Choose two openers for post Packer era World XI

[bagapath]

Please choose TWO of the following for opening the batting in your dream XI from the Post Kerry Packer Era. The poll will be open for the next five days.


ML Hayden (Aus) 1994-2009 96 174 13 7768 203 48.24 27 26 14
MA Taylor (Aus) 1989-1999 104 186 13 7525 334* 43.49 19 40 5
GA Gooch (Eng) 1980-1995 93 173 4 7499 333 44.37 18 38 8
DL Haynes (WI) 1979-1994 114 198 25 7290 184 42.13 18 36 10
CG Greenidge (WI) 1979-1991 88 146 14 5847 226 44.29 14 25 8
G Kirsten (SA) 1993-2002 81 144 11 5396 275 40.57 13 27 13
MJ Slater (Aus) 1993-2001 73 129 6 5308 219 43.15 14 21 9
SM Gavaskar (India) 1979-1987 73 118 6 5202 221 46.44 14 25 5
ME Trescothick (Eng) 2000-2006 70 135 9 5172 219 41.04 11 27 12
GC Smith (SA) 2002-2009 61 110 7 5119 277 49.69 14 21 7
ST Jayasuriya (SL) 1994-2007 75 132 7 5068 340 40.54 11 22 10
V Sehwag (India) 2002-2008 56 97 3 5030 319 53.51 14 15 9
JL Langer (Aus) 1993-2007 60 108 9 4982 250 50.32 16 17 6
HH Gibbs (SA) 1998-2008 62 110 5 4828 228 45.98 12 20 9
AJ Strauss (Eng) 2004-2009 51 95 3 3851 147 41.85 13 13 8
Saeed Anwar (Pak) 1990-2001 45 73 1 3372 188* 46.83 10 20 7
AJ Stewart (Eng) 1990-1999 45 77 2 3348 190 44.64 8 17 4
MP Vaughan (Eng) 2002-2008 34 66 3 2857 197 45.34 10 7 5
NS Sidhu (India) 1983-1999 43 66 1 2844 201 43.75 8 14 8
DC Boon (Aus) 1985-1993 36 63 5 2614 200 45.06 8 10 5
MH Richardson (NZ) 2000-2004 31 56 2 2308 145 42.74 3 16 1
G Boycott (Eng) 1979-1982 28 53 6 2176 155 46.29 6 9 3

 

[bagapath]

i've taken the plunge and chosen gavaskar and greenidge. two master technicians. very good against spin and fast medium bowling. but devastating against blistering pace. stunning records at home and away tests. some seminal knocks that have redefined the history of test cricket (221, 214*, 96, 226). so many memorable duels against the some of the greatest fast bowlers of all time - a test hayden either never had to face or failed.

 

[social]

i've taken the plunge and chosen gavaskar and greenidge. two master technicians. very good against spin and fast medium bowling. but devastating against blistering pace. stunning records at home and away tests. some seminal knocks that have redefined the history of test cricket (221, 214*, 96, 226). so many memorable duels against the some of the greatest fast bowlers of all time - a test hayden either never had to face or failed.

The issue is "post Packer"

Hayden was undeniably better than Greenidge and arguably better than the Gavaskar of this period

However, given that the only player you compare these two against is Hayden, this is obviously a "bash Hayden" thread so that's all I'll say on the matter

 

[bagapath]

The issue is "post Packer"

Hayden was undeniably better than Greenidge and arguably better than the Gavaskar of this period

However, given that the only player you compare these two against is Hayden, this is obviously a "bash Hayden" thread so that's all I'll say on the matter

come on social!! i compared them with hayden only because he was the closest, and most obvious, contender after sunny and greenidge. why whould i want to create a thread to just bash matty hayden? also, gooch, sehwag and smith are wonderful openers and they are the next in line in my book, after hayden. but i grew up admiring the two guys i've voted for and there is nothing i've seen since then that has changed my opinion.

 

[subshakerz]

The issue is "post Packer"

Hayden was undeniably better than Greenidge and arguably better than the Gavaskar of this period

Hayden may have been better at playing spin, but he remained suspect against express pace even to the end of his career. Greenidge and Gavaskar it is.

 

[Harry Harrison]

i will choose Gavaskar and Saeed Anwer. Left and Right hand combination. one is aggressive, the other one cool minded.

 

[ozone]

Hayden and Gavaskar. Greenidge and Sewag the only ones who come close.

Disappointed with the lack of Atherton in the poll option TBH. Didn't average as high as some in the list, and wouldn't pick him as one of the two, but definately a better and more important opener than some in the list.

 

[kingkallis]

I would go with Greenidge and Hayden!

 

[silentstriker]

Gavaskar and Boycott. Would be perfect partnership for India - no one needs to put on the pads until the spinners come on - perfect for the middle order, even if the score is only 35/0 after 25 overs.

 

[chaminda_00]

Haynes and Greenidge. They might not average as much as others. But they would smack any pace attack round.

Would love to see those two open against McGrath and smack him around the pack.

 

[masterblaster]

Gavaskar and Hayden for me. A perfect combination if there was one and one that's been very controversial here on CW. Gavaskar's technique combined with the destructive batting of Matthew Hayden would be one of the most difficult opening partnerships to break.

 

[nightprowler10]

Has to be between Gavaskar, Greenidge and Hayden. Hate Hydos, so yeah.

 

[Matt79]

Sunny and Haydos.

 

[bagapath]

i hope some greenidge supporters come in and push him ahead of hayden

 

[G.I.Joe]

Gavaskar and Hayden. Same as in the Thursday Speed Draft. Happy coincidence that the two (arguably) best openers of the period in question also complement each other so well.

EDIT: Voted Hayden and Sehwag in the poll, since Gavaskar will get through anyway, and the third best (currently and arguably) opener of the period deserves more than just the 4 votes.

 

[haroon510]

i went Sehwag and Saeed anwar..

 

[NUFAN]

Doesn't Haydo's stats against Zim count?

 

[bagapath]

we're leaving out stats against zim, bang and ICC XI. We are also not counting the stats for ICC XI.

 

[NUFAN]

we're leaving out stats against zim, bang and ICC XI. We are also not counting the stats for ICC XI.

So do you think Sri Lanka were a good side from game 1?

 

[bagapath]

So do you think Sri Lanka were a good side from game 1?

no, but they beat india as early as in 1985 and pakistan not too late. in the given era we are discussing their team became good enough to win world cup (albeit in one dayers) and created several world records in tests. highest score, highest partnership etc. a sri lankan is the leading wicket taker in both versions of the game. so performing well against srilanka should definitely count. their early years were as bad as west indies post 1999. cant really pick and choose their stats so easily. so keeping the team in the pool.

in the next 10 years if bangladesh and zimbabwe start winning regularly against senior teams, we will find it difficult to leave them out as a whole in such discussions. but so far, it doesnt seem to be a big deal beating them.