• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

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

The Sean

Cricketer Of The Year
Things get tricky here. Hammond gets one slot, of course, but the other middle-order spot could go a bunch of different ways.

I was going to mark Herbie Taylor down compared to Hendren and Woolley for cashing in against the under-strength touring side England sent to South Africa but the bowlers weren't exactly mugs and Taylor was a class apart from anyone else. On top of that Hendren and Woolley also did their share of stat-padding, though Woolley's performances against peak Gregory and MacDonald are particularly celebrated and he has the dual added benefit of providing another genuine bowling option and being one of the great slip fielders of all time.

I was sorely tempted to give some love to Jack Ryder, who finished the 1920s as Australia's captain and one of her leading batsmen, only to start the 1930s by being dropped from both roles and never representing Australia again.

The spinner is equally tough - Freeman was the ultimate Test downhill skier, which would be fine if we were selecting sides to destroy minnows or dominate weak FC teams, but we're not. Grimmett started his career spectacularly but spent much of the rest of the decade taking his wickets very expensively. Mailey was expensive too, but was a very attacking bowler (see Cardus' famous "millionaire vs miser" analogy comparing Mailey and Grimmett) - and his strike rate of 61 for a spinner during that era was exceptional.

So, it's:

Hammond
Woolley (I may yet change my mind on that one before voting closes!)

Mailey
 
trundler

trundler

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Hammond
Taylor
Grimmett

Would be weird for one or two of Verity/Grum/O'Reilly to miss out of the 30s side
 
The Sean

The Sean

Cricketer Of The Year
trundler said:
Would be weird for one or two of Verity/Grum/O'Reilly to miss out of the 30s side
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'd had the same thought - and the likelihood is that at least one will. That being said, they were three different style of spin bowler and with both the strength of the 1930s batting we'll have along with the relative paucity of great quicks to choose from we might just be able to get all three in.

For this 1920s team, I am a little surprised that Grimmett (47 wickets at 32) is getting so much more love than Mailey (99 wickets at 33).
 
Last edited:
ataraxia

ataraxia

International Coach
Hammond
Ryder (probs played against the toughest opposition and averaged 51)

abstain, depends on what type of spinner we need: aggressive or defensive
 
mr_mister

mr_mister

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
For number 4:

Hammond - 12 votes

Flawless victory


For number 5:

Taylor - 7 votes
Bradman - 2
Ryder - 2
Woolley - 1

Feels weird anyone being selected over Bradman as a bat in any context doesn't it?


Spinner:

Grimmett - 8 votes
Mailey - 2
Freeman - 2

Mailey and Freeman get some love but the ATG prevails



Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Macartney
Hammond
Taylor
-
Gregory
Tate
-
Grimmett
-


Now! Time to pick:

The wicketkeeper:
The third seamer:
 
mr_mister

mr_mister

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
i'm gonna vote for Oldfield and Mcdonald


Larwood and Mcdonald both have that one series wonder vibe to them, and McDonald's came in the 20s so...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top