Poll 1: Playing selector: WK for the AT subcontinental XI

[cnerd123]

I don't think anyone doubts that Sanga is the best keeper/batsman, I just think they'd rather have Sanga as a pure bat + a better keeper like Kirmani, rather than Sanga as a keeper bat.

Sanga as a keeper-bat does allow for Dev and Imran to be in the same team though, so IDM.

 

[smash84]

allowing for sanga as a keeper allows the team to have one more specialist batsman, I think a 4 bowler attack with Imran, Wasim, Waqar and Murali is good enough. I don't think Kapil would be needed. The team could be more strengthened by having an extra batsman

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

I don't think anyone doubts that Sanga is the best keeper/batsman, I just think they'd rather have Sanga as a pure bat + a better keeper like Kirmani, rather than Sanga as a keeper bat.

This

Plus where to slot sanga as keeper + batsman? His position in line up matters. It's not possible to squeeze the best out of Sanga if he plays down the order at 6/7 and keeps. As a result potentially giving up on arguably the best ever batsman from sub continent. But yeah there are other sides of the arguments as well.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

There's not really much selecting to do. Off the top of my head Gavaskar, Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Murali, Sanga, Tendulkar are all going to be in the final XI.

 

[harsh.ag]

This

Plus where to slot sanga as keeper + batsman? His position in line up matters. It's not possible to squeeze the best out of Sanga if he plays down the order at 6/7 and keeps. As a result potentially giving up on arguably the best ever batsman from sub continent. But yeah there are other sides of the arguments as well.

Dravid to take his nuber 3 spot. Sanga to bat at 6 for mine, after Miandad.

 

[kingkallis]

Even if Farokh was listed, he'd lose to Sangakkara. Hardly anybody here saw him keeping so its really tough to imagine. Besides, Sangakkara did stunning job as a keeper. I am sure it was not easy to keep when Murali is bowling.

 

[Bolo]

A few of these guys seem to be good keepers, but none of them have proved themselves keeping against real pace. Only one of them has proved himself keeping against Murali. As funny as it would be to watch Kamran drop Bradman twice in an over, I'm voting Sanga.

Some of the other guys might end up better keepers for this team, but Sanga might also end up averaging 58 with the bat.

 

[NUFAN]

If vote 1 was name your number 3, Sangakkara would surely win that too*. I just dont want him at 7.

Basically in a 5 man attack Sanga is my keeper at 5 or 6, in a 4 man attack he is my number 3.

*Dravid is loved though but surely he hasnt been quite as good as the Kumar has:

 

[NUFAN]

As funny as it would be to watch Kamran drop Bradman twice in an over

Thats so unlikely to happen. Bradman nicking 2 in an ovet is unheard of.

 

[Flametree]

Agree. This is a problem with these sorts of polls - "now pick your allrounder... now pick your bowlers" when in fact you want two allrounders...

Just pick the 11. Given Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Sangakkara (in either capacity), Imran, Wasim, Waqar and Murali are absolute locks, you might as well just have a poll which asks what the preferred shape is (6-1-4 or 5-1-5), then sorts out the gaps (the opener, one or two middle order players, a 5th bowler if desired)...

I voted Kirmani as keeper, but actually, given there's no real 5th bowling option in the likely top 6 (Sehwag, Tendulkar, Javed... not quite good enough), I'd probably revise that to put Sangakkara as keeper at 6 with Imran at 7, and then four bowlers. But it's only once you've got that clear in your head that you can pick the side.

 

[bagapath]

Agree. This is a problem with these sorts of polls - "now pick your allrounder... now pick your bowlers" when in fact you want two allrounders...

Just pick the 11. Given Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Sangakkara (in either capacity), Imran, Wasim, Waqar and Murali are absolute locks, you might as well just have a poll which asks what the preferred shape is (6-1-4 or 5-1-5), then sorts out the gaps (the opener, one or two middle order players, a 5th bowler if desired)...

I voted Kirmani as keeper, but actually, given there's no real 5th bowling option in the likely top 6 (Sehwag, Tendulkar, Javed... not quite good enough), I'd probably revise that to put Sangakkara as keeper at 6 with Imran at 7, and then four bowlers. But it's only once you've got that clear in your head that you can pick the side.

You can pick two all rounders if you want. We will be having polls only for the clearly defined positions like 2 openers, 3 middle order bats, 2 fast bowlers, 1 keeper and 1 spinner. the other two positions - 4th bowler and 6th batsman/all rounder/5th bowler - can go to anybody. you can go for two spinners. 6 batsmen. 2 all rounders. 5 bowlers. it is up to you.

i don't think selecting 11 players straight up would produce anything revolutionary. a quality test team certainly has two specialist opening batsmen followed by at least three middle order bats. there will also be one wicket keeper and two fast bowlers for sure. i am just making it mandatory that there has to be one spinner. in fact, by not pre deciding on either a 5-1-5 or a 6-1-4 composition we can hope for the majority opinion to prevail till the last poll.

 

[Migara]

PJ all the way.

 

[Migara]

SC First XI: Gavaskar, Shewag, Sangakkara (vc), Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni(wk), Imran (c), Wasim, Asif, Shoaib, Murali

SC 2nd XI: Anwar, Atapattu, Y. Khan, Miandad, Inzamam, M. Jayawardane (c), P. Jayawardene (wk), Waqar, Fazal, Srinath, Chandrashekar

SC 3rd XI: Jayasuriya (vc), Hanif Mohammed, M. Yousuf, Mathews, Laxman, Samaraweera, Kirmani (wk), Kapil(c), Vaas, Kumble, Aaqib Javed

Sorry folks, no Bangladeshis at the moment.

 

[Prince EWS]

You'd rather have Srinath playing than Kapil? Really?

 

[OverratedSanity]

You have Gavaskar in your first FC Xi and Hanif in the 3rd Xi, but in the other thread for voting openers, you've chosen Hanif over Gavaskar

How does that work?

 

[Migara]

You'd rather have Srinath playing than Kapil? Really?

As a bowler, yes. Srinath was pretty poor because he was asked to be the spearhead and the stock bowler both. Srinath bowling in short bursts with pace and aggression would be something. Kapil is more similar to Fazal, who clearly has a better record. Then Waqar is Waqar. If I ha ve Kapil instead of a bowler there my team would be less attacking with the ball.

Look, I haven't selected the best XI players as a team. I selected XI players that will make the best unit.

 

[Migara]

You have Gavaskar in your first FC Xi and Hanif in the 3rd Xi, but in the other thread for voting openers, you've chosen Hanif over Gavaskar

How does that work?

Just to highlight and give recognition to one of the best players of genuine, sustained and aggressive pace bowling.

 

[Contra]

Gavaskar
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Miandad/Laxman/Younis Khan
Sangakara (wk)
Imran Khan (c)
Kapil Dev
Wasim Akram
Waqar Younis
Muralidharan

That'd be my all time subcontient 11

 

[viriya]

Sanga should keep, the idea that he only did well in Tests after he became a pure batsman does not hold ground when you consider how he excelled as a wicket-keeper batsman in ODIs with no issues.

My AT Subcontinent XI:

Sunil Gavaskar
Virender Sehwag
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
Javed Miandad
Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
Shakib Al Hasan
Imran Khan (c)
Wasim Akram
Muttiah Muralidaran
Fazal Mahmood

Sangakkara is wasted at #6 (the best at getting huge scores of the lot, and now he will have no time), but there was no other place to put Dravid so that decision was forced. Shakib gives better balance than Kapil and he is a better batsman (and all-rounder - although that part will no doubt be controversial). Wasim over Waqar purely because he is a left-handed option. Younis Khan can possibly take Miandad's spot before he retires.

Funny how the top 4 are Indian, and the rest are all from other countries.

 

[Migara]

Gavaskar, Shewag, Sangakkara, Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni, Imran, Wasim, Shoaib, Murali, Asif would be my XI. Chosen a bowling attack that's going to be effective in every condition. A seam bowler, two swing bowlers, out and out express bowler and an unorthodox spinner. IMO good enough to send a ATG XI batting hopping around.