One per decade draft | Poll open, see post #113 for team list

[ahmedleo414]

@blockerdave missed his deadline, @Bevab to finish his team.

@Aislabie and @VC the slogger to finish out their teams as well whenever they get a chance.

 

[blockerdave]

Sorry I was late.

My pick is Kent Fast Bowler ARTHUR FIELDER for the 1900s.

Fielder played 6 tests between 1904 and 1908, taking 26 wickets at 27.34 with a best of 6/82. In his first class career he took 1,277 wickets at 21.02. He also has a first class century, but he'll bat 11 anyway.

1. Marcus Trescothick (2000)
2. Charlie Hallows (1920)
3. Roy Dias (1980)
4. Dave Houghton (1990)
5. Lee Irvine (1970)
6. Karun Nair (2010)
7. Dick Spooner (1950) wk
8. Frank Foster (1910)
9. Hedley Verity (1930)
10. Charlie Griffith (1960)
11. Arthur Fielder (1900)

Good team this, I reckon.

 

[Aislabie]

Frank Iredale

Decade: 1890s
Test stats: 807 runs @ 36.68 (2 centuries, best 140) in 14 matches
First-class stats: 6,795 runs @ 33.63 (12 centuries, best 196) in 133 matches

We needed a batsman. Frank Iredale is a batsman, so that puts him well ahead of most of the remaining contenders. He also tended to score quickly and find the boundaries often, which is the main aim of my team. He shall slot in at number four, and Seymour Nurse shall shuffle up to three.

@Aislabie 's XI so far:
1. Jack Fingleton
2. Andy Ganteaume
3. Seymour Nurse
4. Frank Iredale
5. Ross Edwards
6. Collie Smith
7. Percy Fender
8. Ryan Harris
9. Fanie de Villiers
10. Shane Bond
11. Tony Gray

Not a bad team really considering I let all the best batting choices slip through my grasp while I chased a scary seam attack. Between them they'd make a decent Test side.

 

[blockerdave]

Frank Iredale

Decade: 1890s
Test stats: 807 runs @ 36.68 (2 centuries, best 140) in 14 matches
First-class stats: 6,795 runs @ 33.63 (12 centuries, best 196) in 133 matches

We needed a batsman. Frank Iredale is a batsman, so that puts him well ahead of most of the remaining contenders. He also tended to score quickly and find the boundaries often, which is the main aim of my team. He shall slot in at number four, and Seymour Nurse shall shuffle up to three.

@Aislabie 's XI so far:
1. Jack Fingleton
2. Andy Ganteaume
3. Seymour Nurse
4. Frank Iredale
5. Ross Edwards
6. Collie Smith
7. Percy Fender
8. Ryan Harris
9. Fanie de Villiers
10. Shane Bond
11. Tony Gray

Not a bad team really considering I let all the best batting choices slip through my grasp while I chased a scary seam attack. Between them they'd make a decent Test side.

A scary seam attack is for sure what you got. Not sure you’d often be up against an intimidating total

 

[Bevab]

Apologies for not finishing this sooner.

My last pick will be Mohammad Nissar from the 1930s.

It is unbelievable how underrated Nissar is even by Indian fans. He formed an excellent bowling partnership alongside another underrated player in Amar Singh, who is at least acknowledged more than the former due to his all-round capabilities. Cricinfo's all-time Indian XI for example doesn't even mention him or his partner in conjunction with most other sports websites' and fans' choices. And yet, there is the argument to be made that he is still India's greatest pacer of all-time. The only one with a better first-class record in India than him is Singh's elder brother Ramji who would have been another contender for the title if India had played tests a decade earlier. In any case, I believe that Nissar is a better contender for all-time great over Srinath and Zaheer Khan.

Nissar was a bowler who could swing or cut the ball in either direction but it was for his express pace that he was most famous. He picked up India's first test wickets by castling the stumps of Sutcliffe and Holmes who had a 500 run partnership for Yorkshire just ten days earlier. He ended the test by also picking up his country's first five wicket haul. While Nissar's test average of 28 isn't something that gives him legendary status, only four Indian pacers have a better record and all four of them have played for India in this century as part of a far superior side that had ample support. Further, when you add the games that he played versus a more than decent Aussie side that wasn't officially recognized by it's board to his test record, his average improves to nearly 21 which speaks of his skill.

My final team in conclusion will be:

1. Mark Richardson - 2000s
2. Madhav Apte - 1950s
3. Ernest Tyldesley - 1920s
4. Reginald 'Tip' Foster - 1900s
5. Brian Booth - 1960s
6. Brian McMillan - 1990s
7. Billy Bates - 1880s
8. Somachandra de Silva - 1980s
9. Gregor MacGregor - 1890s
10. Kyle Abbott - 2010s
11. Mohammad Nissar - 1930s

• My top three is filled with three very solid, defense first batsmen who will value their wickets highly.
  
• Richardson was one of the best openers in the 2000s, a class below the elite for sure but he had a very good record playing in a comparatively weaker side.
• Apte's average would have inevitably gone down instead of staying close to fifty but he was by all records a man for the big occasion and it isn't difficult to imagine him holding a test average higher than a domestic one.
• Tyldesley is a very consistent number three who will score runs patiently all day and tire out opposition bowlers.
  
• After the dour trio, there will be two players who relied more than their wrists like the modern, classy batsmen who frequent these positions. Both of them will be well placed to attack the old and wearing ball. Watch out for Booth's frequent advances down the crease to handle spinners too!
• By the time the second new ball is in action, McMillan might very well be at the crease to handle it. He will be my team's 'X-factor', the man you want when there is a quick fall of wickets whilst batting or a lack of it whilst bowling. His verbal volleys will most assuredly be of value too.
• Following him will be the two spinners of the side who are quite handy with the bat too. Bates was the Jadeja of his era, an all-rounder who could regularly contribute with the bat down the order while also being one of the best with the ball at churning in reliable overs. de Silva's role will be more of an attacking spinner now that he doesn't have to carry an entire nation's bowling unit.
  
• Down at nine is MacGregor, whose primary role is to just do his job as a keeper with minimal fuss like he always does. Any contribution that he offers with the bat will be a bonus.
  
• Taking the new ball will be the responsibility of Abbott and Nissar, two pacers who would have ironically played a lot more tests for their countries had they exchanged eras. Nissar will be my team's strike bowler, hunting for wickets with sheer pace in short spells while Abbott will operate as a stock seamer like McGrath or Abbas.

As for captaincy, only three have limited international experience of it and only one had an opportunity to potentially extend it which he turned down on multiple occasions. Both Apte and Tyldesley were fine domestic captains who led their respective sides to titles. As for a weakness, I think my team could potentially benefit from an extra pacer to relieve the workload on the two main ones as McMillan for all of his threatening bouncers was not one who picked up wickets regularly.

 

[ahmedleo414]

Just waiting on @VC the slogger to finish out his team. My first draft is completed otherwise... i'll open up a poll once all the teams are complete

 

[VC the slogger]

I shall complete my XI with Taslim Arif, a man with a staggering record of 501 runs at 62.62 from just 6 Tests as a wicket-keeper batsman. He would have played far more had he played in today’s era where batting usually trumps keeping ability; not that he was a bad keeper, he just had the misfortune of being around at the same time as Imran Khan’s personal favourite Wasim Bari. His Test highest of 210* made whilst opening the batting and keeping in the same Test against Australia in 1980 was at the time the highest individual score by a wicket-keeper in Test cricket.

1) Barry Richards (1970s)
2) Charles Bannerman (1870s)
3) Stan McCabe (1930s)
4) Colin Bland (1960s)
5) Michael Bevan (1990s)
6) Taslim Arif (1980s)
7) Jack Gregory (1920s)
8) Ranji Hordern (1910s)
9) Jofra Archer (2010s)
10) Frank Tyson (1950s)
11) Tom Richardson (1890s)


I think I did rather well here.

 

[ahmedleo414]

@ahmedleo414 playing XI:

1. Vinod Kambli 1990s
2. Chris Tavaré 1980s
3. Eddie Paynter 1930s
4. Bob Cowper 1960s
5. Adam Voges 2010s
6. Tony Greig 1970s
7. / Albert Trott 1890s
8. Tiger Smith 1910s
9. Matthew Hoggard 2000s
10. Jack Saunders 1900s
11. Ernie Toshack 1940s

@Yash. playing XI:

1. Jimmy Cook 1990s
2. Wasim Jaffer 2000s
3. Jack Russell 1920s
4. Stewie Dempster 1930s
5. Reggie Duff 1900s
6. Russell Endean 1950s
7. Barry Knight 1960s
8. Geoff Lawson 1980s
9. Max Walker 1970s
10. Jack Young 1940s
11. Josh Hazlewood 2010s

@blockerdave playing XI:

1. Marcus Trescothick 2000s
2. Charlie Hallows 1920s
3. Roy Dias 1980s
4. Dave Houghton 1990s
5. Lee Irvine 1970s
6. Karun Nair 2010s
7. Dick Spooner 1950s
8. Frank Foster 1910s
9. Hedley Verity 1930s
10. Charlie Griffith 1960s
11. Arthur Fielder 1900s

@Aislabie playing XI:

1. Jack Fingleton 1930s
   
2. Andy Ganteaume 1940s
   
3. Seymour Nurse 1960s
   
4. Frank Iredale 1890s
   
5. Ross Edwards 1970s
   
6. Collie Smith 1950s
   
7. Percy Fender 1920s
8. Ryan Harris 2010s
   
9. Fanie de Villiers 1990s
   
10. Shane Bond 2000s
    
11. Tony Gray 1980s

@Bevab playing XI:

1. Mark Richardson 2000s
2. Madhav Apte 1950s
3. Ernest Tyldesley 1920s
4. Reginald 'Tip' Foster 1900s
5. Brian Booth 1960s
6. Brian McMillan 1990s
7. Billy Bates 1880s
8. Somachandra de Silva 1980s
9. Gregor MacGregor 1890s
10. Kyle Abbott 2010s
11. Mohammad Nissar 1930s

@VC the slogger playing XI:

1. Barry Richards 1970s
2. Charles Bannerman 1870s
3. Stan McCabe 1930s
4. Colin Bland 1960s
5. Michael Bevan 1990s
6. Taslim Arif 1980s
7. Jack Gregory 1920s
8. Ranji Hordern 1910s
9. Jofra Archer 2010s
10. Frank Tyson 1950s
11. Tom Richardson 1890s

 

[Yash.]

Would love to see a team analysis by @Aislabie (of course if he has the time)

 

[Aislabie]

Would love to see a team analysis by @Aislabie (of course if he has the time)

Can probably do that in the next few days - have been pretty full-on this week

 

[Aislabie]

@ahmedleo414

1. Vinod Kambli
2. Chris Tavaré
3. Eddie Paynter
4. Bob Cowper
5. Adam Voges
6. Tony Greig
7. Albert Trott
8. Tiger Smith
9. Matthew Hoggard
10. Jack Saunders
11. Ernie Toshack

This team has a real powerhouse middle order; so good in fact that you can't get all those middle order batsmen into their usual positions.
A good new-ball attack here - Hoggard and Toshack are an excellent pair of right- and left-handed swing bowlers.
Everyone's batting a bit out of position: Kambli wants to be at three, Paynter at four or five to accommodate that, which would either mean Cowper opening or using Trott or Smith as a makeshift opener. It's just not quite balanced.

- - -

@Aislabie

1. Jack Fingleton
   
2. Andy Ganteaume
   
3. Seymour Nurse
   
4. Frank Iredale
   
5. Ross Edwards
   
6. Collie Smith
   
7. Percy Fender
8. Ryan Harris
   
9. Fanie de Villiers
   
10. Shane Bond
    
11. Tony Gray

This side's unique selling point is that which I set my stall out for at the start: the biggest, baddest pace bowling attack I could put together.
With Percy Fender at the helm, this side will be best positioned to take full advantage of that pace attack: before there was Brearley, before there was Benaud, before there was Jardine, there was Fender.
The batting isn't great though; in the top five, there's only Nurse who you'd say was a top-class batsman. Ross Edwards has even been used as a makeshift keeper which isn't ideal.

- - -

@Bevab

1. Mark Richardson
2. Madhav Apte
3. Ernest Tyldesley
4. Tip Foster
5. Brian Booth
6. Brian McMillan
7. Billy Bates
8. Somachandra de Silva
9. Gregor MacGregor
10. Kyle Abbott
11. Mohammad Nissar

Having Mark Richardson at the top of the order will be essential in letting all those who go after him have the luxury of an old ball to face.
Abbott and Nissar is an outstanding new ball attack, and Billy Bates has excellent numbers as a first-choice spinner.
The choice to go with all-rounders means that McMillan and de Silva, who sort of combine to fill the fourth bowler's slot, could pose something of a weak link for opposing batsmen to exploit.

- - -

@blockerdave

1. Marcus Trescothick
2. Charlie Hallows
3. Roy Dias
4. Dave Houghton
5. Lee Irvine
6. Karun Nair
7. Dick Spooner
8. Frank Foster
9. Hedley Verity
10. Charlie Griffith
11. Arthur Fielder

Statistically the best spinner of all time is a very good place to start building your side, and Verity is just that.
Their nationalities and eras mean they do slightly slip below the radar, but Dias, Houghton and Irvine is a truly outstanding middle order.
It's not easy to find a weakness here, but it might just be the lack of a fifth bowling option - Fielder and Griffith in particular will need to be hugely fit.

- - -

@VC the slogger playing XI:

1. Barry Richards
2. Charles Bannerman
3. Stan McCabe
4. Colin Bland
5. Michael Bevan
6. Taslim Arif
7. Jack Gregory
8. Ranji Hordern
9. Jofra Archer
10. Frank Tyson
11. Tom Richardson

I might have done my best to put together a scary crop of fast men, but there's certainly no fault to find in a pace trio of Archer, Tyson and Richardson.
The top four batsmen were also outstanding Test players in their respective eras; Bannerman perhaps a bit of a one-hit-wonder, but his is the record that nobody has ever been able to beat.
The bevy of all-rounders does create the impression of a slightly long tail; Bevan never quite got to grips with Test cricket and he's all the way up at five. And Jack Gregory might not enjoy facing Shane Bond without gloves on. Really though I'm working hard to find fault in what is an excellent team.

- - -

@Yash.

1. Jimmy Cook
2. Wasim Jaffer
3. Jack Russell
4. Stewie Dempster
5. Reggie Duff
6. Russell Endean
7. Barry Knight
8. Geoff Lawson
9. Max Walker
10. Jack Young
11. Josh Hazlewood

A couple of high-quality specialist opening bowlers lay a good platform for the middle-order to work from.
The Australian seam attack is one of a very high quality, particularly Josh Hazlewood.
The engine room at six and seven is a bit concerning; Russell Endean spent almost his entire career in the outfield, while Knight is probably batting a spot higher than he'd like at seven

 

[ahmedleo414]

amazing analysis, thank you! I kept debating about the order of my team until the end, when i just thought that it's fine the way it is...

The polls are open for another 7-8 days, if more people want to vote

 

[Aislabie]

amazing analysis, thank you! I kept debating about the order of my team until the end, when i just thought that it's fine the way it is...

The polls are open for another 7-8 days, if more people want to vote

Yeah, I'd probably have gone with:

Tavare
Cowper
Kambli
Paynter
Voges
Greig

But there isn't particularly a right or wrong answer

 

[blockerdave]

@blockerdave

1. Marcus Trescothick
2. Charlie Hallows
3. Roy Dias
4. Dave Houghton
5. Lee Irvine
6. Karun Nair
7. Dick Spooner
8. Frank Foster
9. Hedley Verity
10. Charlie Griffith
11. Arthur Fielder

Statistically the best spinner of all time is a very good place to start building your side, and Verity is just that.
Their nationalities and eras mean they do slightly slip below the radar, but Dias, Houghton and Irvine is a truly outstanding middle order.
It's not easy to find a weakness here, but it might just be the lack of a fifth bowling option - Fielder and Griffith in particular will need to be hugely fit.

- - -

Tres was good for a few overs seam up and give the speedsters a rest, although i'll be honest i wasn't thinking of that when I picked him, was more going the Aussie route of 4 man attack.

Absolutely nobody to back up Verity if it's turning though!

 

[Aislabie]

Absolutely nobody to back up Verity if it's turning though!

I mean, Roy Dias had that one game where he got three for 25 against Australia (Boon, Phillips and Lawson).

Across the remaining 181 matches of his professional career, his combined bowling figures were 1 for 163 from 35.2 overs. It has to be one of the most inexplicable spells of bowling cricket has ever seen, but it suggests he could maybe bowl. It's that or Dave Houghton!