All-Time Test XIs

[King Pietersen]

This is the greatest team of all-time, why do you need 5 bowlers? The great sides of eras gone by only had 4 bowlers. The Aussie team of the 90's-00's and the Windies of the 70's and 80's for example only used 4 bowlers. If you're picking the greatest bowlers of all-time you shouldn't need 5 of them to bowl a side out. Sir Garfield Sobers is a perfectly good 5th bowler if one is needed, just so long as he bowls pace, which is what he had success with with the ball in hand. An attack of Lillee, Marshall, McGrath, Warne and Sobers should be more than enough to get 20 wickets in a Test match. I simply don't see the need to drop a batsman for an all-rounder to assist balance; 6 batsmen, a wicket-keeper and 4 bowlers has generally been the formula for success for the great sides.

 

[Symptom_Control]

I agree, no need for 5 bowlers, especially given that Sobers will always be in the best ever side.

 

[kirksland]

So any last bets on what team will be selected on tuesday. Also is the team to be named linked to Wisden in any way, is this anythinh historical or official

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

they've changed it to next monday.

still think

jacko
gavs
don
big viv
sachers
gaz
gilly
Immie
Mad Malcy
Wazza
Warney

if they were playing in a school team round my bit.

but macca or muzzly might turn up. I am not so sure on the bowlers.

 

[pcfan123]

they've changed it to next monday.

still think

jacko
gavs
don
big viv
sachers
gaz
gilly
Immie
Mad Malcy
Wazza
Warney

if they were playing in a school team round my bit.

but macca or muzzly might turn up. I am not so sure on the bowlers.

 

[kirksland]

They are now doing an all excluded team as a prelude to the all time 11, here's mine based on the players cricinf excluded from their short list.

Herbert Sutcliffe
Matthew Hayden
Ricky Ponting(c)
Everton Weekes
Denis Compton
Clyde Walcott(wk)
Tony Greig
Jim Laker
Joel Garner
Ray Lindwall
Subhash Gupte
Neil Harvey (12th)

 

[War]

Sunil Gavaskar
Barry Richards/Len Hutton
Don Bradman
Sachin Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Gary Sobers
Imran Khan
Alan Knott
Malcolm Marshall
Dennis Lillee
Muttiah Muralitharan

Backups: G Chappell, Sangakkara, Warne, Hadlee.

 

[Symptom_Control]

The keeper is tough. I'd pick Gilchrist myself, but there is a good case for picking the best keeper, regardless of their batting skill.

Symptom_Control added 4 Minutes and 54 Seconds later...

They are now doing an all excluded team as a prelude to the all time 11, here's mine based on the players cricinf excluded from their short list.

Herbert Sutcliffe
Matthew Hayden
Ricky Ponting(c)
Everton Weekes
Denis Compton
Clyde Walcott(wk)
Tony Greig
Jim Laker
Joel Garner
Ray Lindwall
Subhash Gupte
Neil Harvey (12th)

there's no way Neil Harvey could play with anyone who played after he retired :doh what a tedious man he is

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Chappell has done a themed XI

Thrill a minute XI

Virender Sehwag
Roy Fredericks
Sir Viv Richards
Brian Lara
Doug Walters
Sir Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Dennis Lillee
Wes Hall
Bill O'Reilly

I'd have thought Barry Richards was the de facto other opener but fredericks is ok now I've read a bit about him/

Seriously though, chappell needs to stfu about lillee. I can see him at the table for the all time XI going "the thing that Lillee has over any of the others..." brokeback Waca much?

 

[Shri]

Jack Hobbs
Len Hutton
Don Bradman
George Headley
Viv Richards
Imran Khan
Adam Gilchrist
Keith Miller
Sidney Barnes
Muthiah Muralitharan
Glenn McGrath

 

[kirksland]

When is cricinfo releasing the squad?

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Suresh Menon has just released an article picking his "most elegant XI" this following chappell's "thrill a minute XI" and Haigh's "not eligible to be the all time XI, XI" probably on the way we'll be getting "wore glasses XI", "most boring XI", "thinks ian chappell is a good pundit I (ian chappell and no one else)"

yep, they thought of a new way to milk it. I bet it won't be released for another 2-3 weeks.



incidently both the most recent XIs contained 2 spinners, I'm also beginning to think they are going to pussy out of the warne/murali debate and pick both of them.

 

[AkshayS]

incidently both the most recent XIs contained 2 spinners, I'm also beginning to think they are going to pussy out of the warne/murali debate and pick both of them.

after going through both of the squads, Chappell's was really good, I think there is a great possibility for both of the spinners to be in there.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

incidently both the most recent XIs contained 2 spinners, I'm also beginning to think they are going to pussy out of the warne/murali debate and pick both of them.

That's what I said. Murali/Warne + 2 quicks + Sobers, their justification being that Sobers was perfectly adequate to be a third seamer and that Murali/Warne are a handful on most surfaces, spinning or not. If Marshall is one of their 2 quicks, they'll mention his great stamina as well.

 

[kirksland]

My last guess for cricinfo 11
Jack Hobbs
Sunil Gavaskar
Don Bradman
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrst
Imran Khan
Shane Warne
Malcolm Marshall
Dennis lillee.
Not my 11, I would prefer Barry Richards over Gavaskar, Mcgrath over Lillee and Lara or Pollock over Tendulkar.