**Official** 'My Current World XI' Thread

[PhoenixFire]

Gilly is no mug when it comes to keeping with spin either, having kept for a notable spin bowler or two...

Murali is leagues harder to keep to, than Warne.

 

[silentstriker]

Hmm Flintoff is a batsman who bowls by trade, would you pick hhim as a specialist batsman?

(tenuous argument but I don't have much time to make this post. Nonetheless, my point is this: being something by trade doesn't mean you should do it in a World test XI, you should have to prove you can play that position)

No, because Flintoff hasn't set batting records and scored 16956 FC runs @ 55 with 44 centuries like Hussey has. I think thats proof enough over a wicketkeeper who was pretty unsuccessful opening for his own state team. Look, I like Karthik, but world Test XI opener? Come on.

 

[Manee]

Gilchrist usually either fails or scores big and fast, if the former occurs, then in my team Flintoff should be able to score the odd run or two.

Look, I like Karthik, but world Test XI opener? Come on

I feel his technique is absolutely perfect for opening against quick bowlers, could be wrong, but I have a hunch and as you see by my sig, am going to stick with it.

 

[GIMH]

No, because Flintoff hasn't set batting records and scored 16956 FC runs @ 55 with 44 centuries like Hussey has. I think thats proof enough over a wicketkeeper who was pretty unsuccessful opening for his own state team. Look, I like Karthik, but world Test XI opener? Come on.

Cook...

 

[silentstriker]

Murali is leagues harder to keep to, than Warne.

Regardless of whether he is or not, you cannot pick a guy as a world xi keeper if he does not keep for his own side. It should tell you something. Also, Sangakarra's record as a keeper is very much inferior to his overall record: 48 matches @ 43. Still good, but not Gilly standard by any means.

 

[silentstriker]

Cook...

I have no problems with Cook there, my post was with Karthik. I wouldn't have Cook because Hussey has more experience and I think Kallis brings more value to a side than Cook right now. Plus, I don't want to drop any one of Ponting, Hussey, Dravid or Kallis in favor of Cook.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Regardless of whether he is or not, you cannot pick a guy as a world xi keeper if he does not keep for his own side. It should tell you something. Also, Sangakarra's record as a keeper is very much inferior to his overall record: 48 matches @ 43. Still good, but not Gilly standard by any means.

You make it sound like he hasn't kept in 1/2 of his matches, it's only the last 3, right?

 

[GIMH]

I have no problems with Cook there, my post was with Karthik. I wouldn't have Cook because Hussey has more experience and I think Kallis brings more value to a side than Cook right now. Plus, I don't want to drop any one of Ponting, Hussey, Dravid or Kallis in favor of Cook.

Fair play...

 

[Manee]

I have no problems with Cook there, my post was with Karthik. I wouldn't have Cook because Hussey has more experience and I think Kallis brings more value to a side than Cook right now. Plus, I don't want to drop any one of Ponting, Hussey, Dravid or Kallis in favor of Cook.

Karthik was the most out there thing I have said, as I've said before, I see something special in him. Don't bother argueing with me, if he fails as an opener (which 99.9% will happen) then I'll shut up, but I see some talent there.

 

[silentstriker]

You make it sound like he hasn't kept in 1/2 of his matches, it's only the last 3, right?

No, its intermittent. He keeps in about 75% of the matches he plays, so he is their 'main' keeper, but not the sole one. Yet his average is significantly lower when he keeps, than when he doesn't. If you want him on your world XI as a keeper, then you have to go by 48 matches @ 42 (where he has kept), and not his overall stats.

 

[aussie]

Form is temporary but class is permanent.

Thats the base idea i would use when picking a World XI at any point in time. So even if a player if a player is going through a purple patch i.e Stuart if it came down to a choice between him an Ntini who has been the best fast-bowler in the world over the past 2-3 years i would always go for Ntini. So overall its a mixture of overall career performances plus current form

So a World XI for me would be:

Smith
Hayden
Ponting
Dravid
Tendulkar
Kallis
Gilchrist+
Flintoff
Akhtar
Ntini
Muralitharan

Backups: Sangakkara, Bond, Kumble, Yousuf

I expect a strong a back-clash to some of my selections. But as usual i'm ready for a lovely cricket debate..

 

[Manee]

Very strong team, Dravid, the new Tendulkar and Kallis may end up being too defensive, but Flintoff and Gilchrist account for that well.

 

[♪♪♪]

No, its intermittent. He keeps in about 75% of the matches he plays, so he is their 'main' keeper, but not the sole one. Yet his average is significantly lower when he keeps, than when he doesn't. If you want him on your world XI as a keeper, then you have to go by 48 matches @ 42 (where he has kept), and not his overall stats.

Your approach would seem logical, but in my opinion, it isn't fair on Sangakarra since he hasn't had the luxury of walking in to bat at 7 behind a strong batting lineup like Gilchrist has. Keeping for an innings and then walking in to bat in the top/upper middle-order is definitely more taxing on a batsman-keeper than if he were allowed to come in at 300-5.

 

[silentstriker]

Your approach would seem logical, but in my opinion, it isn't fair on Sangakarra since he hasn't had the luxury of walking in to bat at 7 behind a strong batting lineup like Gilchrist has. Keeping for an innings and then walking in to bat in the top/upper middle-order is definitely more taxing on a batsman-keeper than if he were allowed to come in at 300-5.

Except there was a statistical breakdown of situations where Gilly came in when things were comfortable, vs. when he came in when things were in shambles...and there was no real difference in his average. I'm sure you can still find that article on cricinfo.

 

[simmy]

Form is temporary but class is permanent.

Thats the base idea i would use when picking a World XI at any point in time. So even if a player if a player is going through a purple patch i.e Stuart if it came down to a choice between him an Ntini who has been the best fast-bowler in the world over the past 2-3 years i would always go for Ntini. So overall its a mixture of overall career performances plus current form

So a World XI for me would be:

Smith
Hayden
Ponting
Dravid
Tendulkar
Kallis
Gilchrist+
Flintoff
Akhtar
Ntini
Muralitharan

Backups: Sangakkara, Bond, Kumble, Yousuf

I expect a strong a back-clash to some of my selections. But as usual i'm ready for a lovely cricket debate..

No team without KP, is a joke.

 

[Burgey]

Murali is leagues harder to keep to, than Warne.

How, on God's earth, could you possibly know that?

They both rip it a mile. Both bowl a lot of overs, get variable bounce off waring surfaces.

The big difference is one spins 'em predominantly in, the other out. Does that make one harder to keep to than the other? I dunno, but I would have thought that it would be s hard, if not harder, to keep to a ball which is moving from behind thae batsman towards the off than one which is tuning in towards your body and therefore your centre of gravity.

Just a theory, but not sure. Reckon both of them would be pretty damn hard to keep to.

 

[Burgey]

What has Stuart Clark done that Asif hasn't?

They both make my current XI by the way.

Hasn't ummm, "taken" something....

 

[silentstriker]

Hasn't ummm, "taken" something....

That sort of irks me. You never had Warne in your all time side around his banishment?

 

[adharcric]

How, on God's earth, could you possibly know that?

They both rip it a mile. Both bowl a lot of overs, get variable bounce off waring surfaces.

The big difference is one spins 'em predominantly in, the other out. Does that make one harder to keep to than the other? I dunno, but I would have thought that it would be s hard, if not harder, to keep to a ball which is moving from behind thae batsman towards the off than one which is tuning in towards your body and therefore your centre of gravity.

Just a theory, but not sure. Reckon both of them would be pretty damn hard to keep to.

In theory, Murali certainly seems tougher to keep to than Warne for me. First of all, doesn't Murali have greater variation than Warne? Murali's angle would also be tougher. Warne's deliveries will either turn to the leg or go straight; Murali's deliveries will either turn to the leg, turn to the off or go straight.

 

[Burgey]

That sort of irks me. You never had Warne in your all time side around his banishment?

In an all time side, yes. In a current world xi when he wasn't playing, no because I couldn't consider him as he was unavailable.

I have no problem with Asif as a player and anyone can make a mistake and get the benefit of the doubt. But as a choice between the two, I'd go with Clark (or whoever else for that matter) who isn't under that cloud atm.

So, back in 03, if Warne was under this type of cloud, I'd have run with a Murali or a McGill for the same reason in a current world xi, but not necessarily in an all time xi..