Could a Combined SC XI have beaten Waugh's or Ponting's Teams from 99 to 2007 in Australia?

[OverratedSanity]

Pretty big caveat, no?

Mcgrath yes, Warne no.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Biggest mistake was to field Boucher instead of Sangakkara. Dropped / missed two or three chances off Murali. Add Kumble, it would have been extremely ugly if Boucher kept.

This seems reasonable. Boucher a slightly better keeper but a far inferior batsman, and if you take into account keeping to Murali it would have made sense. Surely Kumble would have been better than Vettori too, though I know many a CW poster that would include Vettori for #batdeep. Also wonder if Vettori's selection had anything to do with wanting to give some NZ representation. The team was pretty diverse.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Mcgrath yes, Warne no.

Yeah, Warne probably would have been a bit more valuable than MacGill through the series but nothing like the difference missing McGrath made.

 

[bagapath]

No chance
Australia would have won every series if not every match

 

[TheJediBrah]

No chance
Australia would have won every series if not every match

India alone drew a series in 03/04. Don't see how you can say "no chance".

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Biggest mistake was to field Boucher instead of Sangakkara. Dropped / missed two or three chances off Murali. Add Kumble, it would have been extremely ugly if Boucher kept.

McCullum was in the original World XI squad and would've been a better option than both Boucher and Sanga.

 

[TheJediBrah]

McCullum > Sanga, eagerly awaiting Migara's riposte

 

[Fuller Pilch]

This seems reasonable. Boucher a slightly better keeper but a far inferior batsman, and if you take into account keeping to Murali it would have made sense. Surely Kumble would have been better than Vettori too, though I know many a CW poster that would include Vettori for #batdeep. Also wonder if Vettori's selection had anything to do with wanting to give some NZ representation. The team was pretty diverse.

Vettori actually had a very record against Aus before his back injuries and the remodelling of his action (6 5-fers including 12 for the match in an Auckland test and a 6-fer in Perth).

 

[Fuller Pilch]

McCullum > Sanga, eagerly awaiting Migara's riposte

This is keeping I'm talking, not batting.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Don't backtrack!

 

[Migara]

McCullum > Sanga, eagerly awaiting Migara's riposte

Batting doesn't matter. Boucher and McCullum were both clueless against Murali when they played. You need keepers who could read spinners off the hand. With Murali, where it spins needs to be known off the hand. With Kumble you need to know whether it is going to bounce high or low according to the way he release it. None of the non-Asia keepers (possible exception of Healy) were good in this.

 

[the big bambino]

You're crazy . Pakistan pace (with the exception of Wasim) and spin bowling from anywhere is utterly useless in Australia. And with respect, there won't be enough Sri Lankans in the team to affect the fielding. No combined Asian team from that era is beating Australia in Australia. And they'd win only in Asia.

Unless you're the Clive Lloyd/Viv West Indians, it's best to have a bowling side with variety In Australia and that includes a good spinner. Slow bowlers have to be judged by a different standard here and one that averages 40 is doing a good job. Over the years the more successful slow bowlers have generally been English SLA or leg spinners and off breakers from the sub con. Vettori was good too.

Your team's bowling should be based on pace but sides that had Mushtaq, Saqlain, Kaneria, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kumble, Vettori, Swann (for a series) and Herath ... even Pat Symcox, were stronger for their presence.

 

[Slifer]

Variety is already there with the left handed Wasim. Neither one of Murali, Kumble or Saqlain imo, will make a difference. The best one can hope for is for ond them to get through overs and somehow tie down one end.

 

[the big bambino]

Variety is already there with the left handed Wasim. Neither one of Murali, Kumble or Saqlain imo, will make a difference. The best one can hope for is for ond them to get through overs and somehow tie down one end.

My comment was directed to the erroneous suggestion spinners are useless here. It would be news to those I mentioned as well as the likes of Warne McGill and Lyon

 

[Xix2565]

I think you have to consider the type of spinners being used as well.

 

[Burgey]

No

 

[Slifer]

It's mostly Mcgrath. Warne, Lee and Gillespie don't have a great record against Asian teams.

Warne has a great record vs Pakistan and SL, it's against India he struggles.

 

[Slifer]

India alone drew a series in 03/04. Don't see how you can say "no chance".

That's only because McGrath in particular was missing. India and Pakistan both got absolutely hammered in 1999 in Australia and no comment on SL.

 

[Adorable Asshole]

Warne has a great record vs Pakistan and SL, it's against India he struggles.

The team we are talking about has only 3 non Indian bat. And Younis Khan is a great player of spin. So I don't think Warne creating much problem for him.

 

[Slifer]

The team we are talking about has only 3 non Indian bat. And Younis Khan is a great player of spin. So I don't think Warne creating much problem for him.

Yeah but weren't you one of those who insisted on having a spinner for the Asian team as well even if they'd struggle? Either way, I don't expect the Asian top order to last long vs Fleming, Gillespie and especially McGrath which means Warne would be free to unleash vs the tail.