Pick a World XI to play against Australia (test only).

[Spark]

I don't think the OP meant 'pick a team based on who happened to be playing Australia when their best performances came around', he meant 'pick a team without any Australians in it'.

Given that Laxman would struggle to make an 8th XI.

I mean the title of the thread is "pick a world XI to play against Australia" so I assume that that was they meant.

 

[Prince EWS]

I mean the title of the thread is "pick a world XI to play against Australia" so I assume that that was they meant.

I'd still definitely not pick Laxman because I think batting is high variance and him playing well against Australia was at least initally almost entirely a coincidence.

 

[Burgey]

Reckon Jadeja has a case to be included in this team too. Every series he's played against Australia he's made an enormous impact, often with both bat and ball. Makes more sense to pick him than Murali imo.

Makes more sense to pick Herath than it does Murali.

 

[Jayro]

Hutton
Gavaskar,
Richards,
Sobers,
Lara,
Sachin,
Sangakara,
Imran,
Hadlee,
Marshall,
Ambrose/ Murali - depending upon conditions.

 

[Burgey]

I'd still definitely not pick Laxman because I think batting is high variance and him playing well against Australia was at least initally almost entirely a coincidence.

It is high variance, as are all the of the skills involved in cricket. And one of the variables is who played out of their skin and who went like a busted arse against given opposition.

 

[subshakerz]

Would it be fair to say the batting is roughly equal?

Australia have Bradman and Gilly, but ROW have a much stronger opening combo, stronger middle order, and deeper batting down the order.

Bowling-wise, it is Lillee, McGrath, Lindwall, Miller, Warne vs Imran, Marshall, Hadlee, Murali and Sobers. Australia have a much better 5th bowler but the quality of the first four leans towards ROW.

 

[Burgey]

The chronic under rating of Bob Simpson as an opener continues.

 

[Slifer]

The chronic under rating of Bob Simpson as an opener continues.

???? He is literally in my Aussie XI....

 

[Burgey]

???? He is literally in my Aussie XI....

No, I meant by those saying the ROW have "much stronger" openers.

 

[Slifer]

I don't think the OP meant 'pick a team based on who happened to be playing Australia when their best performances came around', he meant 'pick a team without any Australians in it'.

Given that Laxman would struggle to make an 8th XI.

Yeah pretty much this. When we choose world XIs, there is no way to choose players who did good/great vs all teams. For example, regardless of his record no one is leaving out Warne out of an Aussie XI even though he was poor vs India. Likewise, Walsh isn't getting in a WI or world XI ahead of Ambrose even though Walsh did much better in Asia.

 

[Slifer]

No, I meant by those saying the ROW have "much stronger" openers.

Unfortunately, relative to Hobbs and Hutton the general consensus is there's a gulf between these two (plus Sunil and Sutcliffe) over most other openers. I believe Simpson actually averaged 50+ as an opener only.

And even if we agree Simpson is in a similar class, either of Hobbs or Hutton are still much better than Hayden, Lawry, Ponsford, Morris or whomever else.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah he averaged 55 as an opener which is pretty awseome.

Can certainly wear it for Hayden - would be tempted to play Trumper if his era is in the reckoning or even Lawry over him because he played in a tougher era than Haydos all things considered; but think Simmo is getting a rough deal there.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Khawaja/Simpson to open for Aus tbh

 

[Gob]

Team to play peak Aus

Sehwag
Vaughan
Tendulkar
Lara
Pietersen
VVS
Stewart wk
Flintoff
Wasim
Kumble
Ambrose

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Hobbs
Hutton
Lara
Sachin
Hammond
Sobers
Imran
Knott
Hadlee
Marshall
Murali

 

[Burgey]

Team to play peak Aus

Sehwag
Vaughan
Tendulkar
Lara
Pietersen
VVS
Stewart wk
Flintoff
Wasim
Kumble
Ambrose

Do you want it to be over in three days so they can play a couple of T20s on days four and five?

 

[Gob]

Also would a batsman who was successful against a country at one time would be as successful against them in an another time?

Don't think so

 

[Gob]

Do you want it to be over in three days so they can play a couple of T20s on days four and five?

Well those are the guys who did best against Aust 95 to 07

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Is Jermaine Lawson eligible?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Well those are the guys who did best against Aust 95 to 07

I see only 3 visiting bowlers in that timeframe (95-07) took at least 20 wickets and averaged under 30 per wicket (shows Australia's dominance). Without consulting statsguru, who does everyone think they were? (1 West Indian, 1 Pakistani, 1 Englishman)