Generation Draft - COMPLETED!!

[shravi]

Give me a few mins i am back aoun please don't pick

 

[Aoun13]

Pick your players quickly sharvi, I need to sleep....

 

[shravi]

My picks are Herbie Taylor and Gordon Greenidge.

fried chickening hell, you guys picked fried chickening everybody there is to pick . I had no clue what to do for a while because I kept choosing someone then doing ctrl + f on the first page and saw that someone had already picked them.

 

[Aoun13]

My Picks
Round 6(1928-1950) : B Mitchell
Round 6(1951-1970): Bill Lawry
Round 5(1900-1927): Charles Kelleway
Round5(1971-1990): Tony Greig

Final Team:
1. B Mitchell
2. Bill Lawry
3. Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Denis Compton
6. Tony Greig
7. Charles Kelleway
8. Billy Bates
9. Sydney Barnes
10. Joel Garner
11. John Ferris

 

[sifter132]

Hey Tony and Bill in the same team Actually I like Tony Greig a lot, very underrated player. Bill and Bruce Mitchell are a bit underrated too - I approve

Arthur Morris
Tests: 46
Runs: 3533
Ave: 46.48
HS: 206 vs England, Adelaide, 1951

Morris has quite a few honours: named in Bradman's all time XI, named in Cricket Australia's team of the 20th century, named in Cricinfo's all time Australian XI. In fact Morris and Trumper were the opening partnership in Cricinfo's all time Australian XI, so I'm happy to reunite them here. Left and right handed combo, Trumper a front footer, Morris a back footer - they'll be a great combination. In fact Morris was a lot like Trumper, a true gentleman of the game who played for enjoyment and was very generous with the fans.

Morris' best moments in Test cricket came on the 1948 Invincibles tour of England. He started with a century at Lord's, then he made 182 as he and Bradman chased down 404 on the last day to give Australia an amazing victory at Leeds, and finally made 196 at The Oval watching as Bradman was bowled for a duck in his last innings. Morris loves to tell the story of how he is often asked if he was there that day of Bradman's last innings. He only nods, before some politely ask him, how did you go that day Arthur? I got lucky and made 192, he then admits with a gleam in his eye.

Another interesting fact: Arthur Morris had some real problems against England at the end of his career, and they were mainly caused by Sir Alec Bedser. In fact Morris was known as 'Bedser's Bunny' for a while as Bedser got him out an amazing 18 times in the 21 matches they faced each other in. So it's with great glee that Arthur can line up in my XI knowing that he won't have to face Bedser.

Ray Lindwall
Tests: 61
Wkts: 228
Ave: 23.03
BB: 7/38 vs India, Adelaide, 1947/48

I've reunited one of cricket's most famous new ball pairings: Lindwall and Miller, who powered Australia's famous 1948 'Invincibles' tour of England. Lindwall was a fast bowling all-rounder (he made 2 Test 100s), who played between 1946 and 1960. He was the outstanding fast bowler of the days following WW2. He wasn't a tall man, instead achieving his mastery by virtue of a perfect side-on action. He was a live coaching manual on how to bowl fast. While his main weapon was fast, late, outswing, Lindwall got a large percentage of his victims bowled. It's said that he developed his inswinger because he preferred to trust his bowling than his teammates catching, as sometimes his pace and swing created chances that were too hot to hold onto.

Much respected by England fans of the day, after very successful tours there in 1948 (27 wkts @ 19.62) and 1953 (26 wkts @ 18.84). In fact that 1953 tour marked the end of Lindwall's peak, he was 32 years of age then, and up to that point he had 158 wickets at an average of only 20.12 in his career. For the last few years of his career though he averaged just under 30 with the ball, as he battled with to stay effective in his mid 30s, WW2 robbing him of some potentially good years.

Some interesting facts: Lindwall played Rugby League as a fullback with the famous St. George Dragons during WW2 before switching to cricket. If there had been rugby league Tests during WW2, it's said Lindwall would have been picked for Australia. He was a great athlete reported to have run the 100 yards in 10.6 seconds. That athleticism made him a dangerous batsman and an above average fielder, a catch taken at square leg in 1956 at Headingly remembered well for it's brilliance. Another interesting fact: In 1953 the administrators were thinking of making the ball smaller and Lindwall had a chance to test it. But he swung the smaller ball around so absurdly in the nets that the project was dropped!

Anyway, there's no argument that Ray Lindwall is a legend. Don Bradman named Lindwall in his all-time XI, and Lindwall also found himself in the top 20 (equal 17th) for Wisdens' Cricketer of the Century voting in 2000, equal with Sachin Tendulkar as it happens.

Final XI looks thus:
1 Victor Trumper
2 Arthur Morris
3 Prince Kumar Ranjitsinhji
4 Ricky Ponting
5 Allan Border (c)
6 Keith Miller
7 Sir Ian Botham
8 Ray Lindwall
9 Hugh Trumble
10 Bert Oldfield (wk)
11 Sir Alec Bedser

No need to gush over it too much, I think the awesomeness speaks for itself... Have gone a bit Aussie heavy - 8 Aussies

 

[shravi]

Nothing like nationalism eh ?

 

[Sedition]

Final XI looks thus:
1 Sir Victor Trumper
2 Sir Arthur Morris
3 Prince Kumar Ranjitsinhji
4 Sir Ricky Ponting
5 Sir Allan Border (c)
6 Sir Keith Miller
7 Sir Ian Botham
8 Sir Ray Lindwall
9 Sir Hugh Trumble
10 Sir Bert Oldfield (wk)
11 Sir Alec Bedser

Hey, if you've got the Prince, might aswell use him. I'm digging this team since I recognise pretty much every name, being Australian and all.

 

[shravi]

I was unsure of whether to go for Kanhai or Harvey. I went for Harvey in the end because I don't want to deny anyone the opportunity to get Kanhai as a keeper when I already have a keeper. Neil Harvey is one of the most prominent figures in Australian cricketing history. A batsman of supreme quality and a fielder whose athleticism was ahead of his times, Harvey was first an foremost, an entertainer. He had a great technique and could play any shot in the book. He was honored as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1954 and was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame 2000. In addition, he "was one of the 55 inaugural inductees into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame". He was also selected in the Australian Cricket Board's official Test Team of the 20th Century. In 79 tests (137 innings), he scored 6149 runs at an average of 48.41 with 21 centuries and 24 fifties. This included a highest score of 205. He also took 64 catches.

At number 4, I have Herbert Taylor. Herbie Taylor was one of South Africa's finest. He was quick on his feet and was great at playing back foot shots on the bouncy bowler-friendly "matting pitches" of South Africa. He was selected as Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1925. At times, he carried his teams as in the 1913-14 series when he scored 508 runs @ 51 in a series in which Sydney Barnes took 49 wickets @ 11! It has been reported that the "English cricketers were unanimous that finer batting than his against Barnes at his best they never hoped to see". Other praises included "perhaps the most skilful of all Test performances by a batsman" and "one of the six greatest batsmen of the post-Grace period". In 42 tests (76 innings), he scored 2936 runs @ 41 with 7 centuries and 17 fifties. This included a highest score of 176. However, I am picking him as a number 4 in my team. At number 4, he averaged 47 with 3 centuries and 6 fifties. It was the position at which he played the most matches.

Gordon Greenidge is described as a "superb technician". He was an aggressive opener, well known for his pull, hook, square cut and drive. However, he also had a very solid defensive technique to fall back on. He formed a deadly partnership with Desmond Haynes. The pair made 6482 runs while batting together in partnerships, the highest total for a batting partnership in Test cricket history. This included 16 century stands, 4 of which were in excess of 200. I am confident a batsman of his ability can strike a similar if not better partnership with Len Hutton.

Greenidge scored 7558 runs in 108 tests (185 innings) at an average of 45 with 19 centuries and 34 half centuries. This included a highest score of 226.

Never mind his average. Everybody who knows anything about cricket knows that Harold Larwood was a far better bowler than his average suggest and that he would definitely gone onto have better average if career weren't unfairly ended. All he did what his captain asked. What people don't realize when they moan about how Bodyline was unfair is how incredibly difficult it is to pull off. Larwood bowled at searing pace and possessed a lethal bouncer and is one of the few bowlers in the history of the game to genuinely send a chill down batsmen's spines. Frank Tyson recalls that attempts to measure his speed were highly variable "Larwood, for instance, was measured by high speed photography at between 90 and 130mph!" However, what separates Larwood from the rest is his ability to maintain accuracy at such high speeds. He was without doubt, the most dangerous bowler of his time, if not of all time. When he was banned from International cricket, he took 82 cheap wickets for Notts that summer, and over 100 in 1935 and 1936, topping the national bowling averages in 1936 for the fifth time in his life, a deed unmatched by any other fast bowler. In 21 tests, he took 78 wickets at an average of 28 and at a strike rate of 63.7. This included 3 four-fors, 4 five-fors and took 10 wickets in a match on one occasion. However, as I said earlier, it is quite evident that he would have had a much more successful career if he wasn't so unfairly treated. His first class record paints a far prettier picture and is a much more accurate reflection of his ability. In 361 matches Larwood took 1427 wickets at an average of 17.51 and at a strike rate of 40.6. He took 98 five-fors and took 10 wickets in a match on 20 occasions.

On a side note, he was no mug with the bat. He averaged 19 with 2 fifties in 28 innings with a highest of 98.

Sir Leonard Hutton (6971 runs @ 57)
Gordon Greenidge (7558 runs @ 45)
Neil Harvey (6149 runs @ 48.41)
Herbert Taylor (2936 runs @ 41)
Stanley Jackson (1415 runs @ 49, 24 wickets @ 33)
+ Adam Gilchrist (5570 runs @ 48, 379 catches, 37 stumpings)
Aubrey Faulkner (1754 runs @ 41, 82 wickets @ 26.58)
Johnny Briggs (815 runs @ 18.11, 118 wickets @ 17)
Malcolm Marshall (1810 runs @ 18.85, 376 wickets @ 20.94)
Harold Larwood (485 runs @ 19.40, 78 wickets @ 28)
Fred Trueman (981 runs @ 14, 307 wickets @ 21.57)

 

[War]

Round 5: 1900 -1927 & 1971 - 1990, Tibby Cotter and Doug Walters


Very busy at the moment, so im a do a double write up for the next two rounds before the last round.

1. Bobby Simpson
2. Archie McClaren
3.
4. Brian Lara
5. Vijay Hazare
6. Doug Walters
7. Jack Gregory
8.
9. Jack Blackham
10. John Snow
11. Tibby Cotter

Round 6: 1928 - 1950 & 1951 - 1970, Stan McCabe and Alan Davidson

1. Bobby Simpson
2. Archie McClaren
3. Vijay Hazare
4. Brian Lara
5. Stan McCabe
6. Doug Walters
7. Jack Gregory
8. Alan Davidson
9. Jack Blackham
10. John Snow
11. Tibby Cotter

 

[shravi]

Donnelly only played 7 tests. You need to pick someone else.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

arthur morris? I'm boned.

now kicking myself cause I would have picked up greenidge or fredricks in the last round.

 

[Gaurav_7]

So, I guess, it is Stinky and then me? Come on man, I want to finish this.

 

[sifter132]

Plenty of action. I certainly didn't intend to get 8 Aussies it just ended up that way - I couldn't avoid them even this round the other 2 guys I was considering were Harvey and Davidson I could have gone for Dravid instead of Ponting I suppose, but Ponting's a better fielder and was better at his peak, could have gone Clive Lloyd instead of Border I guess.

And there are some nice XIs coming together - it's aways a good feeling to those teams off.

----------

Oh and War, trust you to go for an XI without a specialist spinner

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

ok, I really am in a rush and meant to do this earlier. but researching an alternative opener was a bit of panic, perhaps waiting for morris to be picked 5th was a bit wishful thinking.

so I've had to juggle, for the opener I'll have Hanif Mohammed, the first great pakistani player, and it's an added bonus to throw in an as yet unrepresented nation into my side. he's most famous for that 970-minute 337 against West Indies, arguably still the greatest match saving knock of all time. and then managed to make 499 in a FC class match... run out. it would be lara before that final milestone could be touched. old school opener, and brilliant with it.

leaves a very easy choice for the 1927-51 pick. I need a wicket keeper and there is only one Don Tallon. probably australia's greatest wicketkeeper, ignoring exploits with the bat of course.

so that leaves me with a team that looks a bit like this.

Sir Jack Hobbs (eng)
Hanif Mohammad (pak)
George Headley (WI)
Sir Garfield Sobers* (WI)
Patsy Hendren (eng)
George Giffen (aus)
Don Tallon+ (aus)
Andy Roberts (WI)
Michael Holding (WI)
Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)
Tom Richardson (ENG)

right, the obvious weakness is the depth of my batting. arguably at 4 down you're into the tail , giffen was a very all-roundery all-rounder who contributed rather equally with both, and Tallon came from an era where wicket keepers kept wicket and not much else.

however to get to that tail there is some monumental batting, mohammad is a good counterbalance in that way because he would look to hang around and set up the next batsmen, hobbs, sobers and headley are monoliths of batting and hendren is a pretty decent wild card, certainly wasn't a mugs choice.

I don't think there's much wrong with the bowling, it's brutal, fast, skilled, has depth providing various options and a one man wrecking machine in the spin department.

interesting fact, in hendren and headley it contains two non-test nation born players. Hendren being irish and Headley being born in panama.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Bill Bowes | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

and

Rohan Kanhai | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

Will do the writeups later but, surprised why Shravi thought Kanhai would be picked as a Wk. He's only played 3 matches as a wk. NVM, I got a fantastic number 3.

User's XI:

1. Geoffrey Boycott
2. Warren Bardsley
3. Rohan Kanhai
4. Dudley Nourse
5. Andy Flower (wk)
6. Sir Clyde Walcott
7. Imran Khan (c)
8. Joey Palmer
9. George Lohmann
10. Charlie Blythe
11. Bill Bowes