Establishing the best decade for cricket: Finding the ATG XI from 12 decades of test cricket - then having a KO tourney to decide the best

[The Sean]

Yep, Oldfield and McDonald for me too please.

 

[Coronis]

Oldfield McDonald

 

[The Sean]

I feel for mr_mister who won't want to exclude anyone by bringing voting to a close too early, but who must be very tempted to call this one and move on!

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Old McDonald field please.

 

[AndrewB]

Cameron, Geary (averaged 25 in the series where all of the so-called stars - Grimmett, Larwood and Tate - averaged over 40).

 

[mr_mister]

Other than AndrewB, it was unanimous

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Macartney
Hammond
Taylor
-
Gregory
Tate
Oldfield +
Grimmett
Mcdonald


Now choose the number 6!

 

[The Sean]

Cameron, Geary (averaged 25 in the series where all of the so-called stars - Grimmett, Larwood and Tate - averaged over 40).

While I didn't vote for him myself, Cameron is a great shout and I'm glad he got a vote. By all accounts a brilliant 'keeper (and a good bat, too) but is one of the unlucky ones with a career peak that is split between two decades.

If anything he's an even stronger contender for the 1930s team but unfortunately he runs into an absolute champion there too in Les Ames.

 

[mr_mister]

I'll vote for Frank Woolley, even though it means we have 3 spinner spinning it the same way...(however I just read he bowled mediums too, anyone have an idea what bowled more of in tests?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Yeah I'd go Woolley too. Lots of bowling options with Macartney, Hammond, and Woolley in the top 6, although Macartney's bowling fell away as his batting improved in the 20s.

 

[mr_mister]

Gregory, Tate and Oldfield are a very strong lower order too so it feels we can afford another AR, but I was close to considering Hendren(on the notion we already have 6 decent bowlers so should opt for the specialist bat). But Macartney being more of a batsman in the 20s kinda seals Woolley for me. Also despite him averaging close to the same across all positions, Woolley did average his highest batting at 6 in tests. Might have allowed him to free up more

 

[The Sean]

Only a four-Test sample size, but it's half tempting to just pick Bradman.

 

[ataraxia]

Woolley, has a strong record with the bat in the 20s and a 2-spin 3-seam set-up will do nicely.

 

[The Sean]

Yeah, Woolley for me too please.

 

[mr_mister]

Only a four-Test sample size, but it's half tempting to just pick Bradman.

i kinda wanna stick to voting on what people did in the decade, just because i feel it could lead to Marshall being picked for a 70s or 90s side or something and stuff like that

Bradman got his world record FC score of 452 right at the beginning of 1930(in early jan), maybe if he had snuck that score into the 20s I'd give it to him but I dunno

I also voted for Grimmett when Mailey arguably had a better case for the 20s so yeah i'm a bit confused myself perhaps. though part of that is a fear Grimmett may miss out on the 30s side

 

[The Sean]

Ha, yeah I was speaking (mainly) in jest - Woolley is my vote.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Only a four-Test sample size, but it's half tempting to just pick Bradman.

He still had amazing 1st class numbers in the 20s (how many matches did he play?) and in lower levels. B Richards is a very strong chance of making the 70s team from 4 tests.

 

[mr_mister]

at least with Grimmett(talking to myself here), you could say he was already in his prime years during the 20s(due to him being so old) where its arguable Bradman really went a step up during the 1930s since he was a kid in the 1920s(but arguably he was stepping up from ATG level to god level)

 

[Teuton]

Woolley

 

[bagapath]

Frank Woolley to bowl spin with Grimmett and bat at no 6.

McDonald, Gregory and Tate is a good pace attack

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Frank Woolley to bowl spin with Grimmett and bat at no 6.

McDonald, Gregory and Tate is a good pace attack

And Hammond was pretty quick in his younger (slimmer) days.