All-Time World XIs: Discussion Thread

[capt_Luffy]

You have Barnes and Murali though too, I'd not use my 5th bowler all that much tbh, when you've got these two top 5 bowlers of all time, who can basically bowl non stop at a high level.

I prefer the variety more. In a short burst, Miller was a legit ATG quality bowler. Any team will struggle to score against such variety of this quality.

 

[Thala_0710]

I'm sorry but how is this not a formidable XI that can compete with the first XI?

Gavaskar
Sutcliffe
Hammond
Smith
Lara
Sanga/Walcott
Miller
Imran
Barnes
Ambrose
Murali

It is.... But the one with Kallis+Knott is just better

 

[kyear2]

It's still an incredibly strong lower order.

Strong lower orders doesn't make up for a weakened middle order.

 

[Coronis]

I'm sorry but how is this not a formidable XI that can compete with the first XI?

Gavaskar
Sutcliffe
Hammond
Smith
Lara
Sanga/Walcott
Miller
Imran
Barnes
Ambrose
Murali

I’m not sure anyone has said it isn’t. Its not necessarily the optimum one though.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Even when in peak he struggled when he had to take over keeping duties (small sample size but those are the facts). And yes he always batted at 3. Big difference to batting 6 or 7 and almost guaranteed to also affect his output.

I think batting down is simply easier task. And like, he kept for like what, 5-6 matches in his Peak.

 

[Johan]

Imagine an attack of

1. Barnes — Extra pace/bounce, Classical Swing both ways, immense cutters, Barnes ball and Reverse Barnes ball.
2. Ambrose — extreme bounce, pinpoint accuracy, masterful user of the seam, excellent at both cutters.
3. Imran — The greatest inswinger in the history of the game, master of reverse both ways.
4. Murali – the less said the better
5. Miller – express pace, huge pace variation, amazing at short pitched bowling, accurate swinging yorkers, could also bowl high class leg breaks if needed.

 

[subshakerz]

You have Barnes and Murali though too, I'd not use my 5th bowler all that much tbh, when you've got these two top 5 bowlers of all time, who can basically bowl non stop at a high level.

Mixing around Miller in short bursts means your attack is relentless rather than Sobers letting some steam off.

Also Miller is a conventional swing bowlers and contrasts nicely with the rest. You have an attack for everything.

 

[kyear2]

Disagree. Even if you don't have him in 15, it has to be in the periphery of that.

Certainly not as a keeper.

And I wouldn't have him keeping to this attack. Not with Knott available.

Even Walcott was a better keeper.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Certainly not as a keeper.

And I wouldn't have him keeping to this attack. Not with Knott available.

Even Walcott was a better keeper.

Based on?

 

[subshakerz]

Imagine an attack of

1. Barnes — Extra pace/bounce, Classical Swing both ways, immense cutters, Barnes ball and Reverse Barnes ball.
2. Ambrose — extreme bounce, pinpoint accuracy, masterful user of the seam, excellent at both cutters.
3. Imran — The greatest inswinger in the history of the game, master of reverse both ways.
4. Murali – the less said the better
5. Miller – express pace, huge pace variation, amazing at short pitched bowling, accurate swinging yorkers, could also bowl high class leg breaks if needed.

And it covers all the weaker areas of the first ATG XI.

More pure pace options. Actually reverse. And two options that are deadly on spinning surfaces in Barnes and Murali.

Can you imagine Barnes and Murali on a day 5 spinning wicket? Hell.

 

[kyear2]

You have Barnes and Murali though too, I'd not use my 5th bowler all that much tbh, when you've got these two top 5 bowlers of all time, who can basically bowl non stop at a high level.

Miller's batting is weak, and the volume of overs he's going to be bowling, and with the old ball at that, it's not remotely taking away Kallis's batting.

To play Miller, you're weakening the wicket-keeping, the top order batting and for about 10 overs an innings tops, and with the old ball.

Not remotely worth it.

 

[Thala_0710]

You can theoretically have 6 bowlers for even more variety if you wanted... Imo with Imran's inswing + reverse, Ambrose's htd with pace and bounce, Barnes moving the ball both ways and Murali my GOAT spinner, I have all bases covered. Rather than having the luxury of having Miller as 5th choice and sacrificing the wicket keeping quality, I'd get Kallis to get 6 ATG batters, and Knott who's arguably the best wkb ever. The 5th bowler as I said would bowl very few overs with this attack anyway (especially with Murali and Barnes). The impact of Kallis' batting and Knott's keeping outweighs that.

 

[Thala_0710]

Miller's batting is weak, and the volume of overs he's going to be bowling, and with the old ball at that, it's not remotely taking away Kallis's batting.

To play Miller, you're weakening the wicket-keeping, the top order batting and for about 10 vers an innings tops, and with the old ball.

Not remotely worth it.

Exactly

 

[capt_Luffy]

You can theoretically have 6 bowlers for even more variety if you wanted... Imo with Imran's inswing + reverse, Ambrose's htd with pace and bounce, Barnes moving the ball both ways and Murali my GOAT spinner, I have all bases covered. Rather than having the luxury of having Miller as 5th choice and sacrificing the wicket keeping quality, I'd get Kallis to get 6 ATG batters, and Knott who's arguably the best wkb ever. The 5th bowler as I said would bowl very few overs with this attack anyway (especially with Murali and Barnes). The impact of Kallis' batting and Knott's keeping outweighs that.

I think Miller won't be a 5th baller but the bowler who bowls the 5th most overs here.

 

[subshakerz]

Miller's batting is weak, and the volume of overs he's going to be bowling, and with the old ball at that, it's not remotely taking away Kallis's batting.

To play Miller, you're weakening the wicket-keeping, the top order batting and for about 10 vers an innings tops, and with the old ball.

Not remotely worth it.

Miller is batting no.7.

Kallis is not suited to bat with the tail at no.6 like Sobers. You already have a decent medium pace option in Hammond for dog overs.

Millers can occasionally take the new ball too honestly.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Miller is batting no.7.

Kallis is not suited to bat with the tail at no.6 like Sobers. You already have a decent medium pace option in Hammond for dog overs.

Millers can occasionally take the new ball too honestly.

2nd new ball very definitely

 

[Coronis]

Miller is batting no.7.

Kallis is not suited to bat with the tail at no.6 like Sobers. You already have a decent medium pace option in Hammond for dog overs.

Millers can occasionally take the new ball too honestly.

Why?

 

[Thala_0710]

I think Miller won't be a 5th baller but the bowler who bowls the 5th most overs here.

And those overs would be 8-10 overs max per inns... That too mostly with the older ball

 

[subshakerz]

I think Miller won't be a 5th baller but the bowler who bowls the 5th most overs here.

On a day 1 and day 2 pitch, Miller is bowling way more overs than Murali.

 

[subshakerz]

Why?

He is a slow innings builder type. It's a bit of an Ill fit.