h_hurricane
International Vice-Captain
Sobers played a lot of tests after SA's ban.
I don't disagree with the overall premise overall, however;If you wanna go down that path, forget picking Sehwag in any ATG match if it'll potentially be played in SA or in Eng or vs Eng players.
Having an extra pace bowler in that side is absolutely ridiculous when you already have 3 of the greatest fast bowlers ever and you’d be giving up one of the greatest spinners of all time (and leaving Sobers as your only spinner against that lineup??) in exchange. You’d be giving the other team a huge advantage for no good reason.I don't disagree with the overall premise overall, however;
1. The match might be played in Australia or West Indies, where Sehwag has done well. This is different from Warne who was tonked by 3 very specific members of that batting lineup, in both India and Australia. Now unless Warne is some sort of genius against the Indian batting line up in very specific English conditions, then that line doesn't work.
2. The REAL main difference is that the second team doesn't have a host of other great/relatively great openers to call upon, unless you throw someone like Dravid to the opening slot instead. I would happily replace Sehwag if you can offer up someone better.
The first team on the other hand has an embarassment of riches to call upon, even if it's not a like-for-like scenario. It might actually work out better in this very specific instance to go in with an extra fast bowler who would likely average ~20 or thereabouts and Sobers being the spinner, than not having that extra pace bowler averaging ~20, and Warne being a frontline spinner (and Sobers will bowl a few overs anyway) vs that batting lineup.
I don't disagree with the overall premise overall, however;
This is different from Warne who was tonked by 3 very specific members of that batting lineup, in both India and Australia.
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Sobers being the spinner, than not having that extra pace bowler averaging ~20, and Warne being a frontline spinner (and Sobers will bowl a few overs anyway) vs that batting lineup.
This is where your line of thinking is flawed. Warne isn't in the team to specifically bowl to just three guys.He isn't actually all that "greatest" against that specific batting line up though, that's the whole point.
Surprised you could not fit Colin Cowdrey in there.Players the retired before Bradman's debut:
WG Grace *
VT Trumper
Clem Hill
KS Ranjitsinhji
C McCartney
GA Faulkner
J Blackham +
Sid Barnes
Fred Spofforth
Bobby Peel
George Loahmann
Players that debuted after Bradman's retirement and retired before (or didn't play tests after) South Africa's banishment:
Conrad Hunte
Hanif Mohammad
PBH May
Ken Barrington
GA Pollock
GS Sobers
Johnny Waite +
Richie Benaud *
Alan Davidson
Trueman
Wes Hall
Cowdrey played his last test in 1975; therefore he would not fit into the latter side.Surprised you could not fit Colin Cowdrey in there.
AmazingIt's mostly just that India as a country is terrible for cricket, favouring spin bowlers who are quicker through the air and defensive bowling. It's getting better in recent years but when Warne and Murali played in particular the pitches were ill suited to their bowling styles.
And Warne was always injuredIf the match is played in Australia or India Murali would get tonked as well. If he averages 100 in Australia against the likes of Langer and Watson, imagine the new arsehole Hobbs and Hutton would tear him. They grew up on stickies remember.
But just because Tendulkar can bowl some decent leg spin is no reason to drop Murali.
It's mostly just that India as a country is terrible for cricket, favouring spin bowlers who are quicker through the air and defensive bowling. It's getting better in recent years but when Warne and Murali played in particular the pitches were ill suited to their bowling styles. Which isn't making excuses for either of them at all. I'd still pick both of them for their respective teams.
You're right. My badSobers played a lot of tests after SA's ban.