Cricinfo Best Test 11 from last 25 years

[Singh767]

"Readers' XI

We polled ESPNcricinfo users in May, and their men's Test XI of the last 25 years is identical to the jury's:
1. Matthew Hayden
2. Virender Sehwag
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Brian Lara
6. Jacques Kallis
7. Adam Gilchrist (wk)
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10. Muttiah Muralitharan
11. Glenn McGrath"

One hell of a team, in my opinion would beat any other 25 year era team. I would throw Cook in for one of the openers (cricinfo said it was a tie between him and Hayden but Hayden won the tiebreaker) - England being the hardest place to open plus his records in Asia etc, or Graeme Smith. Steyn for Murali if its outside asia perhaps. Dravid is a shout instead of Ponting I would say. http://www.espncricinfo.com/25/content/story/1145229.html

 

[Burgey]

Steve Smith worth a mention but that’s cwrtainly a very good side

 

[sledger]

lmao Sehwag

 

[_Ed_]

Read that as McGrath being captain at first. Was confused.

 

[sledger]

I read it as a hierarchy of best players from the last 25 years, and was pleased to see that Ponting was rightly placed above Tendulkar.

 

[cnerd123]

I read it as a hierarchy of best players from the last 25 years, and was pleased to see that Ponting was rightly placed above Tendulkar.

And Murali above McGrath

 

[sledger]

And Murali above McGrath

Yes, but below Warne.

 

[cnerd123]

Interesting that Wasim is above all three of them tho

 

[OverratedSanity]

Would've gone Graeme Smith over Hayden but it looks alright otherwise

 

[Engle]

Warne is captain ? Over others who have actually led their country.
A credibility issue from CI who have not thought this thru or trying to generate controversy

 

[Bolo]

The balance of the bowling attack seems a bit off to me. Only McGrath had a high percentage of top order wickets. Everyone else is more effective against the middle and tail. Not a lot of new ball overs in this team unless you are willing to give Kallis a go. But in a great bowling team he'd be more of an act of desperation/ chance to give the others a rest. Don't really want him bowling until we've seen the others fail, because it probably just means pricier wickets and with Murali and Warne in, rest isn't really going to be needed.

 

[Borges]

Warne is captain ? Over others who have actually led their country.
A credibility issue from CI who have not thought this thru or trying to generate controversy

Trying to generate controversy. The surest way to get more eye balls. Google page rank etc.

 

[trundler]

Hey, I already made a thread for this! But this is what CW agreed on too, except with Smith instead of Sehwag.

 

[trundler]

How would this XI fare against the inter-war one with Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Hammond, Headley and others?

 

[trundler]

One other change: Steyn or Ambrose in for one of Murali and Warne.

 

[akilana]

Steyn in for Akram.

 

[Bolo]

Steyn or Ambrose in for Akram or Warne or Murali would all work for me.

I feel like Steyn complements Magrath better than Ambrose, so I'd be more likely to go this route if dropping a spinner. Ambrose is a better opening bowler than Steyn though, so I might go that way if dropping Akram.

If forced to pick, I'd probably just flip a coin for Murali or Warne and add Steyn.

 

[trundler]

Akram and Warne/Murali would handle the old ball. You need a new ball bowler. Steyn provides more variety than Ambrose because Ambrose (according to himself, even) was similar to McGrath. Akram can bat a bit so he stays.

 

[Engle]

Warne and Murali stay put. The best LBG and OB bowlers in the annals of the game.
The fasties need ferocity and variety. Thus, I'd go with Akram and Ambrose (as hard as it is to leave McGrath out)

 

[trundler]

Warne and Murali stay put. The best LBG and OB bowlers in the annals of the game.
The fasties need ferocity and variety. Thus, I'd go with Akram and Ambrose (as hard as it is to leave McGrath out)

Sacrilege. McGrath is as immovable as Gilchrist or Kallis in that XI. The greatest LBG and OB bowlers just happened to be around in the same quarter century but having 2 spinners outside India is stupid. Effectiveness is more important than ferocity or anything. McGrath is essential to cripple the opposition by demolishing the top order. If anything, Akram can be replaced by Steyn. You still get reverse swing and an awesome old-ball bowler and ferocity.