English ATG Team- Open Voting

[watson]

Well if I had to list England's best six ever batsmen in order of how highly I rated them, I'd probably roll with Grace, Hobbs, Hammond, Hutton, Sutcliffe, Compton. And while I agree that it's easier for openers to slide down the order a bit than the other way around, picking four openers and a #3 as my 1-5 in the batting lineup would take the piss slightly.

Do you think that your favoured batting line-up of....

01. Grace
02. Hobbs
03. Hammond
04. Hutton
05. Sutcliffe
06. Compton

....would score more runs than a more conventional line-up? Such as;

01. Grace
02. Hobbs
03. Hammond
04. Barrington
05. May
06. Compton

If you do think that your unconventional line-up would score more runs then why not select it? After all, the main objective is to win the Test match, is it not?

 

[Prince EWS]

Do you think that your favoured batting line-up of....

01. Grace
02. Hobbs
03. Hammond
04. Hutton
05. Sutcliffe
06. Compton

....would score more runs than a more conventional line-up? Such as;

01. Grace
02. Hobbs
03. Hammond
04. Barrington
05. May
06. Compton

If you do think that your unconventional line-up would score more runs then why not select it? After all, the main objective is to win the Test match, is it not?

I'd probably not actually bat them in that order; that was just an order of best to worst. Sutcliffe from what I know would be less suited to move down the order than the rest, so I'd probably stick him in at opener and roll with:

1. Hobbs
2. Sutcliffe
3. Hutton
4. Hammond
5. Grace
6. Compton

I'm torn over whether I'd back that lineup to score more runs than one with May or Barrington in for Sutcliffe and a reshuffle though, for instance. Batting the openers out of position gives the team a higher ceiling (ie. if they take to it then it'll better than the alternative) but also a low floor (you increase the chance of outright failure by doing something largely unproven).

 

[watson]

I'd probably not actually bat them in that order; that was just an order of best to worst. Sutcliffe from what I know would be less suited to move down the order than the rest, so I'd probably stick him in at opener and roll with:

1. Hobbs
2. Sutcliffe
3. Hutton
4. Hammond
5. Grace
6. Compton

I'm torn over whether I'd back that lineup to score more runs than one with May or Barrington in for Sutcliffe and a reshuffle though, for instance. Batting the openers out of position gives the team a higher ceiling (ie. if they take to it then it'll better than the alternative) but also a low floor (you increase the chance of outright failure by doing something largely unproven).

I guess Hutton and Grace are unproven in the middle-order, but the risk must be small. About the only problems they'll encounter is the strange task of facing an old ball and tired bowlers first-up, and a loss of concentration because they're suffering from boredom after waiting too long in the dressing room.

Are there any other hurdles?

 

[NUFAN]

You answered your own question earlier..

Did Hutton have a weakness against off spin I wonder?

Its not the easiest thing for a normal opener to come into the middle order against a quality spinner when on 0.


Hobbs and Hutton are my votes for sure.

 

[watson]

You answered your own question earlier..


Its not the easiest thing for a normal opener to come into the middle order against a quality spinner when on 0.


Hobbs and Hutton are my votes for sure.

Good point. I guess it would be a potential problem to a new ball specialist to face a spin bowler 'cold'. Although it does seem a bit odd being that Hutton et al would have to face spinners after intervals, or at the beginning of a new day farely regularly.

 

[fredfertang]

Athol Rowan was a pretty special bowler by all accounts, and as Hutton averaged 54 in the 15 Tests he played against he, I don't think that's indicative of a weakness - certainly in his autobiography Hutton conceded that Rowan was second only to Laker amongst off-spinners, and he didn't mention having particular problems with that type of bowler ...... although perhaps he wouldn't!

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Jack Hobbs
Len Hutton

 

[Himannv]

Hobbs and Hutton are obvious choices for me.

 

[Satyanash89]

Hobbs
Hutton

By a distance... would probably be my openers in a World ATG XI too

 

[kyear2]

Voting seems to be slowing down and we seem to have a consensus, ready to move on to #3 or are we giving it some more time?

 

[bagapath]

Out of respect I am going for

Grace

And as his partner I am just closing my eyes and keeping my finger on one of the three top contenders hobbs, hutton and sutcliffe. And it is,

Hobbs

 

[a massive zebra]

Hobbs and Hutton.

 

[Red]

Just a question...


The number 3 for Australia was clear cut. I view it as a specialist position, but it might be trickier for England.

Should we have a list of middler order options (#3 - #6) to choose from, and go with the four who get the most votes, or should we have a vote for #3, and then vote for the #4 - #6 positions?

I'm thinking the former, but open to suggestions...

 

[zaremba]

Hobbs
Grace

 

[Howe_zat]

Just a question...


The number 3 for Australia was clear cut. I view it as a specialist position, but it might be trickier for England.

Should we have a list of middler order options (#3 - #6) to choose from, and go with the four who get the most votes, or should we have a vote for #3, and then vote for the #4 - #6 positions?

I'm thinking the former, but open to suggestions...

Pick the opening bowlers next, and then the wicket keeper - allows people to make a more informed choice than picking the whole team in batting order

 

[kyear2]

Select the number three and then the rest of the middle order.

 

[watson]

I reckon select the keeper next and then the 4 bowlers.

This is because one of the major issues in selecting an ATG England team is Ian Botham.

Do you bat Botham at No.6, No.7, or No.8 ?
This will depend somewhat on who the wicket-keeper is, and what their skills are like with the bat.

Should Botham be one of the 3 frontline pacemen, or the 5th bowler who bats at No.6 ?

Do you drop Botham and go for a real batsman at No.6 and be happy with Hammond as the 5th bowler?

Etc......

 

[Cabinet96]

Pick the opening bowlers next, and then the wicket keeper - allows people to make a more informed choice than picking the whole team in batting order

This.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Sutcliffe schmutcliffe. The only ATG bowlers in Tests he ever had to face were Gregory and McDonald. Same applies to Hobbs. FTBs both, would cop the Hayden/Kallis treatment on this forum if either played today.

Hutton and Boycott. Played in eras of terrifying attacks, dreadful wickets and more often than not as the lone great batsman of their respective Test teams.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Sutcliffe schmutcliffe. The only ATG bowlers in Tests he ever had to face were Gregory and McDonald. Same applies to Hobbs. FTBs both, would cop the Hayden/Kallis treatment on this forum if either played today.

Hutton and Boycott. Played in eras of terrifying attacks, dreadful wickets and more often than not as the lone great batsman of their respective Test teams.

Harsh on Tiger & Clarrie, in my estimation.