World Class list

[silentstriker]

He might be the greatest bowler ever, but he's not more likely to win you a Test in India.

That was not the question - people make stupid selection decisions in India as a matter of course. The question was would he have been picked - and the answer is an unequivocal yes.

 

[Burgey]

It just occurs to me, by the definition used for this thread, if there's debate about wicketkeeping between Dhoni, Prior and Haddin then there aren't any world class keepers on the planet

 

[Prince EWS]

It just occurs to me, by the definition used for this thread, if there's debate about wicketkeeping between Dhoni, Prior and Haddin then there aren't any world class keepers on the planet

Well given I made that point in the opening post, I find it bewildering that it's only just occurred to you.

 

[Burgey]

Well given I made that point in the opening post, I find it bewildering that it's only just occurred to you.

Lol.. You're assuming I read that far back!!

 

[Prince EWS]

Lol.. You're assuming I read that far back!!

Well you evidently read the definition.

 

[Burgey]

Well you evidently read the definition.

It's an interesting thread though, if you adopt that definition. Limits it quite a bit.

 

[GIMH]

I read that the definition of a world-class poster is one who can post at any forum in the world.

As I am banned from the Bolton Wanderers message board I sadly do not fit this category

 

[Prince EWS]

I read that the definition of a world-class poster is one who can post at any forum in the world.

As I am banned from the Bolton Wanderers message board I sadly do not fit this category

Just make a multi.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, I'm gonna call it King Kenny

 

[abmk]

just went through the thread. Some observations/opinions from my side..

1. gillespie was just as deadly in India as Mcgrath was . 33 wickets in 7 tests at ~22 !

2. I'd pick murali ahead of warne to play India in India.

 

[morgieb]

My list would be....

Openers:

Smith, Cook, Gambhir, Sehwag, Watson

Would depend on whether they'd make the Indian side, pretty much. I can't see Watson making India or England as an opener, but he'd still find a spot in a Kallis-esque role, and South Africa's other opener is a hack. Cook might not make the Indian side, but I still think he could - or should - do a better job than Gambhir - the only reason why Cook's stats seem meh is because England's less receptive to his technique - which could also hurt Gambhir. In fact, Gambhir might not make the English side, thinking about it.

Middle-order:

Amla, Tendulkar, Laxman, de Villiers, Kallis, Clarke, Hussey, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Sangakarra, Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Younis, Ryder, Chanderpaul

Broadest definition, so I reckon all of them could make it into every side. Reckon Sri Lanka's actually the toughest to get into, as their 3-5 are all guns, and their 6 is an all-rounder who Sri Lanka might not be keen to give up.

Keepers:

This is hard to say. Dhoni I don't think is good enough for England or Australia, Haddin suffers from keeping, so India or England won't take him, and I don't see India replacing their captain for Prior. Reckon all 3 would make a squad however, as would Boucher.

Spinners:

Another tough one. You'd expect Swann or Bhajji to make every side, but I don't see their current sides giving one up for the other. Shakib might but it's debatable whether England or India would give up their spinners. Vettori's an outside bet but England or India did pick him, it wouldn't be for his bowling. Expect all of them to make a squad however.

Seamers:

Steyn, Morkel, Broad, Anderson, Tremlett, Zaheer, Amir, Asif, Roach

Would depend on whether they'd make England, as Uppercut said, as all other sides have either no 3rd seamer (most sides), their seamers are always injured (West Indies) or their seamers are all on an even level and none of them are great (Australia). Outside chance that they could leave out Amir or Asif on 'character grounds', but I'd think they'd still pick them if they were available. Considered Malinga, but he's often injured so I don't know if all that many sides would take that risk.

 

[Teja.]

My list would be....

Openers:

Smith, Cook, Gambhir, Sehwag, Watson

Would depend on whether they'd make the Indian side, pretty much. I can't see Watson making India or England as an opener, but he'd still find a spot in a Kallis-esque role, and South Africa's other opener is a hack. Cook might not make the Indian side, but I still think he could - or should - do a better job than Gambhir - the only reason why Cook's stats seem meh is because England's less receptive to his technique - which could also hurt Gambhir. In fact, Gambhir might not make the English side, thinking about it.

The Gambhir not being able to handle anything but SC conditions thing is a myth really. Previously it was based on him not having toured anywhere else but he averages 89 in NZ and 60.5 in SA. Sure he might not be the most fluid shotmaker when the ball is new and short but he knows how to survive unlike bats like Sehwag who try to hit everything when the ball is short and lose their wicket.

I certainly wouldn't drop Gambhir, due to perceived flaws in his technique which are yet to be exposed, for Cook.

 

[honestbharani]

Better than Dhoni for mine. Don't really have an opinion on Haddin or Prior which is probably a good sign but I don't rate Dhoni with the gloves at all, especially given that he plays for India because he's soo dire keeping to spin.

Watched today's game?



Gotta say, I can understand why you don't set stall on opinions based on watching players.... I mean, you actually watched Haddin and Dhoni and concluded Haddin was better than Dhoni to spinners...

 

[vcs]

Yeah, Haddin probably made more howlers today than Dhoni has done in a year.

Dhoni also dropped a catch yesterday though, off Nehra I think it was.

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah, Haddin probably made more howlers today than Dhoni has done in a year.

Dhoni also dropped a catch yesterday though, off Nehra I think it was.

yeah, and I know Nehra is bowling rather slow these days, but would still be a stretch to call him a spinner..

 

[NUFAN]

Azhar Ali is world class IMO. I don't care what teams he wouldnt make.

He's such a gun batsman.

 

[Teja.]

Same with Toffee Kumar

Both of 'em are players you build teams around.

 

[smash84]

Azhar Ali is world class IMO. I don't care what teams he wouldnt make.

He's such a gun batsman.

Azhar Ali looks decent at times.

Same with Toffee Kumar

Both of 'em are players you build teams around.

You must be kidding about Toffee??? The guy has come back in the side and looks a better player now but building a team around him is stretching it.

 

[Furball]

The Gambhir not being able to handle anything but SC conditions thing is a myth really. Previously it was based on him not having toured anywhere else but he averages 89 in NZ and 60.5 in SA. Sure he might not be the most fluid shotmaker when the ball is new and short but he knows how to survive unlike bats like Sehwag who try to hit everything when the ball is short and lose their wicket.

I certainly wouldn't drop Gambhir, due to perceived flaws in his technique which are yet to be exposed, for Cook.

I'm still not convinced by Gambhir's ability on bouncier tracks. Obviously output matters a lot more than how a batsman looks, and by that measure, Gambhir did very well in South Africa, but he looked utterly terrible a couple of times that I saw him. It's certainly not a given that he'll succeed against a good bowling and fielding unit like England's in England.

 

[vcs]

I'm still not convinced by Gambhir's ability on bouncier tracks. Obviously output matters a lot more than how a batsman looks, and by that measure, Gambhir did very well in South Africa, but he looked utterly terrible a couple of times that I saw him. It's certainly not a given that he'll succeed against a good bowling and fielding unit like England's in England.

He has an excellent chance of succeeding though, and a much better one that people were willing to give him before this series.