Cricket Families Draft

[stumpski]

Well I had another look at my side and I considered bringing in another quick but I decided what I really needed was a specialist number 3, to avoid the need for Stewart (the sole keeper) to bat there. So Walter Reginald Hammond it is.


Hanif Mohammad
Micky Stewart
Walter Hammond
Denis Compton
Alec Stewart (wk)
Mushtaq Mohammad
Sid Martin
Albert Trott
Hugh Tayfield
Ryan Sidebottom
Fidel Edwards

Harry Trott
Pedro Collins
Nick Compton
Arnie Sidebottom

I don't claim the bowling attack has much in the way of star quality although Edwards/Sidebottom/Trott make a serviceable first three, and Tayfield will want to bowl all day at the other end anyway. Martin isn't well-known but he was a good enough all-rounder to complete the 10,000 run/500 wicket career double for Worcs. The captaincy might have to pass to Wally Hammond as I think Micky might be overawed taking charge of some of the star names, though he'll keep the Gaffer in check.

[Noble One]

Just wish to clarify that bench strength is not a factor when determining who has the best 11, I had this confirmed very early on and influenced my choices.

I understand that. My selections are based on the same principle, creating the strongest first XI.

I was just casting an opinion over the entire XV selected for each member. Just making some broad comments.

[NUFAN]

B to B+ IMO.

Considering this is an A+ alltime great line up:

1) GR Marsh
2) ME Waugh
3) DG Bradman
4) RT Ponting
5) GSA Sobers
6) SR Waugh*
7) CL Cairns

This lineup while very good has 2 players in the top 14 batsman in the CW ranks the batsman thread.

My lineup has 3...
10th Len Hutton,11th George Headley, 14th Ranji

[NUFAN]

I understand that. My selections are based on the same principle, creating the strongest first XI.

I was just casting an opinion over the entire XV selected for each member. Just making some broad comments.

No worries, just putting it out there for everyone.

Enjoying your comments mate.

[Noble One]

Tough final selection. I had always planned to take Keith Miller as my final selection. Re-examining my side, I feel my bowling is strong enough. What I require is another quality batsman. So many legends to pick from, do I go for Jack Hobbs, Brian Lara, Sunil Gavaskar? I'm going with Sachin Tendulkar. One of the finest middle order bats of all time, and will combine with Viv Richards as my extra bowling option.

Final

1 Gary Kirsten
2 Peter Kirsten
3 Viv Richards
4 Sachin Tendulkar
5 Clive Lloyd (C)
6 Andy Flower (WK)
7 John F Reid
8 Brett Lee
9 Alec Bedser
10 Lance Gibbs
11 Bruce Reid

12 Grant Flower
13 Mali Richards
14 Shane Lee
15 Eric Bedser

So to cast a critical eye over my own side. I'm pleased with how it has ended up, don't think its the strongest, but solid.

Gary Kirsten was a fantastic opening batsman against some of the finest pacemen of all time. Full confidence with him at the top of the order. His half brother Peter was well past his best when South Africa re-entered international cricket. But he had established himself over a long first class career, will do well.

Middle order of Richards, Tendulkar, Flower and Lloyd. Damaging. All very attacking batsman, dangerous, keys to my side. John Reid I am unsure about, terrific record, but limited test career. Stands out like a sore thumb in this lineup.

Tail has limited batting depth. Brett Lee is a fine number 8. But Bedser, Gibbs and Reid are all true tail-enders. Nothing like the depth of some of the other sides.

I feel the balance is right for my bowlers. Lacking a true legend of the game, but still 4 very solid bowlers. Brett Lee will provide strike bowler power. Bedser the ability to move the ball around. And Bruce Reid to utilise his left arm angles, swing the ball away from the batsman. Lance Gibbs was a fine off-spinner, arguably one of the top 3-4 of all time.

Bench strength like all teams is poor. Grant Flower is serviceable, Shane Lee was never close to test selection, Mali Richards; dud, and Eric Bedser a useful off-spinner. The only player I would feel comfortable to insert into my XI is Eric Bedser, and at a stretch Grant Flower.

I would be happy for someone to criticise my team more than I have. Lack of a true 5th bowler, three cricketers (Reid, Reid and Kirsten) who had limited test careers, an average wicketkeeper all glaring weaknesses.

[stumpski]

Just looking at NUFAN's team again, I'm not sure that my lot would ever be able to bowl them out. Expect a four-figure total if they let the innings go long enough (I assume these are timeless Tests ). You'd have to feel sorry for poor old Ryan wouldn't you - Ranji at 6, indeed.

[archie mac]

Suspect you're confusing Graeme with his son there arch.

Graeme & Shaun were snapped up v early.

[stumpski]

Or , even.

[Jamee999]

Shane Keith Warne

1 CC Hunte
2 VT Trumper
3 GS Chappell
4 AD Nourse
5 AW Nourse
6 Imran Khan
7 IT Botham
8 SK Warne
9 S Carter+
10 Abdul Qadir
11 CEH Croft

12 IM Chappell

13 Majid Khan
14 LJ Botham
15 Sulaman Qadir

[archie mac]

Shane Keith Warne

1 CC Hunte
2 VT Trumper
3 GS Chappell
4 AD Nourse
5 AW Nourse
6 Imran Khan
7 IT Botham
8 SK Warne
9 S Carter+
10 Abdul Qadir
11 CEH Croft

12 IM Chappell

13 Majid Khan
14 LJ Botham
15 Sulaman Qadir

A bit of a tail, but well balanced bowling attack, should give us a real chance of winning and not just saving matches

[fredfertang]

I've got a left/right pair of opening bowlers/batsmen, the best seam bowler who ever lived and the original chucking mystery spinner to go with a top quality middle order and the finest 'keeper who ever drew breath - I'd like another spinner but there's just a bit of a tail there so I'll stiffen the batters resolve by picking Brain Lara as my last choice - still got a poor man's Jeff Thomson (Bill Edrich) and WG's round arm just in case the first four bowlers need a rest

WG Grace
John Edrich
Ernest Tyldesley
Brian Lara
JT Tyldesley
Bill Edrich
Alan Knott
Maurice Tate
Simon Jones
Jeff Jones
Sonny Ramadhin

Fred Tate
James Knott
EM Grace
Kyle Hogg

[Michaelf7777777]

Need a good bowler and captain so will go with Keith Miller for my final pick

Squad

1. Sunil Gavaskar
2. Vinoo Mankad
3. Everton Weekes
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Keith Miller (*)
6. Lala Amarath
7. Gudappa Viswanath
8. Mike Procter
9. Jack Gregory
10. Shaun Pollock
11. David Murray (+)

Backups: Syd Gregory, Mohinder Amarath, Anthony Procter, Ashok Mankad

[Noble One]

Draft now completed. Very interesting process, was great to put some research into some cricketers who don't always draw attention. From my own point of view I found it interesting to read up on some cricketers who never quite made a career at international level such as Peter Kirsten and Eric Bedser.

Do we take the ending sides to a vote? Not sure if the interest from the rest of the forum is there. Simming the results would take alot of effort too. I'm just happy discussing the ending teams. Well done to all those involved, draft moved smoothly, was all in good nature.

[stumpski]

Draft now completed. Very interesting process, was great to put some research into some cricketers who don't always draw attention. From my own point of view I found it interesting to read up on some cricketers who never quite made a career at international level such as Peter Kirsten and Eric Bedser.

Do we take the ending sides to a vote? Not sure if the interest from the rest of the forum is there. Simming the results would take alot of effort too. I'm just happy discussing the ending teams. Well done to all those involved, draft moved smoothly, was all in good nature.

Yeah, same here. I've already found it very interesting and informative. Was talking about Weekes and Murray to some mates at a match on Saturday; that seems a strange scenario on the face of it though of course we don't know what help Sir Everton may have offered in private.

[BoyBrumby]

Quite a few blokes didn't get selected who I thought might. David & Michael Hussey, Jeff & Martin Crowe, Colin & Chris Cowdrey, Tom & David Graveney, The Jim Parks snr & jnr (two keepers for price of one) and even (given the shortage of quality seamers) Gus Fraser and his younger and less gifted bro Alistair.