All-Time World XIs: Discussion Thread

[sayon basak]

What?

Didn't you ask this to see whether this thread has any chance to break the record? Or am I just stupid? Probably the latter.

 

[Thala_0710]

Didn't you ask this to see whether this thread has any chance to break the record? Or am I just stupid? Probably the latter.

That was part of the reason yes, agree with your conclusion though

 

[Bolo.]

Well this still creates an imbalance

Not in this case. This team has great balance with either Kallis or Miller.

Hmm, but that would blunt one of Lara's biggest strengths, which was making huge scores. He was better at getting huge doubles and triples than anyone else bar bradman probably.

Fair, but worth it. With the quality of this lineup, you are very seldom going to need huge scores. Rather have him shepherding the tail and making sure of very few lowish scores than getting the occasional huge score on the back of him going very big.

 

[Thala_0710]

If we do something like 30 ATG XIs, I think we can get there eventually.
Or if we re run this exercise in like 5 years or something using this thread again

 

[sayon basak]

If we do something like 30 ATG XIs, I think we can get there eventually.
Or if we re run this exercise in like 5 years or something using this thread again

People won't vote after 5 teams (pessimistic estimate). IIRC someone was in shock knowing that there will be more than one team.

 

[ataraxia]

Hmm, but that would blunt one of Lara's biggest strengths, which was making huge scores. He was better at getting huge doubles and triples than anyone else bar bradman probably.

Yeah but this is mitigated given that we're – in my mind – selecting a team to play Mars A rather than current Sri Lanka or whatever other average team. Scoring double hundreds against all ATG attacks would be rare tstl.

 

[DrWolverine]

Miller > Kallis for team balance

Kallis > Miller as a cricketer. Kallis is a legit ATG batsman and probably Top 10 post war batsman

 

[ataraxia]

If Kallis does get voted in over Miller, who's going to be the keeper then... Surely Knott makes most sense now?

I reckon if Kallis gets in, Knott would be selected; if Miller, probably Sanga. Although the potentially industrial-grade vote-splitting between Sanga/Flower/ABdV/Walcott that might arise could lead to Knott still being selected.

I'm considering switching to Miller because of the effect it would have on the keeper vote, even though I'd rather Kallis.

 

[subshakerz]

Fair, but worth it. With the quality of this lineup, you are very seldom going to need huge scores. Rather have him shepherding the tail and making sure of very few lowish scores than getting the occasional huge score on the back of him going very big.

Again this is all an assumption that the team is facing chumps. I like to think they are facing ATG level opposition.

In that case you want your biggest threats and strength on your team to be maximised. Putting players in odd spots just compromises what you can achieve.

Lara can take a game away all by himself. Kallis cannot. So I would want Lara to be in the position to do that.

 

[subshakerz]

I reckon if Kallis gets in, Knott would be selected; if Miller, probably Sanga. Although the potentially industrial-grade vote-splitting between Sanga/Flower/ABdV/Walcott that might arise could lead to Knott still being selected.

I'm considering switching to Miller because of the effect it would have on the keeper vote, even though I'd rather Kallis.

If Miller gets in, then yeah it would make the keeper vote more interesting since there are good cases for all of those.

 

[kyear2]

Miller/Botham at #6 feels a bit high

Too high.

 

[kyear2]

It's the same way Imran ended up in the second team despite being CWs 3rd best cricketer.

If you're in the 2nd team, you're not the 3rd best cricketer.

 

[sayon basak]

If you're in the 2nd team, you're not the 3rd best cricketer.

Well, Subs will say something about Barry in the same tone when he doesn't get in the 5th or 6th team.

 

[kyear2]

Kallis took 1.76 wickets per match.
Hammond took 0.96 wickets per match.

Hammond didn't bowl at all after the war, and in general way less as his career progressed.

Early on in his career though, he was good enough to be selected as part of the 4 man attack and the 3rd seamer.

Hammond was Sobers before Sobers, he just prioritized his batting and catching more as his career progressed.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I reckon if Kallis gets in, Knott would be selected; if Miller, probably Sanga. Although the potentially industrial-grade vote-splitting between Sanga/Flower/ABdV/Walcott that might arise could lead to Knott still being selected.

I'm considering switching to Miller because of the effect it would have on the keeper vote, even though I'd rather Kallis.

Have to be Knott regardless.
Watling and Healy plus others need to be picked before those other keepers

 

[kyear2]

I rate Kallis extremely highly but I feel Miller was a better cricketer of the two. Both things can be true. Kallis is the third best cricketer since Sobers retired alongside Imran and Hadlee but Miller was a better cricketer than him. Marshall and Kallis can be debated for 3rd position.

Why do we conflate all rounder with cricketer?

 

[OverratedSanity]

If you're in the 2nd team, you're not the 3rd best cricketer.

You absolutely can be

 

[kyear2]

If Kallis does get voted in over Miller, who's going to be the keeper then... Surely Knott makes most sense now?

He always made more sense...

 

[DrWolverine]

Hammond(1927-1939) : 77 Tests. 83 wickets.
Kallis(1996-2008) : 127 Tests. 251 wickets.

 

[DrWolverine]

You absolutely can be

After Don/Sobers; 3rd best cricketer is up for debate.

That being said, I would choose Hadlee for an average team even if Sobers is a better cricketer