World Class list

[Prince EWS]

Well, that's exactly my point about the 'should walk into any side to qualify as world class' definition.

Bowling's a bit different though; teams change their attacks for different conditions. Murali definitely would've been in the frame for Australian whenever they wanted two spinners. It didn't happen often but it happened enough to count it. I included Harbhajan in my list in the first post even though he'd barely ever make England's eleven because he'd always be in the twelve and he'd play if they came across a real dry one.

 

[G.I.Joe]

All of them. Or maybe all of them except McGrath. And I'd drop Warne too, obviously. He's ****ing Murali! The leading test wicket-taker of ALL TIME! He'd walk into 100% of teams in the history of the game and I can't believe I even have to debate this.

Nobody drops Glenn H McGrath. Nobody.

 

[Cevno]

Liz Hurley to get a call-up next?

Couldn't do much worse than Doherty/Beer TBF.

I think we need to confirm with Warne first ,whether she is "World class" or not?

 

[G.I.Joe]

Yeah, it's not perfect, but it's a fair stab at a definition of a nebulous concept tho. Maybe "would make a World touring party of 15/16" would remove the anomalies?

No, that discounts Marcus Trescothick from ever being world class

 

[Furball]

Nah, they definitely do. I could see your case if we were talking about a mid-nineties Australian side, or a very recent one. But this was in the mid-2000s. I think you need to check up on Murali's record during the years in question.

Not in India. It's a common misconception that you need good spinners to win Tests in the subcontinent; the teams that have done well in India over the last 15 years (South Africa, Australia 2004) have done so on the back of their fast bowling.

 

[M0rphin3]

Not in India. It's a common misconception that you need good spinners to win Tests in the subcontinent; the teams that have done well in India over the last 15 years (South Africa, Australia 2004) have done so on the back of their fast bowling.

awta so much.

 

[smash84]

Not really. If you want to have only one spinner in the side (it is an absolute green top) for a game against Pakistan I think Warne will get the nod ahead of Murali. However if I have to take a team to india then Murali is first choice spinner by far.

I think we need to confirm with Warne first ,whether she is "World class" or not?

 

[smash84]

Not in India. It's a common misconception that you need good spinners to win Tests in the subcontinent; the teams that have done well in India over the last 15 years (South Africa, Australia 2004) have done so on the back of their fast bowling.

Pakistan and SL have done decently in India in the last 15 years and it was the spinners for these teams that gave them the edge. Saqlain, Murali, Mendis, Kaneria.

 

[vcs]

Pakistan and SL have done decently in India in the last 15 years and it was the spinners for these teams that gave them the edge. Saqlain, Murali, Mendis, Kaneria.

SL haven't won a Test match in India or come particularly close, FTR. Their record against India in SL is great though.

 

[Uppercut]

Not in India. It's a common misconception that you need good spinners to win Tests in the subcontinent; the teams that have done well in India over the last 15 years (South Africa, Australia 2004) have done so on the back of their fast bowling.

Yeah, it's true. I can't believe that misconception is still floating around. We were talking about it back when Australia toured India in 2008.

But you're just taking horses for courses way, waaay beyond the point where it's a reasonable selection policy. Murali from 2000-2006 was, without question, completely undroppable under any circumstances. It's as simple as that.

Fwiw, he was pretty good when he toured India around that time too.

 

[G.I.Joe]

I reckon Murali would have been deadly in India if he had decent pace bowlers to back him up.

 

[Cevno]

I reckon Murali would have been deadly in India if he had decent pace bowlers to back him up.

I agree ,even if he had another good spinner along with him in his prime,like Warne even.

He brought them close to a advatageous position here a few times,but there was no support.

India on a few occasions decided to play him out and score of others.

 

[smash84]

SL haven't won a Test match in India or come particularly close, FTR. Their record against India in SL is great though.

But Pakistan did do well because of their spinners didn't they? Wasim, Waqar, and to a lesser extent even Shoaib was not as good as our spinners in India. Tbf to SL their fast bowlers were **** in India otherwise Murali would probably be much better.

 

[Furball]

Yeah, it's true. I can't believe that misconception is still floating around. We were talking about it back when Australia toured India in 2008.

One of many misconceptions about cricket - Twenty20 being the worst for it. Some of the rubbish you hear commentators talk when a T20 is on is beyond belief.

 

[Uppercut]

I reckon Murali would have been deadly in India if he had decent pace bowlers to back him up.

Yeah, or even if he'd had a couple more chances when he was a properly insane bowler rather than just a world-class one. He only played one series there between 1998 and 2010. His batting didn't back him up too well in that series either.

 

[vcs]

But Pakistan did do well because of their spinners didn't they? Wasim, Waqar, and to a lesser extent even Shoaib was not as good as our spinners in India. Tbf to SL their fast bowlers were **** in India otherwise Murali would probably be much better.

Like G. I. Joe said, it's hard for any spinner to perform well in India without a world-class, or at least a very threatening pace lineup to back him up. While I'm sure Saqlain bowled very well, if the batsmen feel the spinner is the only one they can take liberties against to score some runs, it gives him a much better chance to pick up wickets.

 

[smash84]

Like G. I. Joe said, it's hard for any spinner to perform well in India without a world-class, or at least a very threatening pace lineup to back him up. While I'm sure Saqlain bowled very well, if the batsmen feel the spinner is the only one they can take liberties against to score some runs, it gives him a much better chance to pick up wickets.

you do have a point.

 

[King Pietersen]

One of many misconceptions about cricket - Twenty20 being the worst for it. Some of the rubbish you hear commentators talk when a T20 is on is beyond belief.

Most of it spews from the mouth of David Lloyd. Every T20 game you hear him mention at least 5 different theories of things you supposedly need in T20.

 

[Migara]

Who out of McGrath, Gillespie or Kasprowicz would you have dropped for a Test series in India?

Warne.

 

[Furball]

Most of it spews from the mouth of David Lloyd. Every T20 game you hear him mention at least 5 different theories of things you supposedly need in T20.

Bumble is ****ing dire at T20 commentary.