The ATG Teams General arguing/discussing thread

[marc71178]

Picking Steyn for the last 5 years feels like a bit of a stretch.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Gavaskar (73-78)
Hayden (03-08)
Richards (78-83)
Tendulkar (98-03)
Smith (2013-2018)
Sobers (63-68)
Knott (68-73)
Imran (83-88)
Warne (93-98)
Steyn (2008-2013)
Ambrose (88-93)

 

[Pratters]

Would like Sobers to bat higher, also, Knott batting ahead of Imran?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Who will be 2018-2023

 

[cnerd123]

Who will be 2018-2023

Rabada IMO

 

[Pratters]

Root possibly. Fastest to 6000 runs and is piling on the runs. Only a matter of time before he sorts the conversion issue.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Hard to go past Virat. I'd rather go with a smokey to make it more interesting.

Like Alex Carey or Kuldeep.

No one would have picked Steve Smith in 2012, or Warne in 92

 

[Pratters]

If we are to select the best players for each of the 5 years, teams would look different. How about Ponting, Botham, Sangakarra thrown in the mix.

 

[trundler]

Botham's and Richard's best sort of coincide here. Ponting was easily the best between 2003 and 2008. Peak Sachin and McGrath are fighting for the same 5 year period spot too. Tough.. very tough.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Peak Sachin and McGrath are fighting for the same 5 year period spot too. Tough.. very tough.

03-08 McGrath was better than 98-03

 

[stephen]

This is the "immortal problem" that rugby league has. How do you pick an immortal out of Smith, Thurston, Inglis, Cronk and Slater? All five of them have strong claims. The 98-03 and 03-08 periods have Tendulkar, Gilchrist, McGrath, Warne, Ponting, Hayden, Kallis and Steyn all in the running.

Then you have dull periods like 88-93 where the Windies were transitioning from the Marshall years to the Ambrose years, Warne wasn't on the scene yet and though the Windies were ahead of all during that time, none cam really lady claim to being the pick of the bunch.

So here is my attempt.

88-93 Gooch
78-83 Gavaskar
03-08 Ponting
73-78 Richards (c)
13-18 Smith
63-68 Barrington
98-03 Gilchrist
93-98 Warne
83-88 Marshall
08-13 Steyn
68-73 Snow

There are two oddities to this. Gooch is the player who looks most out of place in an ATXI but he was seriously good in this 5 year period, scoring by far the most runs at an average of nearly 57.

The second is that Richards appears a bit earlier than others have him. That's ok though since he was still in the top ten run scorers during this period and did so ast an average of around 56.

I've made Richards skipper since I made Ponting number 3.

This side would push any other ATG sides sans-Bradman.

Tendulkar very unlucky to miss out but his awesomeness is mostly due to his longevity which this exercise distinctly avoids.

Barrington can roll the arm over as the fifth bowler if one is ever required. With ask attack boasting Steyn, Marshall, Warne and Snow you have an attack good enough to take 20 wickets in any conditions.

 

[stephen]

If one wants to get Botham into my side they would have to sacrifice Gavaskar, which means sacrificing one of the middle order batsmen for an opener.

Your best bet would be to swap in Hayden for Pointing and shuffle all the batsmen down one spot. But Ponting deserves the place. Another option would be to bring in Fredericks over Richards but again that would be a downgrade.

Warne, Gilchrist, Barrington, Marshall and Smith are the only genuine locks in my mind. Barrington was pretty incredibly dominant during that 5 year stretch - as much as Smith. Gooch was way ahead of his contemporaries during that run.

 

[stephen]

Actually

Boycott 68-73
Gavaskar 78-83
Ponting 03-08
Richards 73-78
Smith 13-18
Barrington 63-68
Gilchrist 98-03
Warne 93-98
Marshall 83-88
Ambrose 88-93
Steyn 08-13

 

[stephen]

3 of my top 5 fast bowlers, the best keeper- bat of all times, one of the top two spinners of all times and a batting lineup that was monstrous at their peaks.

 

[Bolo]

03-08 periods have Tendulkar, Gilchrist, McGrath, Warne, Ponting, Hayden, Kallis and Steyn all in the running.

Missing the best of them- Murali. 329 wickets in 5 years at over 7 per match and at a sub 20 average. Only Bradman and allrounders have a claim to a run this good, and I'm not sure Muralis run shouldn't top them.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Are you advising Kohli of being a match fixer? Because that's the only reason he wouldn't be captain of this team.

Among indians, I don't find him anywhere near as big a prick as Ganguly or Bhajji.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Missing the best of them- Murali. 329 wickets in 5 years at over 7 per match and at a sub 20 average. Only Bradman and allrounders have a claim to a run this good, and I'm not sure Muralis run shouldn't top them.

We want to play within the rules though. Drugs, abuse, claiming dropped catches, arguing with the umpire, ball tampering, collusion with bookies, I can look past all that. But having a weird looking bowling action? No, too far. Murali can't join.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

We want to play within the rules though. Drugs, abuse, claiming dropped catches, arguing with the umpire, ball tampering, collusion with bookies, I can look past all that. But having a weird looking bowling action? No, too far. Murali can't join.

Racist.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

I'm joking TJB

 

[stephen]

Missing the best of them- Murali. 329 wickets in 5 years at over 7 per match and at a sub 20 average. Only Bradman and allrounders have a claim to a run this good, and I'm not sure Muralis run shouldn't top them.

Where did you get 329 from? 1Jan 2003 - 1 Jan 2008 he took 287 wickets. Around 70 of which were against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Imran had a much better run and didn't make the team.