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Test XI for The Last Quarter Century

trundler

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There's essentially enough batting, fast bowling, as well as spin bowling to have 2 equal strength ATG teams with nothing to choose between them. The openers are a weak point. Maybe Dravid and Lara can be maekshift openers for the 2 sides. You can match the 1st XI pound for pound eg Dravid for Kallis, Ambrose for McGrath, Murali for Warne.
 

trundler

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Kind of bizarre considering that during test cricket's 140 year history, the 2 greatest spinners are fighting for 1 spot in a team for 25 years!
 

Engle

State Vice-Captain
I like that folks are considering S.Waugh. Realize that a World XI is going to go up against another World XI. Hence superior leadership of steel and substance is required.
 

Bolo

State Captain
There's essentially enough batting, fast bowling, as well as spin bowling to have 2 equal strength ATG teams with nothing to choose between them. The openers are a weak point. Maybe Dravid and Lara can be maekshift openers for the 2 sides. You can match the 1st XI pound for pound eg Dravid for Kallis, Ambrose for McGrath, Murali for Warne.
The openers aren't too bad. We are seeing people argue Dravid, Hayden, Smith and Dravid for the first team, so we could make 2 teams without too great a loss. The middle order and bowlers are all fairly interchangeable.

Kallis (as an allrounder, not a bat) and Gilchrist haven't got any like for like replacements though
 

trundler

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The openers aren't too bad. We are seeing people argue Dravid, Hayden, Smith and Dravid for the first team, so we could make 2 teams without too great a loss. The middle order and bowlers are all fairly interchangeable.

Kallis (as an allrounder, not a bat) and Gilchrist haven't got any like for like replacements though
I wonder how worse Dhoni is than Gilchrist. You could pick Healy and stack up on all-rounders but then Sobers-lite is taken already.
 

smash84

The Tiger King
I wonder how worse Dhoni is than Gilchrist. You could pick Healy and stack up on all-rounders but then Sobers-lite is taken already.
Dhoni is pretty bad in the test format. Significantly worse than Glichrist. Its not even close.
 

Bolo

State Captain
I wonder how worse Dhoni is than Gilchrist. You could pick Healy and stack up on all-rounders but then Sobers-lite is taken already.
In tests Dhoni is way below Gilchrist as both a batsman and a keeper.

Picking a specialist keeper is going to result in a big quality imbalance between the two lineups. Considering how similar the sides would be, this would often be telling.

Give the gloves to ab or Sanga for the 2nd team (assuming they aren't playing the 1st). It may end up weakening the team as much relative to the 1st team, but at least it's not clear that this is the case.
 
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trundler

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So damn silly of me to overlook them just because they weren't in the wicketkeeper list. Sanga averages 40 odd with gloves and kept to Murali. He's more valuable to SL glove-less but in this lineup, I suppose if you bat him down the order instead of at 3 then it could work. Dravid at 3, AB, Sanga, Chanders, Flintoff (????)
 

harsh.ag

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
2nd XI (my first XI has Ponting-Dravid-Lara-Sachin-Kallis-SWaugh-Gilly-Wasim-Warne-Steyn-McGrath)

Hayden
Smith
Younis
Smith
ABdV
Sehwag
Sanga +
Murali
Ambrose
Donald
Waqar

Looooonnggg tail.
 

Bolo

State Captain
4 number 11s is an impressive feat, particularly when you consider you don't have a 5th bowling option. Not much choice though

If the second team was engineered to play the 1st rather than just creating the strongest team, I'd probably role the dice, make the tail still longer and go 5 bowlers. Chuck in someone like Johnston or Philander who will destroy on the right day in the right conditions.
 

harsh.ag

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Sehwag is my 5th bowling option :happy:

Flintoff isn't the worst call at number 7 behind Sanga. Sanga as keeper over ABdV cause of Murali being in the team.

Sehwag over Chanders is a tough call. Game changer down the order plus subcontinent chops. Not like Chanders was gun at protecting the tail.
 

Bolo

State Captain
This team is already going to boss the subcontinent. Im picking Chanders for this reason only. He needs to bat 4 or 5 though. Watching him block his way to 3 runs in the 5 overs it takes to shred this tail would hurt.

Flintoff is way too bits and pieces for this team. Shakib is as good a bowling fit for this team (4* rhf is a lot) and a better bat. Pollock is a much better bowler and not too far behind as a bat. Or just accept the fact that you don't have options and make Murali bowl 500 overs a game. He's used to it.
 

harsh.ag

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Tbf Pollock instead of one of those 3 quicks would make it a better balanced team.

Eh.
 

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