best bowlers in the 90s

[Howe_zat]

Pay attention, we're picking Andy Flower behind the stumps, average of over 50!

He might have to open in a team of the 90s as well, because we can have an awesome middle order with Sachin, Lara, Inzy and Waugh, yet theres no obvious openers.

I think he means we can't really have Wasim at #7 because his averaging 22 isn't enough for a modern player (usually keeper) to bat there. Also worth noting that Flower's best period with the bat was around 2000-2002. And Healey was the better keeper.

As for openers, Taylor and Athers?

Two major options, it would seem:

- Taylor, Atherton, Lara, Tendulkar, Inzamam, Waugh, Healey, Wasim, Warne, Ambrose/Waqar, Donald/McGrath

- Taylor, Flower, Lara, Tendulkar, Inzamam, Waugh, Wasim, Warne, Ambrose, Donald, McGrath/Waqar

Interestingly, we've thus far ommited Stewart, who I've found scored more runs than any other player during the decade.

 

[weldone]

My World XI for 1990-99 will be:

Saeed Anwar
Graham Gooch
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Steve Waugh*
Aravinda De silva
Andy Flower+
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Waqar Younis
Curtly Ambrose

The team for 1991-2000 (which is a much better definition of a decade) might be a bit different, though...

 

[marc71178]

Pay attention, we're picking Andy Flower behind the stumps, average of over 50!

But still an average of 22 is not good enough to bat 7, that is my point - it puts a ridiculous level of pressure on the 5 batsmen and 1 keeper.

 

[smash84]

But still an average of 22 is not good enough to bat 7, that is my point - it puts a ridiculous level of pressure on the 5 batsmen and 1 keeper.

A bowling attack like that could blast away pretty much any batting side.........but yes a genuine all rounder would definitely help matters.

 

[mrcheek]

But still an average of 22 is not good enough to bat 7, that is my point - it puts a ridiculous level of pressure on the 5 batsmen and 1 keeper.

I guess it depends who theyre playing against. If its a team from the 90s or 2000s, then the opposition number 7 will most likely have a better average. If theyre playing a tram from the 70s or 80s, then Wasim will be as good a batsman as his opposite number!

 

[mrcheek]

As for openers, Taylor and Athers?


Interestingly, we've thus far ommited Stewart, who I've found scored more runs than any other player during the decade.

If Taylor and Athers open together, we will send the crowd to sleep....
I would go for Athers, but we need someone to play some shots. So maybe Saeed Anwar should bat with him.

I did think of Alec Stewart, but although he scored tons of runs, his career test average is under 40, so I gave Flower the nod behind the stumps. But Stewart would make a 90s World XI tour squad as the 2nd keeper, because he could play solely as a batsman if needed....

 

[Teja.]

Pollock
Warne
Waqar
Ambrose
Donald

Having Flower keep and Pollock at 7 means I can afford a long tail. Pollock averaged 20 with the ball and 32 with the ball in the 90s, He was extremely fast too. Seems silly to leave him out. This attack will ensure that I never have to have a non-ATG, part-time bowler bowling.

 

[smash84]

Pollock
Warne
Waqar
Ambrose
Donald

Having Flower keep and Pollock at 7 means I can afford a long tail. Pollock averaged 20 with the ball and 32 with the ball in the 90s, He was extremely fast too. Seems silly to leave him out. This attack will ensure that I never have to have a non-ATG, part-time bowler bowling.

No Wasim????? Arguably better than waqar

 

[smash84]

on the topic of the 90s couldn't help but post these

YouTube - wasim toe crusher

YouTube - waqar younis yorker to lara and clean bold A toe crusher

YouTube - Waqar Younas - A toe crusher

 

[Howe_zat]

Unnecessary persecution of toes imo

 

[smash84]

Unnecessary persecution of toes imo

lol.....well said.....however you might argue that it is still more humane than a bouncer ...and maybe more likely to get a wicket too

 

[smash84]

on the topic of the 90s couldn't help but post these

YouTube - wasim toe crusher

YouTube - waqar younis yorker to lara and clean bold A toe crusher

YouTube - Waqar Younas - A toe crusher

btw this wasim to lara looks plumb

 

[stephen]

I'd only take a 4 man attack:

Ambrose
Donald
Akram
Warne

McGrath was great but really peaked in the 00s. Waqar was too hot and cold for my liking. The rest of the options just aren't quite as good as these four.

Don't forget that Flower's peak as a batsman didn't occur until the 00s.

 

[Noble One]

It is frightening the idea that the keeping of Andy Flower will be matched against the likes of Warne, Wasim, Ambrose and Donald. Does anyone recall the keeping of Flower? He was serviceable but error prone. Flower kept to the pace of Streak and the spin of Strang. He was average to these bowlers, how would he cope with an ATG attack?

 

[Jono]

Ambrose

 

[tooextracool]

It is frightening the idea that the keeping of Andy Flower will be matched against the likes of Warne, Wasim, Ambrose and Donald. Does anyone recall the keeping of Flower? He was serviceable but error prone. Flower kept to the pace of Streak and the spin of Strang. He was average to these bowlers, how would he cope with an ATG attack?

I can understand your argument that Flower might have struggled while standing up to the stumps but its hard to understand how keeping to Ambrose/Wasim/Donald etc was much more difficult than keeping to the likes of Streak. If anything given that the Zimbabwian bowlers were more likely to spray it around on any given day one would think that it would have been harder not easier.

 

[Top_Cat]

I can understand your argument that Flower might have struggled while standing up to the stumps but its hard to understand how keeping to Ambrose/Wasim/Donald etc was much more difficult than keeping to the likes of Streak. If anything given that the Zimbabwian bowlers were more likely to spray it around on any given day one would think that it would have been harder not easier.

Better quicks mean more edges = need your best 'keeper. Would also argue keeping to good bowlers who are going to draw more nicks is far more pressurised than keeping to more wayward bowlers. Just have to see how much someone like Kamran Akmal's mistakes are amplified by all the chances he misses.

Flower was a very average 'keeper and in a 'best-of' XI of any sort, the batting should be strong enough to mitigate having to pick a 'keeper who bats.

 

[stephen]

Team of the 90s (IMO):

Gooch
Taylor (c)
Tendulkar
Lara
Waugh
de Silva
Healy+
Akram
Warne
Donald
Ambrose

 

[vcs]

Team of the '00s :

Hayden
Sehwag
Ponting
Sangakkara
Kallis
Laxman
Gilchrist (k)
Pollock
Steyn
Murali
McGrath

The 2000's team seems stronger I must say, mainly due to a more dominant opening partnership.

 

[Burgey]

Hmmm... Not so sure mate. Taylor and Gooch were two fine openers in what is called on here a lot more difficult era. I'm quite sure they'd like to open up on the pitches of the 2000s and with artillery pieces for bats.

Whether Messrs Hayden and Sehwag would enjoy opening so much in the 90s is a more difficult question.