All-rounders XI vs. Specialists XI

[vcs]

I picked two All-Time XI teams, one full of specialists and another with every player who can contribute in the other discipline. Struggled a bit to find openers who could bowl a bit.

All-rounders XI :

Sehwag
Watson
Kallis
Steve Waugh
Sobers
Miller
Sangakkara
Imran
Akram
Pollock
Hadlee

Specialists XI :

Hobbs
Hutton
Bradman
Tendulkar
Richards
Pollock
Gilchrist
Warne
Marshall
Ambrose
McGrath

Now obviously, the definitions of "All-rounder" and "Specialist" are fluid, and open to interpretation.. for example, I picked Warne over Murali in the Specialists XI because I thought his extra batting would come in handy, but obviously it doesn't count enough for me to include him in the All-rounders XI. Which team would win? My money is on the specialists.

Obviously, any modifications to either team are welcome, but the general question is.. would you rather have an All-Time XI composed of all-round contributors, or specialists?

 

[smash84]

This competition seems all wrong..........with an All Rounders XI you should then either have an all batsmen's XI or a whole bowler's XI to make the competition fair. Pretty sure then the All Rounders XI will come out on top

 

[vcs]

This competition seems all wrong..........with an All Rounders XI you should then either have an all batsmen's XI or a whole bowler's XI to make the competition fair. Pretty sure then the All Rounders XI will come out on top

Why? Seems like two pretty good teams to me. I mainly made this thread to get a handle on how highly people generally value cricketers for their all-round contributions.

 

[smash84]

yes I could understand the reason for you making this thread but you mixed up a team of specialist bowlers and specialist batsmen to give it good balance.

Now if you could add 2 or 3 all rounders to a team with other specialists then square up the sides against each other to get a good balance and then see which team comes out on top.

 

[hang on]

interesting. though gilchrist should be in the all rounders 11. and someone like knott or marsh in the specialist 11. perhaps even taylor or kirmani.

my money would be on the specialists. too many bowlers is overkill. and the opening pair of the all rounders is weak. watson?! and steve waugh is a weak link in the middle order.

 

[G.I.Joe]

11 Imran Khans vs 11 Garry Sobers'

Which team wins?

11 Imran Khans vs 11 Donald Bradmans

Which team wins? If the 11 Bradmans bat first, at what score would they declare if they absolutely needed to win in 5 days?

 

[vcs]

yes I could understand the reason for you making this thread but you mixed up a team of specialist bowlers and specialist batsmen to give it good balance.

Now if you could add 2 or 3 all rounders to a team with other specialists then square up the sides against each other to get a good balance and then see which team comes out on top.

Well, that would just be another "All-Time XI A" vs. "All-Time XI B" thread, wouldn't it?

 

[vcs]

interesting. though gilchrist should be in the all rounders 11. and someone like knott or marsh in the specialist 11. perhaps even taylor or kirmani.

hang on, I thought of that, but I put Sanga in the other team to balance it up. Thought it would be overly harsh on the Specialists to have a keeper who wasn't a very good batsman, considering the length of their tail.

Wouldn't mind getting rid of Watson, if someone could think of a better choice.

 

[weeman27bob]

hang on, I thought of that, but I put Sanga in the other team to balance it up. Thought it would be overly harsh on the Specialists to have a keeper who wasn't a very good batsman, considering the length of their tail.

Wouldn't mind getting rid of Watson, if someone could think of a better choice.

Didn't open the batting, but maybe Wally Hammond?

 

[smash84]

hang on, I thought of that, but I put Sanga in the other team to balance it up. Thought it would be overly harsh on the Specialists to have a keeper who wasn't a very good batsman, considering the length of their tail.

Wouldn't mind getting rid of Watson, if someone could think of a better choice.

Might as well put Mark Waugh in place of Watto

 

[Prince EWS]

Batting allrounders are essentially a diseconomy of scale; the more you have the less valuable they become. That Specialists XI definitely seems a little bit stronger to me, but there's not much in it.

 

[Prince EWS]

hang on, I thought of that, but I put Sanga in the other team to balance it up. Thought it would be overly harsh on the Specialists to have a keeper who wasn't a very good batsman, considering the length of their tail.

Wouldn't mind getting rid of Watson, if someone could think of a better choice.

I suggest Wilfred Rhodes. Gives the team a much needed proper frontline spin option and he opened the batting for a lot of his career. Mankad and Noble are other options.

 

[hang on]

hang on, I thought of that, but I put Sanga in the other team to balance it up. Thought it would be overly harsh on the Specialists to have a keeper who wasn't a very good batsman, considering the length of their tail.

Wouldn't mind getting rid of Watson, if someone could think of a better choice.

but that is a cross the specialists have to bear! let sobers open for the all rounders. he could do anything.

 

[Prince EWS]

Didn't open the batting, but maybe Wally Hammond?

Well I'd certainly have Hammond in there anyway and it'd almost be enough to change my vote, especially if the specialists had to pick a specialist keeper.

 

[vcs]

You can post your own variations and vote on the basis of that.

Not that you needed my permission anyway.

 

[smash84]

yes.......do away with gilchrist in the specialist sides........

 

[Howe_zat]

With your sides, I'd vote for the specialists.

However, the Allrounder's XI should have Gilly. Opening the batting with Rhodes and/or Mankad could then give it to them.

As ever, it's Bradman that's too hard to ignore.

 

[weldone]

All-rounders XI:

Wilfred Rhodes
Vinoo Mankad
Jacques Kallis
Garry Sobers
Aubrey Faulkner
Keith Miller
Adam Gilchrist+
Ian Botham
Imran Khan*
Kapil Dev
Richard Hadlee

 

[smash84]

All-rounders XI:

Wilfred Rhodes
Vinoo Mankad
Jacques Kallis
Garry Sobers
Aubrey Faulkner
Keith Miller
Adam Gilchrist+
Ian Botham
Imran Khan*
Kapil Dev
Richard Hadlee

Wow..........now this is a gun All Rounders team

 

[weldone]

Wow..........now this is a gun All Rounders team

There'll be displeasure among the bowlers...and headache to the captain Imran

We can assume that Sobers or Kallis won't bowl too much.

Hadlee and Imran will open the bowling, Miller will be the first-change bowler and Faulkner the star-spinner...

As it stands, Botham, Kapil, Mankad and Rhodes - 4 very good bowlers, won't bowl too many overs regularly...In pace friendly pitches, Botham and Kapil will sneak in with a few overs...Mankad and Rhodes will make merry in the dustbowls...

Most pathetic would be the condition of Kapil, who, by all regards is a great all-rounder - one of the top 5 of all-time, and indeed very rounded...But he'll be batting at no. 10 here, and won't be one of the top 4-5 bowlers in the team...