# 6 for 1986-2006 World Test XI

[nightprowler10]

We'd out bat RSA, but they'd out bowl us. And Bowling > Batting, so I gave it to RSA. Plus, the batting isn't as far apart between the countries as you'd think, RSA have had their share of excellent batsman, many of them missed playing Test cricket due to the ban.

The gap between Indian and South African batting is bigger than you'd think, IMO, and you're also probably not taking Indian spinners into account.

 

[silentstriker]

The gap between Indian and South African batting is bigger than you'd think, IMO, and you're also probably not taking Indian spinners into account.

No, I just don't rate indian spinners on overseas pitches. On home pitches, like I said, we'd rarely lose. Away, they'd probably have a huge total by the time spinners got on anyway. And in 4th innings we'd probably be playing not to lose, rather than to win. So attacking spin isn't a big factor.

As for the batting, you'd be suprised. Barry Richards, for example, is as good as any batsman that has played the game (bar Don of course).

 

[Alysum]

no comments to my remarks?

 

[silentstriker]

no comments to my remarks?

We know he's not a number six, thats why he's not winning.

 

[nightprowler10]

No, I just don't rate indian spinners on overseas pitches. On home pitches, like I said, we'd rarely lose. Away, they'd probably have a huge total by the time spinners got on anyway. And in 4th innings we'd probably be playing not to lose, rather than to win. So attacking spin isn't a big factor.

As for the batting, you'd be suprised. Barry Richards, for example, is as good as any batsman that has played the game (bar Don of course).

If you have Bedi instead of, say Prasanna, the Indian line up would look much better playing away. Who do you think, besides BR and Kallis, would rank among the top Indian batsmen like Sachin, Sunny, and Dravid (whom I rank well above Kallis at least)? I can't think of many. I think you are short changing India a bit here as far as away games go.

 

[shortpitched713]

Who do you think, besides BR and Kallis, would rank among the top Indian batsmen like Sachin, Sunny, and Dravid (whom I rank well above Kallis at least)? I can't think of many.

Graeme Pollock comes to mind.

 

[nightprowler10]

Graeme Pollock comes to mind.

I was actually confusing Barry Richards with Graeme Pollock, who was a legend of the game. Can't count Richards based on his 4 tests.

 

[BhupinderSingh]

Where Is Botham?????

He was brilliant for first 6 or 7 years of his career,but in the last 7 i. 1986-1992,he got worst & worst ,so thats why he is not amongst the poll options.I rate him very highly as an allrounder but didn't do enough in the later stages of his career to deserve a place in 1986-1992 World XI.The 5 best allrounders of alltime IMO:

1.Imran Khan
2.Keith Miller
3.Gary Sobers
4.Ian Botham
5.Kapil Dev

 

[Tomm NCCC]

Andrew Flintoff, like it makes a difference...

 

[marc71178]

Where Is Botham?????

Not anywhere near good enough for the period in question.

 

[aussie]

Of all the nations that have been playing cricket for more than a couple decades, I think it would go:


1) Aus
2) WI
3) Eng / PAK
5) RSA
6) India
7) NZ


Our batting can compete with anybody, and we wouldn't lose at home.

You could, West Indies beat India alot at home with pace surely an all-time windies would as well & If Australia play like how they did in the sub-continent in 2004 an all-time version could certainly win. Pakistan could win in India also while Englad & South Africa would be fairly competitive. But SRI & NZ would struggle..

 

[aussie]

I was actually confusing Barry Richards with Graeme Pollock, who was a legend of the game. Can't count Richards based on his 4 tests.

Thats the thing its very fair to believe that during the time South Africa were banned the great players that missed test cricket alot i.e Grame Pollock, Richards, Procter, Barlow, Van der Bijl, Le Roux, Rice would have been top test players.

An South African all-time team IMO would be stronger than India overall because of its all-round strength.

 

[shortpitched713]

I think that between SA XI and a India XI it would be basically a dead heat. What a lot of people seem to be forgetting is that South Africa have never really had a world class spinner. Its hurt the South African side throughout the years, and I think it will equally hamper SA's all-time XI, especially in the subcontinent and turning pitches in general.

 

[aussie]

they have had Hugh Tayfield one of the best off-spinners ever, there were Allan Kourie & Denys Hobson who played during the years they were banned, along with Vogler & Schawrz who played in the early 1900.

Also the legendary Aubrey Faulkner, one of the best if not the best slow-bowling all-rounder.

So a South African All-time side could find the spinners to bowl well in India.

 

[adharcric]

India would take it over South Africa IMO. They've only got Richards and Pollock in the class of Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid, etc. Kallis is questionable. They've got a few good fast bowlers and Donald would be a handful, but it's not a lethal attack like Lillee-Barnes-Lindwall or Marshall-Garner-Ambrose, for example. I think their batsmen would have a tough time against spin as well.

 

[Goughy]

India would take it over South Africa IMO. They've only got Richards and Pollock in the class of Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid, etc. Kallis is questionable. They've got a few good fast bowlers and Donald would be a handful, but it's not a lethal attack like Lillee-Barnes-Lindwall or Marshall-Garner-Ambrose, for example. I think their batsmen would have a tough time against spin as well.

TBH, SA would be formidable. That team in the very early 70s was by far the best in the world. If that was used as the core (G. Pollock, Procter, Richards, etc) with more recent players such as Donald, Kallis and older players eg Peter Pollock and Tayfield then this team would be special.

The SA bowling attack would certainly be in the Marshall-Garner-Ambrose class.

Of all the all-time XIs the SA one would be the one I would be the most excited to watch,(and Im an Englishman).

 

[adharcric]

Well I'll be the first to admit that I'm not especially well-informed about South African cricketers from the past. Perhaps you are right.

 

[haroon510]

imran
i have never seen kallis batting in number 6. it is intersting how some people voted for him in that position.

 

[haroon510]

imran
i have never seen kallis batting in number 6. it is intersting how his name end up in that position.

 

[oz_fan]

Imran Khan for me at number 6.

This would be my all time SA team:
1. Barry Richards
2. Eddie Barlow
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Dudley Nourse
6. Mike Procter
7. Aubrey Faulkner
8. Mark Boucher
9. Shaun Pollock
10. Hugh Tayfield
11. Allan Donald