“Haters can suck it” XI
Code:
[B]Player Runs Avg 100's Wkts Avg 5wkt Ct St[/B]
Bob Simpson 4869 46.81 8 71 2 110
Bill Lawry 5234 47.15 13 30
Eddie Paynter 1540 59.23 4 7
Greg Chappell 7110 53.86 24 47 1 122
Stanley Jackson 1415 48.79 5 24 33.29 1 10
Warwick Armstrong (c) 2863 38.68 6 87 33.59 3 44
Brendon McCullum † 3389 37.24 6 167 11
Richard Hadlee 3124 27.16 2 431 22.29 36 39
Jim Laker 676 14.08 193 21.24 9 12
Shane Bond 87 22.09 5 8
Bill Johnston 160 23.91 7 16
John Reid 3428 33.28 6 85 33.35 1 43 1
Stat Highlights
- 4 bowlers average under 24
- 5 batsmen average over 46
- 8 players in the first XI have scored at least one hundred
- 8 players in the first XI have taken at least one fiver
- 12th man has done both of the above two and has one stumping too. So he can replace any of the XI.
Opening pair
The best, if not the only one, opening pair in this draft that has actually played together.
Bill Lawry was one of hardest batsmen to dismiss, battling with good success against fearsome bowling attacks led by Trueman/Statham or Hall/Griffith. On the other hand,
Bob Simpson has a record as an opener that can leave many great openers in shade, averaging 55+ in 70 innings, a stat more relevant than his career average.
Middle Order
If you are the one for stats,
Eddie Paynter must impress you with a batting average that is battered by only a handful in the history of the game. He had his career cut short by the world war. In
Greg Chappell, the team has arguably the greatest Aussie batsmen allowed to be picked in the draft. His test stats are impressive, but the real testimony to his genius is his record in the World Series Cricket.
Stanley Jackson is the champion from the pre-Hobbs era, arguably the first great test batsman average almost 49 in the era considered the most difficult for batsmen.
All Rounders
The lower middle order has players for multiple roles.
Warwick Armstrong not only contributes as a batsmen, but also as a useful leg spinner. He is the obvious choice to be captain as proud holder of an unbeaten record leading one of the strongest test sides ever assembled.
Brendon McCullum wears the gloves behind the wicket and gives a counter attacking option down the order. It's almost a dream to have
Richard Hadlee batting at number 8 providing invaluable batting depth. As a bowler, Hadlee has few, if any, equals. An untiring trier, his contribution in victories for a fairly average side has no parallel in history. He was the Atlas of Kiwi cricket who simply never shrugged
Bowlers
To help Hadlee with the new ball is another Kiwi,
Shane Bond. He could do a lot with the ball - inswing and yorkers being prime weapons - and all at a lightening pace. There is little doubt in anyone's mind that if fitness problems did not trouble him constantly, he would have gone on to achieve stats similar to the greatest fast bowlers of all time.
Bill Johnston will be an ideal first change bowler to the champion Kiwi pair. With exception of the West Indians of 70's and 80's, perhaps no bowler has such exceptional bowling average while at being third best bowler for his side. Finally as a frontline spinner, the team has
Jim Laker, the bowler who has produced the greatest bowling performance in 140 years of test cricket history. Easily a contender for a spot in 3 greatest off-spin bowlers of all time
12th Man
You can't possibly find a better player as a reserve than
John Reid. He is the only test cricketer, please note "only test cricketer" ever to have scored a hundred, taken a fiver and also done a stumping. He can replace anyone in the team and this makes this team best covered for a last minute replacement.
In this draft, this team is clearly no.1.
Haters can suck it