Agent Nationaux
International Coach
So does this mean we can all create a thread for our greatest XI?
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Furball's Greatest XI
- Thread starter Furball
- Start date
Howe_zat
Audio File
How good are you at building suspense?
Agent Nationaux
International Coach
Well..............................
smash84
The Tiger King
You got that wrong mate. It would consist of 10 Imrans and 1 emoticon
Last edited:
Furball
Evil Scotsman
Anyway, let's kick this off before smalishah spams the thread with more images from his Imran **** bank. And there's no-one better to kick it off with than my favourite cricketer of all time:
James Anderson
My man-crush on Jimmeh has been at least 10 years in the making. Although I'd watched bits and bobs of international cricket as a kid in the 1990s, and played for a couple of years for my local team before other commitments got in the way, it wasn't until the summer of 2003 where I decided that I was going to make a proper effort to actually take an interest in and follow the sport. Coincidentally, this was the same summer that Jimmeh made his Test bow for England, and it was easy to identify with him given his rockstar haircuts and the fact that he's only 3 years older than me. He looked like someone who could easily be one of my mates. It helped that he was quite good too, taking 5 wickets on debut against Zimbabwe, before dominating South Africa in the ODI tri-series which followed. He was clearly a talented young bloke, he fought hard with the bat, and as we were later to see, he's got a great sense of humour as well.
Sadly for Jimmeh his honeymoon period was short lived, as a poor Test series followed (I think my dislike of Graeme Smith all stems from this series and the way he batted against Anderson tbh) and Anderson spent the next 4 years in and out of the side. Sadly (or luckily, depending on your perogative), I hadn't yet found CricketWeb, but everywhere on the internet where I chatted cricket, derision for Anderson was clear every time he was selected. At times it seemed like I was the only person who rated him.
I think that's why I'm such a fanboy of his now, because his proving just about everyone wrong and turning into a truly world class bowler and a master of his craft feels almost like a personal triumph for me in a way. If I'd been a member of CricketWeb back in 2006/07 I would have had plenty of "I told you so" moments over the last 3-4 years as he's gradually proven all his doubters wrong. "He's like a vampire, he dies when the sun comes out" became "he can't bowl in Australia", which became "he can't bowl in Asia", which became "he can't bowl in India." Over the last 5 years he's bowled brilliantly in all conditions to all batsmen.
On song, he's the best bowler to watch in the world, and he has every trick in the book. Conventional swing in or out, reverse swing, seam movement, the lot. He's truly turned into a man for all conditions, and while his career figures might not ever do him justice in my eyes, I think it's fitting that such a talented player will probably end his career as England's greatest ever wicket-taker. I can't think of any player I'd rather have taking the new ball in my Greatest XI.
Furball's Greatest XI
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. JM Anderson
11.
James Anderson
My man-crush on Jimmeh has been at least 10 years in the making. Although I'd watched bits and bobs of international cricket as a kid in the 1990s, and played for a couple of years for my local team before other commitments got in the way, it wasn't until the summer of 2003 where I decided that I was going to make a proper effort to actually take an interest in and follow the sport. Coincidentally, this was the same summer that Jimmeh made his Test bow for England, and it was easy to identify with him given his rockstar haircuts and the fact that he's only 3 years older than me. He looked like someone who could easily be one of my mates. It helped that he was quite good too, taking 5 wickets on debut against Zimbabwe, before dominating South Africa in the ODI tri-series which followed. He was clearly a talented young bloke, he fought hard with the bat, and as we were later to see, he's got a great sense of humour as well.
Sadly for Jimmeh his honeymoon period was short lived, as a poor Test series followed (I think my dislike of Graeme Smith all stems from this series and the way he batted against Anderson tbh) and Anderson spent the next 4 years in and out of the side. Sadly (or luckily, depending on your perogative), I hadn't yet found CricketWeb, but everywhere on the internet where I chatted cricket, derision for Anderson was clear every time he was selected. At times it seemed like I was the only person who rated him.
I think that's why I'm such a fanboy of his now, because his proving just about everyone wrong and turning into a truly world class bowler and a master of his craft feels almost like a personal triumph for me in a way. If I'd been a member of CricketWeb back in 2006/07 I would have had plenty of "I told you so" moments over the last 3-4 years as he's gradually proven all his doubters wrong. "He's like a vampire, he dies when the sun comes out" became "he can't bowl in Australia", which became "he can't bowl in Asia", which became "he can't bowl in India." Over the last 5 years he's bowled brilliantly in all conditions to all batsmen.
On song, he's the best bowler to watch in the world, and he has every trick in the book. Conventional swing in or out, reverse swing, seam movement, the lot. He's truly turned into a man for all conditions, and while his career figures might not ever do him justice in my eyes, I think it's fitting that such a talented player will probably end his career as England's greatest ever wicket-taker. I can't think of any player I'd rather have taking the new ball in my Greatest XI.
Furball's Greatest XI
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. JM Anderson
11.
Last edited:
Agent Nationaux
International Coach
Back to the regular conversation before Furby rudely interrupted, Is that Peter O'Toole with Imran?
Cabinet96
Hall of Fame Member
Predictable, but deserved. WAFG.
Tbh, I just named the whole of India's 2011 bowling line up, as I've rarely seen such contempt for a sporting side than you had for them. Bowling attack could've had more imagination I'll admit.In fact when I think about it Zaheer's quite possibly the first reserve quickie. Definitely makes my 2nd XI. Soto you Cabinet.
looking forward to the rest.
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
How likely is Mike Garnham to feature?
Or, at a compromise, Peter Such?
Or, at a compromise, Peter Such?
Howe_zat
Audio File
I'm acting astonished!
It is a salient point you make about his performances away. In 2010 a popular opinion was to only play him at home because of the way he bowls. Then came the 2010-11 Ashes. The following winter he crossed Sri Lanka off the list by consistently getting Sangakkara out on his home turf. The year after MS Dhoni called him the difference between the sides as England won in India for the first time in 28 years. Quite a remarkable player.
It is a salient point you make about his performances away. In 2010 a popular opinion was to only play him at home because of the way he bowls. Then came the 2010-11 Ashes. The following winter he crossed Sri Lanka off the list by consistently getting Sangakkara out on his home turf. The year after MS Dhoni called him the difference between the sides as England won in India for the first time in 28 years. Quite a remarkable player.
fredfertang
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
...... and Furball makes a promising start - will be interested to see who else he has tucked away in his sporran
