4 & 5

[subshakerz]

When you select Hadlee, you get 30 avg batsman + arguably GOAT bowler.

With Imran, i dont know.. ATG bowler + 30 avg bat..? Or a specialist bat + support bowler?

Hadlee never averaged 30. He was basically Wasim level batsman.

 

[subshakerz]

The list really could have been left at 6.

I agree with you about Sachin. His technique would be a tremendous safety net between the shot makers.

But Smith can possibly replicate his production, but would also slot perfectly into the cordon.

Similarly Lara, but he has that extra gear and the added variety of being a leftie.

Then there is Kallis who would also be a calm in-between the storm, plus the bowling and catching as well.

It's down to those 4 for me.

I think.

You dont think its premature to put in Smith who still has plenty of his career ahead of.him?

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Hadlee never averaged 30. He was basically Wasim level batsman.

Equal or Better than Pollock.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I'm not sure I'd want Imran, Hadlee or Pollock batting 4 or 5 in an atg team.

 

[kyear2]

You dont think its premature to put in Smith who still has plenty of his career ahead of.him?

Yes, he can have a decline like Richards and Ponting.

But even with that, they are both still here on the list ??‍

It you do have a point.

 

[subshakerz]

Equal or Better than Pollock.

Pollock, like Ashwin, was a pretty overrated bat. A lot of soft runs but in the end both still averaged better than Hadlee.

 

[srbhkshk]

I'm not sure I'd want Imran, Hadlee or Pollock batting 4 or 5 in an atg team.

Interesting that you don't include Kapil in the list, fair too imo.

 

[_00_deathscar]

I'd have Tendulkar at 4 for certain as a sort of insurance policy. #5 could be either Hammond or Lara but it has to be either of those 2 as the other blokes lack the longevity and sustained quality of those 2. Excluding Smith, of course, but if he retired now I'd have him ahead of Chappell still.

Giving this some thought and there is a good reason to have the consistent accumulator that is Sachin at 4 for most teams.

But given an ATG team has Bradman do you need him there?

 

[honestbharani]

But given an ATG team has Bradman do you need him there?

You don't. And I think Lara is the better test batsman anyways and irrespective of what these imaginary peers say, I think it pretty much balances the side better with Lara at 4 and Sobers at 6. Kallis/Sachin/Smith can fit in at 5.

 

[subshakerz]

Giving this some thought and there is a good reason to have the consistent accumulator that is Sachin at 4 for most teams.

But given an ATG team has Bradman do you need him there?

Sachin is more than a consistent accumulator, he was well capable of dominance albeit in a more textbook fashion than destructive way ala Richards.

 

[subshakerz]

You don't. And I think Lara is the better test batsman anyways and irrespective of what these imaginary peers say, I think its pretty much balances the side better with Lara at 4 and Sobers at 6. Kallis/Sachin/Smith can fit in at 5.

You would put Lara over Viv? Lara was a bit shakier against high pace bowlers, was he not?

 

[bagapath]

any two of them would do any day, anywhere, against all opposition in all conditions.

I choose Sachin and Viv today. won't have a problem with Lara and G Chappell.

 

[trundler]

I think it's worth him to have him there as a safety net because of his consistency across conditions more than anything. Regardless of what the randomiser throws up, you could expect him to average 45+. Plus we always assume that we'll get players at their peak so '98 Tendulkar coming in after Bradman would be extremely tasty. At 5 I might have a more mercurial player like Lara or Smith.

 

[honestbharani]

You would put Lara over Viv? Lara was a bit shakier against high pace bowlers, was he not?

Lara over Viv, yes.

 

[Bolo.]

Pollock, like Ashwin, was a pretty overrated bat. A lot of soft runs but in the end both still averaged better than Hadlee.

All lower order bats score soft runs. Old ball, tired bowlers etc. But also, when the going is tough, even if they are playing well enough, they will typically run out of partners. They have almost no opportunity to score anything but soft runs. The only guys who might buck this trend are the ones that come in swinging, but they dont stick around long enough to build partnerships, which is typically worse.

Pollock averaged 36 away, 28+ against every opponent, and 35+ in 7 different countries. Plenty of reasonable specialists would have more holes in their records. Even guys averaging 50ish with more holes due to buising soft runs at home.

I have a feeling you are letting Pollocks one big series vs WI colour your judgement on this, and if he had a worse series you would ironically rate him higher.

 

[Red]

Still think Sachin is the best I've seen against all opponents (pace, spin, whatever), the most rounded and consistently outstanding batsman of the last 3 decades. So he takes his preferred spot at four.

I'll take Viv at five (where he spent the majority of his career), and it's a personal preference. There are other options that have probably equal merit, but having Viv, Sobers and Gilly at five to seven is a hell of a prospect for absolute clattery after the consistency of Hutton, Hobbs, Bradman and Sachin at the top.

 

[trundler]

Still think Sachin is the best I've seen against all opponents (pace, spin, whatever), the most rounded and consistently outstanding batsman of the last 3 decades. So he takes his preferred spot at four.

I'll take Viv at five (where he spent the majority of his career), and it's a personal preference. There are other options that have probably equal merit, but having Viv, Sobers and Gilly at five to seven is a hell of a prospect for absolute clattery after the consistency of Hutton, Hobbs, Bradman and Sachin at the top.

This is my reasoning too but I'm leaning towards Lara

 

[The Sean]

If we look at who has the highest ever Test average for each position, with a minimum of 20 innings (or even 30 innings, because the results are the same), then it's no surprise who comes out on top for position number four - Steve Smith.

But the all time highest averaging number five, with an average of 67.78 from 31 innings? Step forward, Mr Joseph Edward Root.

 

[Gob]

If we look at who has the highest ever Test average for each position, with a minimum of 20 innings (or even 30 innings, because the results are the same), then it's no surprise who comes out on top for position number four - Steve Smith.

But the all time highest averaging number five, with an average of 67.78 from 31 innings? Step forward, Mr Joseph Edward Root.

Mick Clarke is god no 5

If you are picking TPC i think you should send him early. He is one of the worst down hill skiers i have seen

 

[kyear2]

Well Sachin aside, this was terribly inconclusive.

Kinda though Kallis would have received more votes than he did.