OFC he makes my T20 team. Even if there were 5 slightly worse bowling options with good batting stapled onto them, he'd likely make my side. The impact of batting strength, unlike tests, is not cumulative due to the limited number of balls.
My philosophy in tests is absolutely not one of leaving out bowlers because they are liabilities with the bat. It's to pick the best players in a way that balances the side. Marshall would make my side if he was a batting liability due to bowling quality and variety. Guys like Mcgrath and Steyn don't because there are better players who are very similar bowlers. If there was no Hadlee, I would pick Mcgrath. If there was no Imran, I would seriously consider picking Steyn.
Comparing Sobers and Martin is idiotic. That (and its implications for your team selection philosophy) are kinda the point. Sobers doesn't make my XI on batting alone. Should I pick Martin over him on the 'pick your best bowlers' mantra? What about if Sobers averaged 10 or 20 runs less?
You're creating stupid scenarios.
Sobers is making the team as a batsman. The two sections do not in any way create a conflict.
Martin, if you're choosing him will be one of your 4 bowlers, there's no scenario where you're selecting a team and Sobers will be one of your 4 primary bowlers. He's already there.
You can't pick Martin as the batting all-rounder, somewhere's the comp.
So to get back to the discussion. If you are selecting a team, if he's the best bowler you have available, like literally the best bowler you have in your country, he can't be a liability. His value is in his bowling. Even if you want to build a balanced team and decide your no. 8 should be able to hold a bat, fine. But you can't eliminate your best guy available depending on his batting skills, that's batshit crazy.
If we had to select a world XI right now to go to Proxima / Europa / Enceladus, there's no one replacing Bumrah. I don't care how much he scores. How do you loose track of what their primary goal is.
The guy wins games, home and away, how is that a liability? Explain that for me please.
I don't care how much he scores, Wash kept us respectable for how long? Come on man.