All time world test XI selection

[Coronis]

Tendulkar Warne Gilchrist

 

[Nikhil99.99]

I have a feeling @Nikhil99.94 has a very important role in this thread

PS. Who is @Nikhil99.99

I pretty much messed up day before yesterday with my password.Couldn’t have my original name.
Hammond
O’Reilly
Knott

 

[kyear2]

Lara Warne Gilchrist

+ 1

 

[kyear2]

This still gets me every time. That you can be so far in front no one bothers to have a vote. It's incredible.

Is there a reason it isn't also extended to Sobers?

Additionally, and I'll let the votes bear this out. Believe that Marshall and Gilchrist deserves similar courtesies in the future. Gilly is similarly far ahead of the competition as a wicket keeper batsman and it's accepted by almost everyone on this site that Marshall is either the best, or at worst the 2nd best pacer ever. Evidenced by his unanimous selection.

Just by two cents, but in addition to Bradman, those three are also close to if not automatic selections as well. Some may not want to grant them that, but they are in that stratosphere.

 

[CricAddict]

Is there a reason it isn't also extended to Sobers?

Additionally, and I'll let the votes bear this out. Believe that Marshall and Gilchrist deserves similar courtesies in the future. Gilly is similarly far ahead of the competition as a wicket keeper batsman and it's accepted by almost everyone on this site that Marshall is either the best, or at worst the 2nd best pacer ever. Evidenced by his unanimous selection.

Just by two cents, but in addition to Bradman, those three are also close to if not automatic selections as well. Some may not want to grant them that, but they are in that stratosphere.

Hobbs too.

 

[kyear2]

Hobbs too.

Was thinking that as well, but not sure if he still qualifies as an automatic selection.
That's something I would leave up to the collective.

 

[Days of Grace]

Tendulkar
Gilchrist
Warne

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Sachin
Gilly
Murali

 

[Nikhil99.99]

Knott ,S.F Barnes getting underrated imo.0 vote for both excluding mine.Would be interesting to see whether either of the 2 make 2nd xi.

 

[Bitmap]

Sachin
Murali
Gilchrist

 

[JOJOXI]

Lara
Gilchrist
Muralitharan

 

[Fuller Pilch]

G Pollock
Murali
Gilchrist

 

[kyear2]

Knott ,S.F Barnes getting underrated imo.0 vote for both excluding mine.Would be interesting to see whether either of the 2 make 2nd xi.

We don't know for sure what he bowled, which was likely spin. He averaged 21 vs Australia which wasn't that great for the era, his overall average was only that low because he averaged 8 vs a poor S. A team.
The level of competition in that era was less than professional and I'm a little surprised that anyone would think he would be more of an effective bowler than any of those from later eras.

I would say that you over rate him and it appears you tend to overly romanticize the past, and that's fine.

 

[The Sean]

Lara
Gilchrist
Warne

 

[Burgey]

Is there a reason it isn't also extended to Sobers?

I think because there are some idiots who believe Imran was a better all rounder than him.

 

[kyear2]

I think because there are some idiots who believe Imran was a better all rounder than him.

Not for the no. 6 position though.

Not even Smali or PEWS would have Imran ahead of Sobers at 6.

 

[Prince EWS]

Not for the no. 6 position though.

Not even Smali or PEWS would have Imran ahead of Sobers at 6.

Yeah it'd be almost like having Bradman ahead of Marshall to bat 9 and open the bowling.

 

[kyear2]

Some surprises showing up in the votes thus far.

1st if all, Sachin running away with this one.

Tendulkar - 13
Lara - 4
Hammond - 2
Pollock - 2
Richards - 1
Smith - 1
Border - 1

And this is way closer than I expected.

Warne - 12
Muralitharan - 10
O'Reilly - 2

And as expected.

Gilchrist - 22
Knott - 1
Sangakkara - 1

 

[gftw]

I think because there are some idiots who believe Imran was a better all rounder than him.

Not sure why bowling allrounders are compared to batting allrounders in the first place. Completely different roles. Sobers is the best batting allrounder while Imran is the best bowling allrounder. Sobers should be compared to guys like Kallis, while Imran should be compared to guys like Hadlee and Miller.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I can see circumstances where Imran would be a more valuable player to a team than Sobers. But mostly a hypothetical Imran where his peak batting and bowling coincided.

Is there a reason it isn't also extended to Sobers?

Additionally, and I'll let the votes bear this out. Believe that Marshall and Gilchrist deserves similar courtesies in the future. Gilly is similarly far ahead of the competition as a wicket keeper batsman and it's accepted by almost everyone on this site that Marshall is either the best, or at worst the 2nd best pacer ever. Evidenced by his unanimous selection.

Just by two cents, but in addition to Bradman, those three are also close to if not automatic selections as well. Some may not want to grant them that, but they are in that stratosphere.

Agree, given that you have 3 fast bowling spots Marshall should be a lock. Gilchrist probably should too, however there's a potential situation where someone might want to pick a "pure keeper" specialist for some reason. Personally I don't think there's any keeper even close to good enough to justify selection ahead of Gilchrist (who is already a very good keeper) based on that alone, but I could see the situation arising.