4 & 5

[kyear2]

Sachin for Lara, Imran for Hadlee and McGrath for Steyn. Agree with the rest.

Lol, that more than half.

Sachin for Lara is understandable, but don't think I want him and Kallis together in the middle order. Unless I bat Sobers and 5 and drop Kallis to 6 . Though that can indeed work.

I can't fathom dropping Hadlee for Imran. Hadlee was the better bowler and during his intial bowling stage, was Imran that much better of a bat than Sir Richard?

 

[ankitj]

An XI for all conditions. You could be playing in swinging or bouncing conditions where you need 3 pace bowlers. In spinning conditions you need high quality spin from both ends.

 

[kyear2]

An XI for all conditions. You could be playing in swinging or bouncing conditions where you need 3 pace bowlers. In spinning conditions you need high quality spin from both ends.

Gilchrist does give quite a bit of cover. Imran at 7 does seem a bit high for this level. But again, Gilchrist.

 

[honestbharani]

Not a fan of all right hand top 5 when you got Lara to choose, tbh.

 

[sunilz]

Not a fan of all right hand top 5 when you got Lara to choose, tbh.

Have Sobers at 5 . Problem solved

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Sachin - Lara ( or Hammond )

 

[TheJediBrah]

Lara at 4, Smith at 5.

With Bradman at 3 and Sobers at 6 this gives a left/ right combination all the way down. Smith has earned his place over the others and Lara is my favourite of the rest.

This seems right. Can't see fitting Sachin in and Smith is a GOAT slip and far superior fielder anywhere.

 

[Burgey]

Yes. Murali plus one of Warne or Barnes

If you're playing two specialist spinners as fixtures in an AT side, you'll be losing.

 

[subshakerz]

Lol, that more than half.

Sachin for Lara is understandable, but don't think I want him and Kallis together in the middle order. Unless I bat Sobers and 5 and drop Kallis to 6 . Though that can indeed work.

I can't fathom dropping Hadlee for Imran. Hadlee was the better bowler and during his intial bowling stage, was Imran that much better of a bat than Sir Richard?

Even if you discount Imran's pure batting years (89-92), he was averaging at least 5-6 points more than Hadlee with more tons as a pure bat, and as a bowler had an arguably comparable record with Hadlee at that point (by 1988).

You cant have it both ways, because when you try to discard Imran's late career batting achievements, you also lessen the degree to which Hadlee had an edge over Imran as a bowler as his bowling records were affected by those later years.

 

[subshakerz]

For numbers 4 and 5, I am going with Viv Richards (best batsman of 70s/80s) and Tendulkar (best batsman of 90s/2000s).

I loved watching Lara but he has wasnt as close to batting perfection as Tendulkar was, and I would wager the majority of peers went more in Tendulkar favor than Laras as a result.

As for Steve Smith, his test career is 77 tests so far and he is 32 years old. He has already shown signs of decline. He still has too much cricket ahead of him to make any judgement ahead of other ATGs.

 

[271 & 16/166]

Sobers can cover any second spin role and I would have Hammond ahead of Kallis.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Even if you discount Imran's pure batting years (89-92), he was averaging at least 5-6 points more than Hadlee with more tons as a pure bat, and as a bowler had an arguably comparable record with Hadlee at that point (by 1988).

You cant have it both ways, because when you try to discard Imran's late career batting achievements, you also lessen the degree to which Hadlee had an edge over Imran as a bowler as his bowling records were affected by those later years.

Until 1987 Imran averaged just 30 with bat. Thats a 15-16 year career by then.
His away bowling avg was 26.

Compared to Hadlee,
Equivalent batsman, inferior bowler

 

[subshakerz]

Until 1987 Imran averaged just 30 with bat. Thats a 15-16 year career by then.
His away bowling avg was 26.

Compared to Hadlee,
Equivalent batsman, inferior bowler

No. By 1987, Imran's average was 33 and he had a better overall bowling average than Hadlee.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

No. By 1987, Imran's average was 33 and he had a better overall bowling average than Hadlee.

1971-1986
Bat avg 30
Away bowling avg 26

 

[ataraxia]

1971-1988

Bat avg 33
Away bowling avg 25

 

[honestbharani]

I would wager the majority of peers went more in Tendulkar favor than Laras as a result.

Which peers?

 

[kyear2]

Even if you discount Imran's pure batting years (89-92), he was averaging at least 5-6 points more than Hadlee with more tons as a pure bat, and as a bowler had an arguably comparable record with Hadlee at that point (by 1988).

You cant have it both ways, because when you try to discard Imran's late career batting achievements, you also lessen the degree to which Hadlee had an edge over Imran as a bowler as his bowling records were affected by those later years.

I'm not trying to have it both ways. I think Hadlee was the better bowler period. I don't think Imran is a top 5 bowler, so I'm not forcing him into the team for a few extra runs. I want to have as good and balanced attack as possible. After 8, I don't factor in batting.

 

[subshakerz]

1971-1986
Bat avg 30
Away bowling avg 26

Right, so to prove Hadlee was a better all-rounder, lets just discount Imrans best years as an allrounder. Sounds fair.

 

[kyear2]

1971-1988

Bat avg 33
Away bowling avg 25

But why at 8, does batting average matter more than who's the better bowler.

Even as a batting all-rounder, I'm going to base the selection more on who is better with the bat. That's the primary role.

 

[subshakerz]

I'm not trying to have it both ways. I think Hadlee was the better bowler period. I don't think Imran is a top 5 bowler, so I'm not forcing him into the team for a few extra runs. I want to have as good and balanced attack as possible. After 8, I don't factor in batting.

Well we are talking about no. 8 so batting skills does come into play and you questioned whether Imran was that much better with the bat.