Best utility players??

[fredfertang]

I'd like to see Afridi selected for Come Dine With Me

 

[the big bambino]

He couldn't even hold his place in some ordinary Pakistani sides let alone any side of the last 30 years.

 

[fredfertang]

Nah - its a fair point

Any bloke who earns the nickname "Boom Boom" has to be worth having on board in any team game

 

[Migara]

Sri Lankan trio of Ruwan Kalpage, Kumar Dharmasena and Upul Chandana fits the bill IMO.

Kalpage was one of the ATG fielders from Asia, tight off spinner and a LHB who could give the ball a whack. One of those hardworking players who always went unnoticed due to steady, rather than infrequent stellar performances. Kumar was hugely enthusiastic, a superb fielder, containing bowler bowling second fiddle to Murali and was a limited, but fighting and extremely tough batsman. Gave 110% on the field. Chandana was bit more talented, a batsman who can play expansive shots despite of his build. Easily the second best fielder SL produced behind Mahanama, and considered easily better than Dilshan on the field. Bowled tight, accurate leg breaks.

All three were integral for SL's ODI success from early 90s to 2000s.

 

[hendrix]

Afridi certainly does fit the bill as a utility player as neither his batting nor his bowling gets him in the team.

Future all-time-greats Anton Devcich and Glenn Maxwell may knock him off his perch.

 

[Muloghonto]

lol

Sounded outrageous didnt it ? But if you think carefully, it is actually true. Take current sides for example. Afridi could easily satisfy the 4th bowler+15-20 runs per innings role in a team like South Africa ( easily replaces Tahir), New Zealand ( walks in ahead of Sodhi and any other non-Vettori players), England (i'd still take him over Borthwick or any other guy not named Panesar or Swann), West Indies, Sri Lanka (2nd spinner), Bangladesh, etc. Ironically, he probably doesnt make it to the current Pakistani side, neither does he make it in the current Indian or Aussie setup but thats still most of the teams playing currently. Look down the list of the teams fielded in the last 30 years and tell me that Afridi is not selectable in a 1980s India/NZ/SL/OZ/ENG team or couldn't figure ahead of Paul Adams or Niky Boje in the super-strong Saffie team of the 90s.

 

[Flem274*]

keep dreaming kid

 

[Flem274*]

Afridi is an underrated odi player in some ways (especially his bowling which was always overshadowed by a couple of freak innings with the bat across all forms) but he isn't walking into many test teams from the past 30 years. Let's keep a little grounded in reality here.

 

[Muloghonto]

Afridi is an underrated odi player in some ways (especially his bowling which was always overshadowed by a couple of freak innings with the bat across all forms) but he isn't walking into many test teams from the past 30 years. Let's keep a little grounded in reality here.

As a 'kid' who's seen test cricket for 30+ years, he easily walks into MOST test sides that have taken the field in the last 30 years.

 

[marc71178]

No he doesn't. Wouldn't have him as number one spinner in any reasonable strength team as that's not a role he's ever taken on because he's not that good.

 

[Howe_zat]

No he doesn't. Wouldn't have him as number one spinner in any reasonable strength team as that's not a role he's ever taken on because he's not that good.

Succint.

 

[ImpatientLime]

I suppose we're talking about the old bob-each-way, bits-and-pieces kinda chaps then.

England had them in spades during Adam Hollioake's brief tenure as the ODI captain. Including, but probably not limited to Mathew Fleming, Ian Austin, Mark Ealham, Craig White and, obviously, skipper Skippy himself and his (sadly late) younger brother.

For my money tho, the archetype forever remains Roger "Rubbish"* Binny. Could hold the right end of a bat, bowled military medium dobbers and was probably India's player of the tournament in their maiden WC win.

*copyright The 12th Man.

Harsh on Ealham.

Thought the fella was borderline world class with the ball in ODIs and was binned far too early.

 

[Migara]

Afridi as test spinner? Hmm, let's see.

He would not walk in to any SC team as the spinner, even struggle as the 2nd spinner

80s & 90s
England over Giles, Salisbury, Emburey et al - definietly yes.
West Indies - Definitely yes over Roger Harper, and being a better batsman and Murray, especially against spin. Sunil Narine is the only exception who may become better than Afridi.

90s to present
South Africa since re admission- Hell yeah over Clive Eksteen, Niky Boje, Pat Symcox or Paul Harris or even John Traicos before re admission.
New Zealand - Easily better spinner than Dipak Patel, Mathew Hart, Mark Haslem and as good as Vettori
Australia - Probably after their fall,as good as Lyon, definitely better than host of wrist spinners they produces
Zimbabwe- Would be their best player at current. Better than P. Strang and A. Whitall. Par with Price if not better.

6/9 sides would love to had him as their spinner at various points in their history. His statement has merit.

 

[Muloghonto]

Afridi as test spinner? Hmm, let's see.

He would not walk in to any SC team as the spinner, even struggle as the 2nd spinner

80s & 90s
England over Giles, Salisbury, Emburey et al - definietly yes.
West Indies - Definitely yes over Roger Harper, and being a better batsman and Murray, especially against spin. Sunil Narine is the only exception who may become better than Afridi.

90s to present
South Africa since re admission- Hell yeah over Clive Eksteen, Niky Boje, Pat Symcox or Paul Harris or even John Traicos before re admission.
New Zealand - Easily better spinner than Dipak Patel, Mathew Hart, Mark Haslem and as good as Vettori
Australia - Probably after their fall,as good as Lyon, definitely better than host of wrist spinners they produces
Zimbabwe- Would be their best player at current. Better than P. Strang and A. Whitall. Par with Price if not better.

6/9 sides would love to had him as their spinner at various points in their history. His statement has merit.

In the 80s sides, he would walk into Indian team as a spinner in the 85-90 span, when Doshi retired and his place was taken by the likes of Hirwani, Shivaramakrishnan, etc. He'd walk into the Kiwi side when they'd play in the subcontinent ( Kiwis have no reason to go for a spinner in home conditions in the 80s) and he'd definitely walk into the Aussie side for stretches of the 80s as their primary spinner too.

I am not talking about waking into the best possible teams of the 80s or 90s and Afridi getting selected or not, i am talking about the teams that actually took the field and in terms of those rosters, there definitely are times when Afridi the test spinner makes it to many a side.

 

[Furball]

Shane Watson. Occasionally good for slogging a few runs and bowls some tidy medium pace.

 

[Muloghonto]

In tests perhaps Watto has a case in this thread. But in limited overs contest, he is an absolute beast with the bat, so i dont think he qualifies for those formats.