"Best ever" teams selected by former players or experts- whose is best?

[NUFAN]

Kyear, is there any possibility that you could provide the year that the teams were picked?

 

[harsh.ag]

I don't think Imran is as big a lock as some people think he is.

 

[Prince EWS]

If The Roar gets on the list can I post an official all-time XI on CricSim and get that on the list too?

 

[benchmark00]

No because regular contributors of cricsim are exclusively 14 year olds.

 

[ankitj]

If The Roar gets on the list can I post an official all-time XI on CricSim and get that on the list too?

Yes please do. I am likely to agree with your selection more than any of these. (What is your team BTW?)

 

[Prince EWS]

Yes please do. I am likely to agree with your selection more than any of these. (What is your team BTW?)

Assuming it's just a Test team:

Hobbs, Hutton, Bradman, Tendulkar, -, Sobers, Gilchrist, Imran, Hadlee, Marshall, Murali.

If I'm considering more than Test cricket then Grace comes in for Hutton. Torn on the #5 batsman between a few players so it'd depend on the whims of the day.

 

[The Sean]

Assuming it's just a Test team:

Hobbs, Hutton, Bradman, Tendulkar, -, Sobers, Gilchrist, Imran, Hadlee, Marshall, Murali.

If I'm considering more than Test cricket then Grace comes in for Hutton. Torn on the #5 batsman between a few players so it'd depend on the whims of the day.

Of all the AT XIs doing the rounds here, that one is the closest to my own.

 

[smash84]

I don't think Imran is as big a lock as some people think he is.

Why do you think that? He was an awesome fast bowler. Bowling wise Averages less than 30 in all countries. Has the highest bowling peak rating of any bowler post world war II. Was a solid, dependable lower order batsman with the ability to hold up an end. Had an excellent understanding of the game. Usually was the biggest contributor to Pakistan's series' abroad in the 1980s and did very well against the best team of his time. Raised his game when the tough got going. A very good captain as well. What more would you want for a lock in?

 

[smash84]

If The Roar gets on the list can I post an official all-time XI on CricSim and get that on the list too?

Who is the roar?

 

[harsh.ag]

Ah..... I didn't mean it in a way that derides his magnificent achievements. Consider the following POVs -

--> Go for 3 pace bowlers, 1 spinner - 2 right arm, 1 left arm. Imran may not make the top 2 right arm pacers for some.

--> Go for 2 pace bowlers, 2 spinners - Again, Imran may not make the cut. Counting Barnes as spinner, opening bowler notwithstanding.

Hence, the "not-as-big-a-lock-as-some-think" hypothesis Definitely should make it in case of the attack having 3 right arm pacers.

 

[smash84]

In the first case the problem is that you are assuming that having a left arm paceman will necessarily give you a better option than Imran. Isn't the criteria to get wickets as cheaply as possible?

Second case, if you have a bowler who is in the same ball park as your top 2 right arm fast bowlers and bats much much better, why wouldn't you consider him?

 

[harsh.ag]

I don't know man. Too many options, I guess. Plus I am prejudiced. Imran destroyed India

Plus those are not my POVs. Was spelling out something that others may think.

 

[ankitj]

Assuming it's just a Test team:

Hobbs, Hutton, Bradman, Tendulkar, -, Sobers, Gilchrist, Imran, Hadlee, Marshall, Murali.

If I'm considering more than Test cricket then Grace comes in for Hutton. Torn on the #5 batsman between a few players so it'd depend on the whims of the day.

I will take that team. Put Greame Pollock at #5. That would give representation to all of the top 8 test teams.

Or Kallis, who will give 6th bowling option.

 

[harsh.ag]

Or Kallis, who will give 6th bowling option.

Tendulkar's got that covered

 

[smash84]

I don't know man. Too many options, I guess. Plus I am prejudiced. Imran destroyed India

Plus those are not my POVs. Was spelling out something that others may think.

I get what argument you are pointing at but to replace Imran you would need a bowler who is better than Imran by a significant enough margin to cancel out the benefit that Imran brings with his batting. It is difficult to find such a bowler though

 

[Agent Nationaux]

I get what argument you are pointing at but to replace Imran you would need a bowler who is better than Imran by a significant enough margin to cancel out the benefit that Imran brings with his batting. It is difficult to find such a bowler though

Only two other cricketers could replace Imran in that sense. Either Miller or Botham.

 

[subshakerz]

Ah..... I didn't mean it in a way that derides his magnificent achievements. Consider the following POVs -

--> Go for 3 pace bowlers, 1 spinner - 2 right arm, 1 left arm. Imran may not make the top 2 right arm pacers for some.

--> Go for 2 pace bowlers, 2 spinners - Again, Imran may not make the cut. Counting Barnes as spinner, opening bowler notwithstanding.

Hence, the "not-as-big-a-lock-as-some-think" hypothesis Definitely should make it in case of the attack having 3 right arm pacers.

That's the beauty of having Sobers, you already have the left arm pacer and second spinner all in one. So you don't need a second spinner after Warne, or Wasim just for the sake of left arm variety. Sobers can handle both jobs, and if you argue that he wasn't good enough, well he is the fifth bowler, so its not a big deal, he wont bowl much anyways.

Imran IMO should definitely be there for the following reasons:

- He is clearly a superior cricketer to Wasim in both disciplines

- As an all-time great bowler, Imran will be the reverse swing specialist which rounds off the attack perfectly

- By having an established batsman at no. 7, you strengthen the tail immensely

- Imran would make a natural captain for this team of giants

 

[kyear2]

Kyear, is there any possibility that you could provide the year that the teams were picked?

Will try to do so this weekend. All of them were released either after the Cricinfo, ICC or Wisden teams were released and the oldest is probably 2010 with the possible exception of CMJ.

I don't think Imran is as big a lock as some people think he is.

I agree only from the sense that he doesn't make a lot of these teams, Smali think's it beccause people limit them selves to only one all rounder, but I don't think that is the case and are just selecting what they believe is the best attack period and not really looking at the batting aspect of it. Probably because of the strength of the batting lineup and the presence for many of Gilchrist at 7.
When one looks at the bowlers who are named most often Marshall, Lillee and Barnes, it seems to bear that out as they are the ones regarded by most (escepting Benaud) as the three best bowlers to have played the game and in a team like this you pick the best possible attack as their primary job is to bowl out the opposition twice.

 

[smash84]

I agree only from the sense that he doesn't make a lot of these teams, Smali think's it beccause people limit them selves to only one all rounder, but I don't think that is the case and are just selecting what they believe is the best attack period and not really looking at the batting aspect of it. Probably because of the strength of the batting lineup and the presence for many of Gilchrist at 7.
.

Which is why I think they are not looking at the complete picture

 

[91Jmay]

Only do players I have seen play (roughly 2003/4 onwards)
Matt Hayden
Hashim Amla
Ricky Ponting
Jacques Kallis
Sachin Tendulkar
Brian Lara
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Dale Steyn
Vernon Philander
Glenn McGrath

Toss up between Philander and Gillespie. I know that is quite sacrilegious but I never saw GIlly in his pomp.