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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
- Thread starter mr_mister
- Start date
sunilz
International Regular
Andy Flower?
mr_mister
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
true, he's a possibility, his best years with the bat were in 00-01 though. it'l be interesting as Healy was the better gloveman
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Brian McMillan ahead of Pollock and Cairns imo, although Steve Waugh is a perfectly fine 5th bowler so don't really need an all rounder. Healy-Wasim-Warne is a decent 7-8-9 (perhaps Aravinda at 6).
Line and Length
Cricketer Of The Year
I have to go with the Tendulkar, S.Waugh, Warne trend
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
The number six is the most interesting pick here - there are a few options, and all have the pros and cons. We could pick six batsmen and rely on Waugh to be the fifth bowler - he had a good average in the '90s but the question I suppose is whether he bowled quite enough, as he took just 47 wickets in 89 Tests and bowled less and less as the decade went on.
If we want an all-rounder, Pollock was probably the outstanding all-rounder of the decade, but almost never batted above number seven or eight, while Cairns and McMillan were also much more successful at seven than six. Kallis is actually well worth considering - he was an emerging tyro in the 1990s, but still managed to average 41 with the bat and 28 with the ball from his first 32 Tests even before he became a phenomenon.
The final option is to strengthen the batting by picking Flower over Healy as the 'keeper - but such was the chasm in their 'keeping skills (and the fact that while Flower was a very good batsman in the 1990s, his best work came after the turn of the decade), that's a non-starter for me.
As for the actual question at hand, I'm going to be a contrarian and buck the voting trend completely:
Tendulkar
Waugh
Warne
If we want an all-rounder, Pollock was probably the outstanding all-rounder of the decade, but almost never batted above number seven or eight, while Cairns and McMillan were also much more successful at seven than six. Kallis is actually well worth considering - he was an emerging tyro in the 1990s, but still managed to average 41 with the bat and 28 with the ball from his first 32 Tests even before he became a phenomenon.
The final option is to strengthen the batting by picking Flower over Healy as the 'keeper - but such was the chasm in their 'keeping skills (and the fact that while Flower was a very good batsman in the 1990s, his best work came after the turn of the decade), that's a non-starter for me.
As for the actual question at hand, I'm going to be a contrarian and buck the voting trend completely:
Tendulkar
Waugh
Warne
271 & 16/166
School Boy/Girl Captain
Clearly the best keeper in the 90s and handy bat as well. Maybe it's a young Kallis or Chris Cairns for the all rounder one may be batting too low and the either too high?..or Pollock or Akram can cover this and add an extra batter
271 & 16/166
School Boy/Girl Captain
Because it would mean batting a Pollock or a Akram at six and they weren't good enough batters
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
In that case you'd have to pick Flower as keeper at 6. I personally think Ambrose, Akram, Pollock, Warne, S Waugh is a good enough attack and Pollock-Akram-Warne a superb 8-10 with Healy at 7.
Toss up between Aravinda, Azha, and M Waugh for no 6 imo.
sunilz
International Regular
The batting output of Pollock + Akram + Warne is equal to 1 very good test batsman
Lillian Thomson
Hall of Fame Member
Healy needs to be selected ASAP before someone starts suggesting Alec Stewart with the gloves at 6.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Shame Parore never fulfilled his potential with bat - seriously talented but underperformed immensely (admittedly in a weak batting lineup). Was a quality keeper though. Jack Russell was even better - an absolute gun with the gloves.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Overrating junior a tad there, I dare say.
Slifer
International Captain
Sachin
Waugh
Warne.
Imo, a 5th bowler is completely unnecessary. The two most successful sides in test history usually made do with 4 main bowlers and a few part timers. Assuming the bowling consists of: Ambrose, Warne, Donald and Wasim, that's more than enough bowling fire power.
Waugh
Warne.
Imo, a 5th bowler is completely unnecessary. The two most successful sides in test history usually made do with 4 main bowlers and a few part timers. Assuming the bowling consists of: Ambrose, Warne, Donald and Wasim, that's more than enough bowling fire power.
sunilz
International Regular
The two most successful sides didn't have Bradman or Sobers also. That doesn't mean we won't pick them. Having 5 ATG bowlers will ensure team struggle to post 300 against your side.
stephen
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
No it won't. A 5th bowler is there for giving your weapons a break when the ball is old and not doing much. 4 bowlers of sufficient calibre prevent your opponents getting to 300. A 5th won't get a bowl in such situations.
sunilz
International Regular
Let's agree to disagree. India has been using 5 bowlers strategy successfully in last 5 years. While India is not ATG side , results have been very good ( you won't become ATG side with non-existent middle order of Kohli, Pujara and Rahane ) .
I prefer 5 ATG bowlers anyday seeing our result in last few years.