• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

World XI to Beat India at Home

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
I'm okay with Buttler if he keeps. As a specialist batsman I'd have probably at least twenty players ahead of him even given the specifics of the task. I'd even have a few batsmen who had failed in India ahead of him because they're still more likely despite that IMO.
 

vcs

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Karunaratne would definitely get in, as would Abbas who bowled great on slow/flat UAE tracks last year. Boult would also be a good choice.

I would also strongly consider Starc though I don't think he had a great tour of UAE last year. If he's in the mood and there's a bit of reverse, he can take the pitch out of the equation.
 

Gob

International Coach
Elgar
Root
Williamson
Smith
Labuschange (merely on a hunch)
Stokes
Kock
Cummins
Starc
Shah
Lyon
 

Jack1

International Debutant
I'm okay with Buttler if he keeps. As a specialist batsman I'd have probably at least twenty players ahead of him even given the specifics of the task. I'd even have a few batsmen who had failed in India ahead of him because they're still more likely despite that IMO.
He’s not a good keeper. At 7 he provides an extra flexibility to the batting line up and can shepherd the tail if needed. It’s a little unconventional with a specialist 7 bat and Williamson opening for a traditionalist , but no conventional team will beat India in India so horses for courses ..
 

Jack1

International Debutant
Karunaratne would definitely get in, as would Abbas who bowled great on slow/flat UAE tracks last year. Boult would also be a good choice.

I would also strongly consider Starc though I don't think he had a great tour of UAE last year. If he's in the mood and there's a bit of reverse, he can take the pitch out of the equation.
I feel what you are saying about Starc from the perspective of an Indian mind. But your batting line up is imho too strong for anything but attrition , although he can be used in theory just to blast out the tail. Not sure if he has the capability (or enough of a chance to storm in a force a full collapse in India conditions / climate etc. I also feel like Starc has a habit of openly competing with his own team as well as the opponent which is pretty annoying by for the other players. And on a rank turner the spinners will clean up the tail for both teams. Not convinced by Karun over Latham (personally) (and I discounted Pakistan players based on the game being in India) ) though your comments are interesting and certainly debatable
 

ataraxia

International Coach
The whole tail being Australian and only 3 countries being represented are both iffy. I cannot imagine that Australian bowling lineup going to India personally.
 

h_hurricane

International Vice-Captain
It will be really difficult to find an active XI which would have a good degree of success against an active Indian XI. I would pick the below all time XI to play an all time Indian XI at home.

Mathew Hayden
Alastair Cook
Younis Khan
Kevin Pietersen
Clive Lloyd
Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Richie Benaud
Malcolm Marshall
Dale Steyn
Glenn Mcgrath

Hadlee, Walsh and Saqlain narrowly miss out.
 

vcs

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Andy Flower.

I would probably take a more consistent player like Kallis ahead of Pietersen as well, though KP had some spectacular performances in Asia.
 

ataraxia

International Coach
Bradman a shout. I know he didn't play in Asia but still would be a far better option than the others. Hobbs, Hutton, O'Reilly, and Grimmett are other options that could do well in these conditions. All speculation though.
 

_00_deathscar

International Debutant
It will be really difficult to find an active XI which would have a good degree of success against an active Indian XI. I would pick the below all time XI to play an all time Indian XI at home.

Mathew Hayden
Alastair Cook
Younis Khan
Kevin Pietersen
Clive Lloyd
Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Richie Benaud
Malcolm Marshall
Dale Steyn
Glenn Mcgrath

Hadlee, Walsh and Saqlain narrowly miss out.
I can see why you picked Benaud but IMO I don’t think you can pick any players who retired pre 1970/1980. India were basically glorified minnows, and very few players before that even have a chance of making an All Time India XI. As such, those players who retired before that, although may have great records against India, it’s not the same India and thus remain somewhat untested, especially as you said this would be against an All Time XI - so you’d be playing Sehwag, Sachin, Dravid, Laxman (Kohli) and co.

This current India team, apart from a couple of players, aren’t as good against spin so if Benaud was playing active India XI that would be more reasonable.

I think the only realistic spinner options are Murali or Saqlain. You have to hope the pace attack does something, or might as well a complete random wild card part time spinner and hope everyone gets out with silky mistakes, or one of those once in a lifetime style performances like Michael Clarke’s.
 

h_hurricane

International Vice-Captain
I can see why you picked Benaud but IMO I don’t think you can pick any players who retired pre 1970/1980. India were basically glorified minnows, and very few players before that even have a chance of making an All Time India XI. As such, those players who retired before that, although may have great records against India, it’s not the same India and thus remain somewhat untested, especially as you said this would be against an All Time XI - so you’d be playing Sehwag, Sachin, Dravid, Laxman (Kohli) and co.

This current India team, apart from a couple of players, aren’t as good against spin so if Benaud was playing active India XI that would be more reasonable.

I think the only realistic spinner options are Murali or Saqlain. You have to hope the pace attack does something, or might as well a complete random wild card part time spinner and hope everyone gets out with silky mistakes, or one of those once in a lifetime style performances like Michael Clarke’s.
India was minnowish in 1950s however not so minnowish against quality spin. Benaud performed against Roy,Mankad,Contractor,Manjrekar,Borde and Umrigar which was pretty much our best batting line up in those initial years except for Hazare and Merchant. Not so much against picking Saqlain but 56 wickets at 18 is indeed remarkable. Benaud was a better batsman as well and this team would need batting at least till no.8. Murali is out of reckoning because apart from running through the line up once or twice, he was largely below par.
 

Jack1

International Debutant
The whole tail being Australian and only 3 countries being represented are both iffy. I cannot imagine that Australian bowling lineup going to India personally.
Your bias is quite funny and consistent. Australia are the attack for a reason, they are the bowlers proven in India. You are arguing with facts. If you want to give an opinion someone can do a better job that hasn’t had the chance to prove themselves yet that’s different. But those 4 bowlers have already performed better than the rest with a 3 games minimum (in India) minimum cut off. In that sense your post vexes me tbh.

If you go on statsguru on cricinfo and use the advanced filter you can get specific. Not sure if it works on a phone/tablet but will on a desktop and probably laptop.

There’s no one more proven than them in India because one or two tests isn’t enough. But higher than 3 makes the selection pool too smaller. Not only that the four bowlers all have decent career records in test cricket, they are all high quality bowlers. They provide a good enough balance considering Pattinson can bat ok too and regardless the players in the side compliment each other well to create a balanced side.

Having one, two or three countries isn’t relevant I picked it player by player from one. I would prefer it to be less countries, the more the players have played together and had company together off the field the better the chemistry and balance of the side is going to be in all aspects.

Anyhow. The game isn’t going to happen no point delving too deep here. Just if you are going to post at least have some substance.
 
Last edited:

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
Karunaratne
Latham
Williamson (c)
Smith
Nicholls/Root
Shakib
Watling (wk)
Holder
Cummins
Rabada
Lyon

This is a side capable of scoring 600+ with 5 good bowling options.
 

_00_deathscar

International Debutant
India was minnowish in 1950s however not so minnowish against quality spin. Benaud performed against Roy,Mankad,Contractor,Manjrekar,Borde and Umrigar which was pretty much our best batting line up in those initial years except for Hazare and Merchant. Not so much against picking Saqlain but 56 wickets at 18 is indeed remarkable. Benaud was a better batsman as well and this team would need batting at least till no.8. Murali is out of reckoning because apart from running through the line up once or twice, he was largely below par.
Yea, I get your point, but it's quite a step up from Mankad, Contractor and co to Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and co. His average of 18 in 8 tests vs the former suggests so too. Not sure having Benaud in there is any help just because he did well vs players quite clearly not good enough to get into an all time India XI in 2019 (i.e. they were products of their time - good enough for then, but not for now), which is what he will be facing. The way the latter took apart Warne and Murali, generally considered the best spinners of all time, also confirms that they are quite a few levels above Mankad and co (not that it needed any confirmation...)

Fair point about batting.
 
Last edited:

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
Karunaratne
Latham
Williamson (c)
Smith
Nicholls/Root
Shakib
Watling (wk)
Holder
Cummins
Rabada
Lyon

This is a side capable of scoring 600+ with 5 good bowling options.
The other option is Stokes instead of Shakib and then Shah instead of Holder with Cummins and Rabada moving up.
 

Coronis

Cricketer Of The Year
Yea, I get your point, but it's quite a step up from Mankad, Contractor and co to Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and co. His average of 18 in 8 tests vs the former suggests so too. Not sure having Benaud in there is any help just because he did well vs players quite clearly not good enough to get into an all time India XI in 2019 (i.e. they were products of their time - good enough for then, but not for now), which is what he will be facing. The way the latter took apart Warne and Murali, generally considered the best spinners of all time, also confirms that they are quite a few levels above Mankad and co (not that it needed any confirmation...)

Fair point about batting.
Bradman never had to bat against Marshall or McGrath or Murali etc. which is why he shouldn’t be picked in an all time world xi. He’s just a product of his time (good enough for then, not enough for now).
 

Jack1

International Debutant
Bradman never had to bat against Marshall or McGrath or Murali etc. which is why he shouldn’t be picked in an all time world xi. He’s just a product of his time (good enough for then, not enough for now).
Ok but if u are going to be troll at least try to be humorous
 

Top