World Test Team

[irottev]

I'm not taking it personally. I'm just sick of you laboring the same point. Kallis and Oram are obvious contenders for being "better than Flintoff" however both are probably better batsmen though possibly not so handy with the ball. They're different styles. Flintoff is a wicket taker where the other two are guys who extract swing/bounce and bowl tight. I totally understand taking Flintoff purely because he's more a 3rd seamer and the other's are 4th seamers. I'd just prefer 3 specialist pace bowlers myself but if that's his role then I don't have a problem with it.

As for Vettori, why would I criticize that? He's 2nd in the All-rounder rankings, he's taken 50 wickets at an average of 25 and has scored 643 runs at 35. He IS the best all-rounder going around at the moment. Murili is a better spinner in spinning conditions but Vettori is a much better spinner on flat pitches and in the first innings. And unlike Murili, Vettori gets a huge chunk of his wickets against good sides and top order batsmen.

 

[Dare]

I'm not taking it personally. I'm just sick of you laboring the same point. Kallis and Oram are obvious contenders for being "better than Flintoff" however both are probably better batsmen though possibly not so handy with the ball. They're different styles. Flintoff is a wicket taker where the other two are guys who extract swing/bounce and bowl tight. I totally understand taking Flintoff purely because he's more a 3rd seamer and the other's are 4th seamers. I'd just prefer 3 specialist pace bowlers myself but if that's his role then I don't have a problem with it.

As for Vettori, why would I criticize that? He's 2nd in the All-rounder rankings, he's taken 50 wickets at an average of 25 and has scored 643 runs at 35. He IS the best all-rounder going around at the moment. Murili is a better spinner in spinning conditions but Vettori is a much better spinner on flat pitches and in the first innings. And unlike Murili, Vettori gets a huge chunk of his wickets against good sides and top order batsmen.

I think whoever comes in here and doesn't expect some of their choices to be questioned is a bit ambitious.

As for Murli. Again its not his choice who he plays against, he just goes out and gets the job done. And to say that Murli doesn't get wickets against top order batsman is crazy.

 

[irottev]

I didn't say he didn't.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

When you've got 1 front line bowler that averages under 40 with the ball then you are a minnow.

Like Australia and Krejza?


Sorry, just had to get that in...

 

[smssia0112]

Like Australia and Krejza?


Sorry, just had to get that in...

Reread that sentence Zorax, Ben said one bowler who averages under 40, not over. And Krejza's test average is about 30, not 40.

aus5892 added 3 Minutes and 28 Seconds later...

He explained that. It was a team to take on Australia, so a team of players not from Australia, who happen to be in good form. Smith's been the best batsman in the world this year in terms of runs scored and the stats. Every reason for him to be picked.

As for Mendis. He may not be experienced, but he's the next big thing. He'll take hundreds of Test wickets, unless fitness turns out to be a problem. He's got a fantastic FC record, and a great international record so far. Again, his selection could be justified.

Sorry but I refuse to jump on the Mendis bandwagon after a year of dominating in the subcontinent. Until he succeeds in English and Australian conditions, I will not call him the superstar everyone else seems to be. He is certainly very talented with his wide range of deliveries and styles, but he is still too young and inexperienced to possibly justify his selection in a world test team. 3 tests, all in the best spinning conditions against the same side, and you honestly think he should be in a world test XI?

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I think he meant over? Doesn't make sense otherwise, if you have 1 bowler who averages under 40 and that makes you a minnow, aren't all sides minnows then?

His FC average was in the fifties when he was picked, and clearly his 30 average came in due to the 12 wicket haul...

But yea, I knew it was slightly inaccurate, but it had to be said. That isn't a very fair criteria. Zaheer averages in the high thirties this year, you wouldn't call India a minnow...

 

[King Pietersen]

Nah, Bens got a point. He actually said if you only have 1 frontline bowler averaging under 40 you're a minnow. Not sure I agree, but he's got a point.

 

[mattfb]

Sehwag
Katich
Amla
Chanderpaul
Clarke
Prince
McCullum
Vettori
Johnson
Steyn
Sharma

I've picked my top order a lot on stats, and even though some players are out of position I think when the players I have picked are averaging in or around the 50-60 mark they will cope. Sharma is averaging 31, but he had such a devastating series against Australia and I think the pace attack will be feared.

 

[King Pietersen]

I'd take Smith or Gambhir over Katich tbh. Katich has had a very good year, but Smith has more runs at a higher average, and Gambhir has a higher average. Probably take Laxman over Amla as well. Can't disagree with any of the other choices though, apart from possibly Sharma over Zaheer. Zaheer's been bowling magnificently this year, but just doesn't get the reward he deserves, similar to Stuart Broad, both toil away bowling good areas consistently but don't pick up the wickets they deserve. I suppose the balance of the sides looks better with 2 right armers and 2 lefties though really, wouldn't want 3 left armers in the same side, want a good mix.

Good team though (Y).

 

[nikhil_99]

though i would do the test version of it seing thou i posted the ODI version of it yesterday.

who makes your side?

mine would be,

1 - Hayden
2 - Smith
3 - Ponting(Captain)
4 - Sangakarra(Wicket Keeper)
5 - Hussey
6 - Clarke
7 - Flintoff
8 - Pathan
9 - Vettori
10 - Lee
11 - Sidebottom

No Tendulkar?funny....

nikhil_99 added 1 Minutes and 19 Seconds later...

though i would do the test version of it seing thou i posted the ODI version of it yesterday.

who makes your side?

mine would be,

1 - Hayden
2 - Smith
3 - Ponting(Captain)
4 - Sangakarra(Wicket Keeper)
5 - Hussey
6 - Clarke
7 - Flintoff
8 - Pathan
9 - Vettori
10 - Lee
11 - Sidebottom

No Tendulkar?I would have included Tendulkar instead of Clarke

 

[mattfb]

I'd take Smith or Gambhir over Katich tbh. Katich has had a very good year, but Smith has more runs at a higher average, and Gambhir has a higher average. Probably take Laxman over Amla as well. Can't disagree with any of the other choices though, apart from possibly Sharma over Zaheer. Zaheer's been bowling magnificently this year, but just doesn't get the reward he deserves, similar to Stuart Broad, both toil away bowling good areas consistently but don't pick up the wickets they deserve. I suppose the balance of the sides looks better with 2 right armers and 2 lefties though really, wouldn't want 3 left armers in the same side, want a good mix.

Good team though (Y).

Cheers.

I was really undecided with that opener spot. At first I had Katich and Ghambhir written down, but I realised how stupid it was to leave out Sehwag and put him in. I was really close to putting Smith or Ghambhir in the spot but Katich has had a good return year. Remember this is his first year in test cricket for a while. He's been solid.

On the Zaheer, he bowled well, but I was thinking about that balance, and Sharma puts in a lot and I thought the way he constantly nagged Ponting and others throughout the series was something you would expect from McGrath. I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking Sharma was studying Ponting since Punter first broke into the international scene.

On Amla and Laxman, I was considering them both and at first even ponting before I realised how incredibly biased that was Amla has fantastic stats this year, and IIRC it's the first time he's sported stats like that so he deserves a spot in my team. I have a soft spot for the South African batsmen too for some reason. I quite like De Villiers and Prince for example.

Feelin Blue? added 8 Minutes and 14 Seconds later...

Yeh, there are much better sides you could pick if you were ignoring Australian's. Something like:

Virender Sehwag
Graeme Smith (C)
Sachin Tendulkar
Kevin Pietersen
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Kumar Sangakkara (WK)
Andrew Flintoff
Daniel Vettori
Zaheer Khan
Dale Steyn
Ajantha Mendis

Picking Hoggard, Nel, Vaughan, Dravid, Boucher and Harmison in a World XI is pretty ludicrous on current form. They've all got massive talent, but are just not in form atm, especially Dravid and Vaughan.

Interesting side there, and I'm not doubting one bit how effective it would be but I am wondering about the 2 spinners, 2 frontline bowlers and the allrounder. Khan is used to being 1 of 2 main pacers, but I wonder how Steyn will cope. Flintoff hasn't recreated that form of the 05 ashes so I'm not sure how many overs you could give him.

Sangakkara isn't in the greatest form either ecspecially compared to Boucher (who has the most catches this season) and a decent average and McCullum. Still a very strong team.

Strike rate is hardly important in test matches.

Now, your just ignoring the facts of modern cricket there. Strike rate is extremely important now a days teams are racking up scores of 350+ constantly.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Nah, Bens got a point. He actually said if you only have 1 frontline bowler averaging under 40 you're a minnow. Not sure I agree, but he's got a point.

Oh, that's what he said. Ah, okay then, never mind...



I wouldn't pick Amla just as yet, I want to see him for another season. Or atleast how he does against the Aussies.


Gambhir has to be in the openers slot, surely. Or atleast number three. He'll be the best left-handed opener in the world if he keeps his current form up over another year.

 

[King Cricket]

1. Sehwag
2. Gambhir
3. Pietersen
4. Sachin
5. Michael Hussey
6. Chanderapaul
7. Dhoni (c) (wk)
8. Oram
9. Murali
10. Johnson
11. Mendis

 

[Dare]

1. Sehwag
2. Gambhir
3. Pietersen
4. Sachin
5. Michael Hussey
6. Chanderapaul
7. Dhoni (c) (wk)
8. Oram
9. Murali
10. Johnson
11. Mendis

so your 2 pace bowlers will be Oram and Johnson? Hardly good enough, Oram is a good all rounder but he isn't a opening bowler.

 

[manee]

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Simon Katich
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Sachin Tendulkar
6. Shivnarene Chanderpaul
7. MS Dhoni
8. Mitchell Johnson
9. Zaheer Khan
10. Muttiah Muralitharan
11. Ajantha Mendis/Dale Steyn (pitch)