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

[Michaelf7777777]

Len Hutton, Bruce Mitchell
George Headley
Jack Cowie, Wally Hammond

Herbie Taylor

 

[mr_mister]

Finally a bit of variety in the votes! A lot of different ideas of what the team should need.

I'm of the opinion we don't need all 3 ATG spinners(they all turn it the same way being a reason), as much as it hurts to omit one

 

[mr_mister]

ongoing votes (have 8 posts so far, expecting at least 3 more min, 5 would be ideal though!)

1920s side captaincy:

Herbie Taylor - 5 votes
Wally Hammond - 3 votes

1930s openers:

Hutton - 7 votes
Mitchell - 3 votes
Ponsford - 2 votes
Sutcliffe - 2 votes
Jardine - 1 vote
Dempster - 1 vote

Number 3:

Headley - 8 votes

Opening bowlers:

Larwood - 5 votes
Constantine - 2 votes
Martindale - 2 votes
Voce - 2 votes
Cowie - 2 votes
Bowes - 1 vote
Hammond - 1 vote
Tate - 1 vote


The new ball pairing contest is wide open!

 

[ataraxia]

ongoing votes (have 8 posts so far, expecting at least 3 more min, 5 would be ideal though!)

1920s side captaincy:

Herbie Taylor - 5 votes
Wally Hammond - 3 votes

1930s openers:

Hutton - 7 votes
Mitchell - 3 votes
Ponsford - 2 votes
Sutcliffe - 2 votes
Jardine - 1 vote

Number 3:

Headley - 8 votes

Opening bowlers:

Larwood - 4 votes
Constantine - 2 votes
Martindale - 2 votes
Voce - 2 votes
Bowes - 1 vote
Cowie - 1 vote
Hammond - 1 vote
Tate - 1 vote


The new ball pairing contest is wide open!

Great stuff, but I think you're missing one vote for each of Dempster, Larwood, and Cowie.

 

[mr_mister]

wow brainfart on my part

 

[a massive zebra]

Finally a bit of variety in the votes! A lot of different ideas of what the team should need.

I'm of the opinion we don't need all 3 ATG spinners (they all turn it the same way being a reason), as much as it hurts to omit one

That's not really true though, as Bill O'Reilly bowled more googlies than leg breaks I believe.

 

[The Sean]

Taylor the only realistic pick as captain for the 1920s side.

Hammond at 4 in the 1930s (Headley can bat 5).

Otherwise it's bloody tough. Hutton burst on to the scene brilliantly at the end of the decade but he wasn't around as long as any of the other contenders. Sutcliffe faded at the end of his career. Ponsford mixed a couple of huge series (and colossal partnerships with Bradman) with a couple of very poor ones. And Mitchell was the most consistent - and ever present - for the decade, but didn't quite put up the numbers the others did in terms of average, probably not helped by the team he was in and the ones he had to play against.

For the bowlers, Larwood is a lock despite not playing after 1933 but I am torn in a bunch of different directions for his new ball partner.

And really, I'm just trying to work out what jiggery pokery I need to perform to somehow get Stan McCabe into this team...

 

[Coronis]

For the bowlers, Larwood is a lock despite not playing after 1933 but I am torn in a bunch of different directions for his new ball partner.

I really don’t understand how from just one series. Yeah, I get it was one of the ATG series but its not like there were no other good pace bowlers that decade. Its like picking Johnson just based on the 2013-14 Ashes.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

And really, I'm just trying to work out what jiggery pokery I need to perform to somehow get Stan McCabe into this team...

Surely he bats 6 and is first change seamer ahead of Hammond. Two quicks, two (of out 3) spinners, plus McCabe and Hammond.

 

[The Sean]

Surely he bats 6 and is first change seamer ahead of Hammond. Two quicks, two (of out 3) spinners, plus McCabe and Hammond.

Yeah, that's my thinking - it involves leaving out either Grimmett or Verity (because I'm not leaving out O'Reilly), but that's a sacrifice I might just have to make.

All probably moot, as I imagine I'll be the only one voting that way!

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Yeah, that's my thinking - it involves leaving out either Grimmett or Verity (because I'm not leaving out O'Reilly), but that's a sacrifice I might just have to make.

All probably moot, as I imagine I'll be the only one voting that way!

There'll be at least 2 votes that way. I'm also disappointed there's no space for Jardine.

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah, that's my thinking - it involves leaving out either Grimmett or Verity (because I'm not leaving out O'Reilly), but that's a sacrifice I might just have to make.

All probably moot, as I imagine I'll be the only one voting that way!

No I want McCabe in too. I feel like 3 spinners is overkill

There's gonna be plenty of tough decisions during this thing (some really deserving bowlers will miss out in the 90s) so I'm just going for the what seems best for team balance

 

[ataraxia]

Yeah, that's my thinking - it involves leaving out either Grimmett or Verity (because I'm not leaving out O'Reilly), but that's a sacrifice I might just have to make.

All probably moot, as I imagine I'll be the only one voting that way!

Grum has a better record than O'Reilly for the decade despite being in his 40s for nigh all of it, don't leave him out.

 

[The Sean]

Grum has a better record than O'Reilly for the decade despite being in his 40s for nigh all of it, don't leave him out.

He does, it's true but...well I'll explain my reasoning when the spinner vote comes.

 

[a massive zebra]

Grum has a better record than O'Reilly for the decade despite being in his 40s for nigh all of it, don't leave him out.

That's because Grum decimated the weaker teams. O'Reilly's record against England in the 1930s (102 wickets @ 25) is miles better than Grimmett (59 wickets @ 33).

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[mr_mister]

Need to split the pace bowlers after Larwood as I think Sean didn't cast a vote for them or the opening batsmen

 

[The Sean]

Yeah I was struggling to decide.

Martindale for the second quick. Harsh on Voce and Bowes, and I would have loved to have voted for Cowie but for him only playing three Tests in the 1930s.

And the openers - Hutton and Mitchell.

 

[mr_mister]

Herbie Taylor gets the captaincy of the 20s side


Hutton and Mitchell open the batting for the 30s side
Headley gets the #4 spot
Larwood and Martindale take the new ball


Hutton
Mitchell
Bradman
Headley
-
-
-
Larwood
-
-
Martindale


Pick the number 5 batsman
Pick the wicketkeeper
Pick the first spinner

 

[mr_mister]

Hammond
Ames
O'Reilly

Wouldn't be surprised by 3 clean sheets here for the above 3!

 

[Michaelf7777777]

Hammond
Ames
O'Reilly