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

[aussie tragic]

Wicket Keepers:

Healy, Gilchrist, Stewart, Russell, Mongia, Moin Khan, Latif, Ian Smith, Parore, Boucher,
Sangakkara, Dujon, Jaobs, Andy Flower,

I've done the stats on the above WK nominees and using the criteria of a batting average > 25 and a dismissal rate of > 2.5, I'm afraid the following three don't make the cut:

Jeff Dujon: 48 tests, 162 dismissals (159/3) ---- 1558 runs @ 24.34 (1/8)
Moin Khan: 66 tests, 147 dismissals (127/20) ---- 2581 runs @ 28.67 (4/14)
Nayan Mongia: 44 tests, 107 dismissals (99/8) ---- 1442 runs @ 24.03 (1/6)

All others make it, plus I've added Geraint Jones as he meets the criteria (so 12 WK's in the Poll).

The 7-day selection Poll starts shortly....

 

[aussie tragic]

Wicketkeeper Poll for 1986-2006 World XI now open for 7-days.

 

[aussie tragic]

I personally find a Preliminary/Final approach to be more exciting, however looking back at all the Polls, I note that it makes no difference to the result (i.e. the prelim winner is also the Final winner by a large margin).

Based on this fact, I think we could revert back to a 7-day Poll for the # 5 batting position, with the three runner-ups going into the # 6 position with the allrounder group as already decided earlier on this thread.

Please let me know of any objections (I'll take silence as concurrence)

 

[adharcric]

I would prefer a 5-day poll. If you don't come on CW even once every 5 days, chances are you're not an interested poster. There are exceptions, but they won't make a difference. This is taking too long already.

 

[aussie tragic]

I would prefer a 5-day poll. If you don't come on CW even once every 5 days, chances are you're not an interested poster. There are exceptions, but they won't make a difference. This is taking too long already.

I agree as most of the votes are actually posted in the first 2 days. The WK poll is already out, but I'll make each of the other Polls 5-days from now on.

 

[aussie tragic]

Spinners:

Australia: Warne, McGill
India: Kumble, Harbhajan
Pakistan: Qadir, Mushtaq, Saqlain
New Zealand: Vettori
Sri Lanka: Muralitharan

Stats for the Spinner are done and based on 1986-2006 criteria of >20 tests, < 35 ave and < 70.0 SR, Vettori doesn't make it.

Daniel Vettori: 71 tests, 219 Wkts @ 34.96, SR 78.6, Econ 2.66 (12/2)

Spinner Poll with remaining 8 nominees is ready to go anytime..........

 

[aussie tragic]

All Rounders:

Imran, Botham, Kapil, Hadlee, Cairns, Pollock, Kallis, Flintoff, Akram.

Stats for the Allrounder are done and since we're looking at a player that can bat at # 6 or # 7 comfortably, and win a vote over the 3 runner-ups of the # 5 batting Poll, I thought a batting ave of > 30 was more appropriate.

Note: Bagapath to confirm criteria, but even if the batting ave was set at > 25, the nominated player list doesn't change as all excluded players with < 35 bowling Ave. have < 25 batting Ave. The > 30 should also remove the critisism that the allrounder can't hold a # 6 or # 7 spot

This would mean that the following would not make the cut on 1986-2006 allrounder criteria of >20 tests, batting Ave > 30 (or > 25) and Bowling Ave < 35:

Akram: 99 tests; 2880 runs @ 22.85; 3 centuries; 394 wkts @ 23.59
Botham: 23 tests; 791 runs @ 23.96; 1 century; 40 wkts @ 45.80
Boje: 43 tests; 1312 runs @ 25.23; 0 centuries; 100 wkts @ 42.65
Giles: 52 tests; 1347 runs @ 20.72; 0 centuries; 140 wkts @ 39.60
Lee: 54 tests; 1033 runs @ 21.08; 0 centuries; 211 wkts @ 31.45
Streak: 65 tests; 1990 runs @ 22.35; 1 century; 216 wkts @ 28.14
Vaas: 94 tests; 2503 runs @ 22.75; 0 centuries; 307 wkts @ 29.51
Vettori: 71 tests; 2136 runs @ 24.83; 2 centuries; 219 wkts @ 34.96

 

[aussie tragic]

Fast Bowlers:

Australia: McDermott, Hughes, McGrath, Gillespie, Lee
England: Botham, Gough, Caddick, Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff
India: Kapil Dev, Srinath
Pakistan: Imran, Akram, Waqar, Akhtar
New Zealand: Hadlee, Cairns, Bond (??)
South Africa: Donald, Pollock, Ntini
Sri Lanka: Vaas
Zimbabwe: Streak
West Indies: Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh, Bishop

Thanks Bagapath for naming 29 bowlers for me to sort out the stats on

I’m sorry to say that the following do not meet the 1986-2006 selection criteria for fast bowlers (i.e. > 20 tests, bowling ave < 30 and SR < 60.0).

Shane Bond: 14 tests, 64 wkts @ 21.53, SR 38.7
Ian Botham: 23 tests, 40 wkts @ 45.80, SR 85.6
Kapil Dev: 58 tests, 154 wkts @ 31.74, SR 77.4
Andrew Flintoff: 62 tests, 186 wkts @ 31.32, SR 63.1
Brett Lee: 54 tests, 211 wkts @ 31.45, SR 52.5
Javagal Srinath: 67 tests, 236 wkts @ 30.49, SR 64.0
Heath Streak: 65 tests, 216 wkts @ 28.14, SR 62.7
Chaminda Vaas: 94 tests, 307 wkts @ 29.51, SR 66.3

However this still leaves 21 Bowlers which is too many for a Poll, so I’m proposing that the Bowling average be dropped to < 27, which would mean that the following "Very Good" bowlers would also miss out:

Craig McDermott: 59 tests, 245 wkts @ 27.53, SR 56.6
Merv Hughes: 52 tests, 211 wkts @ 27.93, SR 57.1
Makhaya Ntini: 69 tests, 274 wkts @ 28.28, SR 53.2
Darren Gough: 58 tests, 229 wkts @ 28.39, SR 51.6
Steve Harmison: 45 tests, 179 wkts @ 28.81, SR 55.1
Chris Cairns: 62 tests, 218 wkts @ 29.40, SR 53.6
Matthew Hoggard: 58 tests, 222 wkts @ 29.76, SR 54.8
Andy Caddick: 62 tests, 234 wkts @ 29.91, SR 57.9

Note: This leaves the 13 "Excellent" bowlers in bold within Baga’s post above.

Any major objections ??????

 

[aussie tragic]

Okay, Spinner Poll now running for 5-days only.

Note: Three polls are now running as follows:

# 4 Batting Poll finishes on 17th (Tendulker leading Lara)
Spinner Poll finishes on 21st (Warne leading Murali)
Wicketkeeper Poll finishes on 22nd (Gilchrist leading Flower)

 

[bagapath]

increasing the all-rounders' batting average cut off to 30 + is going to make most members happy, especially goughy and JBH. fine with that. also fast bowlers to average less than 27 is a good call.

one suggestion. can we split the fast bowlers into two separate pools. we can aim to choose one predominantly fast bowler to bowl with the wind and and one predominantly fast medium bowler to bowl into the wind. if toe crushing yorkers and bouncers make up the repertoire of the former the other pacer relies on line and length and accuracy. this is not something i made up myself. it was don bradman who defined it when he selected his dream team. CMJ pretty much followed the rule for his team. this division would need two separate polls (no prelim polls) for the two slots. remember these definitions are not iron clad and they are based only on their "assumed" speeds in the eras we are discussing about. here we go...

FAST BOWLER TO BOWL WITH THE WIND

Waqar
Akhtar
Donald
Marshall
Ambrose
Walsh
Bishop

FAST _ MEDIUM BOWLER TO BOWL INTO THE WIND

McGrath
Gillespie
Imran
Akram
Hadlee
Pollock

 

[bagapath]

Thanks Bagapath for naming 29 bowlers for me to sort out the stats on

do give me a ring if you happen to come to india. i promise you some excellent beer if you are 21+. that is age not batting average

 

[aussie tragic]

do give me a ring if you happen to come to india. i promise you some excellent beer if you are 21+. that is age not batting average

Yes Baga, I'm 21+ and like most Aussies, I never turn down a free beer

On the Pace Bowler situation, I want to try a Poll whereby people can select two from the 13 nominees, so I think it should be up to them on which two they prefer (rather than splitting the bowlers into two Polls). Let me know.

btw, the problem with the above approach is that the Poll can either be one-vote or unlimited votes (but only one time), so we'll have to monitor that people do not vote for more than two (This seems to have worked okay on the Aussie Middle Order Poll for the Ashes, however some people voted more than two by mistake). I guess we can always disqaulify those extra votes if needed.

Note: The Ashes Middle Order Poll using multiple votes: http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=19224

 

[aussie tragic]

5-day selection Poll for the # 5 batting position now open.

http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=19576

I'm predicting Waugh, Lara, Richards, Border and Dravid as the top five

 

[adharcric]

Lara to win. Waugh, Richards and Inzy/Dravid to move on.

 

[aussie tragic]

The 1986-2006 World XI "prediction" so far:

1. Matthew Hayden
2. Saeed Anwar
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Brian Lara (Leading Waugh)
6. ……………….
7. Adam Gilchrist (Leading Flower & Healy)
8. ……………….
9. Shane Warne (Leading Murali)
10. ……………….
11. ……………….

I propose the the following Poll order to close the selection

- Pace Bowler (Pick 2 in one Poll)
- Allrounder or Batsmen (Allrounder Bat > 30; Bowl < 35) or (Batsmen 3 runner-ups # 5)
- Final Bowler (Top 5 runner-up Bowlers from Pace Bowler Poll + Murali)

Concurrence or otherwise please

 

[bagapath]

sounds good. and you are right. let us decide who the fast bowlers before we choose the no. 6. then we will go for the fourth bowler.

 

[JBH001]

Picking 2 fast bowlers in the same poll?

Are we then picking the opening pair?

(I guess picking bowlers who complement each other would then play a part)

 

[aussie tragic]

Picking 2 fast bowlers in the same poll?

Are we then picking the opening pair?

(I guess picking bowlers who complement each other would then play a part)

I guess the two bowlers in one Poll goes against the theme of this selection so far (i.e. each position individually), so I can do a Poll to select the #1 Pace bowler, plus a 2nd poll to select the # 2 Pace Bowler, which could then be selected based on who the opening bowler is...any preferences???

Note: The problem with having two votes in a poll is that the system allows multiple votes and therefore people could vote for as many players as they wanted

 

[aussie tragic]

The 1986-2006 World XI so far:

1. Matthew Hayden: 84 tests, 7326 runs @ 53.08 (26/26)
2. Saeed Anwar: 55 tests, 4052 runs @ 45.52 (11/25)
3. Ricky Ponting: 105 tests, 8792 runs @ 58.22 (31/34)
4. Sachin Tendulkar: 132 tests, 10469 runs @ 55.39 (35/41)
5. Brian Lara: 128 tests, 11505 runs @ 52.05 (32/47)
6. …………………….
7. Adam Gilchrist: 85 tests, 355 dismissals (320/35), 5124 runs @ 48.80 (16/22)
8. …………………….
9. Shane Warne: 140 tests, 685 Wkts @ 25.25, SR 57.3, Econ 2.64 (36/10)
10. ………………….
11. ………………….

* The two Opening bowlers Poll is currently running here: http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=19667

 

[aussie tragic]

# 6 Poll now open at: http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=19748

I'm predicting that an Allrounder will win the position over a batsman, not to mention that Murali fans will be voting for a pace bowling allrounder so that another spinner becomes an option...