Test XI for The Last Quarter Century

[TheJediBrah]

Well for one, Andy Flower seems to be treated like he was allergic to wicket keeping gloves round here...

It would explain his attempt at keeping if he was

 

[trundler]

Previous 100 years:
Hobbs
Hutton
The Don
Tendulkar
Viv
Sobers
Gilchrist
Khan
Marshall
Warne
McGrath

Now, what about the previous hundred years (essentially 19th century up WWI).
I've got:
Shrewbury
Trumper
WG Grace
Stanley Jackson
Ranji
AG Steel
John Wisden
Jack Blackham
Alfred Mynn
Lohmann
Barnes

 

[Starfighter]

Now, what about the previous hundred years (essentially 19th century up WWI).
I've got:
Shrewbury
Trumper
WG Grace
Stanley Jackson
Ranji
AG Steel
John Wisden
Jack Blackham
Alfred Mynn
Lohmann
Barnes

Not demonic enough, and maybe man could be a bit freer as well.

 

[trundler]

Spofforth in for Mynn then. Tom Richardson a notable omission

 

[jimmy101]

Had Ted Pooley managed to actually play a Test you'd think he'd be a contender for the 19th century XI.

 

[stephen]

True, the average number of wickets falling has increased from 11.98 to 13.45. I think that's pretty much the gist of analysis. The average increases are really not all that much as you had expect them to be from the average score increase, but one you factor in the top order batsman scoring about 20 runs extra quicker and the lower order actually getting a bit of chance to score 20-30 extra. That's your increase.

Yeah if T20 has taught teams anything it's that wickets should be regarded as resources to be spent over the course of a game. There's no use ending at 4/300 when you could make 9/350 instead.

Unfortunately it has come at the cost of bowlers. Teams are more likely to bowl run- containing part timers instead of wicket taking full timers in this day and age. Look at England. They pick Ali, despite the fact that he can't pick up a wicket against any reasonable batting side (Australia notwithstanding - they're rubbish against slow bowling right now).