CW Decides The XI of the Decade

[ataraxia]

Actually that's an idea. Shakib.

 

[CricAddict]

WIth Steyn, Anderson and Herath already in the team, you do not want another tail-ender at 8 so that the other decade fearsome pacers don't start licking their lips as soon as the 6th wicket falls.

So, it is between Philander and Cummins for me. I will go with Philander now as I am sure Cummins will feature in the next decade dream team along with Rabada, Archer and Bumrah.

 

[honestbharani]

Boult for the variety.

 

[ataraxia]

For me Wags is a better shout than Boult for third seamer. More effective with the old ball and more variety.

 

[morgieb]

Philander. Though I do suppose he doesn't add that much as a 3rd seamer.

 

[vcs]

Philander

 

[Fuller Pilch]

We had specialist openers, but these aren't specialist 3rd seamers who can do a job with the old ball.

It should be one of Wagner, Morkel, or Johnson. Wagner is the best of them, but I'd pick Johnson for his impact and for his batting. Jason Holder would also be a good option.

 

[Cabinet96]

Rabada.

He only actually has 33 fewer wickets than Philander (looked this up the other day and was shocked, he debuted four years later lol) and averages the same, and I'd rather have him on a flat deck if Steyn and Jimmy aren't having success. I think other alternatives for a middle overs bowler or enforcer would be Johnson, Cummins, Morkel or Wagner but compared to them Rabada has been either elite for a longer period or just better overall.

 

[Burgey]

If you want a quick to get something out of a flat deck, it's Cummins every day of the week and twice on Sunday tbh. Bloke is a freak at it. Then again, played so few tests.

 

[Bolo.]

Coronis just lists the suggested players off the top of his head, and sometimes forgets some. Dale Steyn wasn't listed in the opening bowlers section before but obviously won anyway. You're absolutely free to vote for Johnson if you like.

Philander's been the next best / most influential bowler of the decade but I don't really love the idea of him bowling at first change given how reliant he is on seam movement. Cummins has been gun but has been playing for less than three years (excluding his dayboo), so I kind of don't hate the idea of Johnson myself. Rabada and Morkel are the other two I'm considering. I'll come back to it later.

Philander would be typically be opening the bowling, not bowling change. If it is seam friendly he will typically be better than either of the others, whether or not it swings. If there is a lot of swing, anderson gets the new ball. Steyn swings it enough plus has the pace to be fine as a change bowler ala England 2012ish.

Philander and Anderson are a bit of a crap combo if there is nothing for the quicks, but at least they are good in different conditions.

Philander gets my vote, mostly based on how much of the decade he has played for, with a tip of the hat to his batting as well. Bad luck to better bowlers from the last few years.

 

[harsh.ag]

Cummins. Everyone else should have raised their game.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Rabada

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Actually Wagner. Another match winning 5fer on a road.

 

[Athlai]

Imagine if Wagner had the skill of Cummins. Perfect fast bowler.

 

[Spark]

Peak Johnson is probably the bowler you most want to round out this attack. I'm extremely extremely tempted to pick Morkel for this tbh.

 

[Bolo.]

Peak Johnson is probably the bowler you want to round out any attack. But he was only peak Johnson for about 4 series in a long career. Not good enough. Plus he only played about half the decade. About the same as Rabada, who has only had a couple of series that he wasnt great in. Cummins and Bumrah if you want to get progressively more silly on the minimum time frames.

Morkel isnt a bad shout. He balances the attack well, and had a good, long decade. He was utter trash in the 2000s, but improved a lot.

 

[stephen]

I'm going to say Cummins. 100+ wickets should qualify him. And he's specialized in bowling first change which is what this side needs.

 

[Burgey]

Peak Johnson is probably the bowler you want to round out any attack. But he was only peak Johnson for about 4 series in a long career. Not good enough. Plus he only played about half the decade. About the same as Rabada, who has only had a couple of series that he wasnt great in. Cummins and Bumrah if you want to get progressively more silly on the minimum time frames.

Morkel isnt a bad shout. He balances the attack well, and had a good, long decade. He was utter trash in the 2000s, but improved a lot.

He had a few awesome series pre-2010 Too but they don’t count for this, obvs.

Everyone who loves cricket should have a copy of his 203/14 Ashes highlights. Stuff of legend.

 

[Spark]

Yeah I'm going with Morkel. ~250 wickets at ~26 is an outstanding record, and none of the other bowlers competing with the spot has the solidity (i.e. longevity) of record that he does whilst also fulfilling a similar role. Also seem to recall hearing a few recently retired batsmen offer his name when asked whom they least enjoyed facing.

 

[MrPrez]

Morkel, because I'm completely biased towards Morkel.

I think it should really be Philander because of the extra batting he provides at 8. If Ashwin had made it ahead of Herath it would have been a different discussion imo.