The greatest cricketers from the subcontinent - how would you rank them?

[Xix2565]

Don't see why you need only 5 bowling options tbh.

 

[subshakerz]

Don't see why you need only 5 bowling options tbh.

Why would any team need two more bowling options after Imran, Wasim, Waqar and Murali?

 

[Migara]

K

Kapil, Imran, Akram, Murali and Waquar are locks

Kapil isn't a lock at all. Actually all rounders are not néeded when there are four ATG bowlers, and one of them is an all rounder. Imran, Wasim, Waqar and Murali is good enough to bowl any side and Tendulkar and Shewag can roll their arms if needed.

Shewag
Gavaskar
Sangakkara
Tendulkar
Dravid
Younis
Dhoni / Chandimal
Imran
Wasim
Murali
Waqar

Has enough fire power to topple any opposition.

 

[trundler]

Bumrah is closer to making that side than Kapil tbh. Not a criticism of Kapil. Similarly, Herath is pretty far from that side too. Shakib at 6 makes sense though.

 

[subshakerz]

K
Kapil isn't a lock at all. Actually all rounders are not néeded when there are four ATG bowlers, and one of them is an all rounder. Imran, Wasim, Waqar and Murali is good enough to bowl any side and Tendulkar and Shewag can roll their arms if needed.

Shewag
Gavaskar
Sangakkara
Tendulkar
Dravid
Younis
Dhoni / Chandimal
Imran
Wasim
Murali
Waqar

Has enough fire power to topple any opposition.

Dhoni/Chandimal stick out like a sore thumb in that side.

 

[Xix2565]

Why would any team need two more bowling options after Imran, Wasim, Waqar and Murali?

To make the bowling attack stronger? Again, why is it a 'necessity' to only have 4-5 bowling options? Don't dodge this please.

 

[ankitj]

Other than SA, any other team weakens its batting in accommodating 6 test class bowlers.

 

[Xix2565]

I personally don't see how that'll have a bigger impact vs the bowling being strengthened.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Dhoni/Chandimal stick out like a sore thumb in that side.

Yeah, Pant might make a best of SC team in time, but for now you'd just give the gloves to Sanga.

 

[subshakerz]

I personally don't see how that'll have a bigger impact vs the bowling being strengthened.

In a real test match, five quality bowlers is more than enough. In fact four is enough but five allows you to rotate and keep the bowlers fresh.

 

[subshakerz]

Yeah, Pant might make a best of SC team in time, but for now you'd just give the gloves to Sanga.

Pant needs to dramatically improve his keeping though.

 

[Bitmap]

Sanga as a keeper in tests is a bit iffy IMO and I tend to pick Sanga as a pure batsman in most of the cases unless the other options are significantly inferior. Don't think Dhoni/PJ/Pant/Engineer would be too much of a downgrade from Sanga as a wicket-keeping package.

Gavaskar
Sehwag
Sanga
Tendulkar
Miandad
Dhoni+
Imran
Ashwin
Wasim
Waqar
Murali

 

[honestbharani]

Pant needs to dramatically improve his keeping though.

have you even seen him keep?

 

[subshakerz]

Sanga as a keeper in tests is a bit iffy IMO and I tend to pick Sanga as a pure batsman in most of the cases unless the other options are significantly inferior. Don't think Dhoni/PJ/Pant/Engineer would be too much of a downgrade from Sanga as a wicket-keeping package.

Gavaskar
Sehwag
Sanga
Tendulkar
Miandad
Dhoni+
Imran
Ashwin
Wasim
Waqar
Murali

None of Dhoni/PJ/Pant/Engineer standout with both batting and bowling skills.

Sanga down at no.6 should be comfy enough to be keeper as well.

 

[subshakerz]

have you even seen him keep?

Yes sure. You rate his keeping skills highly, do you?

 

[honestbharani]

Yes sure. You rate his keeping skills highly, do you?

He is light years better than he was even in the BG Trophy in 2020. And the fact that he improved so much keeping to spin even during the Ahmedabad tests shows he is easily top notch as a keeper now. There is room for improvement with every player but your statement is laughably stupid to anyone who has seen his keeping in the last 2 years.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Pant needs to dramatically improve his keeping though.

Do you actually watch cricket?

 

[subshakerz]

He is light years better than he was even in the BG Trophy in 2020. And the fact that he improved so much keeping to spin even during the Ahmedabad tests shows he is easily top notch as a keeper now. There is room for improvement with every player but your statement is laughably stupid to anyone who has seen his keeping in the last 2 years.

He is definitely better than when he started but we are talking about an ATG side.

 

[Slifer]

McGrath and Hadlee are certainly not sub 25 in all countries.

And Marshall only played in six countries compared to Tendulkar averaging 40 plus in 10 countries over a much longer time.

Sachin played against 9 teams 2 of which were minnows so that point is moot. And I have no doubt that had Marshall played against RSA, SL, Bangladesh or Zimbabwe at any point in history he'd conquer them as well. Is this even up for debate.

Averaging over 40 is fine and all but doesn't remotely compare to a sub 23 average against all teams. Marshall was basically Richard Hadlee level vs all teams. Every challenge that came his way he demolished.

At some point being outstanding/atg level consistency has to outweigh being merely good/great vs all teams no matter the length. Marshall imo, has that over Sachin.

 

[Bitmap]

None of Dhoni/PJ/Pant/Engineer standout with both batting and bowling skills.

Sanga down at no.6 should be comfy enough to be keeper as well.

Dhoni/PJ/Engineer are better glovemen than Sanga and Sanga as keeper-bat isn't that much ahead plus he was a specialist no 3.

That said he can certainly be one of the options but IMO he isn't that much ahead of the other guys as a WK package that warrants him as an automatic choice for WK in Asian XI especially when he kept in only 48 of his 134 tests.