Re-Vote for # 2 Opener 1986-2006 (Previous Poll Tied)

[aussie tragic]

Well, in the selection for the Best World XI between 1986-2006, the Poll for the # 2 Opener to partner Matthew Hayden (LHB) resulted in an equal number of votes between Anwar and Sehwag.

Accordingly, this Poll will run for 72-hours to hopefully select the winner.

Openers figures between 1986-2006

Anwar (LHB): 55 tests, 4052 runs, 45.52, 11 centuries, 25 fifties - - - as opener [3957 @ 47.10]

Sehwag (RHB): 49 tests, 4066 runs, 52.12, 12 centuries, 12 fifties - - - as opener [3727 @ 54.01]

 

[silentstriker]

Some breakdown:


IN FAVOR OF SEHWAG:

Sehwag Away: 52.07, 6 centuries, with HS of 309
Anwar Away: 45.42, 7 centuries, with HS of 188*

Sehwag played in basically half in many games but has the almost the same amount of centuries, as well as a triple century abroad.

IN FAVOR OF ANWAR:

Anwar averaged 67 @ Australia, whereas Sehwag averages 45. Anwar also played against better attacks than Sehwag.

 

[JBH001]

I would have preferred to vote for Gooch - but that's not an option, and anyway I suppose I don't have any credibility left after having originally voted for Vaughan, anyway!

So looking at the two, Sehwag and Anwar, I will go for Anwar.
Why?

I believe his style will complement Hayden, and besides he is a more aesthetically pleasing batsman than Sehwag besides being tighter technically (though not much in it).
Hayden and Sehwag both bludgeoners of the ball have too much sameness in style to be batting together. Anwar would even it out nicely.

Also, Sehwag has not done enough in his short career to really imo be worthy of inclusion and also, dare I say it, many of his runs are the product of mediocre bowling attacks and flat pitches. I do not think his techinique is good enough against quality bowling on poor tracks. *ducks for cover*

PS. Besides he is a muslim, and moreover has a great beard!

 

[Fusion]

Hayden and Sehwag both bludgeoners of the ball have too much sameness in style to be batting together. Anwar would even it out nicely.

That's my reason for voting for Anwar. The same reason Anwar and Sohail were so successful for Pakistan back in the day.

 

[Mister Wright]

I'm not sure you need to use players gelling together as a criteria to select a best side over 2 decades. It isn't like these guys will actually be padding up and batting with each other. I think we need to assess who is the better batsman/player of the bunch, and use stats/performance/ability as criteria, and not whether a player would fit into the side well. After all, this isn't the best XI that would play together from the last 2 decades.

 

[andyc]

I'm not sure you need to use players gelling together as a criteria to select a best side over 2 decades. It isn't like these guys will actually be padding up and batting with each other. I think we need to assess who is the better batsman/player of the bunch, and use stats/performance/ability as criteria, and not whether a player would fit into the side well. After all, this isn't the best XI that would play together from the last 2 decades.

Definitely. Sums up exactly what we're trying to achieve, IMO.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

*ties the vote*

 

[archie mac]

I voted for the little Indian, imagine a flat track and those two in form, the bowlers and all of the fieldsman may have to wear helmets

 

[Steulen]

*puts the Pakistani one up*

 

[bagapath]

have to go for sehwag. i would like to have a left - right combination. he can decimate any attack along with hayden. otherwise not much between anwar and sehwag. though anwar not scoring a double is, according to me, a glitch in his resume.

 

[luffy]

Dosnt look like this one wont be any different. 14 votes all....

I voted for Sehwag

 

[mavric41]

And Sewag pulls ahead with my help. 16 - 14

 

[Pedro Delgado]

*pulls one back for Pakistan*

 

[Armadillo]

Anwar takes the lead!

 

[silentstriker]

I'm not sure you need to use players gelling together as a criteria to select a best side over 2 decades. It isn't like these guys will actually be padding up and batting with each other. I think we need to assess who is the better batsman/player of the bunch, and use stats/performance/ability as criteria, and not whether a player would fit into the side well. After all, this isn't the best XI that would play together from the last 2 decades.

Exactly. That's why I voted for Sehwag.

 

[grecian]

Puts Sewag into an unassailable lead (possibly)

 

[Bob Bamber]

Hayden and Sehwag both bludgeoners of the ball have too much sameness in style to be batting together. Anwar would even it out nicely.

Totally agree. Sehwag and Hayden would try and outhit eachother.

Anwar for me.

 

[Turbinator]

GO sehwag!!

Hayden wud haf side screen problems with Anwar's beard. (actually he wud haf side screen problems wid the shien of sehwags bald head but atleast it will be covered due to the helmet)

 

[JBH001]

I'm not sure you need to use players gelling together as a criteria to select a best side over 2 decades. It isn't like these guys will actually be padding up and batting with each other. I think we need to assess who is the better batsman/player of the bunch, and use stats/performance/ability as criteria, and not whether a player would fit into the side well. After all, this isn't the best XI that would play together from the last 2 decades.

I am well aware of that - but I don't know if I necessarily agree with that.
When I pick teams of this sort I like to imagine the members playing together and out in the middle, it is part of the fun of it, and complementing players is part of good team selection. Also, reducing the choices to statistics and averages would not only make team selection relatively easier and non-controversial, it would also make it boring.
(why have that long list in the first place then?)

Besides I have based my vote for Anwar on two platforms, one is that I do not think Sehwag has done enough yet, especially considering recent attacks and pitches, to be seriously considered. Second, that Anwar and Hayden would be better to watch and complement each other better than Sehwag and Hayden.

 

[Perry Mason]

Besides I have based my vote for Anwar on two platforms, one is that I do not think Sehwag has done enough yet, especially considering recent attacks and pitches, to be seriously considered.

Considering that Anwar played just 6 tests more than Sehwag already has, could you outline exactly what he has achieved that Sehwag has yet to ?