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

[Fuller Pilch]

Hammond
Cameron
O'Reilly

With Bradman in the batting lineup (as well as Headley and Hammond) I figured that Ames's batting isn't needed so much and with spin bowling such an important part of the attack wanted the best pure glove man.

 

[mr_mister]

Surprised to see Ames did a healthy amount of minnow bashing. Only averaged 27 in ashes games

Might change my vote to Cameron myself

 

[Teuton]

Hammond
Ames
Grimmett

 

[Coronis]

Hammond
Ames
O’Reilly

 

[trundler]

Hammond
Ames
O’Reilly

For me too.

Also, Nourse not making this would suck IMO.

 

[ataraxia]

Hammond
Ames
Grimmett

three minnow-bashers, whatever

 

[Coronis]

Hammond
Ames
Grimmett

three minnow-bashers, whatever

Yeah I always thought of Hammond as a minnow basher. Only averaged 52 against Australia even including his fat old sad days post-war.

 

[ataraxia]

Yeah I always thought of Hammond as a minnow basher. Only averaged 52 against Australia even including his fat old sad days post-war.

his 336* sticks in my mind, but yes that isn't a minnow-bashers' record.

 

[a massive zebra]

Walter Hammond
Jock Cameron
Bill O'Reilly

 

[a massive zebra]

his 336* sticks in my mind, but yes that isn't a minnow-bashers' record.

Nothing wrong with minnow bashing when a player is also successful against the stronger teams. The problem comes when minnow bashing distorts an overall record to hide a weakness against strong opponents, which does not apply in Hammond's case.

If you dont like Ames there is also Jock Cameron who was widely considered as one of the greatest wicket keepers of all time and averaged 30 with the bat.

 

[The Sean]

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

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

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I didn't need to explain my reasoning - amz has pretty much nailed it.

Hammond
Ames (though I feel very unfair on Cameron)
O'Reilly

 

[mr_mister]

Cameron comes close but can't get the job done over Ames. The other 2 were blowouts

Hutton
Mitchell
Bradman
Headley
Hammond
-
Ames +
Larwood
-
O'Reilly
Martindale



Now it's decision time. I know there's people who want 2 more bowlers in this side, that would require Ames at 6 which is fair enough, but either Larwood/one of the 2 likely extra bowlers at 7 would certainly be a little odd in an ATG side, even with a top 5 as strong as this one. Bradman is sometimes said to be worth 2 batsman yes but it just feels wrong to me. However, people may disagree


So pick your number 6(it can be Ames if you want a 5th specialist bowler)
And pick your 4th bowler (can be a pacemen or spinner)

 

[mr_mister]

I'm gonna vote for McCabe at 6

and Verity for the 4th bowler.

 

[trundler]

Dudley Nourse easy peasy. Hammond can take 5th bowling duties. He was a fine AR in the 30s.

Verity

 

[Coronis]

Well since Grum’s already in the 1920’s team I’ll go Verity. McCabe too.

 

[Michaelf7777777]

Stan McCabe
Clarrie Grimmett

 

[The Sean]

Dudley Nourse easy peasy. Hammond can take 5th bowling duties. He was a fine AR in the 30s.

Verity

Nourse is a good shout and a great player, though I think he's a stronger contender for the 1940s team - albeit with immense competition.

In fact, getting slightly ahead of myself and looking at the 1940s middle order, there are three blokes who all deserve to bat 4/5 in that team and whichever one misses out will be probably the unluckiest omission so far.

 

[Teuton]

McCabe & Grimmett

 

[trundler]

Nourse is a good shout and a great player, though I think he's a stronger contender for the 1940s team - albeit with immense competition.

In fact, getting slightly ahead of myself and looking at the 1940s middle order, there are three blokes who all deserve to bat 4/5 in that team and whichever one misses out will be probably the unluckiest omission so far.

Scored a double against O'Reilly and Grimmett, walks in imo. I'd have him on par with Headley but that's just me.

 

[mr_mister]

McCabe hit the counterattacking 187 in bodyline and nearly a run a ball 232 against Verity in '38

can't say either 'walks in' - Nourse was the better player overall but in the '30s didn't play all that much