Best during The Don

[Lillian Thomson]

To complete the set how about a combined best Test XI from the Don's years as a Test cricketer. One simple rule. Only performances during the dates that Bradman was a Test cricketer count. Therefore if someone had an illustrious career but only played a handful of Tests at the beginning or end of the Bradman years they can't be included.

 

[Red]

- Len Hutton
- Bruce Mitchell
- Don Bradman *
- George Headley
- Wally Hammond
- Dennis Compton
- Les Ames +
- Ray Lindwall
- Bill Bowes
- Bill O'Reilly
- Alec Bedser



Would've liked to have squeezed Miller in, but he only took 40 wickets in the timeframe available, and he can't dislodge any of the top 6 batsmen.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

- Len Hutton
- Bruce Mitchell
- Don Bradman *
- George Headley
- Wally Hammond
- Dennis Compton
- Les Ames +
- Ray Lindwall
- Bill Bowes
- Bill O'Reilly
- Alec Bedser



Would've liked to have squeezed Miller in, but he only took 40 wickets in the timeframe available, and he can't dislodge any of the top 6 batsmen.

Never expected anyone to pick Bill Bowes. I would have thought Larwood had a much better record during the period (but as usual I refuse to check cricinfo

)

 

[Red]

Never expected anyone to pick Bill Bowes. I would have thought Larwood had a much better record during the period (but as usual I refuse to check cricinfo

)

Bowes raw data in the timeframe is significantly better than Larwood's.

If we were picking an authentic team to match the times, we'd probably include Verity instead (with Hammond as the 3rd seamer).


- Len Hutton
- Bruce Mitchell
- Don Bradman *
- George Headley
- Wally Hammond
- Dennis Compton
- Les Ames +
- Hedley Verity
- Ray Lindwall
- Bill O'Reilly
- Alec Bedser

 

[Coronis]

Sutcliffe
Hutton
Bradman*
Headley
Hammond
Miller
Ames +
Lindwall
Bowes
O'Reilly
Grimmett

Grimmett had similar stats to Verity, you know, except an extra 50 wickets, in this time frame. Miller and Hammond ain't bad 5th and 6th bowling options.

 

[Red]

Sutcliffe
Hutton
Bradman*
Headley
Hammond
Miller
Ames +
Lindwall
Bowes
O'Reilly
Grimmett

Grimmett had similar stats to Verity, you know, except an extra 50 wickets, in this time frame. Miller and Hammond ain't bad 5th and 6th bowling options.

True on Grimmett. Teams loved having a leggie and a left arm spinner in that era, which is why I opted for Verity over Grimmett.

Based on the timeframe given, Compton is impossible to leave out, which is why I left Miller out.

 

[Coronis]

True on Grimmett. Teams loved having a leggie and a left arm spinner in that era, which is why I opted for Verity over Grimmett.

Based on the timeframe given, Compton is impossible to leave out, which is why I left Miller out.

I just can't put him over Headley or Hammond. Miller's 40 wickets at 21.6 with a 60 strike rate, plus a batting average of 40+ just puts him ahead of Compton for me. Its very close. With a top 5 like that, I dunno if you'd need the extra runs. Plus you have Miller and Ames coming right after them. Lindwall's no slouch with a bat either.

 

[Pothas]

Larwood got to be in the side surley?

 

[Red]

Larwood got to be in the side surley?

Why?

 

[Coronis]

Larwood got to be in the side surley?

He only really had that one good series.

For the record, for all the fast bowlers mentioned so far in this thread, during Bradman's career.

Ray Lindwall 15 Matches, 65 Wickets @ 18.92
Bill Bowes 15 Matches, 68 Wickets @ 22.33
Alec Bedser 16 Matches, 66 Wickets @ 33.18
Keith Miller 16 Matches, 40 Wickets @ 21.60
Harold Larwood 17 Matches, 63 Wickets @ 29.30
Wally Hammond 77 Matches, 65 Wickets @ 40.55

 

[zaremba]

He only really had that one good series.

Fred to rectify.

 

[archie mac]

No Sutcliffe?????????

 

[Coronis]

No Sutcliffe?????????

Clearly missed my fabulous XI :