Best all-time "Actual" XI

[a massive zebra]

I agree that Hendren was a great (he averages 47) and I thought I'd hit gold when I saw this top 6, however when I looked up Woolley and Percy Chapman's records my argument didn't hold up

This team could have been selected at around about 1928-29 and would have been far superior IMO.

JB Hobbs
H Sutcliffe
WR Hammond
EH Hendren
CP Mead
DR Jardine*
LEG Ames+
MW Tate
H Larwood
CWL Parker
AP Freeman

 

[PhoenixFire]

This team could have been selected at around about 1928-29 and would have been far superior IMO.

JB Hobbs
H Sutcliffe
WR Hammond
EH Hendren
CP Mead
DR Jardine*
LEG Ames+
MW Tate
H Larwood
CWL Parker
AP Freeman

That is one hell of a team. If that had been picked, then that would have been the greatest of all time, that I have no doubt of.

 

[shortpitched713]

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1990-91/WI_IN_PAK/WI_PAK_T2_23-25NOV1990.html

On paper, the best side that Pakistan has ever played.
Saeed Anwar
Shoaib Mohammad
Zahid Fazal
Javed Miandad
Saleem Malik
*Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
+Moin Khan
Akram Raza
Mushtaq Ahmed
Waqar Younis

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1990-91/WI_IN_PAK/WI_PAK_T1_15-20NOV1990.html

On paper, this side had probably the best bowling attack Pakistan ever fielded, although the batting's weaker.
Shoaib Mohammad
Rameez Raja
Zahid Fazal
Javed Miandad
Saleem Malik
*Imran Khan
+Saleem Yousuf
Wasim Akram
Mushtaq Ahmed
Abdul Qadir
Waqar Younis

 

[Beleg]

An attack of Shoaib, Saqlain, Waqar and Wasim was better then the one you have posted.

Not to mention the first team had Akram Raza...

 

[aussie tragic]

That is one hell of a team. If that had been picked, then that would have been the greatest of all time, that I have no doubt of.

Then why didn't they pick it

I did find the following for 1st Test vs Aus 1929 that has 8 of the players MZ mentioned, and this would have to go close to being the best top 7 ever (pity Ames wasn't at # 7)

JB Hobbs
H Sutcliffe
CP Mead
WR Hammond
DR Jardine
EH Hendren
*APF Chapman
MW Tate
H Larwood
JC White
+G Duckworth

 

[Magrat Garlick]

This team could have been selected at around about 1928-29 and would have been far superior IMO.

JB Hobbs
H Sutcliffe
WR Hammond
EH Hendren
CP Mead
DR Jardine*
LEG Ames+
MW Tate
H Larwood
CWL Parker
AP Freeman

Thought you didn't rate Freeman?

 

[shortpitched713]

An attack of Shoaib, Saqlain, Waqar and Wasim was better then the one you have posted.

Not to mention the first team had Akram Raza...

Well that second team had Imran Khan. I know he was playing as a specialist bat, but just looking at the list of names, an attack of Waqar, Wasim, Imran, Qadir, and Mushtaq would be hard to beat IMO.

And the first team has Saeed Anwar. The squad for this tour really shows why Pakistan were able to draw this series against the West Indies, really a lot of talent on display.