Is AB de Villiers an ATG?

[Tom Flint]

How good would s.a's line up would have been from 2007 if kp had played for them? Possibly an atg top 7

 

[StephenZA]

They were all better than Duminy in the end....

 

[akilana]

Kallis resides in this strange place for me. He would make any side that ever played in history (which makes him an ATG) and as a complete package he was the real deal. Yet I can't place him over half a dozen others with the bat and he wouldn't have made the side as a bowler alone.

So where does that leave him? A fantastic cricketer who was overshadowed by others in his era.

i can’t place gilchrist over 2 dozen others with the bat and he wouldn’t make the side for his keeping alone as there are half a dozen better keepers. So i don’t know what to make of him.

 

[CapeTown Guy]

I'm in the brittle camp... Kallis aside there was a time Kirsten (and later on Smith) and Cullinan were the only other batsmen I'd have in the 'good' camp. At the very least, we often either had a passenger or two at the top of the order, or in the middle order somewhere. The result was often the score being "120/5" and then the lower order would chip in with a few runs each to get us to a respectable score. Until Amla/AB came along and Kallis dropped down to 4.

Earlier, Gibbs had his moments but too often got out for 30odd.

I do rate Cullinan though, there was a time around the turn of the century - say 1998 - 2002 where he was our best bat. Warne issues aside. Prince was effectively his replacement, after - iirc - Cullinan was called up to a squad to face India (I think), around 2004, but didnt settle terms with CSA. So Prince was called up and did reasonably well.

Re KP in the SA side - I'd have Trott in there too.

Smith-Trott-Amla-JK-KP-AB has a frightening look to it. If we had another opener more reliable than Alviro/McKenzie (who would be a step down in class from each of those 6), imagine that line-up with AB at 7 and behind the stumps.

Anyhow - whether AB is an AT great - I think a how his reintegration into the Test team plays out could have a large bearing on his standing. Certainly on the cusp of an AT SA side
'

 

[anil1405]

How good would s.a's line up would have been from 2007 if kp had played for them? Possibly an atg top 7

AND doeschate.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

AND doeschate.

Watling or Prior could keep wickets. Strauss wouldn't get a start

 

[marc71178]

AND doeschate.

Not a hope of getting anywhere near an SA side

 

[stephen]

i can’t place gilchrist over 2 dozen others with the bat and he wouldn’t make the side for his keeping alone as there are half a dozen better keepers. So i don’t know what to make of him.

Unless de Kock overtakes him, Gilchrist is basically the first pick keeper in any AT XI. Kallis would be behind a bunch of others for a spot in such a side.

Murali wasn't even clearly the best spinner of his generation either. Certainly there was little to separate him from Warne. He's still a top 5 cricketer from the 00s era.

 

[Chrish]

Lot of people would go for pure keeper like Knott in their all time Xi. Not really sure how Gilchrist is irreplaceable.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Unless de Kock overtakes him, Gilchrist is basically the first pick keeper in any AT XI. Kallis would be behind a bunch of others for a spot in such a side.

Murali wasn't even clearly the best spinner of his generation either. Certainly there was little to separate him from Warne. He's still a top 5 cricketer from the 00s era.

I said of the 2000s, not of his generation.

Murali took 573 of his wickets after 2000, while Warne "only" took 357. Warne was better than him in the 1990s though.

 

[oblongballs]

Lot of people would go for pure keeper like Knott in their all time Xi. Not really sure how Gilchrist is irreplaceable.

Knott in an all time world XI? I do not think so. That place is pretty much nailed down by Gilly, with some argument from Boucher possibly. Dhoni could get a shout in ODIs but I would personally find it difficult to place him above the ozzy.

Knott is probably England's finest.

 

[mr_mister]

I'd have Godfrey Evans in there

 

[Adders]

Knott in an all time world XI? I do not think so. That place is pretty much nailed down by Gilly, with some argument from Boucher possibly.

If I'm picking the best team of all time I want the best gloveman ever behind the stumps and that aint Gilly. Knott and Evans are certainly in the discussion though.

I wouldn't say it's wrong to pick Gilly if you think you need his batting but imo it would be surplass to requirements with 6 ATG's before him. Knott is a poular choice around here so it's wrong to dismiss him out of hand like you have.

 

[Red]

Knott in an all time world XI? I do not think so. That place is pretty much nailed down by Gilly, with some argument from Boucher possibly. Dhoni could get a shout in ODIs but I would personally find it difficult to place him above the ozzy.

Knott is probably England's finest.

Knott is (rightly) included in plenty of ATG World XIs. Regarded by plenty as the best pure gloveman ever, plus a very decent bat.

I'm assuming by including Boucher you just look at career records for keepers?

 

[anil1405]

Not a hope of getting anywhere near an SA side

Technically very good.
Great hand eye co-ordination and soft hands.
Pretty good against both pace and spin.

The only thing in question could be his temperament to play test cricket but then looking at his FC record abolishes that doubt.

 

[stephen]

Gilchrist wasn't perfect behind the stumps but he was not as much of a step down from the best ever with the gloves that it made a practical difference.

He was a class above all other keepers of his skill level with the bat though, which is why he's undoubtedly first pick keeper for any AT XI.

 

[Adders]

Edit : double post

 

[akilana]

Unless de Kock overtakes him, Gilchrist is basically the first pick keeper in any AT XI. Kallis would be behind a bunch of others for a spot in such a side.

Murali wasn't even clearly the best spinner of his generation either. Certainly there was little to separate him from Warne. He's still a top 5 cricketer from the 00s era.

Why? You dismissed JK that he wasnt the best batsman or the best bowler so he wasnt worrhy of a spot. Gilly wasn’t the in the best 7 batsman in history. He wasnt th best keeper ever. He can’t be picked based on his batting or keeping. It is his all around talents makes him an ATG and the same way Kallis’s all around talent with bowling and batting merits selection. Kallis would be the first pick for batting all rounder’s spot. There is competition from Sobers but arguably he’s the first pick.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Why? You dismissed JK that he wasnt the best batsman or the best bowler so he wasnt worrhy of a spot. Gilly wasn’t the in the best 7 batsman in history. He wasnt th best keeper ever. He can’t be picked based on his batting or keeping. It is his all around talents makes him an ATG and the same way Kallis’s all around talent with bowling and batting merits selection. Kallis would be the first pick for batting all rounder’s spot. There is competition from Sobers but arguably he’s the first pick.

No, but he is unquestionably the best number 7 batsman in history.

 

[marc71178]

Knott in an all time world XI? I do not think so. That place is pretty much nailed down by Gilly, with some argument from Boucher possibly. Dhoni could get a shout in ODIs but I would personally find it difficult to place him above the ozzy.

Knott is probably England's finest.

LOL at excluding Knott then saying that Boucher is the closest to selection - do you even watch cricket?