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

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

Should I be bothered about who the captain should be?

If you have Grace in ATG Xi then he captains easy. He is the game.

 

[sayon basak]

If you have Grace in ATG Xi then he captains easy. He is the game.

Yeah makes sense.

 

[Victor Ian]

Is Bumrah putting on weight?

 

[DrWolverine]

Bradman, Richards and Grace in one team
The ego war would be great entertainment

 

[Johan]

wasn't Viv pretty humble to the guys of his own team

 

[DrWolverine]

wasn't Viv pretty humble to the guys of his own team

Viv Richards was pretty chill but he also knew he was the biggest star in the team. Also I am not sure he would be the one instigating anything.

When Bradman is in the team, he would most likely take an upper hand and he would probably chide Richards for getting out to a careless shot.

 

[sayon basak]

When Bradman is in the team, he would most likely take an upper hand and he would probably chide Richards for getting out to a careless shot.

Don't want to get into speculations.

 

[DrWolverine]

Don't want to get into speculations.

Don Bradman has a history of not getting along with his teammates. He did not get along with Keith Miller or Chappell Bros after retirement as well.

 

[sayon basak]

Don Bradman has a history of not getting along with his teammates. He did not get along with Keith Miller or Chappell Bros after retirement as well.

I know, and this is very much general knowledge. But what he'd do in the AT XI is after all, speculative.

 

[DrWolverine]

I know, but what he'd do in the AT XI is after all, speculative.

Don Bradman would most likely score a massive century, help his team win, get all credit and most likely not share his earning with the others.

 

[sayon basak]

Don Bradman would most likely score a massive century, help his team win, get all credit and most likely not share his earning with the others.

Yeah, that's what I care about. And if Bradman scores the runs, don't get why him getting the credits would be a problem.

And Miller was quite popular (arguably, more popular than Bradman at times). So, not sure if he would be able to take away "all" the credit.

 

[DrWolverine]

Yeah, that's what I care about. And if Bradman scores the runs, don't get why him getting the credits would be a problem.

It shouldn’t but it’s human nature to dislike someone who is more successful.

 

[kyear2]

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.

Yes, basically what I said.

 

[kyear2]

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?

I just believe McGrath is the better bowler. Proved himself more on flatter pitches, has that bounce and those intangibles.

 

[sayon basak]

I just believe McGrath is the better bowler. Proved himself more on flatter pitches, has that bounce and those intangibles.

Yeah I also have McGrath as the slightly better bowler. Guess I'll not bother about Hadlee's batting as he'd bat at 9 anyway.

 

[sayon basak]

I just believe McGrath is the better bowler. Proved himself more on flatter pitches, has that bounce and those intangibles.

Yeah I also have McGrath as the slightly better bowler. Guess I'll not bother about Hadlee's batting as he'd bat at 9 anyway.

 

[kyear2]

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.

Wait, you've finally agreed with me on this one?

But yes, like playing 3 batters from the '30's.

I have no issue with Imran's selection, just Wasim being left handed, better with the old ball and ability to move the ball both ways brings more to.an attack.

 

[kyear2]

That's actually a good point.

Wait, I've been saying that for years... Lol

 

[kyear2]

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.

If I may before I go to bed.

You have a team without a viable 3rd candidate for the slip cordon, specifically 1st, and only slightly less critically, none for gully.

You also have two openers who we have no idea how they would fare vs modern attacks, especially pace ones. One didn't even play into the 20th century and the other ones's best days were prior to WWI. Don't even know how Grace would have held a bat.

I know you and others scoff at my choice, but he was one of the 3 best players of pace that I've seen or read about, unlike any other option can provide an assertive start to the innings (like what we saw today but with proper cricket shots), and was a first rate 1st slip.
Having someone at the top who can provide an accelerated start to the innings and apply pressure, is as valuable as having a reverse operator in the attack, and having a batsman who's a great slip is as important as having that no. 8 who can handle the bat. Only one guy in the history of the game fits that bill credibly, especially in swinging or seaming conditions.

Not to mention having Grace there means you're already factoring in all red ball cricket.

Not to add that Hutton also faced better and and more varied attacks than Hobbs.

 

[kyear2]

Is Bumrah putting on weight?

Looks that way.