CW All-Time XI Openers

[watson]

I'm an Aussie so I'm a fan of Hayden. He's a bloody good player but not a great one in my opinion. He seemed to lack footwork when the ball was swinging or moving around. And against great fast bowling I don't think that his technique of planting the front foot in the line of middle and leg stump while merely 'hitting through the ball' would work for very long.

It is true that he made runs against Allan Donald in Australia during his retirment year, but against a younger and faster Allan Donald he did significantly worse. For example, during 3 tests in the 1996-97 tour of South Africa he averaged only 12.8.

I don't think that it's a coincidence that Hayden became successful when the great fast bowlers of the 90's were on their last legs, or had already retired. But I am happy to be wrong in the matter.

 

[Jager]

I went with with Trumper and Hobbs but I'd rather have Trumper at 3 or 5, but by the looks of it, it won't make much of a difference.

 

[Cevno]

Hutton and Gavaskar for me.

 

[smash84]

I'm an Aussie so I'm a fan of Hayden. He's a bloody good player but not a great one in my opinion. He seemed to lack footwork when the ball was swinging or moving around. And against great fast bowling I don't think that his technique of planting the front foot in the line of middle and leg stump while merely 'hitting through the ball' would work for very long.

It is true that he made runs against Allan Donald in Australia during his retirment year, but against a younger and faster Allan Donald he did significantly worse. For example, during 3 tests in the 1996-97 tour of South Africa he averaged only 12.8.

I don't think that it's a coincidence that Hayden became successful when the great fast bowlers of the 90's were on their last legs, or had already retired. But I am happy to be wrong in the matter.

awta

I also believe that the likes of MoYo and Sehwag would have had a harder time in 00s had there been not such a dearth of great bowlers.

 

[weldone]

awta

I also believe that the likes of MoYo and Sehwag would have had a harder time in 00s had there been not such a dearth of great bowlers.

True, but the key question is how much harder?

I hate to delve into these cross-era scenario discussions, but do you really think that Denis Lillee on Feroz Shah Kotla pitch would bother Sehwag much? I don't think so. Surely he would struggle on pace-friendly pitches (even more than he does now, granted), but I think he would be equally unstoppable in the SubContinent (unless if he had to face someone like Imran, arguably )

 

[Jager]

In the middle order and all rounder section, will the two certain picks be removed in order to create a more interesting vote? Bradman and Sobers are almost guaranteed choices, which means we're only picking two batsmen and one all rounder (the second choice will almost certainly be Imran, too). It could make it more exciting if we exclude the obvious.

 

[Camo999]

Went Trumper & Hobbs but wanted WG Grace.

Also will Sobers for example be listed in batsman and all-rounder categories or limited to just one?

 

[ankitj]

In the middle order and all rounder section, will the two certain picks be removed in order to create a more interesting vote? Bradman and Sobers are almost guaranteed choices, which means we're only picking two batsmen and one all rounder (the second choice will almost certainly be Imran, too). It could make it more exciting if we exclude the obvious.

The best way to achieve that is to do a single vote at a time without even mentioning type of player to be voted. So in first round, I could vote for Bradman and you could vote for Imran.

 

[smash84]

True, but the key question is how much harder?

I hate to delve into these cross-era scenario discussions, but do you really think that Denis Lillee on Feroz Shah Kotla pitch would bother Sehwag much? I don't think so. Surely he would struggle on pace-friendly pitches (even more than he does now, granted), but I think he would be equally unstoppable in the SubContinent (unless if he had to face someone like Imran, arguably )

I do think that Wasim, Waqar, and Imran would have given Sehwag a run for his money on Feroze Shah Kotla or other Indian venues. The Wasim and Shoaib of 1999 troubled the indian line up back then with Ganguly, Dravid, Tendy, and Azhar in the line up.

The ptches were not absolute road tbf but even then it would have been much tougher to get away the likes of these great bowlers than the Samis and Rana Naveeds

 

[Burgey]

Why does there have to be an all rounder in an all time XI? I've always wondered that

 

[Jager]

The best way to achieve that is to do a single vote at a time without even mentioning type of player to be voted. So in first round, I could vote for Bradman and you could vote for Imran.

Doesn't seem like we're using that format though.

 

[kyear2]

Used the short list from Wisden, only players I added was Richards and Morris, Hayden would have been next in line.

 

[Jager]

Used the short list from Wisden, only players I added was Richards and Morris, Hayden would have been next in line.

Could you link me to the shortlist please?

 

[weldone]

Why does there have to be an all rounder in an all time XI? I've always wondered that

This.

First, there should have been a poll about the team composition. I, for one, want 4 specialist middle-order batsmen and 4 specialist bowlers in my team...don't understand why there have to be 2 all-rounders...

This isn't going to be CW XI, but CW XI in a given team composition only.

 

[kyear2]

Most members here constantly fret about lack of all rounders in their teams. Vote all batsmen and bowlers and skip the allrounders if you choose. Was using Benauds format which most members here seemed to like.

 

[smash84]

Most members here constantly fret about lack of all rounders in their teams. Vote all batsmen and bowlers and skip the allrounders if you choose. Was using Benauds format which most members here seemed to like.

Great All rounders add a lot of value to a side hence they are rated quite hightly here

 

[weldone]

Great All rounders add a lot of value to a side hence they are rated quite hightly here

The 2nd discipline doesn't matter much assuming the all-time XI plays against a high quality opposition (even PEWS, whose favorite cricketer is Imran, agrees on this).

And if it doesn't play against a high (equivalent) quality opposition, why bother making an all-time XI?

 

[Ikki]

I pick Hobbs and Sutcliffe. Not only are they two of the greatest openers ever but they were actually a partnership.

 

[Cevno]

This.

First, there should have been a poll about the team composition. I, for one, want 4 specialist middle-order batsmen and 4 specialist bowlers in my team...don't understand why there have to be 2 all-rounders...

This isn't going to be CW XI, but CW XI in a given team composition only.

Depends who is included as a all rounder though. Pretty sure if he had a vote for the composition most would vote for 1 all rounder at least and then others like Hadlee might get voted in as a bowler in anycase.

 

[Cevno]

The best way to achieve that is to do a single vote at a time without even mentioning type of player to be voted. So in first round, I could vote for Bradman and you could vote for Imran.

Wouldn't that give a weirdly balanced team though ?