An effort to pick an All-time ODI XI

[smash84]

Batsman Imran's "caution" at no. 8 during over no. 49 might not be too handy

It might hurt team morale too if an aggressive batsman is in the non-striker's end waiting for strike from the captain for too long during that time ...

Actually Imran was a very good ODI batsman. He could take the attack to the bowlers when need be.

Imran smashes Ambrose over for 24 :: The largest library of cricket videos

 

[hang on]

bit like saying that kallis is an aggressive test batsman because he has hit more sixes than tendulkar or ponting.

 

[smash84]

but Imran could play aggressively down the order. It is only towards the end of his career that he batted at number 3 and would play slowly.

 

[smash84]

has a SR of a shade under 73 which is pretty decent for his era I think. Dean Jones had a similar SR.

 

[weldone]

Actually Imran was a very good ODI batsman. He could take the attack to the bowlers when need be.

Imran smashes Ambrose over for 24 :: The largest library of cricket videos

Will 2 counter-examples for one suffice?

HowSTAT! ODI Scorecard

HowSTAT! ODI Scorecard

21*(82) and 7(35) respectively - both matches lost by Pakistan.

Another classic example is the following one. Pakistan is chasing 171 to win a 40-over ODI against India. They are on course for a win. Imran Khan comes in at no. 8, makes 2 runs off 12 deliveries and puts pressure on tailenders Wasim Bari and Sarfraz Nawaz - who could have easily won the match (which they eventually lose by 4 runs) otherwise:

HowSTAT! ODI Scorecard

 

[weldone]

but Imran could play aggressively down the order. It is only towards the end of his career that he batted at number 3 and would play slowly.

Wrong. Imran was a decent ODI batsman only when he batted at no. 3. He was poor by ATG standards when he batted down the order.

 

[smash84]

I don't think he was poor at number 8 even by ATG standards (unless you have Klusener in mind)

 

[smash84]

Wrong. Imran was a decent ODI batsman only when he batted at no. 3. He was poor by ATG standards when he batted down the order.

No. His SR of 73 wouldn't be explained by being super slow all the time.

 

[weldone]

No. His SR of 73 wouldn't be explained by being super slow all the time.

Being super-slow at no. 3 was the norm those days (except for Viv) - so nothing wrong with that. In fact, I have said that Imran was a decent no. 3, especially for a bowling all-rounder.

But I see that you have him batting down the order. Those were days when there were no power-plays, and most of the power-hitting was done in the last 10 overs or so. Kapil Dev, Lance Cairns, Gus Logie, Wasim Akram, Ian Smith are few of the batsmen who did that successfully during Imran's time. (And plenty afterwards...)

 

[Ikki]

Must say that Ponting is getting seriously underrated for some reason. Not entirely sure what more he could do to get in the team over the course of his career. One of the first picked for mine.

Especially given his fielding and captaincy.

He's IMO the best ODI batsman not named Bevan, Tendulkar or Viv.

 

[Daemon]

Zaheer?

 

[hang on]

not to mention lara, jones, and dhoni.

while ponting's fielding can certainly be considered, his captaincy is easily matched by khan, dhoni and even viv.

 

[Burgey]

Actually Imran was a very good ODI batsman. He could take the attack to the bowlers when need be.

Imran smashes Ambrose over for 24 :: The largest library of cricket videos

So now he's in the ATG ODI side?

Getting ridiculous.

 

[smash84]

So now he's in the ATG ODI side?

Getting ridiculous.

More as a captain and bowler (with a bit of batting) tbf. And itbt I hadn't thought of Kapil (who gets really under rated around here). It isn't quite as ridiculous as you want to make it sound

I think Imran has a strong case to be the second greatest cricketer after the Don IMO. For PEWS he is ahead of even Bradman (Oh shoot. This will get your knickers in a real twist).

 

[Prince EWS]

I definitely wouldn't pick Imran in an all-time ODI side though.

 

[smash84]

Probably, but getting him in an ATXI mainly as a bowler and captain probably will not hurt your team as much (have to admit that there are better contenders purely as players but then this is my ATXI and guess what. Cricinfo somewhat vindicates my stance today )

http://www.espncricinfo.com/greatestteams/content/story/543062.html

 

[weldone]

... and guess what. Cricinfo somewhat vindicates my stance today )

One-day giants | Cricket Features | Greatest Teams | ESPN Cricinfo

How exactly? If anything, I could only find praises of Imran's leadership in ODIs in that article. Not sure how that article vindicates your stance. Can't see anything written about Imran there that's not written about Arjuna Ranatunga for example, tbf.

 

[smash84]

I did admit that it was mainly for leadership didn't I?????

 

[weldone]

I did admit that it was mainly for leadership didn't I?????

If people should be in the team for leadership alone, then I don't see any reason why Mansoor Pataudi wasn't captaining the Indian side touring England in 2011.

 

[smash84]

If people should be in the team for leadership alone, then I don't see any reason why Mansoor Pataudi wasn't captaining the Indian side touring England in 2011.

Either you are not stupid as you seem or you don't seem as stupid as you are.

At least bother to read my last few posts before commenting.