A T20 draft...cricket_icon & swacker's picks

[cricket_icon]

I'm right near the end too. A couple decent bowlers will be left if I'm lucky. In terms of batting I can't think of too many. Very interesting round.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

yeah, I totally understand the thing about not rating pollard but I think sifter's nailed the reasons. he's not a test cricketer at all, and if you do have worries about twenty20 or don't value it as a format Pollard is exactly the sort of cricketer that might back up those feelings. However, I think while twenty20 does require different skills to test cricket I think it's mistake to underestimate it as "hit and giggle". I think the talent and hard work required to be good at any sort of sport depends more on how competitive the level it is, and with twenty20 becoming a genuine, serious format (I honestly think it's probably the most competitive domestic form of cricket) then the players that do well in it have to be valued. you can't really overlook pollard's ability, on the domestic circuit he's averaging 29 with the bat with an enormous strike rate and 22 with the ball and was a key player for whichever team he's played for taking man of the matches and produced in the big games in the knockouts of tournaments. his fielding ability is ignored too, he took the most catches of any player in the IPL 2011.

that said, dwanye bravo is a nice pick as well and if i'd taken luke wright then I probably would have chosen him.

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oh and for the record, I'm giving kudos to bevab and swacker. lasith malinga as the second last pick in round 1 is fantastic value, I was thinking about how I'd rank the best twenty20 players before this and to be frank, contrary to the batsmans game style of the format I think I might have been tempted to put malinga at number 1. his record is incredible, his stats may not be the best but remember, he bowls exclusively in the opening and death overs where by all rights he should be getting pounded around far more regularly.

I also think getting tanvir second last for pakistan is pretty sexy picking as well. good job.

(sedition, I know your hearts not in it but if you have any suggestions for who the hell we're going to have last in the NZ round I could use them )

 

[Fenil]

^Yep, Bravo was the man that had to be picked - NOW is when the fun begins... I can see a decent spinner or two, maybe a couple of batters depending on what you need - be interesting to see what I'm left to pick from.

Don't spill the beans, buddy.

 

[Aislabie]

Dwayne Smith is a hard-hitting all-rounder who has proved himself against the world's best. Specialising in the kind of brief, destructive cameo that sets the opposition reeling, he can also play a longer innings as shown by his best of 103. He fits into my team at number 5, a man who can push on after a good start, and ensure that the bowlers don't get on top in the middle overs. He is also a competent medium-pace bowler. He also edged into my team past Krishmar Santokie, who would have been an automatic choice had the West Indian round come before the English round.

Dwayne Smith
Barbados, Deccan Chargers, Khulna Royal Bengals, Mumbai Indians, New South Wales, Sussex, West Indies

MATCHES: 111

RUNS: 2367
AVERAGE: 25.72
STRIKE RATE: 137.29
BEST: 103*

WICKETS: 63
AVERAGE: 27.30
STRIKE RATE: 21.0
ECONOMY: 7.78​

Imran Farhat
Graeme Hick
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-
Dwayne Smith
-
-
Adam Hollioake
Shane Warne *
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-
​

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​

 

[Bevab]

I should feel extremely lucky to get a few players I have my eye on.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Around 2 hours left for Swacker to make his WI pick...

 

[sifter132]

Swacker's got roughly 2.5 hours left on the 24hr clock before we move on...Is 24hrs too much? Should we make it 16? 20? Or just crack the whip and tell everyone to check the forums more often...

yeah, I totally understand the thing about not rating pollard but I think sifter's nailed the reasons. he's not a test cricketer at all, and if you do have worries about twenty20 or don't value it as a format Pollard is exactly the sort of cricketer that might back up those feelings.

Yeah Pollard is an easy cricketer for the traditionalist to undervalue, but there's no doubt he's a pretty frightening talent. If he works out how to stay in for longer than 20 balls, he'll be dynamite. He's a lot like Andrew Symonds was in his early days, could hit the all a mile but was rough and arguably focused on his bowling too much. Once Symonds 'got it' he was a fantastic ODI player, and a reasonable Test player too. I see similar for Pollard - he may even do better in Tests because Symonds was always pushing the proverbial heap uphill to even crack the Aussie lineup. Windies would be happy to select a ready, willing and able Pollard.

Don't spill the beans, buddy.

Been doing some research today on Windies players...Might be some more beans than I thought We'll see what's left anyway - I can think of about 3 players I'd like and I've got 6 more picks before me

 

[Bevab]

24 hours is okay. Gives exactly the required time.


I've got several players on my shortlist, so I have no worries ATM.

 

[Fenil]

I've got several players on my shortlist, so I have no worries ATM.

PM me the list. 1000 vCash on the way. Just kidding.

 

[Gaurav_7]

So, swacker's time is up.

Andre Russell | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

Andre Russell​

The reason to pick Andre Russell above other WI players has to do with the 'exciting' aspect he brings in the side. If we go by the stats, Russell might appear very ordinary but, he's a special talent. He hits the ball long and hard and has already shown what he can do with the bat scoring those quick fire runs for WI in ODIs. It was for his exciting ability that he was picked by Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. He can chip in with a few overs as well. Might go for runs but, has a tendency to pick up vital wickets. Plus, he's a live wire on the field.


Another AR for me. I know I've some writeups to do, add this to it as well.

So far I've,

David Warner
Andrew Symonds
Azhar Mahmood
Dimitri Mascarenhas
Andre Russell

 

[swacker]

Marlon Samuels for me please.

 

[sifter132]

Hmm, Andre Russell hey? He wasn't on my list at all, so musn't have taken too many wickets in T20 yet... He's got a good 'name' though - looking forward to your writeup(s)!

 

[Fenil]

I'll take up Devendra Bishoo. Will do the write-up at night.

 

[CG123]

I'm looking forward to the New Zealand round. It'll be interesting to see who you guys conjure up after the first few "obvious" picks.

 

[Fenil]

I'm looking forward to the New Zealand round. It'll be interesting to see who you guys conjure up after the first few "obvious" picks.

I'm standing 5th in the line for the next round so I'd probably the first one to get not so obvious guys. Also, I'm the last one in India round which means the next two rounds would be pretty challenging for me. Thankfully, I know plenty of domestic stars in Indian cricket to cover up.