The ATG Teams General arguing/discussing thread

[centurymaker]

Is Steyn approaching the point where he will be seen as a better bowler than Donald, or does some believe he is past him already?

at least level with him now I suppose.

 

[smash84]

I would rate Steyn better now I suppose (or at least equal)

 

[L Trumper]

Is Steyn approaching the point where he will be seen as a better bowler than Donald, or does some believe he is past him already?

I'd say better, unless he suddenly lost form and turns into crap. I don't think it will happen though. I think he would end up being the best after Marshall, and on par with Lillee, Hadlee et al.

 

[kyear2]

That is high praise indeed.

I dont think that we give present day players the reconition they deserve, that being said, I think that at this time he and Donald are just about even, if I had to choose one, I would still give Donald the edge. Steyn is still definately on his way up though.
Definately an ATG already.

 

[ankitj]

Donald-Steyn-S. Pollock-Procter. That pace attack of an all time SA XI is equaled (or marginally excelled) by only WI's. IMO. I therefore think, and keep asserting here, that an all time SA XI is level with any other all time XI (or marginally behind the Bradman side).

 

[kyear2]

Pollock is a class below any of the W.I. pace men and there is none of them quite the equal of Ambrose far less Marshall, but yes it is a very good attack with Procter probably being the best but never got the prolonged Test experience to prove it. If he and Richards has played full careers they may very well been locks in everyone's ATG side. As it is it's hard to place them above Hutton/ Gavaskar or Imran/Miller.

 

[Red]

On another tangent: I'm in to teams that bat to 11 at the moment, while still having a really strong bowling attack.

Hobbs
Gavaskar
Bradman
G.Chappell/Tendulkar/Lara/Hammond
V. Richards
Kallis/Miller
Sobers
Gilchrist
Imran
Hadlee
Warne

 

[watson]

Some nice video of Fred Trueman in action. No wonder he is one of England's greatest.

Fred Trueman: Record breaking exploits :: The largest library of cricket videos

 

[watson]

John Snow getting Sobers out first ball as well as almost taking Ian Chappell's head off......

John Snow at his extreme best :: The largest library of cricket videos

 

[kyear2]

With Kallis, this is not a very strong attack. Personally cannot conceive of an ATG team with out the greatest ever fast bowler, who for me is generally third name on the team sheet. Additionally the extra ten runs with the bat not worth the lost intagibles of a Marshall or even Lillee, especially Marshall who was more than handy with the bat.
Nice idea though and it is your team. Everyone in an ATG team should be able to contribute in at least two disciplines.

 

[Red]

I don't believe Marshall was a vastly greater bowler than Imran or Hadlee. But you could quite easily replace one of them with him. I'd take Lillee first if I was going to select bowlers on bowling merit only.

 

[kyear2]

Great finds watson, Just amazing clips

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't believe Marshall was a vastly greater bowler than Imran or Hadlee.

Indeed not; but Hadlee wasn't a vastly greater batsman than Marshall either; and in fact I'm sure the difference in batting between them would be much lesser against a team of equivalent standard to the one we're picking than it was during their Test careers.

Even in a "bat to 11" team, Marshall must play. He could seriously bat. Especially if you're picking Warne.

 

[Prince EWS]

If I wanted to bat to eleven:

1 Hobbs
2 Grace
3 Bradman
4 Tendulkar
5 Headley
6 Sobers
7 Gilchrist
8 Imran
9 Benaud
10 Hadlee
11 Marshall

Which is incidentally just straight up my usual team with Benaud in for Murali.

 

[ankitj]

How will Faulkner be in place of Benaud?

 

[Prince EWS]

How will Faulkner be in place of Benaud?

Yeah that was my original thought but Benaud was the better bowler even though Faulkner was the better cricketer, and he's batting 9 with Hadlee at 10, so I went with Benaud. I also considered Briggs and Rhodes.

 

[Prince EWS]

Could have Faulkner for Benaud and then someone like Pollock, Miller or Procter for Headley to balance it out a bit and ensure the side still had four real quality bowlers I guess.

 

[watson]

Indeed not; but Hadlee wasn't a vastly greater batsman than Marshall either; and in fact I'm sure the difference in batting between them would be much lesser against a team of equivalent standard to the one we're picking than it was during their Test careers.

Even in a "bat to 11" team, Marshall must play. He could seriously bat. Especially if you're picking Warne.

Hadlee was not vastly better than Marshall, but I believe him to be significantly better from what I saw on the TV,

In the early 80s he was one of only 2-3 Kiwi batsman who had any idea against Dennis Lillee. I remember the following 50 by Hadlee as if it were yesterday. The team score was 152 all out;

1st Test: Australia v New Zealand at Brisbane, Nov 28-30, 1980 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Jager]

Why Lawry over Trumper, Morris, Hayden or Ponsford in your AUS XI, watson?

 

[Jager]

Pollock is a class below any of the W.I. pace men and there is none of them quite the equal of Ambrose far less Marshall, but yes it is a very good attack with Procter probably being the best but never got the prolonged Test experience to prove it. If he and Richards has played full careers they may very well been locks in everyone's ATG side. As it is it's hard to place them above Hutton/ Gavaskar or Imran/Miller.

Please justify what you say about Pollock. It's your opinion FFS, not a fact like you seem to make it out to be.