Composite XI's and hypothetical match-ups ...

[Athlai]

Asian Openers
1st position: (2000+ runs)
Saeed Anwar 3813 @ 50.17
ST Jayasuriya 2158 @ 49.04
SM Gavaskar 8511 @ 48.08
MS Atapattu 3958 @ 45.49
Hanif Mohammad 2248 @ 41.62

Well Sanath could argue for the number one spot

He isn't as prolific at 2
3774 @ 38.12
(Sehwag 4109 @ 50.72)

(Gavaskar 1096 @ 78.28)

Jayasuriya
Gavaskar
Dravid
Tendulkar

 

[Zinzan]

Strauss
Cook
Flynn
Pietersen
Taylor
Oram
McCullum + (keeper who thinks hes captain)
Flintoff (vc)
Vettori (c)
Sidebottom
O'Brien

12th man
Ryder

vs.

Gayle (vc)
Warnapura
Sarwan
Sangakkara +
M Jayawardene (c)
Chanderpaul
Bravo
J Taylor
Edwards
Murali
Mendis

12th man
Sarwan

Made Sanga's keep due to the fact the batting is strong enough to have him keep and bat.

Thread bumped. Interesting how much we all used to rate Oram back in 2008. Also lol @ Athers comment on McCullum.....there was some truth to it.

The SH would be a lot stronger these days.

 

[Zinzan]

In terms of the NZ/Eng vs. WI/SL hypothetical,

My current England/New Zealand test composite would be;

Cook
Bell
Williamson
Taylor
Root
McCullum (c)
Watling
Ali
Broad
Southee
Anderson

12th man; Boult.

Need to think a bit more on my SL/WI composite, but that NZ/Eng side would be tough for them in anything other than subcontinental conditions.

 

[Zinzan]

^ Actually in hindsight, there's an argument to drop Williamson, Root or McCullum and to play include Boult as a 4th seamer or even have McCullum opening with Cook, since I'd really prefer him as captain;

So what about;

Cook
McCullum (c)
Bell/Williamson (career vs. promise & form)
Taylor
Root
Ali
Watling
Broad
Southee
Boult
Anderson

 

[Flem274*]

Just drop Moeen and field four quicks. Moeen is a perfectly fine bowler (TM) but I'd rather have four proper bowlers in there instead of three proper bowlers and a batting allrounder who is a very good 5th bowler.

 

[Zinzan]

Just drop Moeen and field four quicks. Moeen is a perfectly fine bowler (TM) but I'd rather have four proper bowlers in there instead of three proper bowlers and a batting allrounder who is a very good 5th bowler.

Actually happy with my 2nd attempt there ^ Opening with McCullum for Bell, Bell & Williamson fighting it out for no 3...and everyone moving up one, so Boutly comes in as the 4th seamer.

 

[Maximas]

SL/WI composite

Gayle
Silva
Sanga
Bravo
Chanders
Matthews
Ramdin
Taylor
Herath
Eranga
Roach

 

[Zinzan]

SL/WI composite

Gayle
Silva
Sanga
Bravo
Chanders
Matthews
Ramdin
Taylor
Herath
Eranga
Roach

Yeah, that looks about right. Mathews as skipper? And how do you think they'd go against NZ/Eng on let's say a good neutral wicket, not really favoring pace or spin more?

 

[morgieb]

Aus/Ind

Warner
Vijay
Pujara
Kohli
Clarke (Rahane)
Smith
Haddin/Dhoni (depends on where we're playing)
Johnson
Harris
Lyon/Ashwin (see Haddin/Dhoni)
*whoever is our 3rd quick*

Aus/Eng

Warner
Cook
Ballance
Root
Clarke (Bell)
Smith
Haddin
Johnson
Broad
Harris
Anderson

 

[morgieb]

Zim/Bang

Tamin
Masakadza
Monimul
Taylor
Rahim
Hossain
Mahmudullah
Shakib
Panyangara
Taijul
Chatara

 

[Flem274*]

Asian XI
Vijay
Mathews
Sangakkara
Younis
Kohli
Misbah (c)
Dhoni
Shakib
Herath
Yadav
Junaid

That was tricky

Rest of North

Cook
Brathwaite
Ballance
Bravo
Chanderpaul
Root
Ramdin
Broad
Taylor
Anderson
Roach

Souths

Warner
McCullum
Amla
AB
Clarke
Taylor
Watling (wk)
Johnson
Harris
Steyn
Lyon/Southee

Ha, Souths could loan Asia a few quick bowlers.

 

[Flem274*]

based on teams playing or set to play each other soon and their squads

WI/SA

Brathwaite
Elgar
Amla
AB
Chanderpaul
Faf du Plessis
Ramdin
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
Roach

India/Aus

Warner
Vijay
Kohli
Clarke
Smith
Rahane
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Yadav
Lyon

NZ/SL

McCullum
Latham/Kaushal
Sangakkara
Taylor
Williamson
Mathews
Watling
Herath
Wagner
Southee
Boult

 

[Zinzan]

In terms of current NH vs. SH test match-up;

Northern Hemisphere;

Vijay
Brathwaite
Sangakkara
Younis
Mathews (c)
Chanderpaul
Sarfraz
Broad
Roach
Herath
Anderson

Really struggled with openers for the NH if the last 2 years is anything to go my with usual suspects Cook averaging just 33 & Dhawan 36. Did consider opening with Pujara, but Brathwaite probably deserves it. The middle order looks after itself with Sanga, Younis, Mathews & Chanderpaul. Did consider Kohli based on his incredible performance against Aust, but his last 2-3 years don't stack up against that middle order. Sarfraz marginally over Dhoni as keeper. The bowling really looks after itself with Broad, Anderson, Herath & Roach.


Southern Hemisphere;

Warner
Amla
Williamson/Smith
Clarke (c)
de Villiers
Taylor
Watling
Johnson
Southee
Steyn
Lyon

Really tough on a guy who's scored a triple and two doubles for the year, and as tempted as I was to open with McCullum and Warner (imagine those to batting a session together), I couldn't find a place for him. Coin toss between Smith & Williamson at 3, probably leaning towards Kane as it's his preferred position. Hard to go past a middle order of Clarke, de Villiers & Taylor. In terms of bowling, Really tough on Philander, Harris, Morkel & Boult, but I think Steyn, Johnson & Southee edge them. Lyon's selection is obvious.

Unless it was a spinners paradise, the SH looks too strong for mine.

Thoughts?

 

[Flem274*]

Shakib is a much better package than Herath. Get him in that Norths team imo.

 

[Zinzan]

Souths

Warner
McCullum
Amla
AB
Clarke
Taylor
Watling (wk)
Johnson
Harris
Steyn
Lyon/Southee

Ha, Souths could loan Asia a few quick bowlers.

Nice side, was tempted to do what you did with Warner & McCullum, but Kane has scored 5 hundreds in the last 2 years at 3, so couldn't dismiss that and then I needed Amla. Honestly think Southee edges Harris, although it's a mighty close thing.

 

[Zinzan]

Shakib is a much better package than Herath. Get him in that Norths team imo.

Shakib was desperately unlucky to miss my side & would be the obvious 12th man.

 

[Zinzan]

Souths

Warner
McCullum
Amla
AB
Clarke
Taylor
Watling (wk)
Johnson
Harris
Steyn
Lyon/Southee

Could see that Souths side scoring 450 in a day in they won the toss on a batter friendly wicket & had things go their way.

 

[test cricketer]

SA/AUS composite team

peterson
elgar
amla
ab
faf
duminy
de kock
philander
piedt
steyn
morkel

ha ha he he

 

[morgieb]

SA/AUS composite team

peterson
elgar
amla
ab
faf
duminy
de kock
philander
piedt
steyn
morkel

ha ha he he

Trying too hard.

 

[weldone]

Asian Openers
1st position: (2000+ runs)
Saeed Anwar 3813 @ 50.17
ST Jayasuriya 2158 @ 49.04
SM Gavaskar 8511 @ 48.08
MS Atapattu 3958 @ 45.49
Hanif Mohammad 2248 @ 41.62

Well Sanath could argue for the number one spot

He isn't as prolific at 2
3774 @ 38.12
(Sehwag 4109 @ 50.72)

(Gavaskar 1096 @ 78.28)

Jayasuriya
Gavaskar
Dravid
Tendulkar

Lol, differentiating between 1 and 2