Team of the year

[Craig]

What would be your team (Tests) of 2008? Probably the biggest concern would be the openers, where guys like Graeme Smith, Gautam Gambhir, and Virender Sehwag all average over 56 (Gambhir and Smith average over 70).

Bearing in mind you can pick whoever you like, but try and make it serious instead of a piss take. I'll give mine later, but I have to pop out now.

 

[BoyBrumby]

1) GC Smith* (1519 runs @ 72.33)
2) G Gambhir (1134 @ 70.88)
3) HM Amla (1132 @ 52.95)
4) KP Pietersen (1015 @ 50.75)
5) S Chanderpaul (909 @ 101.00)
6) AB de Villiers (1054 @ 62.00)
7) BJ Haddin+ (648 @ 40.50; 40 catches)
8) DL Vettori (672 runs @ 35.37; 54 wickets @ 26.13)
9) MG Johnson (317 runs @ 21.13; 61 wickets @ 27.30)
10) RJ Sidebottom (47 wickets @ 20.26)
11) DW Steyn (64 wickets @ 20.73)

Sehwag's maybe a bit unlucky, but he's definitely been third as specialist openers go. I guess one could make a case for him at three, but Amla's had a great year proving quite a few (self included) wrong.

Couldn't quite justify Kallis or Flintoff as both have had very ordinary times of it with the bat, so Vettori provides spin and balance. Mendis has obviously been a revelation, but has still barely played. In sub-continental conditions he could maybe come in for Sid.
__________________

 

[nightprowler10]

Swap Sehwag with Ghambhir for me and we have an agreement. That double against Sri Lanka has to be the inning of the year.

 

[Athlai]

Just in their positions without any pushing around a team that would look like

Test

GC Smith (SA)
G Gambhir (Ind)
HM Amla (SA)
KP Pietersen (Eng)
S Chanderpaul (WI)
AB de Villiers (SA)
BB McCullum (NZ) closely followed by Haddin
DL Vettori (NZ)
RJ Sidebottom (Eng)
DW Steyn (SA)
IE O'Brien (NZ)

12th man
BAW Mendis (SL) (in place of O'Brien in seaming conditions)

 

[Uppercut]

I'd have Sehwag tbh. Gambhir's had a great year but didn't quite muster anything to match Sehwag's 201* in Sri Lanka.

 

[Jono]

Yeah I think I agree with that. Gambhir has been superb this year, but you have to think about not only how many runs were made, but when. When you consider Sehwag's match-saving century in Adelaide, match-winning double ton vs. Sri Lanka and then his recent quickfire 80-odd to help win India the test, I'd say he's had the better year than Gambhir.

 

[silentstriker]

Smith and Sehwag scored about 1500 runs from 14-15 matches, while Gautam scored 1100 from eight. Actually, I think I'd have all three of them:

• Smith
• Gambhir
• Sehwag

The middle order is a little bit muddy. Many players have 1000+ runs. As you can see, I don't really want to make the distinction between openers and traditional middle order for this purpose. I mean, Sehwag is a middle order batsman by trade anyway.

Of course, you can't leave out Chanderpaul. Had 900 runs but in only 9 Tests and an average of 100+. I like AB De Villiers as well, and I am partial towards Pietersen.

• Chanderpaul
• AB Devilliers
• Pietersen

So there is my top six. Who should be the wicketkeeper? I'm going to go with Haddin.

• Haddin

Now, the bowlers:

Flintoff is walking into the side. Steyn also makes it. And Mitchell Johnson has come on strong lately. So that leaves one spot. Zaheer Khan, O'Brien, Ishant or Sidebottom? I'm going to go Sidebottom. To hell with spinners, useless buggers.

• Flintoff
• Johnson
• Steyn
• Sidebottom

Bats deep, has some excellent weapons, and a great all around team in my opinion:

1. Smith
2. Gambhir
3. Sehwag
4. Chanderpaul
5. AB Devilliers
6. Pietersen
7. Haddin
8. Flintoff
9. Johnson
10. Steyn
11. Sidebottom

Three South Africans, two Indians, two Australians, three Englishmen, and one West Indian. I think it's fair.

 

[Jono]

Freddy? 197 runs at 28.14 and 16 wickets at 33.37.

Hardly a 2008 to remember.

 

[Uppercut]

I'd have Dhoni in there. His captaincy has really stood out this year and he's coming on well with the bat too. Also want Mendis. If he'd taken his 26 wickets at 18 apiece over the course of six matches against India he'd walk into everyone's team.

 

[silentstriker]

Regardless of actual yield, he was the best bowler I saw this year. Zaheer Khan also didn't have a statistically good year, but he was excellent through most of it. I considered him too. No Dhoni. Good captaincy but not great with bat. His glovework has been coming along, which is what I am more impressed with.

 

[Uppercut]

Regardless of actual yield, he was the best bowler I saw this year. Zaheer Khan also didn't have a statistically good year, but he was excellent through most of it. I considered him too. No Dhoni. Good captaincy but not great with bat. His glovework has been coming along, which is what I am more impressed with.

Averages 37.5 to Haddin's 40 this year, so I'd have the captaincy shading it. Your call though. I think I'll go:

Gambhir
Smith
Sehwag
Pietersen
Chanderpaul
De Villiers
Dhoni (wk, c)
Mendis
Steyn
Sidebottom
O'Brien

 

[pup11]

1.GC Smith (C)
2.V.Sehwag
3.K.Pietersen
4.S.Tendulkar
5.S.Chanderapaul
6.AB De Villiers
7.B.Haddin (wk)
8.A.Flintoff
9.D.Vettori
10.M.Johnson
11.D.Steyn
12th man A.Mendis

 

[BoyBrumby]

Averages 37.5 to Haddin's 40 this year, so I'd have the captaincy shading it. Your call though. I think I'll go:

Gambhir
Smith
Sehwag
Pietersen
Chanderpaul
De Villiers
Dhoni (wk, c)
Mendis
Steyn
Sidebottom
O'Brien

Quite the tail, tbf. Sid'd be gutted to have Steyn batting above him as well.

 

[Uppercut]

Quite the tail, tbf. Sid'd be gutted to have Steyn batting above him as well.

Couldn't be ****ed putting the batting in order. Would pad it out a bit but I'm not having Vettori because he has a shocking '08 bowling record against Australia and England (just took enough Bangladesh/Windies wickets to keep his overall average down).

 

[Prince EWS]

I'll wait until the end of the Melbourne Test before I make any solid calls on this, as there are a few marginal calls on South Africans and Australians.

 

[Athlai]

Performances of the year (in position)

Gambhir v. Australia 206
Sehwag v. Sri Lanka 201*
Ponting v. West Indies 158
Taylor v. England 154*
Prince v. England 149
de Villiers v. India 217*
Haddin v. New Zealand 169

Tail

Taylor v. New Zealand 106
Vettori v. Bangladesh 94

Bowling

Johnson v. South Africa 8/61
Shakib v. New Zealand 7/36
Anderson v. New Zealand 7/43
Steyn v. India 5/23

Honourable mention to that spell where O'Brien bowled into the wind.

This team would make

Gambhir
Sehwag
Ponting
Taylor
Prince
de Villiers
Haddin
Johnson
Shakib
Anderson
Steyn

with Jerome Taylor, Vettori and O'Brien coming close.

 

[pup11]

1.GC Smith (C)
2.V.Sehwag
3.K.Pietersen
4.S.Tendulkar
5.S.Chanderapaul
6.AB De Villiers
7.B.Haddin (wk)
8.A.Flintoff
9.D.Vettori
10.M.Johnson
11.D.Steyn
12th man A.Mendis

1. Ok so openers would be Sehwag and Smith, both have been superb form and whereas Sehwag has played some breathtaking knocks, Smith has played vital knocks whenever his team needed it the most, Gambhir has been is imperial form too but unfortunately he misses out.
   
2. KP is my no.3, incidentally that' where i think he should bat he should bat for England too, but nonetheless he would bat at 3 in my side, SRT has been very consistent too this year, right from scoring runs in Australia, then scoring runs against Australia and England at home, like Smith he has also played some very vital knocks for his side whenever they needed it the most and he would be my no.4.
   
3. Chanders would bat at 5, he has been brilliant and tbh hasn't really let Windies miss Lara much, because i doubt even Lara could have done any better than what is doing atm, he is scoring runs against everyone in every condition and most importantly they can't even get him out atm so he has to there virtually in every test team of the year.
   
4. AB would prove to be a very good no.6, he has great stroke-playing ability and to add to the this he also has the patience to go with it, like he has shown on many occasions this year, runs and big centuries in India, England and now Australia are good enough for him to make it into my side, there was also a thought in my mind to give the wicket keeping duties to him and therfore add an extra batsman or an all-rounder, but then i stuck to Haddin, we knew he had the talent but the big question mark was whether that talent would materialise into performance in test cricket, but in his last two tests he has done more than enough to prove that he has truly arrived at the international scene.
   
5. Freddie at 8 might look like a bit too low for him, but he hasn't done much with the bat this year, so i don't think he would mind batting this low in a world XI side, anyhow he is there in my team more for his bowling than his batting.
   
6. Dan Vettori gets the nod ahead of Mendis on the basis of his all round abilities, and Mendis' lack of experience at the test cricket level too goes against him, but he still is good enough to be the 12th man.
   
7. Johnson and Steyn have been bowlers who have been a cut above the rest through this year, both have been really impressive especially for blokes who are relatively inexperienced at test crickete level.

 

[pup11]

Performances of the year (in position)

Gambhir v. Australia 206
Sehwag v. Sri Lanka 201*
Ponting v. West Indies 158
Taylor v. England 154*
Prince v. England 149
de Villiers v. India 217*
Haddin v. New Zealand 169

Tail

Taylor v. New Zealand 106
Vettori v. Bangladesh 94

Bowling

Johnson v. South Africa 8/61
Shakib v. New Zealand 7/36
Anderson v. New Zealand 7/43
Steyn v. India 5/23

Honourable mention to that spell where O'Brien bowled into the wind.

This team would make

Gambhir
Sehwag
Ponting
Taylor
Prince
de Villiers
Haddin
Johnson
Shakib
Anderson
Steyn

with Jerome Taylor, Vettori and O'Brien coming close.

Very surprised you haven't mentioned Smith' 154 at Edgbaston, i think it was one of best knocks in test cricket this year, and equally surprised you would mention AB' 217* in the Chennai test that was played on placid track and then not mention Sehwag' 319, as flat as the track might have been but a triple century is always special.

 

[sohummisra]

1. Graeme Smith
2. Virender Sehwag
3. Gautam Gambhir
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
6. AB de Villiers
7. MS Dhoni*+
8. Zaheer Khan
9. Ryan Sidebottom
10. Dale Steyn
11. Ajantha Mendis

Most players pick themselves. The three openers cannot be separated and Gambhir frequently drops down to 1-down when Sachin plays in ODI's, so it would not be too much of a stretch putting him there.

Middle order is strong with KP, Shiv and ABdV. I would like to put Katich in at 6 in place of AB, but the latter has had a really good year.

I chose Dhoni as captain and keeper because I've liked what I've seen of him thus far. His batting average isn't anything to write home about, but from what I remember, he usually comes in either at a situation where the match needs to be saved (which he's done well a couple of times this year), or the team is already in a great position and quick runs are the order of the hour. I think his team playing has resulted in his lower average.

The bowling line-up is very debatable. ZaK makes it purely based on his old-ball usage. Sidey and Steyn have both had great years and Ajantha Mendis has been picked on speculation as he's performed impeccably whenever given the chance. Unlucky to miss out are Mitchell Johnson, who I'm still not convinced about, as well as Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh (who's had a good year, despite how much I hate him). Flintoff didn't play all that much so he'd be a risk pick for me.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I'm surprised to see Vettori make it into so many teams. He bowled well in favourable conditions in Bangladesh, but was decidedly ordinary against the West Indies. Shakib al Hasan looked like a decent bat and pretty good bowler, so I guess he'd be a decent rival for Vettori. Hoping to see Shakib take some decent wickets against some other teams over the next 12 months.