# 6 for 1986-2006 World Test XI

[open365]

Could someone forget my vote for Waugh and give it to Imran?

I enver realised how good his stats were post 1986

 

[Jamee999]

I think Dravid and Kallis are the best but they will come at 3 and 4.

No, if you look carefully, you can see that Ponting and Tendulkar will come at 3 and 4.

 

[James_W]

Shaun Pollock, if not for this definatley with McGrath opening the bowling.

 

[silentstriker]

Could someone forget my vote for Waugh and give it to Imran?

I enver realised how good his stats were post 1986

34 tests; 1715 runs @ 50.44; 4 centuries; 113 wkts @ 23.63


Thats absolutely insane. Averaging over 50 with the bat and less than 25 with the ball is unheard of, even with Sobers.

 

[adharcric]

Given how many Aussies visit this site frequently, i hight doubt that would happen.

Trust me, Murali will make the cut.

 

[Matteh]

Would be a travesty for no Steve Waugh. His captaincy was amazing, his batting was definitely more than a tad useful and his bowling was good enough to be able to knock out some of the other all-rounders.

 

[silentstriker]

Would be a travesty for no Steve Waugh. His captaincy was amazing, his batting was definitely more than a tad useful and his bowling was good enough to be able to knock out some of the other all-rounders.

Would be just as big a travesty if not Imran Khan though.

 

[open365]

Would be just as big a travesty if not Imran Khan though.

Looking at his stats, there's no way on this earth you could leave him out.

His record is just insane, he's basicaly the same batting average as Waugh but his bowling average to go with it is insane.

 

[Goughy]

34 tests; 1715 runs @ 50.44; 4 centuries; 113 wkts @ 23.63


Thats absolutely insane. Averaging over 50 with the bat and less than 25 with the ball is unheard of, even with Sobers.

They are great averages but at a lower production than they would imply. His batting average is exactly the same as the average number of runs he scored in a test. This is very deceptive as noone averages the same number as runs per test. Also he averages only 3.3 wickets a test (which is again good but not incredible or what you would expect with such a low average).

The averages are great but a not a true reflection of the impact on the field.

They are clearly still good enough to put him 2nd, in my opinion, but 6 is a batting allrounder spot for me and Kallis (78.45 runs per test) got my vote.

My Top 5 from the List
Kallis
Khan
Waugh
Dravid
A.N. Other

Only reason I have Dravid so low is that it is for the no. 6 position and if he was to be included I would like him batting higher.

 

[silentstriker]

They are great averages but at a lower production than they would imply. His batting average is exactly the same as the average number of runs he scored in a test. This is very deceptive as noone averages the same number as runs per test. Also he averages only 3.3 wickets a test (which is again good but not incredible or what you would expect with such a low average).

The averages are great but a not a true reflection of the impact on the field.

They are clearly still good enough to put him 2nd, in my opinion, but 6 is a batting allrounder spot for me and Kallis (78.45 runs per test) got my vote.

My Top 5 from the List
Kallis
Khan
Waugh
Dravid
A.N. Other

Only reason I have Dravid so low is that it is for the no. 6 position and if he was to be included I would like him batting higher.

But how many overs does Kallis average per test? I'm not sure he is an all rounder, in terms of providing a solid 5th bowling option for a team of this calibre.

 

[Goughy]

But how many overs does Kallis average per test? I'm not sure he is an all rounder, in terms of providing a solid 5th bowling option for a team of this calibre.

Over 20 per game. Split over a 2 innings game, Imran averaged about 4 overs more per innings. It is a difference but not massive and also I did put the emphasis on batting allrounder above anything else.

The 5th bowler in this team would not do that much bowling. He must be able to make a contribution but should not have to be relied on to be the spearhead.

 

[Anil]

khan

 

[silentstriker]

Over 20 per game. Split over a 2 innings game, Imran averaged about 4 overs more per innings. It is a difference but not massive and also I did put the emphasis on batting allrounder above anything else.

The 5th bowler in this team would not do that much bowling. He must be able to make a contribution but should not have to be relied on to be the spearhead.

Not sure about that. If we have two spinners (both murali and warne), than a third pace bowling option might be the way to go. I don't think we need another batsman either, if you want to look at it that way. Just someone who can contribute a decent score.

 

[Fusion]

Imran. Not only are his stats great and he's an allrounder, he would make a perfect Captain for this side.

 

[adharcric]

Kallis should be pretty close to Waugh right now, trailing only Imran. Two reasons why I would take Imran over Kallis:
First, because you'd want a strong 5th bowling option and because this side already has 6 (specialist-caliber) batsmen.
Second, because Murali deserves a spot more than either Imran or Kallis and hence we need a solid third seamer and that would be Imran.

 

[Goughy]

I can certainly see the sense in picking Khan. Im definately not saying its a silly pick. If Khan is selected, I would have no issues with it.

However, I probably rate Kallis's bowling higher than most other forum members and I would really want a specialist batsman at 6.

Each to their own, I guess

 

[C_C]

I find that one major point of disagreement i have with most people in forming these hypothetical XIs is i approach it with 'team balance' as a major factor while others approach this with 'hmm. who fits in this slot the best?'.
For example, I'd still pick Mankad to partner Gavaskar in an alltime India XI- despite Sehwag having much better stats as a batsman (though if he keeps up like this for 20-30 more tests, he'd edge out Mankad). Simply because, IND's bowling doesnt add up very well and Mankad's bowling(he was a left arm spinner if i am not mistaken) would give the team an added flexibility.
Similarly, I consider having 5 bowlers a must for most alltime XIs, with the 5th being an allrounder who i'd even forgive for having merely worldclass bowling and not great bowling.
And Kallis, IMO, is a very ordinary bowler. If he was a bowler alone, he'd be the Venkatesh Prasad of South Africa. Ofcourse you can argue he has more wickets/better average but the point you'd be missing is that Kallis bowled almost exclusively in highly bowler friendly conditions and the bowling cast around him had impeccable pedigree.Having being a bowler, i know that bowlers operate as a unit far better than batsmen do, who are infact playing an individual game (whether they arebeing selfish or looking at team interest is not the issue here- they are doing it completely individually). True, good batting lineup matters in terms of releiving pressure on a particular batsman but its nowhere as important as having a good bowling lineup if you look at how it impacts particular players.

In that aspect, Imran would be the most logical choice. Other excellent and much better batting candidates exist but think on this- The lineup already has brian,sachin, ponting, waggy and hayden, with the wicketkeeping spot a lock for Gillchrist.
Now, i dont consider gillchrist an alltime great batsman of the same callibre as Steve Waugh or Viv but he is absolutely worldclass (in my world of heirarchies, worldclass is one notch below alltime great). There is no point in shoving in another excellent batsman with very mediocre/no bowling when the team would benifit far more from having 5 competent bowlers.
Just my two cents.

 

[silentstriker]

For example, I'd still pick Mankad to partner Gavaskar in an alltime India XI- despite Sehwag having much better stats as a batsman (though if he keeps up like this for 20-30 more tests, he'd edge out Mankad).

All I have to say is: MERCHANT.

 

[C_C]

All I have to say is: MERCHANT.

Unfortunate for Merchant to miss out but Vinoo was an excellent opener. The 'Mankad test' was one of the greatest performances imo. True, Merchant was better but Vinoo is a 40-something averaging opener. Not bad for a dude who's batted in every single batting position in the team and had no settled place.
However, his worldclass Slow left arm orthodox bowling really makes much more contribution to Indian bowling and thats why he is gonna be in my team.

 

[Goughy]

Venkatesh Prasad of South Africa. Ofcourse you can argue he has more wickets/better average but the point you'd be missing is that Kallis bowled almost exclusively in highly bowler friendly conditions and the bowling cast around him had impeccable pedigree.

Yet people regularly post that Kallis has an inflated batting average because the tracks he has played on have been far flatter than previous generations and therefore made batting easier. It cant be both.

The strong bowling around him also meant that he seldom got the new ball or to bowl at the tail. Usually he has had to bowl when others are not making inroads or with an older ball against settled middle order batsmen. The strong bowling line-up SA had reduced his potential overs and opportunities. Im not saying it makes the world of difference but it should be understood and considered.

The five bowler thing, I believe, is a matter of preference. I don't really see a definative right or wrong. I love stong batting line ups which is also why I have posted many times about England only playing 4 bowlers.