The Pre-Twenty20 Draft

[Aislabie]

Sir Viv Richards
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*snip*

Excellent work; I think in many ways Sir Viv was the inevitable first pick but he's still a good one. Also, the standard of the post is top-notch too so props for that as always

 

[blockerdave]

Ah gutted I missed this... although I couldn't have picked Jack Russell because he played T20!

 

[Aislabie]

Ah gutted I missed this... although I couldn't have picked Jack Russell because he played T20!

If you want in, I'll make room for you. Not exactly like we're going to run out of players

 

[blockerdave]

If you want in, I'll make room for you. Not exactly like we're going to run out of players

If it’s not too much trouble I’d love to be in but it’s no worries if not.

 

[Aislabie]

If it’s not too much trouble I’d love to be in but it’s no worries if not.

You are in

 

[blockerdave]

You are in

Cheers!

 

[Villain]

Sir Curtly Ambrose
One of the greatest fast bowler of his generation, with over 600 international wickets to his name. Lethal pace, seam movement at a height of six feet seven inches - armed with high arm action, Ambrose could get the ball to bounce at pace. He had all the skills required to master the shortest format of the game, he was economical which is a must in the format while his wicket taking ability cannot be doubted. He was undoubtedly one the toughest bowlers to face and there is little to no doubt about his success in T20s.​

[DOUBLEPOST=1563343344][/DOUBLEPOST]@Aislabie to pick next.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Sir Viv Richards
​

The man who could decimate world class bowling attacks at his will, arguably the best striker of a cricket ball the world has ever seen till date! Richards played in a different league altogether and he tore apart best of the best bowlers. To play in an era he did and end up with a SR of above 90 shows how good he was and how quickly he could score the runs. His aggression was combined with a different swagger of his own and that is what made him more so lethal. He held the record for the fastest test century for many years and it was only bettered only some years ago.

Sir Viv surely and easily could have smashed so many records had he played T20 cricket. Many players who played with or against him rate him as one of the greatest batsman in the world ever. The aura and his dasher attitude was enough to get bowlers' heart racing.

He was also more than a handy bowler and his stats as a bowler in the world cup cricket are brilliant too. In T20s such a player can single handedly turn the match on its head. The other teams better watch out because Sir Viv is gonna smash 'em![DOUBLEPOST=1563301461][/DOUBLEPOST]@Villain

Viv Richards is a great pick and 99.99% people will look to pick him. I can see a lot of heartbreaks in the very first pick itself

 

[Aislabie]

Overall Pick #3: Don Bradman

Profile
I tried to justify other players, but in the end my first pick was always going to be the greatest batsman of all time, Sir Donald Bradman. Not someone whose name is usually associated with destructive hitting owing to his superhuman exploits in Test cricket, he most certainly still had the ability to utterly dominate his attack. All self-respecting cricket fans are familiar with Bradman's numbers (6996, 99.94, 29 and 334 all belong indelibly to him), and even analysts previously unfamiliar with cricket have included that Bradman was further ahead of his peers than any other player of any mainstream sport in history. His unique "rotary" method of batting was self-taught, and involved a lot of power coming from the snap of his wrists.

Comparable T20 Player
Technically, Bradman was most comparable to a batsman like Virat Kohli or Hashim Amla, although with more decisive footwork.

Finest Performances
Some of his most famous examples of attacking batting include his batting on 11th July 1930, when he scored 309 runs on the opening day of a Test match, and 2nd November 1931, when he scored a century inside three eight-ball overs en route to 256 while Wendell Bill (six Shield centuries) accumulated only singles at the other end.

Role in the Team
Although he never opened in Test cricket, the role of a Twenty20 opener is very different. This is why we see classical, wristy number three batsmen such as Amla, Kohli and Babar Azam thriving at the top of the order in Twenty20s, and why that is the role that Bradman will have in this team.

Aislabie's XI so far:
1.
2. Don Bradman (Pick #3)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Next pick:
@CerealKiller

 

[Gaurav_7]

It was either Viv or Don for me! And that is why I was hoping I get the 2nd pick and not the 1st. Excellent pick.

 

[Villain]

Sir Viv could've been my pick but knowing Sir Don hit only 6 sixes in his Test career and none in his FC career I skipped picking him in my T20 team. Still so many more legends to be picked, everyone can have a good squad.

 

[Aislabie]

Sir Viv could've been my pick but knowing Sir Don hit only 6 sixes in his Test career and none in his FC career I skipped picking him in my T20 team. Still so many more legends to be picked, everyone can have a good squad.

Ten in three overs when he felt like it though!

 

[CerealKiller]

Imran Khan
Profile
Imran Khan is arguably the greatest all-round cricketer of all time, keeping wicket being the only cricketing skill he couldn't master. At his peak as a bowler, he was the best in the world, taking 62 wickets at an average of 13 in the year 1982, playing largely on unsupporting pitches at home. When at his peak as a batsman in his last 5 years, only Martin Crowe of New Zealand had a higher batting average. As a captain, he not only inspired his side to their only World Cup win in 1992, but laid the foundations of the Pakistan side for the rest of the decade by plucking talents such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aaqib Javed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq out of relative obscurity. In addition, he led Pakistan to three series draws against the West Indies, which at that time was as good as a win, and their first series wins in India and England.
He was a pioneer of the art of reverse swing, which he inherited from Sarfraz Nawaz and perfected, then imparting it to his successors, Wasim and Waqar.

Role in the Team
In my side, he will bat as a floater in the middle order, given his ability to both anchor and finish the innings, and as a bowler he will come in at the death, given his ability to bowl reverse swinging yorkers. Plus he'll captain the side.

Comparable T20 Players
As a batsman, Misbah-ul-Haq pre-2011, when he began slowing down a bit. He could anchor the innings as well as finish it. As a bowler, Umar Gul in his heyday, coming on after the 10th over, relying mostly on full lenght deliveries.

CerealKiller's XI
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Imran Khan
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

@blockerdave

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Imran Khan
Profile
Imran Khan is arguably the greatest all-round cricketer of all time, keeping wicket being the only cricketing skill he couldn't master. At his peak as a bowler, he was the best in the world, taking 62 wickets at an average of 13 in the year 1982, playing largely on unsupporting pitches at home. When at his peak as a batsman in his last 5 years, only Martin Crowe of New Zealand had a higher batting average. As a captain, he not only inspired his side to their only World Cup win in 1992, but laid the foundations of the Pakistan side for the rest of the decade by plucking talents such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aaqib Javed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq out of relative obscurity. In addition, he led Pakistan to three series draws against the West Indies, which at that time was as good as a win, and their first series wins in India and England.
He was a pioneer of the art of reverse swing, which he inherited from Sarfraz Nawaz and perfected, then imparting it to his successors, Wasim and Waqar.

Role in the Team
In my side, he will bat as a floater in the middle order, given his ability to both anchor and finish the innings, and as a bowler he will come in at the death, given his ability to bowl reverse swinging yorkers. Plus he'll captain the side.

Comparable T20 Players
As a batsman, Misbah-ul-Haq pre-2011, when he began slowing down a bit. He could anchor the innings as well as finish it. As a bowler, Umar Gul in his heyday, coming on after the 10th over, relying mostly on full lenght deliveries.

CerealKiller's XI
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Imran Khan
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

@blockerdave

Really nice presentation brother. And very nice explanation as well. I mean we both are of same era but your knowledge about past games is incredible !!! I only know Imran Khan about how good he was a leader, what used to be his attitude for the game and how he lead Pakistan in 1992 WC despite not being fully fit. I have a lot of respect for this man for how good a Cricketer and a leader he was who always lead from examples. I got to know about him only during the 2015 WC where there was a show regarding Pakistan's victory in the 1992 WC. Don't remember the name. But it was an entire documentary which was on Pakistan's campaign of 1992 WC. Still available on YouTube. I will find it out for you. Just PM me if you want to watch it

 

[CerealKiller]

Really nice presentation brother. And very nice explanation as well. I mean we both are of same era but your knowledge about past games is incredible !!! I only know Imran Khan about how good he was a leader, what used to be his attitude for the game and how he lead Pakistan in 1992 WC despite not being fully fit. I have a lot of respect for this man for how good a Cricketer and a leader he was who always lead from examples. I got to know about him only during the 2015 WC where there was a show regarding Pakistan's victory in the 1992 WC. Don't remember the name. But it was an entire documentary which was on Pakistan's campaign of 1992 WC. Still available on YouTube. I will find it out for you. Just PM me if you want to watch it

Yeah, sure, PM me the link, or just post it here