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

[mr_mister]

will leave it open 6 more hours

 

[smash84]

Abdul Qadir, a spinner should be helpful, although why not Iqbal Qasim as suggested by @Slifer

 

[sunilz]

Qadir averages 45 overseas. Even much maligned Anderson/Ashwin/Jadeja average around 30 overseas. No way Qadir should be the lone spinner. Either pick Kapil or Qasim

 

[trundler]

4 pacers might be a bad idea, 5 seems too many, 6th batsman after that top 5 is overkill too. Ffs. Imran at 6 wouldn't really be that bad given he did bat there and did well and you have a stronk 7-9.

If all those who want a spinner could unite on Qasim I'd be in

 

[honestbharani]

I am ok with voting in Qasim to be the spinner who can bat.

 

[Coronis]

Like I said my vote for Qadir was tactical, had more votes and a chance to be picked over Qasim since I want a spinner.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Qasim played about three matches outside the Sub Continent in the entire decade because Qadir was the number one spinner. Picking him here is a classic case of a player looking better because he’s not playing.

 

[morgieb]

Yeah I understand the criticism of Qadir's away record, but picking Qasim over him is basically saying it's better to be not playing rather than playing (even if you were ****).

You can't pick 5 quicks either. As I said earlier, someone like Mushtaq Mohammad would be perfect for this side.

 

[a massive zebra]

Qasim played about three matches outside the Sub Continent in the entire decade because Qadir was the number one spinner. Picking him here is a classic case of a player looking better because he’s not playing.

There is no doubt Qadir was considered the number 1 spinner by the Pakistani selectors. But Qasim played more than a handful of matches away from home and his away record is far, far superior to Qadir.

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

stats.espncricinfo.com

One could argue Qasim was probably more likely to be selected away from home in spin friendly conditions. But his overall average away from home was 30 and Qadir didn't actually average under 35 in any country except Pakistan. So it's not like Qadir outperformed Qasim in the comparable "spin friendly" away conditions - in fact, quite the opposite. In hindsight, it looks like the selectors consensus to favour Qadir may have been an error or their part.

 

[mr_mister]

this is getting a bit confusing now. i have a sense most people would change their Qadir votes to Qasim but I'm not sure how many of them would still prefer Kapil over either

 

[Lillian Thomson]

this is getting a bit confusing now. i have a sense most people would change their Qadir votes to Qasim but I'm not sure how many of them would still prefer Kapil over either

Who has changed from Qadir to Qasim? The only people changing are on the basis that a spinner is needed and he's better than nothing.

 

[a massive zebra]

I think you should stick with the original votes except where people have clearly stated they are changing their vote. Where people have discussed the Qadir/Qasim issue but not explicitly voted for either, assume their vote is unchanged. For instance, I voted for Kapil and despite supporting Qasim in the spin bowling debate, i never said i was voting for him.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

What we have in actual votes is:
Shastri -1
Kapil -6
Crowe -4
Botham -1
Qadir -5
Qasim -2

Distributed thus:
Shastri
Kapil
Kapil
Kapil
Crowe
Crowe
Botham
Qadir
Crowe
Crowe
Kapil
Qasim
Qadir
Qadir
Kapil
Qadir
Kapil
Qadir
Qasim

The only one dithering was The Sean who might change from Kapil to a spinner just to get one in. So IF he changed from Kapil to Qadir it would make the difference.

 

[The Sean]

What we have in actual votes is:
Shastri -1
Kapil -6
Crowe -4
Botham -1
Qadir -5
Qasim -2

Distributed thus:
Shastri
Kapil
Kapil
Kapil
Crowe
Crowe
Botham
Qadir
Crowe
Crowe
Kapil
Qasim
Qadir
Qadir
Kapil
Qadir
Kapil
Qadir
Qasim

The only one dithering was The Sean who might change from Kapil to a spinner just to get one in. So IF he changed from Kapil to Qadir it would make the difference.

Well now that's just way too much pressure.

 

[The Sean]

We know Kapil is by the far the greater cricketer. The question I can't seem to settle on an answer to is which of them adds more value - and fits better - into this team as it stands.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I've mostly been following not voting but I'll go Crowe here.

I don't think there can be such a thing as 'too much batting', especially given the bowling attacks we're imaging this team would be facing. Don't see the value in a 5th quick and I reckon Crowe adds more than a weakish (at atg level) spinner. Maybe a spinner + Dev/Botham would have been a better balance than Garner + Crowe but since Garner is already in the team I think Crowe's the best pick to complete the team.

 

[honestbharani]

I will help out here.

Qadir.

 

[mr_mister]

i'm gonna change my vote from Shastri to Qadir as I too want a spinner so now Qadir is up by one.


It seems unfair to just end the voting right here and now, so I'll wait a couple more hours. Mind you I'm the sure Qasim voters would happily change as they seem to be pro-spin

 

[ma1978]

Would any captain or selection commitee presented with the choice of Dev or Qadir pick Qadir to fill the last spot on the team? I doubt it

 

[Lillian Thomson]

If they had Marshall, Hadlee, Imran and Garner already in the team they might.