All-Time Test XIs

[shravi]

I have a slight off-topic question.

People always say Wasim Akram was one of the best left arm Test fast bowlers. I struggle to name another one who comes close in any aspect. In wicket tally, maybe Chaminda Vaas but he was no Wasim Akram. Has there ever been another person who bowled Left arm pace as well has him? Moving it both ways at will and decent pace

My question is, who is this mystery person who is challenging Wasim for the Best Left Arm Fast bowler in Test cricket history title?

Alan Davidson.

Damn, creating those 4 XIs took me a while. Really makes you think. I felt sort of bad putting Hadlee so low.

 

[pcfan123]

Hmm yea seems to be at the same level. Though I have to say he played in a much more bowler friendly time

Also Wasim only played 50 approx more FC matches but took 400 more wickets.

I dunno, based on my super noob cricket analysis and knowledge I rate Wasim higher. He is a wicket taker, 400 test scalps and a lower SR than this guy.

 

[shravi]

Oh I agree with you, sifter might not though . He's in love with him!

 

[TumTum]

Those are good looking XI's shravi but in terms of balance the 1st XI doesn't really make it. So I would like to modify it a bit:

Len Hutton -For me Hobbs didn't really do enough at Test level. Also with the guy below, we really need somebody aggressive.
Sunil Gavaskar
Sir Donald Bradman
Brian Lara/Graeme Pollock -Unfortunately choose one of these left handers
Sachin Tendulkar/Sir Vivian Richards -Again choose only one of these right handers
Sir Garfield Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan -Not really sure about him, but it's your pick.
Wasim Akram -All other pace bowlers are righties, we need a lefty too. And IMO Lillee was the weakest link.
Malcolm Marshall
Shane Warne
Glenn McGrath

This way we have a nice spread of both left handers and right handers. Personally I believe more balanced teams would beat teams filled with great individuals but w/o balance.

 

[kirksland]

Probably Alan Davidson, great bowler from Australia, probably comes closest, but didn't come close from all reports to Akram's pace.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Shravi, your first XI has twelve people in it.

 

[pcfan123]

That's why it's so good

 

[shravi]

Changes have been made. That 1 extra player basically means that George Headley will have to fight with Rahul Dravid for the #3 spot in the 4th XI.

 

[kirksland]

Like Shravi I too will do over my top 4 XI, my 1st 11 remains unchanged as the changes comes later down. So here goes. nb:subject to change

1XI
Len Hutton: Best Technical opener to ever play the game.
Barry Richards: Most Destructive opening batsman ever, but also technically correct.
Donald Bradman: Avg. of 99.94, He is without question the Greatest Batsman Ever. Captain's team as well
Brian Lara: Appetite for large scores matched only by Bradman, Pure Genius.
Sachin Tendulkar: Most Test Runs & Hundreds and he is still going. Consistently Great.
Garfield Sobers: Known as greatest All Rounder, but may also be 2nd best Batsman.
Adam Gilchrist: No one changed the game and their position more than Gilly. Better gloveman than given credit
Imran Khan: Best Bowling All-Rounder also Great Captain. Vice Captain of team
Shane Warne: Not only Greatest Spinner, but with Lara & Barry will man the slips. Also handy with the bat
Malcolm Marshall: Had all the tools, Speed, Bounce, and Swing and used them better that anyone. Best fast bowler to play the game.
Glen Mcgrath: Couldn't score off him, but couldn’t keep him out either. Brilliantly Accurate
2 XI
Sunil Gavaskar
Jack Hobbs
Viv Richards (c)
George Headley
Greg Chappell
Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
Keith Miller
Richard Hadlee
Curtly Ambrose
Dennis Lillee
Muttiah Muralitharan
3 XI
Herbert Sutcliffe
Virender Sehwag
Ricky Ponting (c)
Graeme Pollock
Wally Hammond
Jacques Kallis
Allan Knott (wk)
Wasim Akram
Fred Trueman
Michael Holding
Bill O'Reilly
4 XI
Arthur Morris
Gordon Greenidge
Rahul Dravid
Ken Barrington
Clyde Walcott (wk)
Javed Miandad
Ian Botham (c)
Alan Donald
Joel Garner
Jim Laker
Waqar Younis

 

[Dare]

First XI

Jack Hobbs
Sunil Gavaskar
Don Bradman
Wally Hammond
Garfield Sobers
Imran Khan*
Adam Gilchrist+
Shane Warne
Malcolm Marshall
Curtly Ambrose 1
Glen McGrath 2

Second XI

Desmond Haynes
Len Hutton
Viv Richards *
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Jacques Kallis
Alan Knott+
Richard Hadlee
Wasim Akram 1
Denis Lillee 2
Muttiah Muralitharan

Third XI

Barry Richards
Matthew Hayden
Rahul Dravid
Ricky Ponting *
George Headley
Kumar Sangakkara+
Keith Miller
Anil Kumble
Waqar Younis
Alan Donald
Courtney Walsh

Fourth XI
Virender Sehwag
Herbert Sutcliffe
Javed Miandad
Greg Chappell*
Everton Weekes
Andy Flower+
Ian Botham
Shaun Pollock
Clarrie Grimmett
Fred Trueman
Joel Garner

 

[Cricketman]

This four XI thing seems fun:

1st:
Jack Hobbs
Sunil Gavaskar
Don Bradman
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Gary Sobers
Adam Gilchrist (wk)
Shane Warne
Wasim Akram
Malcolm Marshall
Muttiah Muralitharan
Glenn McGrath

2:
Len Hutton
Gordon Greenhidge
Viv Richards
Graeme Pollock
Wally Hammond
Imran Khan
Allan Knott
Richard Hadlee
Anil Kumble
Dennis Lilee
E Prasanna

thats all i got right now lol

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

first XI

Jack Hobbs
Gavaskar
Bradman
Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Garry Sobers
Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Wasim akram
Malcolm Marshall
Muralitharan

Second XI

Len Hutton
Arthur Morris
Headley
Pollock
Hammond
Miller
Godfrey Evans
Hadlee
Ambrose
Warne
Holding

Third

Sehwag
Barry Richards (so 200/0 by lunch is a distinct possibility)
Lara
Chappell
Ponting
Kallis
Dujon
Bill O'Reilly
Garner
McGrath
Lillee

fourth

Ponsford
Sutcliffe
Barrington
Weekes
Miandad
Kapil Dev
Knott
Pollock
Waqar
Dale Steyn !!!!
Prasanna

 

[pcfan123]

You really don't rate McGrath too highly eh stinky? I don't either

 

[Num]

Why not? McGrath is better than Akram in my opinion. The statistics back it up as well, despite Akram's reputation for being able to produce 'unplayable' balls, McGrath has a better bowling average, strike rate and economy whilst playing well into the 2000s when batting conditions became friendlier.

 

[pcfan123]

I don't rate Akram as highly as Stinky does though. I just agree that McGrath would not be in the 1st XI attack