Keith Miller vs Shaun Pollock (all time Test test selection)

[shortpitched713]

Assuming you have to pick between one of these two, which is your first choice for you to build an all-time team around (Imran, Hadlee, Marshall, McGrath, Sobers, Kallis and all other obvious all-rounders and specialist bowlers got snatched up by someone else)?

 

[capt_Luffy]

Would take Miller more often, but there are plenty of scenarios Pollock would just be the better option; especially if my bowling is significantly weaker than batting

 

[subshakerz]

Miller.

 

[Coronis]

Assuming from your question that all the better bowlers and most AR options have been taken, I’d personally pick Pollock to build my bowling attack around, rather than Miller.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Polly, great team man to have in a dressing room ,can play any role required with the ball and a great No.8

 

[Bolo.]

Miller in a 5 man attack (assuming the other 4 are still good). Pollock in a 4 man attack.

4/5 man depends on the rest of the side. Batting strength from top and tail, part time options, and the level of quality bowlers you are excluding.

 

[reyrey]

Miller. Can bat at 5, open the bowling and be a genuine strike bowler. Gives you more options when selecting a team.

 

[shortpitched713]

Miller. Can bat at 5, open the bowling and be a genuine strike bowler. Gives you more options when selecting a team.

Could he really, on teams of this quality? I see him as a 6 or 7 only, honestly as an all time team will need a stronger middle order than Miller would offer by taking the 5 spot.

 

[kyear2]

Pollock the lesser of two not great choices.

(In an ATG context of course)

 

[reyrey]

Could he really, on teams of this quality? I see him as a 6 or 7 only, honestly as an all time team will need a stronger middle order than Miller would offer by taking the 5 spot.

He's a potential match winner with the bat and was responsibly successful batting at 5.

If you're building a team around him then I'd assume you'd want to try maximize what you get out of him, so yeah batting him at 5 is an option especially if the game wasn't in England.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Miller is probably a top 10 of all time in tests, and only behind Immy and Sobers as an AR

 

[capt_Luffy]

Miller is probably a top 10 of all time in tests, and only behind Immy and Sobers as an AR

Yeah, but Pollock was the better bowler; so in a weak bowling/strong batting line-up, he might bring in more, especially since Miller didn't used to bowl long spells.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Yeah, but Pollock was the better bowler; so in a weak bowling/strong batting line-up, he might bring in more, especially since Miller didn't used to bowl long spells.

In that situation sure. But for most situations, I’m taking Miller

 

[capt_Luffy]

In that situation sure. But for most situations, I’m taking Miller

Me too, but that's the situation in OP. Now thinking about it closely, I feel it's closer between them as players than I initially assessed....

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Very close

 

[Bolo.]

Me too, but that's the situation in OP. Now thinking about it closely, I feel it's closer between them as players than I initially assessed....

Ya. I voted Miller significantly ahead of Pollock on the main forum poll, but I don't really know why if I stop to think about it. He's clearly a much better bat, but how wide can the gulf between two bats averaging in the 30s be?

Pollock is well ahead in bowling. The gap between them would look a whole lot bigger if not for the difference in amount of bowling done per game and across career.

 

[Coronis]

Miller is probably a top 10 of all time in tests, and only behind Immy and Sobers as an AR

You forgot Kallis.

 

[sayon basak]

If I have a strong bowling lineup:- miller
If I have a strong batting lineup:- pollock

Preference in putting someone in an All time XI doesn't only depend on who is better, but also on the balance of the XI itself.

 

[shortpitched713]

If I have a strong bowling lineup:- miller
If I have a strong batting lineup:- pollock

Preference in putting someone in an All time XI doesn't only depend on who is better, but also on the balance of the XI itself.

This is for a first pick, so you don't have the rest of the team yet.

 

[sayon basak]

This is for a first pick, so you don't have the rest of the team yet.

Then I would lean towards Miller (based fully on personal preference)