Help me figure out who the No. 5 in my AT XI should be (Richards vs Others)

[kyear2]

Viv was at his prime when he played at no.3, that explains the gap in average. Guess I can switch Viv and Sachin, as Viv was a better player of pace. Viv would average higher at no.4 if he had played in that position in his prime anyway.

I thought this went without saying tbh.

What ever position Viv batted at in his prime he would have scored those runs.

 

[kyear2]

I am picking Gary Sobers at number 5 over Viv

Sobers played mostly at 5/6, has a great record as well and can play with a level head as well.

Without his bowling load, Sobers's ideal position would have been no. 4, think was his best position as well.

 

[Johan]

I am picking Gary Sobers at number 5 over Viv

Sobers played mostly at 5/6, has a great record as well and can play with a level head as well.

Er, Sobers is not necessarily a more levelheaded player than Viv, tho level headed is not a word I'd use on either but Sobers is actually the type to try 6 sixes in an over in a test.

 

[DrWolverine]

Gary Sobers is more experienced to play at 5/6 and has great record there as well.

 

[Johan]

eh I don't think the record matters, Viv's average at 5 before decline was 53 and these are ATGs, they'd adapt anyway as batting at 5 is easier than 3 or 4, but Sachin at 5 makes sense, I'm sure he'd suceed and batting behind Viv makes sense as Viv is the greater player of fast bowling while Sachin of spin.

 

[kyear2]

All of these batsmen could bat anywhere and are ideally placed at 3 or 4.

Between Viv and Sachin, Viv is better suited for 4 by temperament and skill. He was better vs pace and could carry on any advantage gained by the guys before him.

 

[sayon basak]

All of these batsmen could bat anywhere and are ideally places at 3 or 4.

+1

 

[sayon basak]

But now I'm a bit more concerned if I should go with Hadlee instead of McGrath; equally good bowlers, Hadlee the way better Batter, and a decent fielder as well, easily closer to Imran than McGrath as an overall cricketer.

 

[DrWolverine]

Hadlee
Equally good
A better batsman as well

 

[subshakerz]

All of these batsmen could bat anywhere and are ideally places at 3 or 4.

Between Viv and Sachin, Viv is better suited for 4 by temperament and skill. He was better vs pace and could carry on any advantage gained by the guys before him.

Batting no.4 is a pace setting position. Viv suits that more.

Batting no.5 is a consolidation position and suits Sachin more. I can easily see Viv just throwing his wicket away if he is regularly coming in with 200 already on the board and is expected to just build a partnership.

 

[subshakerz]

But now I'm a bit more concerned if I should go with Hadlee instead of McGrath; equally good bowlers, Hadlee the way better Batter, and a decent fielder as well, easily closer to Imran than McGrath as an overall cricketer.

Hadlee is technically a better cricketer.

But outside of Marshall and Imran, I prefer someone in the attack to have height to exploit the wicket and McGrath gives that edge.

My priority is the most well rounded attack (swing specialist, seem specialist and reverse specialist) and decent bat at no.8.

 

[Victor Ian]

Richards bats at 4 and also gets to tell Tendulkar to stop being a precious **** and move to 5.

 

[sayon basak]

Hadlee is technically a better cricketer.

But outside of Marshall and Imran, I prefer someone in the attack to have height to exploit the wicket and McGrath gives that edge.

Isn't 6 ft 1 enough to extract bounce and exploit the wicket? Is 4 inches really enough to overcome the batting and fielding of Hadlee?

 

[subshakerz]

Isn't 6 ft 1 enough to extract bounce and exploit the wicket? Is 4 inches really enough to overcome the batting and fielding of Hadlee?

The point is that if we can build a well rounded attack and have Imran at no.8, Hadlees batting is kind of superfluous

If I had to pick one to exploit seam to the max between Hadlee and McGrath it's the latter. Greatest seam bowler ever.

Plus honestly better to avoid three bowlers of the same era in Imran, Marshall and Hadlee.

 

[sayon basak]

Plus honestly better to avoid three bowlers of the same era in Imran, Marshall and Hadlee.

That's actually a good point.

 

[sayon basak]

So,
AT XI:-

Jack Hobbs
WG Grace
Don Bradman
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Malcolm Marshall
Glenn McGrath
Muttiah Muralitharan

Substitute:-
Sydney Barnes
Richard Hadlee
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Jacques Kallis

If I were to be asked 2 years ago, I would almost certainly try to push two spinners into the squad, and Jacques Kallis as the 3rd All rounder in the playing 11. Also would go for Akram instead of McGrath maybe. I also remember having the feeling for Barnes. So, all them makes up my bench.
Feels like a decent squad to me, guess could've gone with either of Hutton or Gavaskar as a replacement for any of the two openers. Hammond could also be a good shout in the middle order. But guess I'm gonna stick to this squad for quite some time.

 

[reyrey]

Richards is a solid pick. You also get a world class fielder so you can't really go wrong there.

Gilly at 6 & Imran at 7 then.

I want 4 pacers and one spinner.
Marshall. McGrath. Hadlee. Imran. Murali.

Bowlers win Tests and they have the ability to take 20 wickets on any pitch and win the match.

All those bowlers typically bowled a lot of overs in a day. You could easily get 60 overs a day out of 90 from just one of the pacers and Murali alone!

 

[sayon basak]

All those bowlers typically bowled a lot of overs in a day. You could easily get 60 overs a day out of 90 from just one of the pacers and Murali alone!

Not to mention I'd also have the bowling of Sobers and Grace.

 

[sayon basak]

So,
AT XI:-

Jack Hobbs
WG Grace
Don Bradman
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Malcolm Marshall
Glenn McGrath
Muttiah Muralitharan

Substitute:-
Sydney Barnes
Richard Hadlee
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Jacques Kallis

If I were to be asked 2 years ago, I would almost certainly try to push two spinners into the squad, and Jacques Kallis as the 3rd All rounder in the playing 11. Also would go for Akram instead of McGrath maybe. I also remember having the feeling for Barnes. So, all them makes up my bench.
Feels like a decent squad to me, guess could've gone with either of Hutton or Gavaskar as a replacement for any of the two openers. Hammond could also be a good shout in the middle order. But guess I'm gonna stick to this squad for quite some time.

Should I be bothered about who the captain should be?

 

[Victor Ian]

Yes. It has to be Grace.