Most exciting cricketers you've seen live XI

[Engle]

Whom I saw live, in person.

G.Greenidge
V. Richards
R.Kanhai
B.Lara
C.Lloyd
G.Sobers
J.Dujon
M.Marshall
A.Roberts
C.Griffith
L.Gibbs

The WIndians had a natural knack for entertaining spectators. Calypso cricketers producing a range of shots which delighted and oozed entertainment value. @

I submit that my ' Exciting Live XI ' is THE most Exciting if not the strongest as well. One would have to mix and match from the other Exciting XI's to out-excite this team.

 

[Burgey]

As another one of those true cricket fans who rank all cricketers in order from no.2 onwards permanently reserving the top spot for the one and only captain grumpy, I agree with Burgey here. We are choosing a team full of Pacinos and De Niros. Border was Gene Hackman.

Agree with the Muesli part as well.

EDIT: The only cricketing visual that I love more than the Border square cut is the Border lightning throw at the bowler's end from short mid wicket.

Baggers gets it.

 

[CricAddict]

Jayasuriya
Tendulkar
Ponting
Lara
De Villiers
Dhoni
Gilchrist
Akram
Warne
Donald
Mcgrath

 

[aussie tragic]

Whom I saw live, in person.

G.Greenidge
V. Richards
R.Kanhai
B.Lara
C.Lloyd
G.Sobers
J.Dujon
M.Marshall
A.Roberts
C.Griffith
L.Gibbs

Wait, you saw Kanhai live??????

 

[aussie tragic]

Can't believe I left whispering death out of my team, was the greatest of them all (sorry Dennis)

 

[Engle]

Wait, you saw Kanhai live??????

Yes, as mentioned in one of my prior posts. Could not understand why he was given the captaincy over C.Lloyd and G.Sobers.

Here's the 2 teams :

 

[Burgey]

Am surprised Red Hill is old enough to remember Garner.

 

[cnerd123]

What was Lance Gibbs like. Any parallels to any modern spinners?

 

[jcas0167]

Seen in person over the last 27 years in NZ:

Sanath Jayasuriya
Hershelle Gibbs
Aravinda de Silva
Sachin Tendulkar
Jesse Ryder
Chris Cairns
Brendon McCullum
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Waqar Younis (yorking Bryan Young, who ended up on his knees, at Eden Park in 94 is a particular highlight)
Dale Steyn

Wider squad: Matt Hayden, Shaun Tait, Kevin Pietersen, Muttiah Muralitharan, Brett Lee, Shane Bond.

 

[Burgey]

What was Lance Gibbs like. Any parallels to any modern spinners?

He didn't chuck, so apart from comparing him with Lyon, no.

 

[Engle]

What was Lance Gibbs like. Any parallels to any modern spinners?

Lance was probably the most serious of the WIndies bunch. A perfectionist who was treating this like a Test match. He was serious, accurate, made field changes, bowled to it and glared at any fielding mishaps. Very unlike his cousin Lloyd who entertained the crowd with humor and a carefree, cavalier attitude. Lance was lanky, loose-limbed with long fingers. Again unlike Lloyd who had put on weight and looked like a giant on the field.

 

[Red]

Am surprised Red Hill is old enough to remember Garner.

Was 10 when he retired.

Those WIs teams of the early 80s are burned into my memory.

 

[Bahseph]

Interesting thread. I like it.

1. Gibbs(Tests & ODIs) always looked elegant when I saw him live.
2. Gayle(Tests) saw him in SA around 2008. Before he became a T20 boss. It irks me that people tend to forget how good he was as a Test bat. Legit.
3. Tendulkar(Tests) caught him at a Test in 2006 and 2011. Both in Durban. So you can imagine the reception.
4. AB de Villiers(Tests) - never seen anyone make batting look as easy as this guy.
5. VVS Laxman(Tests) - holy hell. His 96 in Durban in 2011 is still stuck in my head. If there was ever a case of not judging a batsman by his numbers its VVS. Great in the crunch.
6. Flintoff(T20) - only bowled three overs in the T20WC game I saw him at. But the buzz when he came on to bowl. Crazy.
7. B.Mcullum(T20)- don't even remember what he made when I saw him. But he made you stand up and watch.
8. Lance Klusener(Domestic T20) - probably way past his prime. But I saw him finish off a T20 with about 20-odd needed in the last over. This was in about 2005.
9. Dwayne Bravo(Test and T20) - Aesthetically, his batting and bowling was a joy to watch. Fun to watch live.
10. Philander(Tests) - watching big Vern bowl on the first day of a Test in SA is a pleasure as a cricket fan. A master in his element.
11. Steyn(Tests)- hands down the most exciting cricketer I've watched live. Saw him take a fiver twice live. Just the electricity in the crowd when he gets going is unparalleled. You can't stop watching the action.

12th man: Shaun Pollock(Tests) - class. Batting or bowling,Polly made it look easy.

 

[Burgey]

Was 10 when he retired.

Those WIs teams of the early 80s are burned into my memory.

I imagine they’re burned into quite a few blokes who played against them too.

 

[jimmy101]

I imagine they’re burned into quite a few blokes who played against them too.

TOTAB for one. Bob Hawke for another.

 

[Burgey]

Closest you’d ever hear TOTAB go to acknowledging fear is him saying playing the WI “wasn’t always a lot of fun.”

 

[jimmy101]

100% right. Kim Hughes would have been a better example.

 

[Engle]

Closest you’d ever hear TOTAB go to acknowledging fear is him saying playing the WI “wasn’t always a lot of fun.”

As if playing against other teams were fun for ' Captain Grumpy '
Nonetheless, for one who seemed to be lacking leadership skills early in his career, he certainly proved that steely determination/dedication works - regardless of personality.

 

[Burgey]

He just led by example. Simmo helped too.

 

[JBMAC]

In Batting Order:-

Barnes
Morris
Bradman (c)
Harvey
Sobers
Border
Miller
Warne
Tyson
Marshall
Tallon (wk)

Seen them all..Would back them for any money against any team previously mentioned.