Playing selector: Lets pick the best test XI of different eras

[aussie tragic]

Well the 1946-65 World Test XI is wrapping up, with the following Polls now open:

# 6 Position: http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=20994

Two Opening Bowlers: http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=21028

This just leaves the final bowler and the captain to go before we put all three post-war era XI's together to select a Post-WW2 XI

 

[aussie tragic]

So that wraps up the 1946-65 World Test XI, great job guys, I think it’s the best one yet.

1. Len Hutton (54.62)
2. Arthur Morris (46.48)
3. Clyde Walcott (56.68)
4. Everton Weekes (58.61)
5. Frank Worrell (49.48)
6. Keith Miller (36.37) & (Bowl: 22.97)
7. John Waite (30.33)
8. Alan Davidson (24.59) & (Bowl: 20.53)
9. Ray Lindwall (21.15) & (Bowl: 23.03)
10. Jim Laker (14.08) & (Bowl: 21.24)
11. Fred Trueman (13.81) & (Bowl: 21.57)

 

[PhoenixFire]

Yeah, that's easily the strongest era of Test Cricket ever.

 

[aussie tragic]

Just Hutton and Worrell qualify for the captaincy role. I'll open a poll shortly

Note: Morris capained for 2 tests (both losses) & Lindwall captained for 1 test (a draw).

 

[silentstriker]

Yeah, that's easily the strongest era of Test Cricket ever.

They would get owned by the 1986-2006 XI.

 

[aussie tragic]

They would get owned by the 1986-2006 XI.

Not a chance...

 

[silentstriker]

Not a chance...

Easily. IMO. It might even lose to the current Aussie team, let alone the all time XI.

 

[silentstriker]

1. Matthew Hayden vs. Len Hutton
Advantage: Hutton

2. Saeed Anwar vs. Arthur Morris
Advantage: Morris

3. Ricky Ponting vs. Walcott
Advantage: Ponting

4. Sachin Tendulkar vs. Weekes
Advantage: Tendulkar

5. Brian Lara vs. Worrell
Advantage: Lara

6. Imran Khan vs. Miller
Advantage: Tie

7. Adam Gilchrist vs. Waite
Advantage: LOL, Gilchrist

8. Shane Warne vs. Laker
Advantage: Warne

9. Curtly Ambrose vs. Davidson
Advantage: Ambrose

10. Mutthiah Muralitharan vs. Lindwall
Advantage: Murali

11. Glenn McGrath vs. Trueman
Advantage: McGrath

They would win at virtually every position except the opening.

 

[aussie tragic]

Update on the three post-war XI’s

Batting Order

1. Matthew Hayden ---------- Sunil Gavaskar ----------- Len Hutton
2. Saeed Anwar --------------- Gordon Greenidge ------ Arthur Morris
3. Ricky Ponting --------------- Viv Richards -------------- Clyde Walcott
4. Sachin Tendulkar ---------- Greg Chappell ----------- Everton Weekes
5. Brian Lara -------------------- Gary Sobers -------------- Frank Worrell
6. Imran Khan ------------------ Ian Botham ---------------- Keith Miller
7. Adam Gilchrist -------------- Alan Knott ---------------- John Waite
8. Shane Warne --------------- Richard Hadlee ---------- Alan Davidson
9. Curtly Ambrose ------------- Malcom Marshall -------- Ray Lindwall
10. Mutthiah Muralitharan --- Dennis Lillee ------------- Jim Laker
11. Glenn McGrath ------------ Derek Underwood ------ Fred Trueman

Bowling Order

1. Curtley Ambrose ------------- Malcom Marshall ------ Fred Trueman
2. Glenn McGrath --------------- Dennis Lillee ------------ Alan Davidson
3. Imran Khan -------------------- Richard Hadlee --------- Ray Lindwall
4. Shane Warne ----------------- Ian Botham -------------- Keith Miller
5. Mutthiah Muralitharan ------ Derek Underwood ---- Jim Laker
6. Sachin Tendulkar ------------ Gary Sobers ----------- Frank Worrell
7. N/A -------------------------------- Greg Chappell ---------- N/A
8. N/A -------------------------------- Viv Richards ------------ N/A

 

[silentstriker]

Update on the three post-war XI’s

Batting Order

1. Matthew Hayden ---------- Sunil Gavaskar ----------- Len Hutton
2. Saeed Anwar --------------- Gordon Greenidge ------ Arthur Morris
3. Ricky Ponting --------------- Viv Richards -------------- Clyde Walcott
4. Sachin Tendulkar ---------- Greg Chappell ----------- Everton Weekes
5. Brian Lara -------------------- Gary Sobers -------------- Frank Worrell
6. Imran Khan ------------------ Ian Botham ---------------- Keith Miller
7. Adam Gilchrist -------------- Alan Knott ---------------- John Waite
8. Shane Warne --------------- Richard Hadlee ---------- Alan Davidson
9. Curtly Ambrose ------------- Malcom Marshall -------- Ray Lindwall
10. Mutthiah Muralitharan --- Dennis Lillee ------------- Jim Laker
11. Glenn McGrath ------------ Derek Underwood ------ Fred Trueman

Bowling Order

1. Curtley Ambrose ------------- Malcom Marshall ------ Fred Trueman
2. Glenn McGrath --------------- Dennis Lillee ------------ Alan Davidson
3. Imran Khan -------------------- Richard Hadlee --------- Ray Lindwall
4. Shane Warne ----------------- Ian Botham -------------- Keith Miller
5. Mutthiah Muralitharan ------ Derek Underwood ---- Jim Laker
6. Sachin Tendulkar ------------ Gary Sobers ----------- Frank Worrell
7. N/A -------------------------------- Greg Chappell ---------- N/A
8. N/A -------------------------------- Viv Richards ------------ N/A

Those are all very impressive lineups. Especially the bowling lineups of the first two and all three batting lineups.

 

[aussie tragic]

1. Matthew Hayden vs. Len Hutton
Advantage: Hutton

etc..........

11. Glenn McGrath vs. Trueman
Advantage: McGrath

They would win at virtually every position except the opening.

So according to your rating, the 1946-65 has the best openers, agreed

The middle order of 1986-2005 is better, agreed, but only just

Wicketkeeper, easily Gilchrist

But that when your argument falls apart, Trueman, Lindwall, Miller, Davidson and Laker is far superior to Ambrose, McGrath, Imran (older version), Warne and Murali.......

Just my Opinion and GM-OLAS does not apply

 

[silentstriker]

So according to your rating, the 1946-65 has the best openers, agreed

The middle order of 1986-2005 is better, agreed, but only just

Wicketkeeper, easily Gilchrist

But that when your argument falls apart, Trueman, Lindwall, Miller, Davidson and Laker is far superior to Ambrose, McGrath, Imran (older version), Warne and Murali.......

Just my Opinion and GM-OLAS does not apply

Even if you don't rate McGrath as high as I do, Warne, and Murali are better than anyone on that list. Ambrose is at least an equal to anyone on that list. And Imran bowling (older version) may not be as good as Miller (younger version), but its made up by Imran's better batting in his older version.

In any case, they are all very strong sides though I would rate them thus:

Openers:
1. 1965-1986
2. 1945-1964
3. 1986-2006


Middle Order:
1. 1986-2006
2. 1965-1986
3. 1945-1964

Wicketkeeper:
1. 1986-2006
2. 1965-1986
3. 1945-1964

Spin Bowling:
1. 1986-2006
2. 1945-1964
3.1965-1986

Pace Bowling:
1. 1986-2006/1965-1986
2. 1945-1964

Just my opinion, obviously.

 

[aussie tragic]

And Imran bowling (older version) may not be as good as Miller (younger version), but its made up by Imran's better batting in his older version.

Ah, good that you mention that....how about Warne, Ambrose, Murali and McGrath as a tail (almost 2006 englishesque) compared to Davidson, Lindwall, Laker and Trueman I think this makes up for the slight advantage in the Middle Order

 

[silentstriker]

Ah, good that you mention that....how about Warne, Ambrose, Murali and McGrath as a tail (almost 2006 englishesque) compared to Davidson, Lindwall, Laker and Trueman I think this makes up for the slight advantage in the Middle Order

They have a better tail, but it hardly compensates for the middle order. Plus the bowling is far superior.

 

[aussie tragic]

Plus the bowling is far superior.

IYO

 

[silentstriker]

IYO

Well I don't think its remotely close and I wouldn't think anyone would disagree, but I guess you do...so its IMO.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Miller, Davidson, Laker, Trueman > McGrath, Ambrose, Warne, Khan

 

[aussie tragic]

Well I don't think its remotely close and I wouldn't think anyone would disagree, but I guess you do...so its IMO.

This is what I like about you SS, you have an opinion that your choices are gold and that everyone that disagrees is crazy.... good stuff

 

[aussie tragic]

Miller, Davidson, Laker, Trueman > McGrath, Ambrose, Warne, Khan

You forgot Lindwall and Murali

 

[silentstriker]

Miller, Davidson, Laker, Trueman > McGrath, Ambrose, Warne, Khan

It's

McGrath, Ambrose, Murali, Warne, Khan.

Everyone of those five are in a lot of people's all time side. Whereas its less likely that Laker, Davidson, Miller make people's all time side (though they do as well).

1996-2006 has the top two spinners of all time working in tandem, has a better opening combo in Ambrose/McGrath and a better tactician and captain in Imran.