The ATG Teams General arguing/discussing thread

[AndrewB]

This but with Swann instead of Moeen.

No Woakes for the 3rd seamer option?

Trott as the #3 (instead of one of KP, Bell and Stokes) is also a possible pick.

 

[h_hurricane]

Honestly Symonds would be better in Asia where a finger spinning option becomes very useful. Which is why he usually only features in my Asia XI. I prefer Klusener in fast bowler friendly conditions.

Symonds averages 61 with the ball in India and 44 overall in Asia. Even that Asia average is inflated by a spell of 2 for 6 against a hopeless BD team in 2006. Based on this evidence, if you are picking him as a finger spinning option, opposition team would be licking their lips in anticipation

 

[Burgey]

Could have the butt jostler in as a specialist batsman too. He's that good.

Gilchrist
Tendulkar
Kohli
Viv
AB
Buttler
AR
4 bowlers

Yeah, neither Kohli nor anyone bats three ahead of Richards in a legit AT ODI XI.

 

[Logan]

In an ATG team, Kohli bats at number 3 and Richards bats at number 4. That’s the position they played the most.

 

[h_hurricane]

In an ATG team, Kohli bats at number 3 and Richards bats at number 4. That’s the position they played the most.

Actually a very good choice. Richards averaged more at no.3 than no.4 but was more destructive at 4. One of his most famous innings, the incredible 189* was scored at #4.

 

[Logan]

ABD played mostly at number 4. But his record at number 5 is even better.

In 42 matches, he has an average of 77 with a SR of 108 with 6 centuries and 11 half centuries.


My middle order for an ATG ODI team:

Kohli
Viv
ABD

 

[honestbharani]

Add MSD at 6, that is one amazing middle order.

 

[ankitj]

Symonds was a very good ODI player. But guys inviting unnecessary criticism by trying to force fit him in an all time great XI where you can only fit 11 players.

 

[ankitj]

Cricket Australia's ODI team of the decade:

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/fea...hit-starc-dhoni-buttler-statistics/2019-12-24

 

[ImpatientLime]

aesthetically pleasing xi

saeed anwar
vaughan
laxman
m waugh
gower
martyn
sangakkara
qadir
lillee
gough
holding

 

[Daemon]

Yeah, neither Kohli nor anyone bats three ahead of Richards in a legit AT ODI XI.

Doesn’t matter tbh, switch them around or do whatever you want. Both just too ridiculously good.

 

[morgieb]

Trott as the #3 (instead of one of KP, Bell and Stokes) is also a possible pick.

Yeah thought about Trott, but he was only really good for one year. Hard to say he was better than KP or Bell though, and Stokes has to be there imo.

 

[Bolo.]

Including Symonds as an allrounder is silly. Including him because he bowled spin is dire- you have plenty of part time right arm finger spin in Sachin and Viv. Viv no less part time than Symonds- he bowled more overs per match, while also facing the 'handicaps' used to justify Symonds low overs.

 

[stephen]

Symonds is always primarily picked as a batsman.

My point about his finger spin is that it gives a captain options. I'd never pick him as the sole 5th bowler in an ATXI. But alongside Jayasuriya, Tendulkar and Viv he can give you 3-5 overs consistently. He's also a really good option for late overs slogging or for rebuilding an innings. Symonds was a Swiss army knife of a player. He can fill a number of roles in different circumstances and will always have an impact on the game if only for his fielding.

Looking at his stats and saying "He was rubbish at 6" is a bit silly. During his peak he only ever batted 5 due to his versatility - he could stabilise an innings or he could hit out in the late overs.

 

[Coronis]

My team of the decade:


Cook
Amla
KW
Virat (c)
Steve Smith
AB (wk)
Stokes
Ashwin
Steyn
Anderson
Boult


Would have liked more left handers but that side is good enough to play most other decades' XI I feel.

jw why you’ve got the greatest batsman since sliced bread batting out of position?

 

[honestbharani]

Symonds is always primarily picked as a batsman.

My point about his finger spin is that it gives a captain options. I'd never pick him as the sole 5th bowler in an ATXI. But alongside Jayasuriya, Tendulkar and Viv he can give you 3-5 overs consistently. He's also a really good option for late overs slogging or for rebuilding an innings. Symonds was a Swiss army knife of a player. He can fill a number of roles in different circumstances and will always have an impact on the game if only for his fielding.

Looking at his stats and saying "He was rubbish at 6" is a bit silly. During his peak he only ever batted 5 due to his versatility - he could stabilise an innings or he could hit out in the late overs.

First time I am hearing that a batsman playing at the same position all the time proves his versatility.

And honestly, it is very very simple. He is not good enough to bat top 5 in any ATG second XI, forget ATG XI (and will struggle to fit into the top 5 of an ATG third XI), he is not good enough as an all-rounder to bat 6 or 7 in any ATG first, second XIs. The sheer mental gymnastics required to justify a lousy pick is now reaching ridiculous levels.

 

[honestbharani]

jw why you’ve got the greatest batsman since sliced bread batting out of position?

You mean I should bat AB at 4?

 

[Coronis]

You mean I should bat AB at 4?

Mhm. Also Amla opening is a bit of a joke considering the perfectly legitimate option who actually batted there this decade, but bias will be bias.

 

[honestbharani]

Mhm. Also Amla opening is a bit of a joke considering the perfectly legitimate option who actually batted there this decade, but bias will be bias.

Perfectly legitimate based on what? I lilke the left-right combo and I honestly think Amla is a better test match batsman than Warner. FWIW, I am a big fan of Warner the batsman too. But don't let facts get in the way. The only reason Aussies are not selected is bias.

 

[honestbharani]

And the only reason I have Steve Smith at 5, if it needs to be reasoned out, is that I want the more aggressive option at 4 and Smith at 5 to balance a collapse out. It is how I envisage any test match XI:

Dour Opener
Positive Opener
Technically solid batsman
Aggressive batsman
Technically versatile batsman - can either stop a collapse or get on with it after a good start
Aggressive batsman 2 / all-rounder
Aggressive batsman 3 / all-rounder
Spinner who can bat
Fast bowler who can bat
Swing bowler
Swing/Fast bowler

And ideally one or two of the top 5 will be capable of bowling decently, and one of them can be the second spinner when needed. Otherwise, the all-rounder can be the spinner.

So most sides I pick will be around this template. I am sure it is perfectly more legitimate than Coronis' stupid claim in his post.