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Just thought i would throw in a slip slop slap message
My dream cricket team - if to 'play for my life'
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So in the light of the thread's name I've had a good think about this.
Openers... Some of the first that came to mind were Haynes, Grenidge, Hayden, Langer, Boon. Funny that no english openers came to mind. I can really only think back to the days of WSC.
Grenidge was actually not in the same league as his partner of many years. He was cavalier and often was chasing small totals or had a red hot bowling cordon on his side.
Hayden and Langer imo weren't facing pure class opening bowlers for the majority of their innings and played in a dominating team. Boon was tough and played class pace alot but often threw his wicket away after getting a start.
My dark horse was John Wright of NZ. He was hard to get out and seemed to love a challenge. He was a fighter but I will go with Sunil Gavaskar and Andy Flower. Gavaskar made runs and often went on and made big scores. His record is still excellent on pitches all around the world. Flower was not only in a team that was on a hiding to nothing all the time, but Zimbabwe the country was imploding around him. His record is fine.
At number three there are so many choices including I.Chappell, Ponting Tendulkar, Dravid and Martin Crowe but I must go with Lara for the simple fact that he played a lot of cricket when the West Indies were the whipping boys of world cricket and Lara had the weight of the Caribbean nations on his shoulders and he still excelled everywhere.
Plenty of options at 4, too.. I'm not going with Tendulkar as I personally never saw the best of him. I saw him get out a lot for single figures, though and although he is class, from what I saw I would not like him playing for my life especially against the short ball. I would like to see Viv Richards, though. Scared of no man, no bowler and proved it by never wearing a lid. Could turn a test in not a session but in a matter of overs and often went on to make huge scores against class opposition all around the world. Enough said..He was the man.
Number 5 had me thinking Steve Waugh initially and could easily substitute him in but for me it is that irritatingly hard to get out Javed Miandad. Miandad could get under a bowlers skin and had an excellent capacity to find singles to turn over the strike. Just what you need when you are up against it.
At 6 I really wanted to fit in Kapil Dev for obvious reasons but I just don't think I can find the room. I could have also gone with Sarfraz Narwas. I'll stick with Border because that man pees determination. He lead by example, is versatile and is the man I'd have keeping and end tight with the ball, alternating with Viv Richards as my spin attack.
7 brings me to a keeper. Many would go with Gilchrist and as much as he was a game changer and stunning bat he wasn't an excellent keeper and I want every ball caught when my life is on the line. The other thing going against Gilchrist for me was that he was always just one ball away from getting out whether he was on 10 or 110 and I saw a lot of Gilchrist live in Test Matches over his career. Others could have been Marsh but he was a slogger and often through his wicket away, Jeff Dujon, Mark Boucher but I'm going to go with Healy. He didn't look pretty but he could hang around, wasn't afraid to get hit to keep his wicket and that's who I want batting for my life.
That leads to the bowlers.. The first thing I thought of was height but as it got down to it, I just didn't have the room for so many excellent bowlers from eras I'm lucky enough to have witnessed. In no particular order:
Alan Donald, Chaminda Vaas, Waqar Younis, Bruce Reid, Ewan Chatfield, Shane Bond, John Snow, Bob Willis, Angus Fraser, Phil Defreitas, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Jeff Thompson and on and on.
But I'll go with Malcolm Marshall at 8. Complete bowler with deceptive pace change and a handy bat.
9. Wasim Akram was as excellent a bowler at the start of an innings as he was at 60 overs. It was always like something would happen when the ball was in Wasim's hand.
10. Late inclusion of Merv Hughes. He had real mongrel; a real mean streak with the ball in his hand. This was often countered with his wit and banter. He would bowl all day till he fell over and for me that means more than Hadlee's clinical excellence. Merv could swing a ball in a better than average way so he got the chocolates.
11. D.K.Lillie. Like all great fast bowlers he got better with age when raw pace started to fade. Would give his all for the team on the field. A workhorse when the hard work was needed but could be graceful, wily and devastating all in the same spell.
So here's my team to play for my life.
1. S Gavaskar
2. A Flower
3. B Lara
4. V Richards
5. J Miandad
6. A Border
7. I Healy
8. M Marshall
9. W Akram
10. M. Hughes
11. D lillie
12. S. Waugh (medium pace) or K Dev.
cheers,
Openers... Some of the first that came to mind were Haynes, Grenidge, Hayden, Langer, Boon. Funny that no english openers came to mind. I can really only think back to the days of WSC.
Grenidge was actually not in the same league as his partner of many years. He was cavalier and often was chasing small totals or had a red hot bowling cordon on his side.
Hayden and Langer imo weren't facing pure class opening bowlers for the majority of their innings and played in a dominating team. Boon was tough and played class pace alot but often threw his wicket away after getting a start.
My dark horse was John Wright of NZ. He was hard to get out and seemed to love a challenge. He was a fighter but I will go with Sunil Gavaskar and Andy Flower. Gavaskar made runs and often went on and made big scores. His record is still excellent on pitches all around the world. Flower was not only in a team that was on a hiding to nothing all the time, but Zimbabwe the country was imploding around him. His record is fine.
At number three there are so many choices including I.Chappell, Ponting Tendulkar, Dravid and Martin Crowe but I must go with Lara for the simple fact that he played a lot of cricket when the West Indies were the whipping boys of world cricket and Lara had the weight of the Caribbean nations on his shoulders and he still excelled everywhere.
Plenty of options at 4, too.. I'm not going with Tendulkar as I personally never saw the best of him. I saw him get out a lot for single figures, though and although he is class, from what I saw I would not like him playing for my life especially against the short ball. I would like to see Viv Richards, though. Scared of no man, no bowler and proved it by never wearing a lid. Could turn a test in not a session but in a matter of overs and often went on to make huge scores against class opposition all around the world. Enough said..He was the man.
Number 5 had me thinking Steve Waugh initially and could easily substitute him in but for me it is that irritatingly hard to get out Javed Miandad. Miandad could get under a bowlers skin and had an excellent capacity to find singles to turn over the strike. Just what you need when you are up against it.
At 6 I really wanted to fit in Kapil Dev for obvious reasons but I just don't think I can find the room. I could have also gone with Sarfraz Narwas. I'll stick with Border because that man pees determination. He lead by example, is versatile and is the man I'd have keeping and end tight with the ball, alternating with Viv Richards as my spin attack.
7 brings me to a keeper. Many would go with Gilchrist and as much as he was a game changer and stunning bat he wasn't an excellent keeper and I want every ball caught when my life is on the line. The other thing going against Gilchrist for me was that he was always just one ball away from getting out whether he was on 10 or 110 and I saw a lot of Gilchrist live in Test Matches over his career. Others could have been Marsh but he was a slogger and often through his wicket away, Jeff Dujon, Mark Boucher but I'm going to go with Healy. He didn't look pretty but he could hang around, wasn't afraid to get hit to keep his wicket and that's who I want batting for my life.
That leads to the bowlers.. The first thing I thought of was height but as it got down to it, I just didn't have the room for so many excellent bowlers from eras I'm lucky enough to have witnessed. In no particular order:
Alan Donald, Chaminda Vaas, Waqar Younis, Bruce Reid, Ewan Chatfield, Shane Bond, John Snow, Bob Willis, Angus Fraser, Phil Defreitas, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Jeff Thompson and on and on.
But I'll go with Malcolm Marshall at 8. Complete bowler with deceptive pace change and a handy bat.
9. Wasim Akram was as excellent a bowler at the start of an innings as he was at 60 overs. It was always like something would happen when the ball was in Wasim's hand.
10. Late inclusion of Merv Hughes. He had real mongrel; a real mean streak with the ball in his hand. This was often countered with his wit and banter. He would bowl all day till he fell over and for me that means more than Hadlee's clinical excellence. Merv could swing a ball in a better than average way so he got the chocolates.
11. D.K.Lillie. Like all great fast bowlers he got better with age when raw pace started to fade. Would give his all for the team on the field. A workhorse when the hard work was needed but could be graceful, wily and devastating all in the same spell.
So here's my team to play for my life.
1. S Gavaskar
2. A Flower
3. B Lara
4. V Richards
5. J Miandad
6. A Border
7. I Healy
8. M Marshall
9. W Akram
10. M. Hughes
11. D lillie
12. S. Waugh (medium pace) or K Dev.
cheers,
Logique
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Thanks everyone for interesting responses. During the lunch and tea intervals I'll crunch the numbers and come up with the ASF popular team.
It already looks like I'm not going to get my way with selections.
It already looks like I'm not going to get my way with selections.
Boognish
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1. Greg Chappell
2. Brian Lara
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Don Bradman
5. Allan Border
6. Jacques Kallis
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Richard Hadlee
9. Shane Warne
10. Wasim Akram
11. Glen McGrath
2. Brian Lara
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Don Bradman
5. Allan Border
6. Jacques Kallis
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Richard Hadlee
9. Shane Warne
10. Wasim Akram
11. Glen McGrath
Sean K
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You need a couple of openers in there Boog.
Did you see Bradman play?
I can't see how Tendulker can be left out. Or Lillee.
I am being biased by preferring Warne, as is others here. Muralitharan is the objective choice for a spinner, even if he chucked it.
Boognish
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Ah if it's only players I have seen play then swap Bradman with Tendulkar. And this is the team I would want playing for my life. I reckon Chappell and Lara could open if asked to.
And for mine, Warne is a better bowler than Murali.
And for mine, Warne is a better bowler than Murali.
Try and beat this combo!
1. Sunil Gavaskar (Scored most of his runs against fiery WI attack of the 80's)
2. Virendra Sehwag (Only person to have come close to score 3 triples. Got out on 293. Scoring rate is phenomenal)
3. Brian Lara (No better #3)
4. Sachin Tendulkar (Sheer talent and genius. Scored most of his runs against the best Aus attack)
5. Viv Richards (Sheer arrogance and brilliance)
6. Adam Gilchrist (No better keeper batsman to date)
7. Shane Warne (Remember Mike Gattings wicket? Flawed genius)
8. Malcolm Marshall (Great bowlers hunt in pairs. He set up his colleagues nicely)
9. Wasim Akram (Best left arm bowler)
10. Glenn McGrath (Most thinking bowler and would setup the batsmen)
11. Curtly Ambrose (Fearful bowling even when not at 100%.)
1. Sunil Gavaskar (Scored most of his runs against fiery WI attack of the 80's)
2. Virendra Sehwag (Only person to have come close to score 3 triples. Got out on 293. Scoring rate is phenomenal)
3. Brian Lara (No better #3)
4. Sachin Tendulkar (Sheer talent and genius. Scored most of his runs against the best Aus attack)
5. Viv Richards (Sheer arrogance and brilliance)
6. Adam Gilchrist (No better keeper batsman to date)
7. Shane Warne (Remember Mike Gattings wicket? Flawed genius)
8. Malcolm Marshall (Great bowlers hunt in pairs. He set up his colleagues nicely)
9. Wasim Akram (Best left arm bowler)
10. Glenn McGrath (Most thinking bowler and would setup the batsmen)
11. Curtly Ambrose (Fearful bowling even when not at 100%.)
Sean K
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I have problems with this. Murali on stats is the best ever bowler in history at all forms of the game. Like Bradman is the best batsman. I think we are biased.
How do we justify Warne over Murali?
Sean K
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Only 5 specialist batsman and an 'allrounder' in Gilchrist? Needs an allrounder bat/bowl in there too imo. Kallis or Botham instead of one of the quicks probably. I'd ditch Marshall for Kallis and bat him at 6. Gilchrist 7, Akram 8. Perhaps..
Trembling Hand
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But guys you have left out the most important person. John Howard to be chief cricket administer,
http://www.theage.com.au/national/piechucker-howard-up-for-plum-job-20100122-mox0.html
He can also double up as chief pie chucker.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/piechucker-howard-up-for-plum-job-20100122-mox0.html
He can also double up as chief pie chucker.
Attachments
Boognish
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Without looking, I wonder what percentage of Murali's wickets have been taken against Bangladesh and/or taken on turning subcontinent pitches, compared to his contemporaries. Then there's the question of chucking, although in my opinion his action is probably ok.
Good thinking, but probably don't need one
Akram has 3 centuries with a HS of 275*
Warnie has 12 half centuries
Marshall has 10 half centuries
Even McGrath has a 50 in test cricket (Well this is more tongue in cheek
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Murali got bag and bags of wickets against minnows like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. A breakdown of the quality of wickets would offer more insight.
Warne also cleaned up the tail a lot but could break the top order. are these two spinners held so high in rankings due to quality spinners being few and far between? Are they great bowlers or simply good bowlers who are endangered species and batsmen are bamboozled by lack of practice?
cheers?
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Kennas, we have no idea, who is umpiring the match. If I was picking the best umpires as well, over the past 20-30 years I'd say, Darryl Hair, Simon Taufel with Dickie Bird (3rd Umpire). If these are the men in white, I'd say Muttiah would be no-balled. No good having a bowler "play for you life" if he isn't able to bowl.
For mine Ian Chappell is a two-faced, weak commentator who fits nicely into the abysmal Channel 9 team. One of his more moronic comments: "To play for my life". What does that really mean:
For a batsman:
*To try their best to win and be attacking
*To try their best not to get out and therefore, not to lose the game
*Try their hardest to at least draw
*To play to and maybe above their actual ability (honest toiler - we all know players that squeezed every ounce out of their not so abundant ability)
For a Bowler
*To try their hardest to take wickets
*To try their hardest to contain and defend in the face of adversity
*To try their hardest not to lose
*To play to and maybe above their actual ability (honest toiler)
In other words: Are these guys picked to win the game? Or are they picked with the determination of not losing the game? Or are they picked based on their work ethic regardless of results?
I think we would all agree that you might pick a different 1st drop on a 5th day minefield with the side at 1/12 still chasing 420, than you would on an opening day belter, coming in at 1/195.
There has been some honest toilers and sympathy votes put forward for some players - Ewen Chatfield, Merv Hughes. These guys tried their guts out, but are they going to win the game for you?
Maybe winning the game isn't the criteria. Do you just want someone that is guaranteed will try 110%even if that isn't good enough to win the game.
Just to add to the Healy/Gilchrist debate - how many games can you remember did Gilchrist losing due to his glovework? How many games did he setup/win through his batting? Now compare that to Healy. Healy was a very capable gloveman - but in my opinion he was no matchwinning gloveman.
Duckman
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If you want to have the most winning team, then you would want to minimise drawn results.
So if you have the cream of the crop to select from, then Strike Rate would enter into selection, other things being equal.
In that case Adam Gilchrist is the fastest scorer in the history of Test cricket,
with a S/R of 82 runs per 100 balls. ( and an average over 48)
Viv Richards was second on the list in the 70s/100
Recently I saw Virender Sehwag had a S/R of about 80 in Test cricket.
So those 3 would be high on the list in most peoples books anyway, I would pick all 3, meaning draws would be reduced.
probably apply a similar approach to the bowlers, I know Waqar and Akram for instance had good strike rates
sorry I cant find a reference to the article or post a link of S/Rs
but I remember that in the article, someone had analysed what was available of Bradmans innings ball-by-ball, and he was in the high 60s
So if you have the cream of the crop to select from, then Strike Rate would enter into selection, other things being equal.
In that case Adam Gilchrist is the fastest scorer in the history of Test cricket,
with a S/R of 82 runs per 100 balls. ( and an average over 48)
Viv Richards was second on the list in the 70s/100
Recently I saw Virender Sehwag had a S/R of about 80 in Test cricket.
So those 3 would be high on the list in most peoples books anyway, I would pick all 3, meaning draws would be reduced.
probably apply a similar approach to the bowlers, I know Waqar and Akram for instance had good strike rates
sorry I cant find a reference to the article or post a link of S/Rs
but I remember that in the article, someone had analysed what was available of Bradmans innings ball-by-ball, and he was in the high 60s
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On the matter of an all-rounder, you must all be spring chickens, as no-one has even mentioned Sir Garfield Sobers
unless a batting average of 57.78 and 235 wickets is not good enough for you?
For the young ones Jacques Kallis 54.80 and 259 wickets
unless a batting average of 57.78 and 235 wickets is not good enough for you?
For the young ones Jacques Kallis 54.80 and 259 wickets
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AWG,
You must be a bit older, and the eyesight maybe failing a bit...
I posted this a couple of days ago...
brty
You must be a bit older, and the eyesight maybe failing a bit...
I posted this a couple of days ago...
brty
Sean K
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I can't remember where it was posted but I should say it here:
Victoria!!!
The little State down under has shaken off the NSW and QLD bias yet again.
Bad luck SA. Really..
And just 5 players down ..
Victoria!!!
The little State down under has shaken off the NSW and QLD bias yet again.
Bad luck SA. Really..
And just 5 players down ..
Sean K
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Great team.
But,
That's 12. Who is No 12?
Four pacers and a spinner?
Need an all-rounder I reckon, again. Kallis for whoever. Waugh could have done it a while ago but got slack, or injured.
Can't open with Gilly in a Test team, which we assume this is. Lose one of the attack.