The Best XI

[ZoraxDoom]

In no particular order:

Sachin Tendulkar
Sir Donald Bradman
Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff
Andy Flower
Brian Lara
Jim Laker
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Sir Garfield Sobers
Kieth Miller(nearly forgot about him)
Jhon Snow

Pretty balanced, with lots of possible skippers.

Not surprising considering he was an American. Many of those who faced him at the time he played said he was the best bowler they'd ever faced though.

But have those batsmen faced McGrath, Ambrose, Snow, Warne, Murali, etc. etc.? Also take in account which bowlers were bowling back then, how many good ones were there?(serious question, I have no idea). Also cricket didn't go at the pace it did now, so he might have had it a bit easier. Lots of factors to take in account.

 

[andrew_nixon]

Pick Gilly then

And who makes way for Gilly?

 

[ZoraxDoom]

And who makes way for Gilly?

No one, he carries the drinks

 

[andrew_nixon]

But have those batsmen faced McGrath, Ambrose, Snow, Warne, Murali, etc. etc.? Also take in account which bowlers were bowling back then, how many good ones were there?(serious question, I have no idea). Also cricket didn't go at the pace it did now, so he might have had it a bit easier. Lots of factors to take in account.

I've taken all those factors into account. His batting also gives him a nudge into the side too. In any case a career first class bowling average of 15.65 is amazing no matter what the era or class of opposition.

On a tour of England in 1908, playing against full strength county opposition (in the days when county cricket was as strong as test cricket), he took 87 wickets from just 10 matches at the average of 11.01. This remained the best average in an English season for almost 60 years.

There is no doubt that had he been English or Australian he would be talked about as one of Test crickets greatest players.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I've taken all those factors into account. His batting also gives him a nudge into the side too. In any case a career first class bowling average of 15.65 is amazing no matter what the era or class of opposition.

On a tour of England in 1908, playing against full strength county opposition (in the days when county cricket was as strong as test cricket), he took 87 wickets from just 10 matches at the average of 11.01. This remained the best average in an English season for almost 60 years.

There is no doubt that had he been English or Australian he would be talked about as one of Test crickets greatest players.

Well in that case he seems pretty good. Still the fact that we never saw him bowl or heard about his bowling tatics etc. gives him a disadvantage.

 

[squiz]

And who makes way for Gilly?

Well usually you don't play two wicket keepers in the same side, use your common sense

 

[andrew_nixon]

Well usually you don't play two wicket keepers in the same side, use your common sense

Well we've already brought Lara in for Flower, so somebody has to make way for Gilly......

Not gonna happen though, Flower's staying in!

 

[angryangy]

I don't think I could pick a team that didn't have an inordinant number of leg spinners

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Well usually you don't play two wicket keepers in the same side, use your common sense

You could.

Sri Lanka's ODI team had Sangakkara and Kaluwithrana.
India have Dravid and Dhoni.

 

[angryangy]

Well I've seen Langer and Mike Hussey keep but I wouldn't actually consider them keepers.

 

[FreddieFan]

Here's mine:

1. Geoff Boycott (never gives his wicket away, can bat all week. Also, if he's on the pitch, he's not in the commentary box!)
2. Sunil Gavaskar (superb opener)
3. Don Bradman (do I need to say anything?)
4. Sachin Tendulkar (I was thinking about Steve Waugh, but then I thought about Waugh and Boycs batting together.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
5. Graeme Pollock (genius bat, bonus of putting in a left-hander)
6. Garry Sobers (genius with bat and ball - 3 players in one man - batsman, quicke, spinner, and world class with all 3)
7. Ian Botham (golden arm - could conjour (sp?) wickets out of nothing)
8. Alan Knott (One of the best keepers in history, not a bad bat either)
9. Shane Warne (what do I need to add?)
10. Dennis Lillee (devastating fast bowler)
11. Glenn McGrath (consistency, pace, accuracy)

 

[Sureshot]

I've taken all those factors into account. His batting also gives him a nudge into the side too. In any case a career first class bowling average of 15.65 is amazing no matter what the era or class of opposition.

On a tour of England in 1908, playing against full strength county opposition (in the days when county cricket was as strong as test cricket), he took 87 wickets from just 10 matches at the average of 11.01. This remained the best average in an English season for almost 60 years.

There is no doubt that had he been English or Australian he would be talked about as one of Test crickets greatest players.

Who was the south african bowler who played 7 test vs Australia before the RSA were banned from Cricket and took 45 wickets at 15?

 

[ZoraxDoom]

1. Geoff Boycott (never gives his wicket away, can bat all week. Also, if he's on the pitch, he's not in the commentary box!)(I was thinking about Steve Waugh, but then I thought about Waugh and Boycs batting together.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

Hehehehe

Well I've seen Langer and Mike Hussey keep but I wouldn't actually consider them keepers.

But they haven't kept at international level.

 

[andrew_nixon]

Who was the south african bowler who played 7 test vs Australia before the RSA were banned from Cricket and took 45 wickets at 15?

That would be Mike Procter who nearly edsged out Wasim Akram in my team.

Not sure what that has to do with Bart King though.

 

[Sureshot]

It wasn't, just trying to get your attention As i thought you would know.