Establishing the best decade for cricket: Finding the ATG XI from 12 decades of test cricket - then having a KO tourney to decide the best

[AndrewB]

Larwood's record against Australia is really interesting because he started and finished really strongly but copped an almighty, largely Bradman-sized, hammering in the middle.

His first three Tests against Australia produced 17 wickets at 18, and his last five - the Bodyline series - 33 wickets at 19. However, the seven Tests in between yielded 14 wickets at 68(!!) and included analyses of 1/105, 1/92, 1/83, 0/81, 1/139 and 1/132.

I think it's reckoned he lacked the stamina for a long tour in 1928-9 - hence 8 wickets in the 1st Test, 4 in each of the next two and 1 in each of the last two. (As one of 4 main bowlers - 3 in the first Test - being picked in a Timeless Test series, stamina would be pretty vital).

 

[mr_mister]

I was going to slot in Gregory as she third seamer and AR but I'll change my vote to Gregory and Tate

Can you vote on Hammond/Macartney as there's a deadlock

 

[trundler]

I already voted for Macartney I think

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Interesting idea.

I'd go:

Hobbs, Sutcliffe
Macartney
Tate, McDonald

The 1920s team might end with the most bowling options.

 

[ataraxia]

I already voted for Macartney I think

you haven't voted

 

[Line and Length]

Hobbs & Sutcliffe
Hammond
Tate & McDonald

 

[trundler]

****.

Hobbs/Sutcliffe
Macartney
Tate and Gregory

 

[mr_mister]

Grace for captain

Hobbs 11 votes
Sutcliffe 11 votes

Macartney 6 votes
Hammond 5 votes

Tate 11 votes
Gregory 8 votes
McDonald 3 votes



Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Macartney
-
-
-
Gregory
Tate
-
-
-



very rough idea of where Gregory and Tate will bat, in my mind both will probably bat higher than the keeper in this team but who knows - so for now they're at 7 and 8.


Next on the agenda:

pick your 4 and 5
pick your frontline spinner

 

[mr_mister]

The teams so far:

1870s/80s/90s:

WG Grace* 6
Bobby Abel
Arthur Shrewsbury
KS Ranji
Billy Murdoch
AG Steel 5
Jack Blackham +
Bobby Peel 4
George Lohmann 2
Charlie Turner 3
Fred Spofforth 1

1900s/1910s:

Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Aubrey Faulkner 5
Stanley Jackson *
Monty Noble 6
Frank Foster 2
Dick Lilley +
Tibby Cotter 3
Sydney Barnes 1
Colin Blythe 4

 

[mr_mister]

Hammond
Herbie Taylor


Wooley and Hendren got a few hundred more runs than Taylor, but he averaged a chunk higher(46 to their 42 and 42) and scored more tons (5 to their 4 each) so... I'm giving it to him



The spinner one is tricky


Freeman actually has a decent looking record(66 wickets @ 25), Mailey took the most wickets(99 @ 33), Grimmett's record isn't as impressive as I expected(only 47 wickets at 29)... but i'm still inclined to vote Grimmett

 

[Michaelf7777777]

Wally Hammond, Herbie Taylor
Clarrie Grimmett

 

[a massive zebra]

Hammond
Bradman
Grimmett

 

[a massive zebra]

The teams so far:

1870s/80s/90s:

WG Grace*
Bobby Abel
Arthur Shrewsbury
KS Ranji
Billy Murdoch
AG Steel 5
Jack Blackham +
Bobby Peel 4
George Lohmann 2
Charlie Turner 3
Fred Spofforth 1

1900s/1910s:

Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Aubrey Faulkner 5
Stanley Jackson *
Monty Noble 6
Frank Foster 2
Dick Lilley +
Tibby Cotter 3
Sydney Barnes 1
Colin Blythe 4

You should put Grace as the sixth bowler. The guy took over 2,700 first class wickets!

 

[a massive zebra]

Hammond
Herbie Taylor


Wooley and Hendren got a few hundred more runs than Taylor, but he averaged a chunk higher(46 to their 42 and 42) and scored more tons (5 to their 4 each) so... I'm giving it to him



The spinner one is tricky


Freeman actually has a decent looking record(66 wickets @ 25), Mailey took the most wickets(99 @ 33), Grimmett's record isn't as impressive as I expected(only 47 wickets at 29)... but i'm still inclined to vote Grimmett

Freeman was possibly the best ever at decimating weak county sides and minnow Test teams, but his record against Australia and even the better county sides leaves a lot to be desired.

During the 1920s some county sides were first class in name only, having being completely decimated by the Great War. No one could rout these mediocre county sides like Freeman, but he really was exposed as a liability when up against quality Test batsmen and he therefore struggled to make the England side for most of his career.

Top county batsmen and nearly all international players had the ability to completely nullify his flight and spin with their quick footwork and straight bats, and Freeman never had enough skill or variety to deceive these players. For an example of how massively his fortunes changed when up against completely different standards of opponent, note that Freeman took :

• 231 wickets @ 11.59 against Leicestershire and 253 wickets @ 11.71 against Northamptonshire, two of the weakest county sides of his time.
• 22 wickets @ 13.72 against the very first, pre Headley West Indies test team.
• 142 wickets @ 26.06 against Surrey and 153 wickets @ 25.86 against Yorkshire, two of the strongest county batting sides of his time.
• His average in Tests against Australia was a monstrous 57.37.

 

[mr_mister]

You should put Grace as the sixth bowler. The guy took over 2,700 first class wickets!

done.

 

[Teuton]

Hammond & Herbie Taylor
Mailey

 

[Line and Length]

Hammond
Bradman
Grimmett

I agree

 

[Pothas]

Hammond
Ryder
Grimmet

 

[bagapath]

hammond
Taylor

freeman

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Hammond
Taylor

Grimmett (if in doubt vote for a Kiwi)