??? If for 2010s, has to be Steyn and Smith unless you mean across all formats.Since this decade is about to end, these are my picks for best players of the following decades
90s : Sachin and Donald
00s : Ponting and Murali
10s : Kohli and Steyn
Sharma over Cummins? lolTeam of 2019:
Mayank Agarwal
Tom Latham
Kane Williamson
Steven Smith
Virat Kohli *
Ben Stokes
BJ Watling +
R Ashwin
Neil Wagner
Mohammed Shami
Ishant Sharma
Did not pick Bumrah or Umesh despite averaging 13.xx because they only played 3 and 4 tests respectively. Wagner also played only 4 tests but took 4 fivers. Cummins had a good year and his ICC ratings are through the roof but didn't quite have the average comparable to others and only 1 fiver. Also when do I get to pick to Indian Seamers in the team?
Spinners choice was tricky. Lyon seems to have had an average year, same for Jadeja. Rashid Khan has great figures but didn't play strong teams. Settled for Ashwin who found some form in the domestic games.
Rohit Sharma averages 90 for the year, but all of it at home and there are good substitutes available for opener's slot unlike spinner's slot.
Edit: Kane Williamson in place of Marnus Labuschagne
One thing that would be magnificent to see would be Ponting against the WIs quicks. Best pull/hook shot I've ever seen and would absolutely take them on.It's a tough call to make in regards to modern protective gear, but from personal experience, even when wearing a helmet and/or thigh pad, if some tearaway digs in a quick bouncer aimed at my head, my instinct is to gtfo of the way regardless. IMO reflexes are always a big factor.
Then again, it's pretty silly to compare myself to cricketers who are 1,000x better than I could ever dream to be on my best day.
I forgot Rhodes played his last few Tests in 1930. I guess he comes in for Constantine if you want a second spinner.No room for Wilf, Andrew?
Problem is it'd be criminal to remove any of the players in your 1930 team. Though if it were a turning deck, who would you choose as your 2nd spinner?
As an aside, that top 6 is just otherworldly.
Probably why he talks so slowlyDon’t remember a test opener who got hit as many times as Langer did.
Yep, Ponting vs the Windies quicks would be mouth-watering. Punter had that fearlessness that is required to take them on imo, loved working the short ball & was a master of getting his body/hands into the right position to execute his shots, often with brutal results.One thing that would be magnificent to see would be Ponting against the WIs quicks. Best pull/hook shot I've ever seen and would absolutely take them on.
Langer is the guy who would also have done well against the WIs quicks, far more than Hayden would have IMO. Martyn too was excellent against quality pace.
Oooh tasty. I have a lot of love for this team.or a few years earlier (1967)
Geoff Boycott
Bob Simpson
Ken Barrington
Graeme Pollock
Clive Lloyd
Garry Sobers
Alan Knott+
Mike Procter
Wes Hall
John Snow
Lance Gibbs
If it was just Tests, Smith was the best batsman this decade.??? If for 2010s, has to be Steyn and Smith unless you mean across all formats.
Smith and Steyn surely for 2010s, unless you are taking all formats into account.
Donald a decent shout for 1990s but Ambrose took more wickets at a better average.
Akram vs Ambrose vs Donald vs McGrath
Over-rates being such a big thing now, so have to use substantial overs for spin I'm guessing.What is it exactly about modern playing conditions that would cause the Windies side to struggle?
Since the discussion became about spinners/Warne I think.I really don't know when or why this became about how Australia and the West Indies did against India