Do you believe slip fielding should factor in to your selection of an ATG XI that you intend to take the field

[kyear2]

Lol you are definitely trying to be snarky thats fine. I don't think slip fielding is as important as lower order runs in ATG context so obviously we're going to differ.

Although tbh, the real reason the ATG XI you posted doesn't need slip fielding is because imran us in it and he doesn't need great slip fielders to get wickets unlike those weaklings Mcgrath and marshall.

Honestly wasn't dude, was just making a point.

As I said, was using examples to make said point.

And yes, we can agree to disagree, but don't think either of said weaklings would be amused after the first couple of drops and the martian's Bradman goes on to score a double ton.
Plus Sobers, Sachin and Bradman will take us to 450 for 4 declared in most instances.

But seriously, if the batsmen do their job, the tail takes on lesser importance, when the bowlers do their job the cordon takes in greater importance.

 

[kyear2]

I'm not sure how to judge fielders pre-footage. Cowdrey, a reputed slipper, looks awful on footage and Knott looks miles better than Tallon despite supposedly being preferred over better keepers for batting.

Only pre footage guy I would use peer and review rating for is Hammond and to lesser impact, Weekes. And there is some footage of Hammond where he looks quite impressive.

There is footage of Simpson, Sobers, Chappell, Richards, Lloyd and Gavaskar (to a much lesser amount)

If we look at a shot list of ATG batsmen / all-rounders who were also great in the cordon, there's quite a bit of consensus

Australia
Miller
Simpson
Chappell
Ponting
Smith

Clarke, Waugh, Taylor, Hayden doesn't quite make the ATG standard. Warne wasn't quite elite imo.

England
Hammond
Botham


Root and Cook a bit too inconsistent in both

W. I
Weekes
Sobers
Richards

Lara a bit too inconsistent, Lloyd and Richardson not quite ATG bats, Hooper definitely not

S. A
Mitchell
Barlow
Kallis
Smith*
de Villiers

*Smith for me was always more safe that spectacular

India
Gavaskar
Dravid*

*Read Smith from above, Azharuddin not ATG status.

Pakistan
Younis


S. L
Jayawardene

If he qualifies as a ATG batsman and he gets here for his work with Murali and not as familiar with him as I am with some of the others.

Yes, not a perfect list, but from the top of my head and from memory.

 

[Prince EWS]

Lol you are definitely trying to be snarky thats fine. I don't think slip fielding is as important as lower order runs in ATG context so obviously we're going to differ.

Although tbh, the real reason the ATG XI you posted doesn't need slip fielding is because imran us in it and he doesn't need great slip fielders to get wickets unlike those weaklings Mcgrath and marshall.

Weaknesssssss

 

[Line and Length]

I'm not sure how to judge fielders pre-footage. Cowdrey, a reputed slipper, looks awful on footage and Knott looks miles better than Tallon despite supposedly being preferred over better keepers for batting.

I read an interesting anecdote about Cowdrey in the slips. Godfrey Evans took a fine catch in front of Cowdrey and looked up and said, "I didn't think you were awake at this time in the morning."

 

[Coronis]

Tangentially related stat I randomly came across - Smith has equalled Dravid for the most catches off a single bowler for a non keeper.

Smith - 55 off Lyon in 92 matches
Dravid - 55 off Kumble in 107 matches

though just remembering now Dravid kept for a bit so he probs holds the record alone. Next is Taylor with 51 in 66 matches with Warne. Nobody else cracks 40.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Tangentially related stat I randomly came across - Smith has equalled Dravid for the most catches off a single bowler for a non keeper.

Smith - 55 off Lyon in 92 matches
Dravid - 55 off Kumble in 107 matches

though just remembering now Dravid kept for a bit so he probs holds the record alone. Next is Taylor with 51 in 66 matches with Warne. Nobody else cracks 40.

c Mahela b Murali is the record I think. 77 in 96 matches.

 

[Coronis]

c Mahela b Murali is the record I think. 77 in 96 matches.

Oh damn you’re right, I didn’t even see him.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Dravid has two 50+ combinations which is pretty cool. 55 off Kumble, 51 off Harbhajan.

 

[kyear2]

That is ridiculous

 

[Ali TT]

I like the phrasing of this question "to your selection of an ATG XI that you intend to take the field". If I had the powers of a necromancer and could bring back dead cricketers while rejuvenating those still alive but now old in years to take to a cricket field, people wouldn't be asking much about their catching ability.

As they saw me leading my Zombie XI on the field, they'd want to know why with all those magic powers, I couldn't have given myself the ability to land a ball on the cut strip.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Tangentially related stat I randomly came across - Smith has equalled Dravid for the most catches off a single bowler for a non keeper.

Smith - 55 off Lyon in 92 matches
Dravid - 55 off Kumble in 107 matches

though just remembering now Dravid kept for a bit so he probs holds the record alone. Next is Taylor with 51 in 66 matches with Warne. Nobody else cracks 40.

I don't think Dravid ever played as keeper in Tests. He might have covered once or twice if someone was injured but he was never named as the keeper. It was ODIs that he kept in for a bit

 

[OverratedSanity]

Yeah he usually only kept in tests when the regular keeper was injured, like at Kolkata 01

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah he usually only kept in tests when the regular keeper was injured, like at Kolkata 01

Or when Ratra or Dhoni wanted to have a bowl.

 

[Red]

An Australian ATG/ATVG XI that was proper gun in the field might be good to select. Elite fielders, good enough at elite level. Fine, I’ll do it:

Mark Taylor (slip)
Ricky Ponting (cover/point/slip)
Greg Chappell (slip)
Mark Waugh (slip)
Neil Harvey (cover)
Allan Border (midwicket/slip)
Keith Miller (slip)
Richie Benaud (gully)
Alan Davidson (leg slip/leg gully)
Ian Healy (keeper)
Dennis Lillee

 

[kyear2]

An Australian ATG/ATVG XI that was proper gun in the field might be good to select. Elite fielders, good enough at elite level. Fine, I’ll do it:

Mark Taylor (slip)
Ricky Ponting (cover/point/slip)
Greg Chappell (slip)
Mark Waugh (slip)
Neil Harvey (cover)
Allan Border (midwicket/slip)
Keith Miller (slip)
Richie Benaud (gully)
Alan Davidson (leg slip/leg gully)
Ian Healy (keeper)
Dennis Lillee

Think Harvey was also renowned in the cordon.

Nice concept

 

[Coronis]

An Australian ATG/ATVG XI that was proper gun in the field might be good to select. Elite fielders, good enough at elite level. Fine, I’ll do it:

Mark Taylor (slip)
Ricky Ponting (cover/point/slip)
Greg Chappell (slip)
Mark Waugh (slip)
Neil Harvey (cover)
Allan Border (midwicket/slip)
Keith Miller (slip)
Richie Benaud (gully)
Alan Davidson (leg slip/leg gully)
Ian Healy (keeper)
Dennis Lillee

So is Lillee always bowling?

(have no idea how he was in the field tbh)

 

[Prince EWS]

So is Lillee always bowling?

*shudders*

 

[Red]

So is Lillee always bowling?

(have no idea how he was in the field tbh)

Think he was a pretty solid outfielder. Played AFL and was a good catch

 

[Red]

*shudders*

What a dream. With Roy in the inner circle and Junior at second

 

[bagapath]

in ATGs, Richards, Warne and Gavaskar were good for the slips. Bradman, Hadlee and Hobbs could field well on the off. Sachin in the midfield. Marshall in the deep. Sobers anywhere. Lillie/ Imran/ McGrath/ Steyn whoever had the ball in hand won't have to worry about the fielding standards.

Most top order (specialist) batsmen were either top notch slip fielders (G Chappell, Hammond, Border, Lara) or solid mid fielders. So most ATG teams naturally stack up well.