Combined XI

[weldone]

I think I've already presented my point in this thread. To summarise, let me say that the bowler I shall take in my team between Harbhajan and Tremlett, if there were a test to be played tommorrow, would depend on the venue:

In the subcontinent and West Indies (5 places): Harbhajan
In Australia and England (2 places): Tremlett
In South Africa and Newzealand (2 places): could go either way. While Harbhajan has just had a very good series in SA and has a very good record in NZ overall, the conditions in SA and NZ 'might' suit Tremlett's bowling there, 'potentially'.

 

[GIMH]

Good one. I was responding to your claim about 'form'. It's unintelligent to use South Africa for the weed and not Australia for Tremlett given that the series were played pretty much at the same time.

It's almost as if you're punishing Tremlett for playing an extra series in the interim and doing well. But then that's fair enough I suppose given he was facing bunnies like Dilshan, Sangakarra and Jayawardene.

 

[GIMH]

And what are these 5 places for the subcontinent? I only count three where Tremmers is ever likely to play

 

[centurymaker]

And what are these 5 places for the subcontinent? I only count three where Tremmers is ever likely to play

Pak/uae
ind
sl
bang
wi

 

[centurymaker]

Is that scoring or conceding?

scoring.


bang- 1 test- avg 61 (missed one test due to injury)
sa - 2 tests- avg 28
sl- 2 tests - avg 152 (missed 1 test due to injury)
aus- 2 tests - avg 33
nz - 3 tests - avg 42
sa- 3 tests - avg 29

 

[zaremba]

Given what the OP says, the timing of the thread, and the fact that it's located in the Eng v Ind sub-forum, it's clear that we're talking about a series played in England.

But on weldone's terms, if the series were being played in the sub-continent, I think I'd pick Harbhajan before Tremlett. In Eng, Aus, SA or NZ I think I'd tend to go for Tremlett. Not sure about the Windies. Although the pitches can be slow and can take spin, fast bowlers can go ok there, not least because of uneven bounce - and I'd not want to face Tremlett on a pitch with uneven bounce.

Tremlett v Harbhajan is a bit apples v oranges though. A more relevant comparison is between Swann and Harbhajan. I know it's sacrelige (sp?) to say it, but I'm not 100% convinced yet that Swann is the superior bowler. HS has got a serious record under his belt whereas Swann is still, to an extent, proving himself. It will be fascinating to see how they go in this series.

 

[centurymaker]

Given what the OP says, the timing of the thread, and the fact that it's located in the Eng v Ind sub-forum, it's clear that we're talking about a series played in England.

But on weldone's terms, if the series were being played in the sub-continent, I think I'd pick Harbhajan before Tremlett. In Eng, Aus or NZ I think I'd tend to go for Tremlett. Not sure about the Windies. Although the pitches can be slow and can take spin, fast bowlers can go ok there, not least because of uneven bounce - and I'd not want to face Tremlett on a pitch with uneven bounce.

Tremlett v Harbhajan is a bit apples v oranges though. A more relevant comparison is between Swann and Harbhajan. I know it's sacrelige (sp?) to say it, but I'm not 100% convinced yet that Swann is the superior bowler. HS has got a serious record under his belt whereas Swann is still, to an extent, proving himself. It will be fascinating to see how they go in this series.

i reason i prefer swann over harbji is that he gives the ball air, while harbi doesn't.
basically harbi is a defensive **** when it comes to bowling.

howeverr, he's turning into a handy tailender now- has been doing quite well with the bat lately.
was involved in couple of match turning parternships in SA.
match turning 70 in this test against WI
2 tons and a fifty against nz (piches were very slow and low so helped no bowlers)

 

[zaremba]

Yes Harbhajan is a helluva tailender these days. He always tends to look threatening with the ball when I see him bowl as well. But that's a smaller sample size than Indian fans will have had I admit (in much the same way that VVS never seems to get runs when I'm watching).

I reckon if Swann were to retire with the sort of figures that Harbhajan has got (400 odd at 31 and 2 centuries) he'd be pretty happy, for all that his average is currently 27.

 

[weldone]

Given what the OP says, the timing of the thread, and the fact that it's located in the Eng v Ind sub-forum, it's clear that we're talking about a series played in England.

I'm not quite sure where the OP says that we are picking a team to play in England. If we are, then I shall gladly take the super-tall toddler in International cricket over Harbhajan.

 

[weldone]

Yes Harbhajan is a helluva tailender these days. He always tends to look threatening with the ball when I see him bowl as well. But that's a smaller sample size than Indian fans will have had I admit (in much the same way that VVS never seems to get runs when I'm watching).

I reckon if Swann were to retire with the sort of figures that Harbhajan has got (400 odd at 31 and 2 centuries) he'd be pretty happy, for all that his average is currently 27.

As I understand, we are picking players on the basis of current form, hence Swann over Harbhajan.

Otherwise, I don't see any reason why Dravid wouldn't bat at no. 3 in any such team.

I think that was kind of implied...

 

[Howe_zat]

I think I've already presented my point in this thread. To summarise, let me say that the bowler I shall take in my team between Harbhajan and Tremlett, if there were a test to be played tommorrow, would depend on the venue:

In the subcontinent and West Indies (5 places): Harbhajan
In Australia and England (2 places): Tremlett
In South Africa and Newzealand (2 places): could go either way. While Harbhajan has just had a very good series in SA and has a very good record in NZ overall, the conditions in SA and NZ 'might' suit Tremlett's bowling there, 'potentially'.

I'd take Tremmers to Bangladesh, just for the sake of shaking up their batsmen.

 

[zaremba]

I'm not quite sure where the OP says that we are picking a team to play in England. If we are, then I shall gladly take the super-tall toddler in International cricket over Harbhajan.

The OP was written in anticipation of the forthcoming series in England, with a view to people's teams evolving during the course of that series:

A few of us did these in one of the threads in CC. Be interesting to see what people put now and then how they evolve as the series progresses.

And yeah I think we'd all agree that, as a matter of the balance of the attack, you'd always play 3 seamers (at least) in most conditions you'd encounter in England, and given how he's going Tremlett would probably be the choice, behind Zak and Jimmy.

 

[zaremba]

As I understand, we are picking players on the basis of current form, hence Swann over Harbhajan.

Otherwise, I don't see any reason why Dravid wouldn't bat at no. 3 in any such team.

I think that was kind of implied...

I can't really comment on Harbhajan's form, as I haven't studied it closely. But I saw a little of him bowling in the short SA series and he looked a handful, as he has done again in the current Test v the Windies.

As for Dravid, well my sense was that his place was under threat as there was a feeling that he was on the decline - and most people would have Trott in their combined team having regard to form etc. But having seen him bat again yesterday, I was reminded of what a high class player Dravid is. Obviously he survived a bad dropped catch, but he's a bloody great player.

 

[vcs]

@zaremba : Swann has definitely been superior as a bowler to Harbhajan in recent times, and the figures don't lie. Swann's figures are a bit flattered by the Pakistan series last year, but he bowled magnificently and you can't really begrudge him a few cheap wickets in the process.

 

[Howe_zat]

Looking up bowling records over the last year just makes me pissed off about Amir again. But yeah, it's hard to get around that difference in average.

 

[GIMH]

Pak/uae
ind
sl
bang
wi

No cricket is played in Pak
UAE is not the subcontinent

 

[GIMH]

Sponsored by Blackberry, here is my 'Turn Off the Computer XI' for this series:

1. Bun
2. Cevno
3. Dasa
4. Blaze18
5. Centurymaker
6. silentstriker
7. vcs +
8. Turbinator
9. Gi joe
10. Jono
11. Shri

 

[vcs]

Honoured TBH, especially being named captain and all.

 

[Daemon]

****. I never make any team.

 

[GIMH]

Honoured TBH, especially being named captain and all.

You're the Keeper

Precam is the captain, decide for yourselves which version