Well, this is my only pick for another entire round, so best make it count.
Sydney Barnes
Test stats - 189 wickets @ 16.43 (econ: 2.36, 24 5WI, best 9/103) in 27 matches
First-class stats - 719 wickets @ 17.09 (econ: 2.34, 68 5WI, best 9/103) in 133 matches
There's a reason I didn't go after Warne or Saqlain or any of the ODI spinners at this early stage: because nobody else was going for Sydney Barnes and I felt fairly sure I'd be able to steal him as mid-draft pick. Sure enough, here we are; many people view Sydney Barnes as cricket's greatest bowler, but he is also the most unique. There have only been three notable bowlers who have been able to bowl spin at the pace of a fast bowler and retain control: Barnes, Bob Appleyard and Mustafizur Rahman. Barnes is unique among them though in that he was able to do it without his shoulder trying to part company with the rest of his body. Barnes also thought to preserve the mystery of his variations by carrying the ball to the wicket in his non-bowling hand, transferring it at the last possible moment: the first bowler I know of who did this.
Barnes was also ahead of his time in liking to get paid for his efforts. He therefore played the overwhelming majority of his cricket for Staffordshire (1,441 wickets @ 8.15 with best match figures of 14 for 13 against Cheshire) and in the Lancashire League (4,069 wickets @ 6.03). He continued playing both for Staffordshire and in league cricket until into his sixties with little decline in results even as his pace slowed down. Despite a reputation for ruthlessness on the field, he was considered a gentleman off it - when his closest friend Wilfred Rhodes became blind in his old age, a nonagenarian Barnes would accompany him everywhere - leading him to his preferred bench at Lord's or any other ground and describing the play as it unfolded.
Aislabie's XI so far
1.
2.
3.
Graeme Hick (top-order hitter, part-time spin bowler)
4.
Graeme Pollock (top-order hitter)
5.
Andrew Symonds (middle-order hitter, stock bowler)
6.
Mike Procter (middle-order hitter, express pace bowler)
7.
8.
Keith Boyce (lower-order hitter, attacking seam bowler)
9.
10.
Sydney Barnes (attacking spin bowler)
11.
@Murtaza96 - please tag the person after you once you've made your pick.