CW's 50 Best ODI Cricketers of all time - The Countdown (2017 Version)

[Starfighter]

There is someone who is making the countdown who looks out of place though.

Can't wait to see who this is.

 

[ankitj]

Interesting. Sometime in late 1990s I noticed that there were only 4 batsmen that averaged 50+ in tests and 40+ in ODIs (in a reasonable number of games). 2 of them have ended up at the bottom end of top 50. Would have liked Greg Chappell higher, especially considering his strike rate (higher than Saurav Ganguly for comparison). He is sort of thereabouts in my top 10 ODI batsmen's list.

EDIT: Must be 5 including Lara.

 

[cnerd123]

I hope it's Dean Jones

 

[harsh.ag]

Chappell is underrated fosho.

 

[Starfighter]

If older players have been pushed down by newer, current ones it'd be interesting to see how they'd go in another few years. Are people influenced by current performances and would the perspective given when current players have completed their careers influence the rankings, or do people simply rank more recent players higher because they are fresher in the memory (especially for younger guys like me)? Or does the continual acceleration in strike rates make people rank modern players higher, even though they wouldn't have been able to pull off such feats in 'the old days'?

 

[ankitj]

If older players have been pushed down by newer, current ones it'd be interesting to see how they'd go in another few years. Are people influenced by current performances and would the perspective given when current players have completed their careers influence the rankings, or do people simply rank more recent players higher because they are fresher in the memory (especially for younger guys like me)? Or does the continual acceleration in strike rates make people rank modern players higher, even though they wouldn't have been able to pull off such feats in 'the old days'?

I suppose one has to accept that batting has become far more audacious today than before. It's not merely smaller grounds, better bats and flatter pitches. The ability to negotiate pressure when chasing or willingness to take ariel route is much higher today. Adjusting for that in your mind is much harder than adjusting playing conditions.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Let me in parallel try to form 4 teams as and when Nufan updates keeping their positions the same as much as possible. Hope it is fine for Nufan and others.

Squad 4: TBD, TBD, Greg Chappell, Javed Miandad
Squad 3: TBD, TBD, De Silva
Squad 2:
Squad 1:

Should start everyone as "Squad 1" and then filter them down?

 

[Howe_zat]

Should start everyone as "Squad 1" and then filter them down?

Nah I get it as first team being the top players, second team being the next best, etc.

Surely one of these should just bat 5 in the 4th team though. Or be a reserve as each side will need a 12th man

 

[CricAddict]

Nah I get it as first team being the top players, second team being the next best, etc.

Surely one of these should just bat 5 in the 4th team though. Or be a reserve as each side will need a 12th man

Thought No 5 was too low for Aravinda. Depending on the make-up of the side, we can take a call if Aravinda can be the 12th man or gets a promotion to squad 3. Yes, right now thought of having 44 players and 4 subs in the 4 teams. As of now, no idea what to do with the remaining two

 

[Jarquis]

I doubt you'll end up with an even split of players anyway - so just run with it while you can

 

[Daemon]

I suppose one has to accept that batting has become far more audacious today than before. It's not merely smaller grounds, better bats and flatter pitches. The ability to negotiate pressure when chasing or willingness to take ariel route is much higher today. Adjusting for that in your mind is much harder than adjusting playing conditions.

True, but in general people don't apply the same logic to bowlers from that era

 

[honestbharani]

Thought No 5 was too low for Aravinda. Depending on the make-up of the side, we can take a call if Aravinda can be the 12th man or gets a promotion to squad 3. Yes, right now thought of having 44 players and 4 subs in the 4 teams. As of now, no idea what to do with the remaining two

Give the 3rd and 4th squads 13 men to make it more even.

 

[NUFAN]

Just on the 4 teams thing, which specific position do you think we will struggle filling and what will we have too many of?

The surprise guy I mentioned before should carry the drinks.

 

[stephen]

I definitely think we'll be short on keepers. Gilchrist and Dhoni are locks but I'd be surprised to see any other specialists get picked - probably Sangakkara and ABDV will end up with the gloves for the other sides. De Kock is an outside chance.

 

[CricAddict]

My guess is that there will be quite a lot of batsmen and some pacers. We will probably struggle to fill both spinners and keepers and one of the teams might have an all pace attack.

 

[cnerd123]

Can think of atleast 2 spinners who should make the Top 50, possibly 3.

As for keepers - MSD and Gilly should definitely be in there, and then we have to wait and see if Sanga and ABDV made the cut. Then it's a question if we get any batsmen who know how to keep (Dravid?).

Should defo have plenty of allrounders. Klusener, Kallis, Symonds, Flintoff, etc

Oh, and if Shakib breaks through then he solves the spinner problem too.

 

[honestbharani]

*****.. ppl have already voted FFS.. Stop campaigning for Shakib.

 

[CricAddict]

I think Aravinda gets slightly undervalued due to his career batting average. His performances at that 1996 World Cup is legendary - has anyone played a better World Cup Semi - World Cup Final double?

For Miandad, his batting strike rate can make you think twice about him IMO.

BTW, overall I like the list in general. There is someone who is making the countdown who looks out of place though.

*****.. ppl have already voted FFS.. Stop campaigning for Shakib.

Is Shakib the guy that Nufan is referring to?

 

[Starfighter]

Is Shakib the guy that Nufan is referring to?

Would be hilarious if it was.

 

[cnerd123]

Shakib is one of the GOATs and is well deserving of a place in the Top 50. Bat average of 33.26 and bowl average 29.97 against Test playing nations across 166 ODIs and he has just turned 30. Legend.