Greatest Left Handers XI of all time

[OverratedSanity]

Bedi and the rest of the famous quartet were big home track bullies weren't they?

Only Venkat. Chandra has a pretty amazing overseas record for a spinner and was responsible for several of India's wins in England and Australia. Bedi had a couple of outstanding tours of Australia too. All 3 of prasanna, Bedi and Chandra did well in West indies as well. Might have to dig up some stats but iirc they all averaged 30-35 away from the SC which again for finger spinners is excellent.

Venkat was an htb and not anywhere near as good as the others anyway.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Chandra:

In Australia: 7 matches, 29 wickets @ 30 with 3 5Fers
In England: 9 matches, 31 wickets @ 33 with 2 5 fers
In NZ: 3 matches, 11 wickets @ 26 with 1 5fer
In WI:4 matches, 21 wickets @ 31 with 2 5fers

Overall away from SC: 23 matches, 92 wickets @ 31

Bedi:

In Australia: 7 matches, 35 wickets @ 27, 3 5fers
In England: 12 matches, 35 wickets @38, 1 5fer
In NZ: 6 matches, 20 wickets@24, 1 5fer
In WI: 9 matches, 33 wickets @ 33, 1 5fer

Overall away from SC: 34 matches, 124 wickets @ 31

Prasanna:

In Australia: 8 matches, 31 wickets @31, 2 5fers
In England: 5 matche, 12 wickets @ 58,
In NZ: 7 matches, 35 wickets @ 19, 3 5fers
In WI: 5 matches, 14 wickets @ 41, 1 5fer

Overall away from SC: 25 matches, 92 wickets @ 31

So, pretty damn great overall, tbh. They did however bash NZ who were pretty poor at the time I think.

 

[Howe_zat]

Yeah that sounds about right. Overall good records overseas but as an attack they weren't much cop in England.

I was thinking of the 74 tour where a fairly average England side that was sans Boycott and pre Botham stuffed them here after being beaten in India.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Some of the stories of that 1974 tour are absolutely hilarious.

42 allout, turning up to the high commissioner's residence late and not being allowed in, SS Naik being arrested for shop-lifting days before his debut test, the slip fielders keeping their hands in their pockets as long as possible because it was too cold ,unsurprisingly leading to a dozen dropped catches, etc.

It's hard to find a more incompetent tour both on and off the field.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Some of the stories of that 1974 tour are absolutely hilarious.

42 allout, turning up to the high commissioner's residence late and not being allowed in, SS Naik being arrested for shop-lifting days before his debut test, the slip fielders keeping their hands in their pockets as long as possible because it was too cold ,unsurprisingly leading to a dozen dropped catches, etc.

It's hard to find a more incompetent tour both on and off the field.

The biggest crime they committed on that tour was making David Lloyd look like a Test batsman.

 

[Red]

Any side leaving out TOTAB can't get my vote but otherwise it's a very good outfit.

Guess my second XI would be:

A.Cook
A.Morris
N.Harvey
A.Border *
C.Lloyd
M.Hussey
A.Flower +
M.Johnson
C.Vaas
B.Voce
B.Bedi

 

[Burgey]

Look mate, TOTAB does not, should not and will not be placed in any "Second XI". Jesus Christ man.

 

[Days of Grace]

Any side leaving out TOTAB can't get my vote but otherwise it's a very good outfit.

Border was a great, great batsman but whose place in the middle order would he take, though?

My guess would be Pollock's because of longevity.

 

[Burgey]

Indeed. The alternative is you push Sangakkara to open and move them all up one. Or you leave Sanga out on the old "batting era" in the 2000s thing which everyone uses to downplay others' achievements during that period. I wouldn't do it, but some might.

 

[harsh.ag]

Pollock should absolutely make way for Border if Sanga isn't opening.

 

[Red]

I've no issue with Border playing in Pollock's place in my first XI, however I do believe Pollock was a bit more special than plenty of other players.

Perhaps the finest left-hand batsman the game has ever produced - Donald Bradman certainly thought so, classing only Garry Sobers as his equal among those he saw play.

If I was to include Border it'd be at Sangakkara's expense, because I want Pollock, and you have to have Lara and Sobers, and I am a believer in acknowledging openers for the job they did in ATG teams, rather than jamming middle order guys in at the top.

 

[harsh.ag]

Well if Sanga is at the non-striker's end, how different is it really from the umpteen times he's come in at 1/1.

 

[Red]

I'm not gonna argue it. I just acknowledge opening as a unique spot.

If you want Sanga to open that's fine. But I'm having Smith and Lawry there.

 

[Days of Grace]

Yeah I also think opener is a specialist position and it gives me the ****s when people squeeze middle order bats into opener positions in ATXIs. :-)

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Border replacing Pollock? Maybe if you wanted someone to prune your trees.

 

[Red]

I'm a big fan of AB but FMD if he wasn't advertising REVITIVE- Circulation Booster on tv not so long ago.

Geez

 

[Cricketinsights]

Thanks everyone! Enjoyed reading the responses! Great feedback!