Well, the great Aus side of the 2000s and WI of the 80s were so far ahead of their peers that I can imagine 4 bowlers of world class quality is more than enough.The point is, wi usually went with 6 batsmen + wk + 4 bowlers. When i think of the best oz team this team comes to mind
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
S Waugh
M waugh
Martyn
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Gillespie
Mcgrath.
Not an AR in sight. Before you sll say they didn't need one thanks to Gilchrist that's kinda true but even before gilly came along healey came in at 7 with still with no ar in sight. Pick the best 6 batsmen available, 4 best bowlers and a competent wk.
Imran averaged 37 in an era where pitches weren't as batsman friendly & bats were less powerful. In fact, in his last 10 years he played 51 tests and averaged 50. Knott averaged 32 and had 5 test centuries so would probable bat 7 with Hadlee at 8. Alternatively, if you go with Dujon he also averaged 32 with 5 centuries so would probably come in at 7.Seriously? Imran 6, Hadlee 7 is a ridiculously weak middle order and assuming 8-11 are all worse batsmen that makes the batting line-up far too short.
Fair enough. And Harper was probably only necessary when one of the four quicks was a non ATG like a Baptiste, Benjamin or PattersonThe point is, wi usually went with 6 batsmen + wk + 4 bowlers. When i think of the best oz team this team comes to mind
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
S Waugh
M waugh
Martyn
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Gillespie
Mcgrath.
Not an AR in sight. Before you sll say they didn't need one thanks to Gilchrist that's kinda true but even before gilly came along healey came in at 7 with still with no ar in sight. Pick the best 6 batsmen available, 4 best bowlers and a competent wk.
I see your Gower and raise you a Crowe if we're talking honourable mentions.David Gower belongs in the argument for a 70s-90s side. Not a lock for a spot but worthy of consideration. And ***eh too.
****ing hell, nothing worse than an Aussie throwing you a bone..........especially in an Ashes year!!David Gower belongs in the argument for a 70s-90s side. Not a lock for a spot but worthy of consideration. And ***eh too.
There were no allrounders worthy of a place in the Australian side during that era. If they had an allrounder the caliber of Cairns or Flintoff they would have got a look in.The point is, wi usually went with 6 batsmen + wk + 4 bowlers. When i think of the best oz team this team comes to mind
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
S Waugh
M waugh
Martyn
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Gillespie
Mcgrath.
Not an AR in sight. Before you sll say they didn't need one thanks to Gilchrist that's kinda true but even before gilly came along healey came in at 7 with still with no ar in sight. Pick the best 6 batsmen available, 4 best bowlers and a competent wk.
S.Waugh captured 92 wkts - no mean feat. And his twin pipped in with 59 wktsThe point is, wi usually went with 6 batsmen + wk + 4 bowlers. When i think of the best oz team this team comes to mind
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
S Waugh
M waugh
Martyn
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Gillespie
Mcgrath.
Not an AR in sight. Before you sll say they didn't need one thanks to Gilchrist that's kinda true but even before gilly came along healey came in at 7 with still with no ar in sight. Pick the best 6 batsmen available, 4 best bowlers and a competent wk.
But not at that time a highly credible ATG bowling option.Imran Khan 1986-1992 is almost certainly a highly credible six.
If either of flintoff or cairns or even Pollock were Australian, the likelihood is they'd have been picked to replace Lee to strengthen their bowling. Actually only Pollock could really be picked ahead of Lee on bowling alone. The other two cairns and flintoff hace no chance.There were no allrounders worthy of a place in the Australian side during that era. If they had an allrounder the caliber of Cairns or Flintoff they would have got a look in.
I also think in ATG discussion that Lara is exposed at no.3. He would be better at no.5 behind Dravid/Ponting & Tendulkar.
And I haven’t done much research into it, but i’m willing to bet that Imran’s high average in his late career came on some flat tracks or against some poor bowling attacks.
That's where the part timers come in. What if one of the batsmen got injured during the match. Then u have a potentially even longer tail. Fact is, none of the truly atg teams needed AR nor 5 front line bowlers. Imo the only time to use a AR is assuming that player can make it into said team on their stronger trait. Imran and Hadlee certainly can. U pick a fifth bowler to bat at 6 or 7 if u have a Don or Gilchrist to shore up the batting.S.Waugh captured 92 wkts - no mean feat. And his twin pipped in with 59 wkts
Imagine if one of the 4 bowlers got injured or it's a hot day or it's a batting track etc, then you would need to look amongst your troops for some relief.
Besides, when you're picking World XI's to go against each other ( rather than 1 Test team beating down another by a huge margin ), the winner will probably be one who has greater bowling options or an extended batting tail for victory by a smaller margin.
That's a monstrous pace attack. **** playing that.There is no way I'd want Imran to be batting 6 in any such sides. I also can't leave him out of the 70s/80s side. He was arguably the player of those 2 decades.
Greenidge
Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Javed Miandad
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Imran Khan *
Alan Knott
Richard Hadlee
Malcolm Marshall
Dennis Lillee
Border and Viv can turn their arms over when needed otherwise this side is good enough to take 20 wickets on any surface without the need for a spinner. The bowling is lethal and varied. You have scorching pace, metronomic line and length, reverse swing option to hoop it around corners, and a wily craftsman who can out think the best of batsmen. The batting is also superb with a solid opening pair along with arguably the finest number 3 the game has seen. In Miandad you have one of the greatest players of spin of all time and the top order is then rounded off by G Chappell and Allan Border who was outstanding in batting with the tail. The side also bats all the way down to no 10
Outstanding team and very similar to mine, except I fell for the old adage of having a spinner (underwood). If your 4 best bowlers are pacers then play em and thankfully the ones you picked were outstanding in all conditions. Could see them slicing through the 90s/10s lineup rather easily.There is no way I'd want Imran to be batting 6 in any such sides. I also can't leave him out of the 70s/80s side. He was arguably the player of those 2 decades.
Greenidge
Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Javed Miandad
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Imran Khan *
Alan Knott
Richard Hadlee
Malcolm Marshall
Dennis Lillee
Border and Viv can turn their arms over when needed otherwise this side is good enough to take 20 wickets on any surface without the need for a spinner. The bowling is lethal and varied. You have scorching pace, metronomic line and length, reverse swing option to hoop it around corners, and a wily craftsman who can out think the best of batsmen. The batting is also superb with a solid opening pair along with arguably the finest number 3 the game has seen. In Miandad you have one of the greatest players of spin of all time and the top order is then rounded off by G Chappell and Allan Border who was outstanding in batting with the tail. The side also bats all the way down to no 10
you'd have to argue pretty hard to convince me!arguably the finest number 3 the game has seen.
The implicit assumption is that Bradman isn't included obvyou'd have to argue pretty hard to convince me!
Yes, this is similar to the side I was advocating. Pick your four best bowlers. This side can beat the 90s/2000s.There is no way I'd want Imran to be batting 6 in any such sides. I also can't leave him out of the 70s/80s side. He was arguably the player of those 2 decades.
Greenidge
Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Javed Miandad
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Imran Khan *
Alan Knott
Richard Hadlee
Malcolm Marshall
Dennis Lillee
Border and Viv can turn their arms over when needed otherwise this side is good enough to take 20 wickets on any surface without the need for a spinner. The bowling is lethal and varied. You have scorching pace, metronomic line and length, reverse swing option to hoop it around corners, and a wily craftsman who can out think the best of batsmen. The batting is also superb with a solid opening pair along with arguably the finest number 3 the game has seen. In Miandad you have one of the greatest players of spin of all time and the top order is then rounded off by G Chappell and Allan Border who was outstanding in batting with the tail. The side also bats all the way down to no 10