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

[kyear2]

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.

Wouldn't but Warne or Lara as great in the slips, but get your general point.
It always seemed that Lara's catching form mirrored his batting one. Remember some drops along the way. Don't recall Warne being that stellar either.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Warne became quite a good slipper but he was never anything special. Ponting, Mark Waugh, Hayden were all way better.

He was forced into it by the necessity of being a fat **** who smoked like a chimney

 

[Red]

Warne‘s ability is pretty underplayed by referring to him that way. He was a natural athlete who was almost good enough to play AFL. Wasn’t a genius slipper like MWaugh but was definitely very good at 1st slip

 

[TheJediBrah]

I was never under the impression that he was "almost good enough to play AFL". From what I gather he was quite a long way off the pace

 

[Prince EWS]

I was never under the impression that he was "almost good enough to play AFL". From what I gather he was quite a long way off the pace

He played reserve grade for St Kilda which is definitely pretty close in the grand scheme of things.

 

[TheJediBrah]

He played reserve grade for St Kilda which is definitely pretty close in the grand scheme of things.

I wouldn't say so tbh

 

[Red]

I was never under the impression that he was "almost good enough to play AFL". From what I gather he was quite a long way off the pace

Whatever, semantics, fact is he played reserves AFL footy and was clearly a very good Aust rules footballer. And a natural athlete. He wasn’t just a fat bloke they plonked in the slips. He was a good fielder and very good slipper.

 

[Owzat]

I had a conversation with a older friend a couple days ago and posed the question, which is more important, going bat deep (at least 1 position, max 2) or having a skilled cordon, he said the question was flawed as a complete team should have both and would be no reason to compromise or go either or . He continued it was a matter of balance, once quality wasn't too compromised, but I did eventually get an answer from him, but not before he waxed lyrically about the first time he saw Imran and the Pakistanis down here in (I think) '76?

So yeah, pretty straight forward, it is a skill that should be factored in team selection in general and also in our fantasy XIs. Is it a valuable and under rated skill that should even be factored in when rating players as cricketers as we do with other secondary skills.

I would expect there to be clear cut and less clear cut inclusions, where less clear cut you opt for the better fielder or if batsman then maybe bowling, if bowler then maybe batting

would be a surprise if you could pick an all-time XI which didn't have any fielding ability beyond the keeper, or potentially including the keeper depending on who you picked....

besides which they'd be so good batting and bowling probably wouldn't matter how good they were in the slips, unless playing all-time XI vs second choice all-time XI. plus of course not everyone can field at slip ie you're unlikely to have more then 3 usually, doesn't mean those who don't slip regularly can't catch

 

[kyear2]

Warne became quite a good slipper but he was never anything special. Ponting, Mark Waugh, Hayden were all way better.

He was forced into it by the necessity of being a fat **** who smoked like a chimney

That's why it bothered me that when Warne came back they pushed Hayden back to Gully (where he was superb btw), but he was better at slip than Warne.

Ironically, Warne gets pushed to gully in my XI

As an aside, I've said a couple times, the one thing that the all time need is missing is an attacking LH opening bat who was great at slip or could bowl a bit, Haydos / Smith comes as close as any.

 

[kyear2]

I would expect there to be clear cut and less clear cut inclusions, where less clear cut you opt for the better fielder or if batsman then maybe bowling, if bowler then maybe batting

would be a surprise if you could pick an all-time XI which didn't have any fielding ability beyond the keeper, or potentially including the keeper depending on who you picked....

besides which they'd be so good batting and bowling probably wouldn't matter how good they were in the slips, unless playing all-time XI vs second choice all-time XI. plus of course not everyone can field at slip ie you're unlikely to have more then 3 usually, doesn't mean those who don't slip regularly can't catch

Goes beyond being not able to catch. The great ones weren't only safe, they turned half chances into wickets, having the ability to come forward with balance and taking what most would receive kudos for knocking down as half volleys, and also took come blinders as well.

As to your other point, that the team would be so good at batting and bowling that it wouldn't matter, that's more true for the batting and bowling all-rounders, who may not be needed, conversely the slips come into play even more when the bowlers do their job. And if it's a even matchup, then all three equally come into play and importance.

 

[shortpitched713]

I see this being brought up about both Lillee and Warne. And respectfully, who gives a flying **** about who is or isn't good / almost good enough to play bloody ****ing AFL.

The NFL has some of the most incredible power generating athletes out there, and even they tend to "stay in their lane" when it comes to athleticism comparisons with NBA and track athletes who are considered the real athletic specialists. There are levels to this athleticism thing, and to me AFL shouldn't really merit any consideration, unless it's backed up by clearly superior athleticism on the cricket pitch, which in Lilee's and Warne's case it definitely wasn't.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

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.

Bert Oldfield is the one that I was most impressed by. Limited footage but looks extremely impressive, especially to spinners. No wonder the record of most stumpings still belongs to Oldfield.

 

[Red]

I see this being brought up about both Lillee and Warne. And respectfully, who gives a flying **** about who is or isn't good / almost good enough to play bloody ****ing AFL.

The NFL has some of the most incredible power generating athletes out there, and even they tend to "stay in their lane" when it comes to athleticism comparisons with NBA and track athletes who are considered the real athletic specialists. There are levels to this athleticism thing, and to me AFL shouldn't really merit any consideration, unless it's backed up by clearly superior athleticism on the cricket pitch, which in Lilee's and Warne's case it definitely wasn't.

Settle down. It’s not about AFL. It’s about guys who had natural athleticism and were better in the field than others. You see it across the board in cricketers. Guys who could’ve potentially made elite level in multiple sports are better fielders.

 

[shortpitched713]

Settle down. It’s not about AFL. It’s about guys who had natural athleticism and were better in the field than others. You see it across the board in cricketers. Guys who could’ve potentially made elite level in multiple sports are better fielders.

Eh, I'd honestly rather just take a guy with a slightly higher catch percentage, especially at a close position like slip. Safe hands over athleticism.

 

[AndrewB]

Bert Oldfield is the one that I was most impressed by. Limited footage but looks extremely impressive, especially to spinners. No wonder the record of most stumpings still belongs to Oldfield.

In "Cricket Crisis", when Fingleton and colleague pick their World XI of their era, they pick Cameron, reckoning him equal to Oldfield as a keeper and a better batter: apparently Oldfield "made a hash of taking Fleetwood-Smith" in the 1935-6 tour of South Africa, or else they might have picked him despite Cameron's batting.

 

[Red]

Eh, I'd honestly rather just take a guy with a slightly higher catch percentage, especially at a close position like slip. Safe hands over athleticism.

That’s fair, dunno if there’s legit catch percentage stats, but I can’t remember Warne dropping too many at first. He was pretty good in there

 

[TheJediBrah]

Settle down. It’s not about AFL. It’s about guys who had natural athleticism and were better in the field than others. You see it across the board in cricketers. Guys who could’ve potentially made elite level in multiple sports are better fielders.

Warne was never athletic in the field my bro

And I'm one of his biggest fans, he's still one of the greatest cricketers, athletes and personalities of all time. We don't have to give him attributes he didn't have though

 

[kyear2]

That’s fair, dunno if there’s legit catch percentage stats, but I can’t remember Warne dropping too many at first. He was pretty good in there

I vaguely recall a few, but more importantly don't recall any special grabs either.

 

[Prince EWS]

I vaguely recall a few, but more importantly don't recall any special grabs either.

 

[kyear2]

Like Gayle wasn't good at slip, he caught a few yeah, but the technique wasn't always clean, trapping balls to his chest etc ...