Your countries first 3 xis of your era

[flibbertyjibber]

How old are you?

Too old

 

[BooKhaki]

How many excellent openers have Australia had over the last 30 or so years? Hayden, Langer, Warner, Taylor, Slater, Katich, Rogers and Jaques were all top notch. When you throw in his bowling, so was Watson.

Probably the most under-rated player of the last 20 years. He is arguably our best ever white ball player.

 

[stephen]

Probably the most under-rated player of the last 20 years. He is arguably our best ever white ball player.

He was very good but there have been a number of Australians who were better. One problem is that he didn't play enough, especially as an opener.

 

[Gob]

Hayden
Warner
Ponting
Smith
Clarke
Waugh *
Gilchrist +
Johnson (13/14 version)
Warne
Cummins
McGrath

Taylor *
Langer
Hussey
M Waugh
Martyn
Watson
Healy +
Harris
Gillespie
Hazlewood
McGill

Rogers
Slater
Labuschange
Hodge
Lehmann
Symonds
Haddin +
Lee
Starc
Clark
Lyon

 

[Shady Slim]

Probably the most under-rated player of the last 20 years. He is arguably our best ever white ball player.

this man is entirely correct

he threw a lot of starts away with the red ball sure but some of the poorer australian squads we've had over the years would kill for a guy who made 30-40 consistently before getting out in the middle order

 

[morgieb]

this man is entirely correct

he threw a lot of starts away with the red ball sure but some of the poorer australian squads we've had over the years would kill for a guy who made 30-40 consistently before getting out in the middle order

Yeah Watson in the current climate would be excellent. Was hurt somewhat by a few key middle order players having the tendency to be really inconsistent and also played in a position where you need big runs rather than a 5/6.

 

[BooKhaki]

For anyone who disagrees, they can fight me or read below

Watson - 5757 runs @ 40.5 striking at 90.4
Kallis - 11579 @ 44.4 striking at 72.9

Watson - 168 wickets @ 31.8, 4.95 econ
Kallis - 273 wickets @ 31.8, 4.84 econ


Kallis considered one of the greatest ever, yet Watson doesn't make most peoples all time Australian XI. As I said, one of the most under-rated of all time.

 

[honestbharani]

Are these ODI stats? I think at least in CW Watson is recognized as one of the better ODI players of all time.

 

[Dendarii]

Kallis averaged over 50 in tests, so those must be ODI stats.

 

[Tom Flint]

I don't think anyone has ever said kallis is a much better odi player than Watson. They are both pretty equal imo.
Tests however, kallis really is one of the best ever

 

[stephen]

Kallis wasn't the best ODI player really. Sucked momentum out of the South African innings whenever he came to the crease. Watson was good but didn't have the longevity to be really top tier. He also has a lot of competition for a spot in the Aus ATXI. As opener he's competing against Gilchrist, Waugh, Hayden, Warner and G Marsh. As a middle order batsman he's up against Bevan, Symonds and Hussey. And in a side that had Symonds, Waugh and Chappell he's not really needed as a bowler either.

It's not that Watson is anything short of fantastic but he faces so much competition his place isn't secure. Easily makes the second XI if he misses the first though.

 

[Bolo.]

Kallis is a slightly greater ODI player than Watson. Watson is a much better ODI player than Kallis.

 

[Tom Flint]

Kallis is a slightly greater ODI player than Watson. Watson is a much better ODI player than Kallis.

?

 

[honestbharani]

Kallis is a slightly greater ODI player than Watson. Watson is a much better ODI player than Kallis.

 

[bagapath]

IndiA

Gavaskar
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Kohli
Kapil Dev (1)
Dhoni *+
Kumble (5)
Srinath (2)
Zaheer (3)
Bumrah (4)

IndiB

Sidhu
Gambhir
Pujara
Ganguly *
Laxman
Ashwin (4)
Jadeja (5)
Kirmani +
Pathan (2)
Shami (3)
Ishant (1)

IndiC

Dhawan
Rohit
Amarnath
Vengsarkar *
Rahane
Shastri (5)
Saha +
Harbhajan (4)
Prasad (2)
Bhuvi (3)
Yadav (1)

 

[trundler]

Shastri would feel short-changed there

 

[honestbharani]

And not sure about Rohit as a test opener, he has only had two tests in that role, come on.

 

[bagapath]

And not sure about Rohit as a test opener, he has only had two tests in that role, come on.

Murali Vijay, then?

Or let Shastri open

 

[bagapath]

Revised

IndiA

Gavaskar
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Kohli
Kapil Dev (1)
Dhoni *+
Kumble (5)
Srinath (2)
Zaheer (3)
Bumrah (4)

IndiB

Sidhu
Gambhir
Pujara
Ganguly *
Laxman
Ashwin (4)
Jadeja (5)
Kirmani +
Pathan (2)
Shami (3)
Ishant (1)

IndiC

Dhawan
Shastri (5)
Amarnath
Vengsarkar *
Rohit
Rahane
Saha +
Harbhajan (4)
Prasad (2)
Bhuvi (3)
Yadav (1)

 

[Tom Flint]

Your first 2 teams the no 6 is at least one spot too high and then the 3rd one the no 6 is a spot to low.
I would at least swap dhoni and dev?
Probably jadega and Ashwin too