CricAddict
Cricketer Of The Year
I understand Akram is over-rated in several quarters but if he doesn`t get into the third team here, that will be OTT under-rating him.
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All time world test XI selection
- Thread starter Red
- Start date
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
I reckon he's a lock for this team - I'm assuming people are just waiting to pick him as the third bowler to work his magic with the old ball.
kyear2
International Coach
Fully agree with this. He will be my choice for 3rd seamer.
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
We're not allowed to pick Barnes are we? (otherwise I think a lot of us would have already!)
kyear2
International Coach
Yes, that was agreed to earlier on
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
Predominantly, yes. He batted at 3 periodically through his career and did reasonably well, but never specialised there and made the position his own. I'd certainly not be picking him at first drop for an all time XI.
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
I'm torn here about Barry Richards. Not for a moment questioning his quality, but if we're eliminating pre-WWI players from consideration because it's too hard to accurately rate or compare them as Test players, then it feels like a similar qualification applies to Richards due to his four-Test career.
It seems inconsistent to me that I can pick Barry Richards but can't pick Grace or Trumper.
(This may very well not bother anyone else, in which case that's fine and shut up Sean)
It seems inconsistent to me that I can pick Barry Richards but can't pick Grace or Trumper.
(This may very well not bother anyone else, in which case that's fine and shut up Sean)
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
Richards
Simpson
Akram
Donald
De Villiers
Barrington
Simpson
Akram
Donald
De Villiers
Barrington
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
I was looking forward to getting to this point of the exercise because while most of us seem to have a pretty consistent view of who should make up the First and Second XIs (nothing wrong with that, I think we're right!), I figured that from the Third XI onward there would be far greater variance in selections, which seems to be the case and it's really interesting to see.
I'll admit that I'm surprised Ames is dominating the 'keeper vote to this extent - I'd always gotten the impression that CW considered him a little overrated.
I'll admit that I'm surprised Ames is dominating the 'keeper vote to this extent - I'd always gotten the impression that CW considered him a little overrated.
trundler
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Ames did a healthy bit of minnow bashing in a short career to get that average pretty and over 40. No way he's a better keeper-bat than Watling or Waite who routinely played clutch knocks against better opposition. Watling has a double ton as well as great knocks in NZ's most memorable away series in SL and NZ. First rate stumper too. Waite has a only 1 fewer century than Boucher in a third of the number of tests. 4 in 50 FTR which is pretty great for the era he played in. Decent number of 50s too and he was the backbone of the first SA side that punched above its weight with great fielding and batting depth. To me, Waite and Watling would rank on par with Knott.
OverratedSanity
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Just pick Sanga or de villiers here. They kept for lots of tests and batted well while doing it.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
He is my choice for 3rd seamer but I was asking if the allrounder would be at 6 or 8, because I wouldnt want to choose between Wasim and Miller.
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
Sanga would be a complete waste though - he was a good but not great 'keeper, kept for only about a third of his career, and averaged 40 with the bat while doing so. It's like Clyde Walcott, you're getting the worst of both worlds - they need to be picked as batsmen.
TheJediBrah
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Both pretty good keepers too, unlike Andy Flower
edit: and would like to add my appreciation for no one picking Flower to play as keeper. That would be a horrible selection
OverratedSanity
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Sanga was a quality keeper imo. You're getting less out of sanga than you would by just picking him as a batsman but I think it's still a more valuable pick than Flower or Healy. Waite is arguably a better choice now I think about it.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
I would go for ABD over Sanga as a keeper. But I think the keeper needs to be beyond quality, they need to be worldclass at a minimum of these XIs.
TheJediBrah
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Agree ABDV probably slightly better, but they couldn't have had a more different experience as keepers. ABDV never had to keep to a decent spinner but did a very solid job back to some great quicks, conversely Sanga spent most of his time up to spinners including the very unique Murali, often in slow-spinning conditions. Very hard to compare.
Would be a question mark over ABdV keeping to an ATG spinner
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
Yeah he was good, for sure - but I'd much rather have the Sanga who averaged 67 over 86 Tests when he wasn't keeping, rather than the Sanga who averaged 40 over 48 Tests when he was. Especially given how many outstanding 'keepers we have to choose from who were far better gloveman, did the job full time, and with whom you're not losing much with the bat. Watling, for example, averaged nearly 40 anyway, scored absolute clutch runs, and was a genuinely world class wicketkeeper.