Wisden's Dream Test XI 2008

[Edged&Taken]

Wisden, named Virender Sehwag as the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008 and
Mahendra Singh Dhoni captain of its first ever Dream Test XI which has five Indians in the ranks.

The Wisden Test XI of 2008:

Virender Sehwag (India),
Graeme Smith (South Africa),
Ricky Ponting (Australia),
Sachin Tendulkar (India),
Kevin Pietersen (England),
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies),
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India),
Harbhajan Singh (India),
Mitchell Johnson (Australia),
Dale Steyn (South Africa)
Zaheer Khan (India).

LINK

 

[Shri]

Ricky Ponting?

 

[Edged&Taken]

Ricky Ponting?

best #3 at the moment maybe

 

[oitoitoi]

Ponting's the only one I have a real issue with, especially as Australia had such a bad 2008. That said there weren't many spectacular no.3's in 08. What was Sangakkarra's year like? If Amla had gotten a ton in Australia he'd be a shoe in. I'd liked to have seen AB DeVilliers over Pietersen but I think it's going to be another year ot two before he gets that kind of recognition, despite the fact he's done absolutely everything required to get into this side. Otherwise no real complaints.

 

[Shri]

best #3 at the moment maybe

Sangakkara plays tests these days as a specialist batsman without keeping wickets at no.3. He should have been included instead of Ponting imho.

 

[oitoitoi]

Sangakkara plays tests these days as a specialist batsman without keeping wickets at no.3. He should have been included instead of Ponting imho.

I reckon he's probably the best no.3 in the world right now, but I suppose he didn't really play any top class opposition in '08.

 

[Shri]

I reckon he's probably the best no.3 in the world right now, but I suppose he didn't really play any top class opposition in '08.

Well then, Gambhir would have been better than Ponting too. I guess there are a lot of better no.3 options than Ponting.

 

[martin88]

I reckon he's probably the best no.3 in the world right now, but I suppose he didn't really play any top class opposition in '08.

India?

 

[martin88]

India?

Cricinfo Statsguru - Test matches - Batting records

Batsmen at No.3 since 2008.

Sarwan and Amla comfortably ahead of Ricky Ponting for me.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sarwan's rotten form in NZ probably counted against him. Amla probably not helped by scoring runs against Bangladesh, though he probably had >1000 against teams other than B'desh anyway.

 

[martin88]

Sarwan's rotten form in NZ probably counted against him. Amla probably not helped by scoring runs against Bangladesh, though he probably had >1000 against teams other than B'desh anyway.

Still Sarwan's figures are way above that of Ponting's. More hundreds despite playing way few matches than Ponting. And if one series is the criteria, then Tendulkar should not have been picked ahead of Pietersen, as he failed miserably in the SL series.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Still Sarwan's figures are way above that of Ponting's. More hundreds despite playing way few matches than Ponting. And if one series is the criteria, then Tendulkar should not have been picked ahead of Pietersen, as he failed miserably in the SL series.

Hey I agree Sarwan should be in the team. Certainly ahead of Ponting. A fair few of his runs came against Ponting's Australia.

 

[Shri]

Still Sarwan's figures are way above that of Ponting's. More hundreds despite playing way few matches than Ponting. And if one series is the criteria, then Tendulkar should not have been picked ahead of Pietersen, as he failed miserably in the SL series.

Sachin and Sehwag were the only ones who were looking comfortable against Mendis in the SL tests. Sachin used the sweep shot well against Mendis. But yes, he was not as successful as he could have possibly been.

 

[superkingdave]

Sarwan's stellar series against England would have been after this was decided, it is a 2008 team after all

2008 runs

Cricinfo Statsguru - Test matches - Batting records

Not many candidates, between Amla and Ponting, Sarwan probably not got enough weight of runs

Would have given it Amla myself, very solid stats, only out in single figures twice and hundreds against India and England

 

[zaremba]

I don't want to sound anti-Indian, and I've not checked the stats, but I'm not convinced by either Khan or Harbhajan in there. Wouldn't Mendis and/or Murali deserve a spot?

If anyone can post the 2008 stats for those 4 I'd be interested to see them.

 

[superkingdave]

Mendis only played 3 tests, Murali played 6 and wasn't great in WI (took 43 wickets at 24podd but really had one great series, one poor series and a ten wicket haul against Bangladesh)

Nethertheless the 3 selectors were split over which of the three got in, deciding vote went to Harbajhan.

The cricinfo article gives a good rationale for the selections

Wisden - 2009 - The Wisden Test XI

 

[superkingdave]

Bowling Stats btw

Cricinfo Statsguru - Test matches - Bowling records

Harbhajan had the 2nd most wickets and no other spinner had a great year (would consider Vettori but really his stats are again skewed by Bangladesh) Reckon Anderson might have been a decent shout instead of Zaheer Kahn, maybe Ntini or O'Brien as well

 

[SJS]

Hashim Amla with over 1100 runs at 55 plus is the only player with over a 1000 and has the highest average and yet is not in the side. He has mostly batted at number three. Why should he not have been there before Ponting?

 

[SJS]

Again, if it is based on 2008 figures, how come Zaheer with just 27 wickets at 36 plus is included. 19 bowlers took more wickets - all barring one (Kumble) at a much lower cost.

This makes no sense. I dont think the criteria could be just 2008 figures.

[B]Player        	Mat	Inns	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	5	10	[/B]
DW Steyn (SA)	13	24	442.1	85	1481	74	6/72	10/154	20.01	3.34	35.8	5	1	
Harbhajan  	13	23	705.0	105	1987	63	6/102	10/153	31.53	2.81	67.1	2	1	
Johnson (Aus)	14	28	585.0	107	1828	63	8/61	11/159	29.01	3.12	55.7	2	1	
B Lee (Aus)	14	28	580.1	105	1884	57	5/59	9/171	33.05	3.24	61.0	3	0	
M Ntini (SA)	15	28	471.1	102	1537	54	5/94	7/149	28.46	3.26	52.3	1	0	
DL Vettori (NZ)	14	23	590.3	155	1411	54	6/56	9/133	26.12	2.38	65.6	5	0	
Sidebottom 	8	16	355.0	94	952	47	7/47	10/139	20.25	2.68	45.3	4	1	
Anderson (Eng)	11	21	408.5	80	1373	46	7/43	9/98	29.84	3.35	53.3	2	0	
M Morkel (SA)	13	24	377.1	50	1383	43	5/50	7/113	32.16	3.66	52.6	1	0	
M Murali (SL)	6	12	369.4	55	1052	43	6/26	11/110	24.46	2.84	51.5	4	2	
Panesar (Eng)	12	22	461.4	94	1292	39	6/37	7/138	33.12	2.79	71.0	2	0	
IE O'Brien (NZ)	10	16	299.1	75	820	38	6/75	7/165	21.57	2.74	47.2	1	0	
Sharma (Ind)	13	22	392.3	67	1201	38	4/77	7/117	31.60	3.05	61.9	0	0	
CS Martin (NZ)	10	17	338.5	73	1060	34	5/65	7/100	31.17	3.12	59.7	1	0	
SR Clark (Aus)	10	20	361.0	96	926	31	5/32	8/91	29.87	2.56	69.8	1	0	
FH Edwards (WI)	8	14	236.2	36	910	31	7/87	8/133	29.35	3.85	45.7	2	0	
Shakib Al(Ban)	8	12	291.2	68	777	30	7/36	9/115	25.90	2.66	58.2	4	0	
JH Kallis (SA)	15	26	287.1	61	823	29	5/30	5/35	28.37	2.86	59.4	1	0	
A Kumble  	10	17	462.5	60	1430	28	4/106	8/254	51.07	3.08	99.1	0	0	
[COLOR="DarkRed"]Z Khan (India)	9	16	309.5	60	995	27	5/91	6/137	36.85	3.21	68.8	1	0[/COLOR]

 

[JBH001]

Zaremba, stats for 2008 are:

Murali 6 tests, 43 wickets, avg 24.26, econ 2.84, sr 51.5.
Mendis 3 tests, 26 wickets, avg 18.38, econ 2.92, sr 37.6.

Bhaji 13 tests, 63 wickets, avg 31.53, econ 2.81, sr 67.1
Khan 9 tests, 27 wickets, avg 36.85, econ 3.21, sr 68.8.

Edit/ Murali's series against WI was poor by his standards. Overall he had 12 wickets in 2 tests at 32. Not good, but not bad either, imo.