BazBall21
International Captain
Ahh forgot Knott played throughout the 70s.Stewart over Knott?
Ahh forgot Knott played throughout the 70s.Stewart over Knott?
I'd keep Flintoff as he's a big part of the attack. Could go Knott at 8.That's a fab team. I'd drop Thorpe for KP, and Freddie vs Stokes is a pick'em. But that's a great side.
1970
Boycott
Gooch
Gower
Root
Thorpe
Stewart
Botham
Flintoff
Underwood
Willis
Anderson.
Vaughan and Pietersen might put on a quick 200-run partnership batting first and Swann will be a pest near the end.An England 2nd XI from 1970 to now: [to play Baz's side].
Cook *
Atherton
Bell
Vaughan
KP
Stokes
Knott +
Swann
Gough
Broad
Fraser
The talent tails off quickly. Few tough misses - but it reflects somewhat my fave players as Baz took all the locks. Had to bat a few guys out of position to include them.
It was tough to leave out Harmison and even Caddick. Broad and Gough pick themselves and Angus was always a favourite of mine.Vaughan and Pietersen might put on a quick 200-run partnership batting first and Swann will be a pest near the end.
Caddick was like a poor man's Walsh. Lethal in the second innings when pitches became less one-paced. I prefer Hoggard to Harmison.It was tough to leave out Harmison and even Caddick. Broad and Gough pick themselves and Angus was always a favourite of mine.
Harmison's extra pace and bounce made him lethal when it all came together. Lethal in a way Hoggy couldn't be [in my estimation]. Both served the team well. Might even try to get Nas into the 2nd XI. Can't buy grit and he had that.Caddick was like a poor man's Walsh. Lethal in the second innings when pitches became less one-paced. I prefer Hoggard to Harmison.
And also we should stop using as a basis this era which is way out of line with most, over rate being very low and scoring rates very high. It makes sense that an all-time team would play in conditions that reflect the mean conditions across history – i.e., likely 4–5 days, 100–105 overs a day, where 2.5 RPO is the norm. Doesn't add up to assume that playing players from eras with low scoring rates would happen without an equivalent increase in over rate.Timeless tests have to be accounted for in these discussions. Think Hammond's scoring rate is quick enough outside of timeless tests. Hobbs was rapid pre War too.
Yes, Pakistan doesn't have an obvious choice. Bari is the best keeper but you need some batting from the role. I'd opt for Moin Khan. Decent keeper, and very useful batsman. IIRC he has a fair few test tons and averages about 30.One of the sections I can never 100% decide on is the 'keeper for Pakistan's all time XI. I perpetually alternate between several options without a clear winner ever emerging.
This side is thin on the batting. I'd agree and drop akhtar for Yousuf. Rashid Latif is a significantly better keeper and a marginally worse batsman than Moin.An AT Test XI for Pakistan.
Anwar
Mohammed
Younis Khan
Javed Miandad
Inzamam
Khan *
Moin Khan +
Akram
Waqar
Saqlain
Akhtar
That is a power packed side. One could drop a bowler for another bat but you need 5 bowlers. In the 2nd scenario I'd drop Akhtar and play Mohammed Yusuf - batting at 6.
In that case 3-6 all average 50 + which is incredible. However, the team then lacks a [meaningful] 5th bowler.
The only concern is no [decent] 5th bowler. Miandad and Younis Khan world be the fill in bowlers.This side is thin on the batting. I'd agree and drop akhtar for Yousuf. Rashid Latif is a significantly better keeper and a marginally worse batsman than Moin.
Hanif
Anwar
Younis
Miandad
Inzamam
Yousuf
Rashid Latif (wk)
Imran
Wasim
Waqar
Saqlain
Sarfaraz at least is not that good a keeper. Rizwan could be a great addition to the side if he can cement his place but he seems to be the wk of choice in LO but not in tests for some reason. He has been solid so far as wk is concerned.The only concern is no [decent] 5th bowler. Miandad and Younis Khan world be the fill in bowlers.
I always thought Moin was a much tougher cricketer than Rashid. And his batting seemed much more assured for me. But to each his own.
Could Sarfraz or Rizwan come in already?
The lack of a 2nd good AR costs Pk much flexibility. Or a fabulous wkt-bat. Imran at 6 is ok, but Immy at 7 is indicative of deeper batting. That said 5-1-5 when one of the 5 bowlers is Imran is not too bad.Sarfaraz or Rizwan allow for an extra bowler which is more important than an extra batsman.