A Leftie's draft

[Dare]

Gary Kirsten

Alright backup time. One of the finest South African batsmen and probably their second best test opener Kirsetn wasn't as skilled as many but he was more determined then most. In 101 tests Kirsten scored 7289 runs at an average of 45.27 with 21 centuries and 34 fifties. In 1999 he made his career best 275 when South Africa were following on, and to this day that stands as the 2nd longest innings in terms of duration. Happy with this.

Derek Underwood

Seeing as how good left arm bowlers were running low I decided to take Derek Underwood. Nicknamed "Deadly" by his teammates he was a accurate left arm medium and left arm orthodox bowler who could bowl on just about any wicket. With 296 wickets in 86 tests he was/is one of the most successful left arm bowlers of all time.

1. Gary Kirsten
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Clive Lloyd*
7. Ridley Jacobs
8. Bobby Peel
9. Derek Underwood
10.
11.

 

[Dare]

Damn it totally missed that.

 

[sifter132]

BTW love Derek Underwood - he's the first slow bowler I would have taken over Bedi, Verity etc. Everyone thinks he was a soggy pitch bully, but he was better than that and did pretty well in most places he visited.

 

[Cricketman]

Dayum, I thought Underwood would slip under the radar as everyone scrambles for any remaining seamers. I was going for him next.

2967 wickets in 86 tests

Holy crap!

 

[pcfan123]

Those are the stats since Mitch's debut.

Proves that Dale Steyn is a legend and no one else is even close. I watch every one of his matches with utmost attention because he will probably go down as one of the best Fast bowlers of the 21st Century.

 

[shravi]

Proves that Dale Steyn is a legend and no one else is even close. I watch every one of his matches with utmost attention because he will probably go down as one of the best Fast bowlers of the 21st Century.

More than that average, look at that strike rate. Absolutely phenomenal.

 

[Cricketman]

Those are the stats since Mitch's debut.

...and? He averages less? Barely has a lower strike rate?

Any fast bowler who bowls the majority of his games on Australian decks vs Indian ones BETTER have a lower average and strike rate than a swing bowler in India or something is seriously wrong. I feel Zaheer is a better bowler because of the barriers and challenges he has had to face throughout his career.

 

[sifter132]

It's kinda hard to compare Aussie and Indian pitches though. Consider this:
In the last 5 years Aussies and Indians average around 42 on their own pitches:
Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | Cricinfo.com

But the opposition average only 26 in Australia, but 33 in India:
Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | Cricinfo.com

Now is that difference the pitches? Or the bowlers? Probably both I'd say. But the Aussie fan in me says that Aussies pitches certainly aren't green tops and India's bowlers certainly haven't been the strongest of late.

Either way I kinda came on strong in my support for Mitch. It's just that I think Zaheer LOOKS a better bowler than his record. Everyone talks about his swing and reverse but his figures aren't great really and Indian fans rate him highly seemeingly because they are grateful to have at least one fairly reliable pace threat. Mitch is the opposite. He looks ugly and bowls a lot of junk - barely ever swings it, yet he is very effective. Even during the Ashes last year the commentators were falling over themselves to cut down Johnson about how overrated he was, yet he was still taking wickets and ended up only 2 off Hilfy's series leading tally and took more than any Englishman. Anyway, that's why I picked him - he gets wickets.

 

[Iridium]

Sorry about the wait, just got back into town. I need to pick some bowlers and as luck would have it, I barely know any left arm bowlers. So I pick Ryan Sidebottom

Whilst Sidebottom does not have raw pace, his accuracy and ability to swing the ball makes him a real asset and a real menace. Just ask New Zealand. Last time he was over here, he ripped through NZ picking up 24 wickets @ 17.08, which included a career best 7/47 in the final test at Napier.

Just have an awful feeling I've missed a more obvious and better pick

 

[sifter132]

Well depends what you want. You can argue Sidebottom's one of the better left arm bowlers in history - he's got good stats after all. But that kinda ignores the fact that he hasn't really cracked the England team much or been able to hold his place for long in his 10 years of cricket. If it were me, just pick a guy you like and who fits your team. If anyone argues, just point at his stats

 

[mattfb]

Johnny Briggs​

Johnny played 33 test matches in the very early stages of Test Cricket. He took 118 wickets at an average of just 17. His strike rate was 45.1 which is superb for any time. Picked up 4 4fers, 9 5fers and 4 10fers in those 33 games. That's 17 4+ wickets hauls. Over half the matches he played he picked up a haul of over 4 wickets. Briggs also took over 2221 wickets in FC cricket. 200 five wicket hauls and 52 ten wicket hauls.

1.
2.
3.
4. Brian Lara (c)
5. Allan Border
6.
7. Jack Russell
8.
9. Johnny Briggs
10.
11. Bruce Reid

 

[Iridium]

Well depends what you want. You can argue Sidebottom's one of the better left arm bowlers in history - he's got good stats after all. But that kinda ignores the fact that he hasn't really cracked the England team much or been able to hold his place for long in his 10 years of cricket. If it were me, just pick a guy you like and who fits your team. If anyone argues, just point at his stats

Yea, but loooook at his stats :laugh. He was basically a shoo-in to the England team but then he got a huge run of injuries and he's just not the same bowler who ravaged NZ. But still he's in my team, and I'm pretty stocked especially since mattfb didn't pick a player who I wanted.

 

[sifter132]

Briggs = Really nice pick, I was hoping no one would go for Briggs or Peel, but they've both gone

David Gower

Gower was the 2nd highest run scorer of the 80s behind Allan Border. He finished his career with over 8000 runs and an average just under 45 in a consistent career of almost 15 years. Gower was a very talented and stylish player but his concentration was his weakness. He often got out to lazy looking shots, he was the 80s version of Mark Waugh if you like. Gower was good home and away, the only real hole in his record being at home vs the mighty Windies attack of the era. Yet he handled them in the Caribbean pretty well. Gower was also an excellent fielder in the cover region making him a great fit for my team as I'm looking for players who have more than one string to their bow. I really like my middle order now.

1
2
3 Neil Harvey
4 David Gower
5 Andy Flower (wk)
6
7 Alan Davidson
8 Mitchell Johnson
9
10
11

 

[Iridium]

Gower on the other hand was on my list. Good pick. I must say I have a lot of Englishmen to choose from...

 

[sifter132]

Lucky you haven't picked any yet. I've picked 3 Aussies already and I've got a few more on my list. Damn that 4 per nation rule I set