subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
Should the WI ATG XI have a pace quartet or have Gibbs and drop a worldclass pacer?
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Should Gibbs make it to the WI ATG XI?
- Thread starter subshakerz
- Start date
TheJediBrah
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Horses for courses. Most proper cricket pitches he doesn't make the team stronger by replacing an ATG quick
Coronis
International Coach
Yes imo. Sobers main strength as a bowler was his pace bowling. You need a proper spin bowler who can eat up the overs and keep it tight. Gibbs was a very quality bowler and is perfect for that role.
If say, Windies had NZ’s depth in spin bowlers (love you kiwibros) then you wouldn’t bother. But Gibbs is good enough for it to work.
I’d say its rarer to have a series where a spinner will be ineffectual in every match. Even in the recent B/G we had Melbourne where Lyon was crucial to the victory, and he provided invaluable support to help rest the pacers in the other matches.
If say, Windies had NZ’s depth in spin bowlers (love you kiwibros) then you wouldn’t bother. But Gibbs is good enough for it to work.
I’d say its rarer to have a series where a spinner will be ineffectual in every match. Even in the recent B/G we had Melbourne where Lyon was crucial to the victory, and he provided invaluable support to help rest the pacers in the other matches.
Thala_0710
State Vice-Captain
Surely having Holding in your Xi and getting Sobers to bowl spin is better than getting Gibbs in for an ATG pacer like Holding though? Especially if the objective is to give pacers a rest with decent level of spin, Sobers would be perfect, while rotating 4 ATG pacers from the other end. Also having 4 ATG pacers instead of 3 makes it easier to manage their load and keep the pressure on from both ends for a much longer time
Coronis
International Coach
Not in my opinion. The bulk of the quality of Sobers’ record is made up of his pace bowling. His spin simply isn’t up to scratch.
I don’t actually remember if someone did post stats or something but I vaguely recall a thread asking about Sobers bowling and his spin stats being late late 30’s.
I just think Gibbs is a better fit especially over the length of an entire series. Perhaps the four pronged pace attack would be better over a single game but then again you’d need assurance it wouldn’t be pitch assisting spin.
Sliferxxxx
U19 Vice-Captain
On anything favoring spin include him. Otherwise all pace.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
That's obvious we are talking about an overall team.
Sliferxxxx
U19 Vice-Captain
Overall, all pace.
kyear2
International Coach
Ideally.
And this also makes sense.
It can go both ways, a spinner can help with over rates and on those wickets that are conducive to spin.
The other way to look at it is that Sobers would also be more effective on those wickets that are turning square. His Chinaman style was more effective than his off spin and in such scenarios could potentially be a handful.
Coronis
International Coach
Opinion re: ATG matches I’ve seen split. Some have wanted pitches from all across history, I’ve also seen some specifically thinking modern pitches.
Gob
International Coach
He has like 3 first class wickets lol
Interesting, always assumed the ATG side would play on wickets at home that reflect their strength.
Sliferxxxx
U19 Vice-Captain
Yeah true but imo, they'd also be expected to travel and face the other Atg XIs in their favorable conditions. For example SL and India in spin conditions, RSA on seam friendly wickets etc.
kyear2
International Coach
kyear2
International Coach
Doesn't factor into it for me
Picking Gibbs over a fast bowler doesn't weaken the bowling IMO, just makes it slightly less fearsome. Also Sobers is an excellent 4th pace option.
Only weak point in a WI ATG Xl for me is the tail (including the keeper unless picking Walcott) so yeah a high quality spin bowler averaging 22 with the bat would get preference from me over a pacer who averaged half that,