World Test Team

[King Pietersen]

Agree with Dare's Asia XI. My ROW XI would look like:

1. Shane Watson
2. Graeme Smith
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Michael Clarke
5. Hashim Amla
6. Daniel Vettori
7. Matt Prior +
8. Graeme Swann
9. Mitchell Johnson
10. Dale Steyn
11. Doug Bollinger

 

[Shaun Tait]

Would you take Watson he doesnt look like he can score a run at the moment sadly

 

[Adarsh]

This ^

Asif is a million times the bowler Khan will ever be, very lame excuse indeed.

For someone who claims that the Indian fans are blinded by loyalty, I must say your general bias is often quite ridiculous.

Let's be fair to Zaheer Khan, okay ? I don't think he's as good as Asif, although recently Asif's pace has dropped considerably and it will be interesting to see how he goes in subcontinent conditions. Very few bowlers who bowl less than 80 mph have succeeded, at least in recent times on subcontinent tracks. However, Asif's track record does put him ahead of Zaheer.

Coming back to Zaheer, time and time again you have said that he's not a very good Test match bowler without backing it up with any stats. Zaheer has won matches in the subcontinent, where bowlers like Anderson have an average of over 45. He's been instrumental to India's win in New Zealand, against England in India, beating the Aussies in India, and beating England in England. You can't begrudge him of that. There is no evidence to suggest he's becoming much worse in recent times either.

No one's saying he's the best bowler in the world, however, your language to suggest that he's almost useless is pathetic.

 

[Themer]

9. Mitchell Johnson
11. Doug Bollinger

Agree with most of the team but I think I'd have Morkel over one of these two.

 

[AkshayS]

This ^

Asif is a million times the bowler Khan will ever be, very lame excuse indeed.

huh, Asif has been bowling on bowling friendly conditions for past two years and has taken same numbers of wickets at slightly better average. Isn't that enough to prove your statement wrong.

What Zaheer has done for India, Asif can't even do in his whole life for Pakistan. Zaheer has ripped apart batting lineups on his own alone whereas Asif always got those bowlers to support him, Plus he was not even bowling in subcontinent.He has been bowling on pitches where three times team got out below 100 in recent times.. If Asif would bowl in the subcontinent, it's more likely he would get smashed all over the park.

 

[khalek]

lol, your understanding of biochemistry is laughable.

Screw biochemistry, this is commonsense. Swing bowling doesn't require the use of steroids plus at his pace, many bowlers can last forever in the game. It's stupid if you need steroids if you're gonna be bowling at 80 mph as there is not as much endurance required and I think he's fit enough for that.

 

[Dare]

huh, Asif has been bowling on bowling friendly conditions for past two years and has taken same numbers of wickets at slightly better average. Isn't that enough to prove your statement wrong.

What Zaheer has done for India, Asif can't even do in his whole life for Pakistan. Zaheer has ripped apart batting lineups on his own alone whereas Asif always got those bowlers to support him, Plus he was not even bowling in subcontinent.He has been bowling on pitches where three times team got out below 100 in recent times.. If Asif would bowl in the subcontinent, it's more likely he would get smashed all over the park.

Asif averages 22 in Asia in 6 tests. He is the best seam bowler since McGrath and he really doesn't need swinging conditions. A track that offers spin is just as good for him as the current wickets in England. If the ball can grip when he wraps his fingers around it then teams will be in trouble in the subcontinent.
Saying that Asif would get smashed all over the part in the subcontinent is just stupid because stats say otherwise. Any pace bowler will get smashed on flat subcontinent wicket that doesn't offer anything to the bowler, Zaheer would be the first example but when the wicket offers something both guys are dangerous but I feel that Asif is better. He is the most accurate pace bowler at this moment, his mastery of seam and swing is just brilliant and most of all he is a smart bowler. He knows how to set up batsman.

 

[shravi]

Asif is a brilliant bowler. His accuracy alone will get the best of batsman in most conditions. He can hit "that" length day in day out. It will be interesting to see how he does in subcontinental conditions now thouh seeing as he has lost a considerable amount of pace and seems to tire much more easily.

I still think World XI Dare and I agreed on is best.

 

[playkid12]

Screw biochemistry, this is commonsense. Swing bowling doesn't require the use of steroids plus at his pace, many bowlers can last forever in the game. It's stupid if you need steroids if you're gonna be bowling at 80 mph as there is not as much endurance required and I think he's fit enough for that.

You're really embarrassing yourself now. Just stop talking.

 

[pcfan123]

Agree with Dare's Asia XI. My ROW XI would look like:

1. Shane Watson
2. Graeme Smith
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Michael Clarke
5. Hashim Amla
6. Daniel Vettori
7. Matt Prior +
8. Graeme Swann
9. Mitchell Johnson
10. Dale Steyn
11. Doug Bollinger

Agree with Themer partially, Id take Morkel over one of the 2 left armers

Good team though

 

[ali_ed2001]

Asia XI

Virender Sehwag
Tamim Iqbal
Kumar Sangakkara *
Sachin Tendulkar
Mahela Jayawardene
Thilan Samaraweera
MS Dhoni+
Shakib al Hasan
Mohammad Aamer
Lasith Malinga
Mohammad Asif

I agree with this lineup except for Samaraweera. I would rather take Rahul Dravid or Laxman over him.

 

[khalek]

You're really embarrassing yourself now. Just stop talking.

You're the one embarrassing yourself Mr. Biochemist. You and Zaheer Khan just got pwned by those stats in the previous page so just go to bed and suck your dirty fingers.

 

[playkid12]

You're the one embarrassing yourself Mr. Biochemist. You and Zaheer Khan just got pwned by those stats in the previous page so just go to bed and suck your dirty fingers.

XFD neckbeard virginfag, I never even said Zaheer was a better or worse bowler than Asif in tests. I only said that Asif is incomparable because he uses steroids like a little cheating pu$$y, which is apparently "a personal matter" according to you. Joke. tweaking. Life.

Oh, and I did say that Zaheer is a better bowler than Asif in ODIs, which still stands.

 

[Dare]

XFD neckbeard virginfag, I never even said Zaheer was a better or worse bowler than Asif in tests. I only said that Asif is incomparable because he uses steroids like a little cheating pu$$y, which is apparently "a personal matter" according to you. Joke. flinging. Life.

Oh, and I did say that Zaheer is a better bowler than Asif in ODIs, which still stands.

As far as we know Asif has been clean since he came back and he probably gets tested more often then any other cricketer and rightfully so.

But I ask you what steroids have to do with accuracy, seam movement and control of swing. Those are all things that don't have anything to do with steroids and Asif doesn't bowl at great pace so it still has nothing to do with steroids.

Your continued stand on Zaheer being better then Asif in ODIs has little value here. Its a test thread.

Dare added 4 Minutes and 12 Seconds later...

I agree with this lineup except for Samaraweera. I would rather take Rahul Dravid or Laxman over him.

I wouldn't move Dravid from the #3 spot and he doesn't get in ahead of Sangakkara. Laxman and Samaraweera have similar averages but Samaraweera converted more of his fifties.

 

[manee]

A lot of support for Amir in the past few pages. I think people are being too hasty to rate him as one of the best in the world. He was outbowled severely by Anderson in swinging conditions in Trent Bridge and has only played a handful of Tests - not with astonishing success.

Mine would go like...

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Graeme Smith
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Michael Clarke
6. Paul Collingwood
7. MS Dhoni
8. Graeme Swann
9. Morne Morkel
10. Mohammad Asif
11. Dale Steyn

BTW King Pietersen, Vettori at six is madness.

manee added 0 Minutes and 47 Seconds later...

Asif is a brilliant bowler. His accuracy alone will get the best of batsman in most conditions. He can hit "that" length day in day out. It will be interesting to see how he does in subcontinental conditions now thouh seeing as he has lost a considerable amount of pace and seems to tire much more easily.

Give him time, he'll get some pace back over time as the body adapts.