Another draft!-Test players of the 90s and later - FINISHED!

[sifter132]

^What about Shoiab Akhtar or Shane Warne? Cheaters? There's a SA player who might get picked here who fits that category too, I though mohit might have gone for him actually.

As for Bond vs Akhtar, yeah you really didn't have much choice. Bond is the best strike bowler NZ has had recently, even if his career was brief. Luckily I liked Vettori to play the support role for Warne I agree about NZ missing Bond though, I mentioned it in my Vettori write up that he averaged almost 10 less when Bond played. Bond helped that team a lot.

BTW, did you like my little dig I had at Sehwag in the Gambhir summary I wrote

Darn it, was looking for an opener this round and both have been picked.

Dave Houghton now moves to opening slot and AB fits in middle order. Messed up quite a bit as I didn't pick an opener early but still the team looks strong on both fronts now. Strong middle order and an attacking bowling unit.

Well AB opened for SA for quite a few Tests. He's been much better in the middle though. Or Dravid could open I guess to give you another option.

And just to tidy up...
Graeme Smith

I reckon Graeme Smith is one of world cricket's most underrated batsmen, and together with Gambhir, they must be 2 of the most underappreciated players going around. Smith has often had to open the batting on lively South African pitches and he averages only a smidge under 50 over an impressive career. Only Jacques Kallis has scored more runs for South Africa.

Interesting fact: Smith has never scored a 100 in a losing cause. Of his 22 100s, 15 have been in SA wins, and 7 in draws. So when Smith does well, South Africa does well.

Debut: vs Australia, Cape Town, 2002
Tests: 91
Runs: 7457
Average: 49.71
HS: 277 vs Eng, Edgbaston, 2003
100s: 22

1 Gautam Gambhir
2 Graeme Smith
3 Younis Khan
4
5 Andy Flower (wk)
6 Murray Goodwin
7 Andrew Flintoff
8 Daniel Vettori
9 Shane Warne (c)
10 Merv Dillon
11

I really like that top 3 - ALL of them average just on 50, and all 3 are unsung heroes - they just muck in and do the job.

So now Yudi has 2 picks to make: England and South Africa, and User you might as well start the Sri Lanka round whenever you're ready.

 

[shravi]

sifter, you're such a fanboy . For example, some of your posts on Michael Clarke. I'm not saying what you post is wrong, it just seems like you go out of your way to defend him and some other players . Personal preferences, I guess. I do the same with Dravid.

Haha, I enjoyed your bit about Sehwag. I think GG's better than him, personally. In the subcontinent, Sehwag 8 days of the week, but outside GG for sure.

 

[sifter132]

Have to stick up for your team Yeah and I do have a soft spot for Michael Clarke, gets way too much criticism. Before that I used to stick up for Shane Watson whenever I got the chance and he worked out all right. Hopefully Clarkey gets back to his best as well.

 

[AbhishekS]

My picks are Alastair Cook and Mark Boucher. Preparing the write ups now.
Was tempted to go for Amla but I already have my top order ready.

 

[AbhishekS]

Round 7 - England

Alastair Cook

Debut: On 1st March, 2006 against India at Nagpur

One of the finest test openers in the world currently, Alastair Cook as achieved a lot in a short period. The 2010 Ashes is probably the tournament which got him noticed in the test arena. Since then, he has never looked back. Cook will certainly form a great pair with Virender Sehwag. A left and right hand combination, with one batsman possessing controlled aggression and the other one having the ability to battle out even the most threatening bowling attacks in difficult conditions is the kind of pair every team is in search for.

Alastair Cook is the second youngest cricketer to have crossed 5,000 test runs, just behind Sachin Tendulkar. He certainly has a lot of cricket left in himself to showcase his talent.

Stats:

M: 70 | I: 123 | Runs: 5540 | HS: 235* (294 now) | Average: 47.75 | 100: 18 | 50: 26
These stats are prior to the start of the third test between India and England


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Round 8 - India

Javagal Srinath

Debut: On 29th November, 1991 against Australia at Brisbane

Javagal Srinath is probably the fastest bowler India has ever produced. Srinath generally is not rated as high as he should be. With great control over pace and swing, Srinath was an absolute beast on his day. He also was instrumental in India's 2003 ODI WC successful campaign, where India lost to Australia in the final.

Srinath is just behind Kapil Dev in terms of wickets taken by an Indian pacer.

Stats:

M: 67 | I: 121 | W: 236 | BBI: 8/86 | BBM: 13/132 | Avg: 30.49 | ER: 2.85 | 4w: 8 | 5w: 10

---

Round 9 - ISouth Africa

Mark Boucher

Debut: On 17th October, 1997 against Pakistan at Sheikhpura

An aggressive wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher fills in the slot of a keeper and a lower middle order batsman perfectly. With good batting and keeping skills, Boucher has grown with time. Sustaining his position in a team like South Africa since 1997 is certainly something to be proud of.

Stats:

M: 139 | I: 196 | Runs: 5312 | HS: 125 | Average: 30.70 | 100: 5 | 50: 34 | Catches: 499 | Stumpings: 22​

Round 1: Virender Sehwag
Round 2: Kumar Sangakkara
Round 3 (Pakistan): Danish Kaneria
Round 4 (West Indies): Jimmy Adams
Round 5 (New Zealand): Stephen Fleming
Round 6 (Bangladesh/Zimbabwe): Mashrafe Mortaza
Round 7 (England): Alastair Cook
Round 8 (India): Javagal Srinath
Round 9 (South Africa): Mark Boucher
Round 10 (Sri Lanka):
Round 11 (Australia):

Yudi's XI:

1. Alastair Cook
2. Virender Sehwag
3. Stephen Fleming
4. Kumar Sangakkara
5. Jimmy Adams
6.
7. Mark Boucher (wk)
8. Danish Kaneria
9. Mashrafe Mortaza
10. Javagal Srinath
11.

 

[Aditya]

Graeme Swann

Matches : 34
Wickets : 142
BBI : 6/65
BBM : 10/217
Ave : 28.81

Test debut v England at Chennai, Dec 11-15, 2008

One of the finest spin bowlers in the world at the moment, maybe even the best. Swann surely knows how to spin the ball and has got a lot of variations as well. He's a very good lower order batsman as well. Someone who likes to play his shots and so if his team needs some quick runs, he can surely prove to be handy. He even bats as a opener for his county team, Nottinghamshire. He's a great team man and a player every team wants in their team currently in the world cricket.

My Team
1.
2.
3. Inzamam-ul-Haq
4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
5. Sourav Ganguly
6.
7.
8. Shakib Al Hasan
9. Graeme Swann
10. Chris Martin
11. Glenn Mcgrath

----------

MS Dhoni

Matches : 59
Runs : 3071
HS : 148
Ave : 37.45
100's : 4

Test debut v Sri Lanka at Chennai, Dec 2-6, 2005

MS Dhoni, is not only a great cricketer but also a tremendous human being. This guy doesn't need any introduction. He's a great batsman, a fine keeper, a fantastic leader and he's even a bowler nowadays. India has won t20 world cup, 50 over world cup, CB series and so may other series under his captaincy. He's a fantastic player to have in your side.

My Team
1.
2.
3. Inzamam-ul-Haq
4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
5. Sourav Ganguly
6. MS Dhoni
7.
8. Shakib Al Hasan
9. Graeme Swann
10. Chris Martin
11. Glenn Mcgrath

 

[sifter132]

Thanks for adding those guys

Who is your South African aditya? It's your pick. And Shakib at #8? Will be interesting to see who else fills out your XI.

 

[Aditya]

Hashim Amla

Matches : 51
Runs : 3897
HS : 253*
Ave : 46.95
100's : 12

Test debut v India at Kolkata, Nov 28-Dec 2, 2004

Hashim Amla has improved his batting heaps in the last few years. About four years ago he was not rated among as the best test openers in the world but now he has got very popular among the cricket fans and is rated as one of the best test openers in the world currently. All thanks to his elegant batting. He's one of the stylish players in the world cricket at the moment. I mean, watching him bat is a delight for the cricket fans unless you're playing for the opposition.

My Team
1. Hashim Amla
2.
3. Inzamam-ul-Haq
4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
5. Sourav Ganguly
6. MS Dhoni
7.
8. Shakib Al Hasan
9. Graeme Swann
10. Chris Martin
11. Glenn Mcgrath

 

[Aoun13]

::South African Round::​

Lance Klusener​

​

Although Hashim Amla was my first choice but since he was picked so I moved towards an allrounder rather then a batsman. two names were there in my mind and that were "Brian McMillan" and "Lance Klusener". Since I never watched Brain McMillan so it was very difficult for me to pick him by just looking at his stats but on the other hand I have watched Klusener playing and I know how he can destroy can bowler with his brutal batting and how he can trouble the batsmen with his pace bowling. He to me is the second best allrounder South Africa has ever produced. He impressed many by taking a match winning 8/64 in debut against India in India.

Debut:

Stats:
Matches: 49
Wickets: 80
Runs scored: 1906
Batting Average: 32.86
Bowling Average: 37.91
Highest Score: 174
BBI: 8/64

My Team:
1. Mathew Hayden
2. Chris Gayle
3.
4. Graham Thorpe
5.
6. Brendon McCullum (wk)
7. Lance Klusener
8.Heath Streak
9. Anil Kumble
10. Allan Donald
11. Mohammad Asif

 

[AbhishekS]

Amla to open!

 

[Gaurav_7]

Mahela Jayawardene​

My 'gun' number 4, my captain. A classy, elegant batsman with a solid technique. Again, like most of my batsmen, not the one to gift his wicket. A very sound head on his shoulders coupled with a great hand-eye co-ordination make him one of the greats. His pull shot is a treat to watch when he controls it so well. A magician with a bat as his wand, truly.

Highest run scorer for SL in tests. In the previous years ranging from 2005 to 2010, he has averaged 52 + in each year. While captaining a side, his average shoots up to almost 67 and he has 12 hundreds as a captain out of 28 total career hundreds. A calm yet authoritative leader. His personal best of 374 also came when he was leading his side. What a player, what a skipper!

Now, with Kallis, Mahela and Yousuf, I easily have the classiest and strongest middle order one could ever get.

M 119, 196 Inns, 9630 runs @ 52.62, HS 374

Has 28 test centuries.

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2007

XI

1. Saeed Anwar
2. Mark Richardson
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Mahela Jayawardene (c)
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Dwayne Bravo
7. Matt Prior (wk)
8. Mohammad Rafique
9. Zaheer Khan
10.
11. Makhaya Ntini

----------

Also, I think Yudi can start the last round, Aus.

 

[cricket_icon]

Grrrr Jayawardene was my number one pick, but I guess it was expected that he would be picked first.
Some really good points made about the fast bowling quartet of Steyn, Akhtar, Bond and Pollock. It's a shame that Bond played so little can't really be considered for "greatness". Akhtar, like I've said before was class but I think it was Shravi who mentioned that he blew hot and cold far too often. I totally agree with that and just misses out on being known as a legend.
Pollock is easily one of the game's greats with Steyn creeping is way there. I still think his 6-for against India is one of the finest fast bowling spells ever bowled in the subcontinent...yes that includes Wasim and Waqar. For me, Steyn has to slightly up his game in ODIs and he will be a shoe in for greatness.
After all this blabbering I just want to say I will pick my Sri Lankan player tomorrow. Time for bed.

 

[AbhishekS]

Also, I think Yudi can start the last round, Aus.

I won't make my Australian pick yet as it largely depends on my pick from the Sri Lankan round.

----------

After all this blabbering I just want to say I will pick my Sri Lankan player tomorrow. Time for bed.

Please do it soon.

 

[Gaurav_7]

No problems, we have some time. And, I hate to see no one is praising my solid side.

 

[sifter132]

Amla to open!

I knew there was something amiss, I just couldn't work out what it was Although I guess as an ODI opener, Amla wouldn't be the worst Test opener. As a #3 he'd have to be ready to face the new ball anyway.

Now, with Kallis, Mahela and Yousuf, I easily have the classiest and strongest middle order one could ever get.

OK I'll bite Yeah I think you probably do have the strongest 3-5, but if aditya had picked Dravid instead of Ganguly, I might be inclined to say his was equally as strong. Inzamam is about the same as Yousuf, Dravid ain't far behind Kallis and Shiv has made more tough runs overseas than Mahela.

And for class, I think you've got a competitor too - shravi's Lara, Laxman, Bell trio. Man I would pay double to watch those guys. Although I do confess to having a great admiration for Kallis' batting, I know many can't stand it, but I think he's fantastic.