Random Country Test Draft -- DONE. Time for comments/discussion

[ZoraxDoom]

You are You're post was at 4 PM here, I was just studying.

I thought about Lohmann, but the average runs per wickets during his era was just 22.49. Plus, Test cricket was new, so the standard wasn't high, and not many people had seen him bowl. Generally isn't considered in England's all-time XIs (Although, then again, neither is Hedley Verity).


Also, I was hoping you would pick Sobers, meaning I get the man I was after:

Malcolm Marshall

I don't think this needs any explanation. Instead, I'll quote Cricinfo:

Malcolm Marshall slithered to the crease on the angle, pitterpat feet twinkling as if in dancing shoes. It was reminiscent of a sidewinder on the attack. Purists occasionally criticised his action as too open, but it had method: he maintained mastery of orthodox outswing and inswing from a neutral position without telegraphing his intent. He was lithe, with a wickedly fast arm that elevated him to express status. Only in inches was he lacking - but he even turned that to his advantage with a bouncer as malicious as they come, skidding on to the batsman. Later in his career he developed a devastating legcutter which he used on dusty pitches. Allied to a massive cricket intelligence, stamina and courage, Marshall had all the toys and he knew how and when to play with them. His strike rate of 46.22 was phenomenal, his average of 20.95 equally so. He may well have been the finest fast bowler of them all.

1.
2.
3. Jacques Kallis
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Prasanna Jayawardene (+)
9. Malcom Marshall
10. Hedley Verity
11.

ZoraxDoom added 1 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...

Pick 5 for the Kiwis (essentially fourth as TGS is away) and Pick 4 in India. I like my positioning for India, I'll probably get who I want, but I might miss out on my target for NZ.

 

[shravi]

Damn, New Zealand was the one round I didn't want to be that low down in. Doesn't matter. I'll make it work.

As for your pick Zorax, like in Dan's case, Marshall picks himself.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

If you're low down in a pick for a small country, then pick a keeper

Which reminds me, what's our third extra country? Eng and Aus get another round, but are we doing a Bang/Zim round, or going with another round for WI?

 

[Cricketman]

Pick 7 in India :doh. Dammit

 

[shravi]

If you're low down in a pick for a small country, then pick a keeper

Which reminds me, what's our third extra country? Eng and Aus get another round, but are we doing a Bang/Zim round, or going with another round for WI?

Yes, another round of West Indies is the plan.

 

[King Pietersen]

Yep. Will be the West Indies for the 3rd extra round.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Bangladesh/Zim would be more challenging though. There are around 8 world class players from those two countries combined...

 

[King Pietersen]

Not really. Outside Andy Flower and possibly Heath Streak I wouldn't want a player from either side in an all-time XI. Makes more sense to have a 2nd pick from one of Cricket's great countries like the West Indies as opposed to picking some mediocre players from Bangladesh. Challenging yes, but fun? Not for me.

 

[Cricketman]

Grant Flower, Henry Olanga, Sean Ervine... about it.

Then there's Sakib.... lol

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Andy Flower
Shakib
Rafique
Streak
Goodwin
Mortaza
Doug Houghton
Taibu
Paul Strang

There you go. Nine names right there! But I've ruined the whole Zim/Bang draft for us now

 

[King Pietersen]

Take your Bangladesh-tinted glasses off () and tell me that you'd honestly be happy with Dave Houghton, Mashrafe Mortaza, Paul Strang or Mohammed Rafique in your team alongside some of the all-time great players. I know I wouldn't. The only one I'd be happy having would be Flower.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

True, just saying they aren't all crap

I wouldn't mind Houghton (Averaged above 40 with the bat in Tests and was a good keeper) or Shakib thought. Along with Flower.

 

[Dutch]

Yes! The West Indies pick. Joy o joy!

Of course many of us look at the current West Indies side and wonder with a tinge of melancholy whatever happened to that great side? Where have they gone, those wonderful exponents of this game.

Beautiful and brilliant players: Gordon Greenidge, Jeffrey Dujon, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Malcom Marshall, Michael Holding to name but a few.

Of course the West Indies have had many great players from different era's, but for me the teams of the eighties and early nineties will always live in my memory as being a team with huge amounts of quality, and a team that has given me at least huge amounts of pleasure watching.

It is from this era as well that my pick comes. Until now I have focused on batting: I want my team to put on a lot of runs to give the bowling attack plenty to play with.

But now we need some pace, we need some venom, we need someone charging in, huge, muscular, menacing, frightening to behold and every ball speeding down with real bite. We need someone who wears their heart on their sleeve and who will give their all to the cause. We need someone banging it from a height that gives such bounce that batsmen of every level fear for their lives.

We have that man: Curtly Ambrose. A giant of a man; Curtly kept himself to himself, determined to put every ounce of energy into every single ball he bowled. Inspirational and a wonderful player for the captain to turn to and give him the new ball and say: knock their bloody heads off!

I shall never ever forget that fateful and wonderful day in Trinidad. England have been set 190 odd to take the test.

Curtly is given the ball: he is steaming, literally steaming, physically steam is coming off those broad shoulders and with a face of absolutely frightening menace he charges in: bang! First ball, Atherton, out! LBW!

He ended the innings (England 46 or so all out) with figures of 6 for 24 and it was one of the finest displays of truly venomous fast bowling I have ever seen and will live with me as one of my cricketing highlights.

It is thus with great, great pride that I add the great Curtly Ambrose to my all time test team and a better pick I cannot think of!




1. G C Smith
2. S Jayasuriya
3.
4.
5.
6. I T Botham
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. C E L Ambrose

 

[shravi]

Viv Richards was voted as one of the five cricketers of the century and the third best test batsman. It goes without saying that he'd be near the top of any list. Sir Vivian Richards was brutal and quite possibly the most devastating batsman to have ever played the game. Bowlers, batsmen and fans worldwide agree, and are particularly fast to acknowledge that at the very least, he was the greatest player of fast bowling. He holds the record for the 2nd fastest test century. He held the record for the most runs scored in a calendar year for over 30 years after he scored 1710 runs at an average of 90 in 1976. He is the only West Indian captain to have never lost a test series. In 121 tests, he scored 8540 runs at an average of 50.23 comprising of 24 centuries and 45 fifties.

1
2
3
Graeme Pollock
Sir Vivian Richards
6
7
8
9
Sydney Barnes
Muttiah Muralitharan

Damn, my team is looking very sexy at the moment. I guess the New Zealand round will even that out.

 

[Dutch]

Good choice with Viv. Of course he can't not be part of an all time test team and it would have been scandalous if he hadn't been picked.

By the way, with out being a complete tosser, or possibly just half a tosser, it would be nice if people could react to the choices people make, or maybe it is just me that no one is reacting to! (I like to think that people are reading the reasons why somebody picks someone and can comment on why they think it is a good choice or not.

Sorry if that comes across in the wrong way: it is not my intention to be an arse. I suppose I am just wondering whether people read the stuff that's written. Part of the joy of writing is knowing that others are reading and enjoying it too.