODIs) he definitely should be partnering Hutton at the top.

 

[Perm]

Len Hutton and *patriotic hat* Bert Sutcliffe

 

[aussie tragic]

First of all, he played 10 tests which isn't as poor as it sounds. By the standards of those days, that's like playing 25 tests in today's times. Furthermore, it's not like he wasn't good enough to make the test side and thus didn't play many tests. He didn't just do it in India either; he did well in tours of England as well.

He averaged 48 in his 10 tests which clearly shows that he was "test-class".
Fair enough, if this is a Test XI maybe he shouldn't be in ... but if it's a cricket XI (no, I'm not referring to ODIs) he definitely should be partnering Hutton at the top.

First, this is a World Test XI , second, it's for the period 1946-65 and as Merchant only played 4 tests during this period, he could not be considered against experienced "Test" players like Morris, Barlow, Simpson and Sutcliffe, no matter how good he may have been at test level had he the opportunity (like Barry Richards was not in 1966-85 XI).

 

[C_C]

Hutton and Hunte.

 

[adharcric]

First, this is a World Test XI , second, it's for the period 1946-65 and as Merchant only played 4 tests during this period, he could not be considered against experienced "Test" players like Morris, Barlow, Simpson and Sutcliffe, no matter how good he may have been at test level had he the opportunity (like Barry Richards was not in 1966-85 XI).

Completely agree. Just saying that Merchant is better than everyone in this list bar Hutton, IMO.

 

[aussie tragic]

Completely agree. Just saying that Merchant is better than everyone in this list bar Hutton, IMO.

Why? He could definitely be considered as one of the best FC players of all-time (averaging 71), however his test record does not appear worthy of such accolades:

1933-39: 6 tests, 460 runs @ 38.33 (1/2) HS 114

1946-51: 4 tests, 399 runs @ 66.50 (2/1) HS 154

Total: 10 tests, 859 runs @ 47.72 (3/3) HS 154