Cricinfo Best Test 11 from last 25 years

[Borges]

As a team, Sri Lanka was the first to redefine the way in which one day cricket is played.

England may be doing that now; what a climb from failing to qualify for the WC knock-outs a few years back, to clear number one in ODIs now.

 

[Burgey]

I think it was Mark Greatbatch in the 1992 world cup who really introduced the pinch hitting concept

Botham opened for England in the Perth challenge in 87 playing the same role.

Australia used McDermott as a pinch hitter in the WC final in 87 as well. Didn’t come off.

 

[cnerd123]

Irfan Pathan went pretty well as a pinch hitter

Kris Srikkanth was an attacking opening ODI batsman back in the 80s, so he really probably defined the role, bit doesn't get much credit for that because he was a genuine opening batsman and played the same way in Tests. Not a pinch hitter nor a player brought into the ODI side specifically to carry out this role. He was just in the team anyways and always played like that.

 

[Burgey]

Any truth to the rumour Srikkanth needed a separate kit bag for his nose?

Pathan is a good shout actually. I seem to remember him playing a few games against our blokes and being promoted to have a dip.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Pathan batted at 3 for a while, and batted properly. Wasnt just a pinch hitter. Definitely fits the mould of bowler thrown up the order.

Reminds me of another one, Nicky Boje. Not a genuine AR or bat by any means but had an insane run of form made a couple tons at no. 3

 

[Migara]

Kalu continued the tradition of the pinch hitter. He just happened to be a wk doing so. Wk pinch hitter is not a category that ever came to exist.

Gilchrist pioneered the tradition of the wk bat.

Rich claim when Andy Flower was playing ODis since 1992, and Tests since 1993. Very much like the myth that Warne revived legspin.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Rich claim when Andy Flower was playing ODis since 1992, and Tests since 1993. Very much like the myth that Warne revived legspin.

Andy Flower was a very ordinary keeper. You could claim that Andy Flower pioneered the tradition of having a great batsman play as a keeper.

Gilchrist was actually a good wicket keeper. Not even a comparison.

 

[cnerd123]

Andy Flower was a very ordinary keeper. You could claim that Andy Flower pioneered the tradition of having a great batsman play as a keeper.

Gilchrist was actually a good wicket keeper. Not even a comparison.

Dravid was a great batsman playing as a keeper. There have been many specialist keepers over the ages who were worse than Andy Flower.

 

[trundler]

They just played him as the 'keeper so they could have an extra bat. Makes sense if you're Zimbabwe. Flower stopped 'keeping as soon as Tatenda Taibu came along. That says all, really. He was a makeshift 'keeper. Gilchrist was the first test-class 'keeper and test-class batsman fitted into 1. He made it ***y.

 

[cnerd123]

Sanga gave up the gloves when Prassana came into the team. Doesn't mean Sanga was a makeshift keeper.

Flower debuted as a keeper (incidentally, opening the batting and scoring a ton in his first ever ODI) and kept wicket regularly in domestic cricket. Dravid was a make-shift keeper. Flower fits in the same criteria as Stewart, Prior, Sanga, Stewart, and many others as a proper keeper-batsman whose batting was their stronger suit. Doesn't make them a bad keeper. Don't get it twisted.

 

[trundler]

Fair enough. Let's say Flower's (and Stewart's and Prior's) 'keeping was like Kallis' bowling. Batsman first, 'keeper second. Conversely, Gilchrist was equally good at both things.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Sanga gave up the gloves when Prassana came into the team. Doesn't mean Sanga was a makeshift keeper.

Flower debuted as a keeper (incidentally, opening the batting and scoring a ton in his first ever ODI) and kept wicket regularly in domestic cricket. Dravid was a make-shift keeper. Flower fits in the same criteria as Stewart, Prior, Sanga, Stewart, and many others as a proper keeper-batsman whose batting was their stronger suit. Doesn't make them a bad keeper. Don't get it twisted.

But Flower wasn't a good keeper

 

[Migara]

But Flower wasn't a good keeper

Flower was test class. That is enough.

 

[trundler]

Also, Sanga's case is a bit different since he's worth much, MUCH more to SL as a pure batter than as a 'keeper bat. He averages something crazy like 70 without the gloves so it's more advantageous to have him drop the gloves. Opposite case for Flower.

 

[trundler]

Cant fault Flower's batting though. Speaking of that, I was thinking of a lone warriors XI, or surrounded by imbeciles XI. Help me out.
Hanif
____
Headley
Flower
Chanderpaul
Border
Aubrey Faulkner
Hadlee
Tayfield
_______
_______

 

[Starfighter]

Flower was test class. That is enough.

Define 'test class'. Kaman Akmal played 53 tests, was clearly 'test class' yet is oft derided for his poor keeping.

 

[cnerd123]

When was Flower's keeping ever derided as much as Akmal?

 

[Starfighter]

When was Flower's keeping ever derided as much as Akmal?

I know little about Flower's keeping, just saying it's a poor argument.

 

[Migara]

Also, Sanga's case is a bit different since he's worth much, MUCH more to SL as a pure batter than as a 'keeper bat. He averages something crazy like 70 without the gloves so it's more advantageous to have him drop the gloves. Opposite case for Flower.

Flower also averages a ridiculous number as well. And as a pure batsman better than Gilchrist.

 

[Migara]

Cant fault Flower's batting though. Speaking of that, I was thinking of a lone warriors XI, or surrounded by imbeciles XI. Help me out.
Hanif
____
Headley
Flower
Chanderpaul
Border
Aubrey Faulkner
Hadlee
Tayfield
_______
_______

Arjuna Ranatunga definitely has a shout.