# 3 for 1946-2006 World Test XI

[aussie tragic]

Now for the # 3 for the 1946-2006 World Test XI

Ricky Ponting (Aus): 107 tests, 9239 runs @ 59.99, HS 257, (33/35), 121 catches

Viv Richards (WI): 121 tests, 8540 runs @ 50.23, HS 291, (24/45), 122 catches

Clyde Walcott (WI): 44 tests, 3798 runs @ 56.68, HS 220, (15/14), 53 catches (incl. 15 tests as WK)

btw, the two runner-ups will go into the # 4 Poll


The Middle Order Candidates

3. Ricky Ponting --------------- Viv Richards -------------- Clyde Walcott
4. Sachin Tendulkar ---------- Greg Chappell ----------- Everton Weekes
5. Brian Lara -------------------- Gary Sobers -------------- Frank Worrell

 

[silentstriker]

I will vote for Richards, but a bit later on (maybe 5th).

 

[Lillian Thomson]

No contest, Viv.

 

[The Sean]

No contest, Viv.

Precisely. And rather than being an insult or disrespect to Punter or Walcott, the fact that he can so comprehensively outrank two such fantastic batsmen is actually a testament to just how great Sir Viv was.

 

[silentstriker]

Viv is the best batsman out of the three. However, I voted for Ponting because I feel Viv would be better in the side a little bit down the order.

 

[The Sean]

Viv is the best batsman out of the three. However, I voted for Ponting because I feel Viv would be better in the side a little bit down the order.

That's fair enough - though putting Viv at 4 or 5 for me would mean leaving out Lara or Tendulkar, and as highly as I rate Punter I'd rather have Richards-Tendulkar-Lara than Ponting-Tendulkar-Richards.

 

[aussie tragic]

That's fair enough - though putting Viv at 4 or 5 for me would mean leaving out Lara or Tendulkar, and as highly as I rate Punter I'd rather have Richards-Tendulkar-Lara than Ponting-Tendulkar-Richards.

Sobers is up for the # 5 slot as that's where he is in the 1966-85 XI

 

[Fusion]

Precisely. And rather than being an insult or disrespect to Punter or Walcott, the fact that he can so comprehensively outrank two such fantastic batsmen is actually a testament to just how great Sir Viv was.

Ditto.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Viv has to be in the side, Ponting doesn't, and Viv could be squeezed out when up against the aforementioned Lara, Tendulkar and Sobers - although he would still get my vote above all of them.

 

[The Sean]

Sobers is up for the # 5 slot as that's where he is in the 1966-85 XI

Hmmm....interesting - I wonder will Sobers get picked at 5 or 6? He has to make the side so I suppose it depends on if the consensus is 4 batsmen, Sobers at 5, then an allrounder, or 5 batsmen and Sobers.

 

[silentstriker]

Hmmm....interesting - I wonder will Sobers get picked at 5 or 6? He has to make the side so I suppose it depends on if the consensus is 4 batsmen, Sobers at 5, then an allrounder, or 5 batsmen and Sobers.

Personally, I won't be picking an all rounder, my reason being what I said in the main thread.

 

[The Sean]

Personally, I won't be picking an all rounder, my reason being what I said in the main thread.

Fair enough, so you'd pick Ponting-SRT-Richards-Sobers, and Lara to watch from the stands?

 

[silentstriker]

Fair enough, so you'd pick Ponting-SRT-Richards-Sobers, and Lara to watch from the stands?

Yup. Though I wouldn't mind it really if it was a lineup of Richards-SRT-Lara-Sobers. Both are fine in my mind.

No all rounder though, for me.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Richards > Poting, although I now admit Ponting to be a very fine batsman.

 

[silentstriker]

Richards > Poting, although I now admit Ponting to be a very fine batsman.

A bit late on the Ponting train, aren't ya?

 

[PhoenixFire]

Well, I admitted he was a great batsman in around 2005, but I was very unimpressed in his early career. I'm not being biased, but he was actually shocking against Harbhajan in India 00/01.

 

[silentstriker]

Well, I admitted he was a great batsman in around 2005, but I was very unimpressed in his early career. I'm not being biased, but he was actually shocking against Harbhajan in India 00/01.

He still is in India, thats why I don't put him at SRT-Lara. But if he keeps his form up for another year, or drops off but then makes up for it in a tour in India, then he has done enough to be ranked alongside the two.

If he keeps the form up for another year, I will discount his India record for his sheer weight of performances everywhere else.

 

[adharcric]

RIchards easily

 

[archie mac]

I would have voted Walcott if I knew he had no votes

 

[silentstriker]

I would have voted Walcott if I knew he had no votes

Makes no sense. Either you think he's the #3 or he isn't. Does it matter if he loses by 20 or 1?