Strongest Xl that actually played together...

[harsh.ag]

India:

1. G.Gemphir
2. V.Seway
3. S.Tendehar
4. R.Dravia
5. S.Gungly (C)
6. V.Lexingten
7. D.Dhenier (wk)
8. J.Krumble
9. Hurvaj Singh
10. Z.Kalm
11. A.Naharem

??

 

[harsh.ag]

Nah. Harmison was no. 1 in the world and Flintoff was peaking, coming off a lot of steam from the 05 Ashes. Pollock, Shoaib and others were available but not selected IIRC (they played in the ODI series beforehand). It does look a bowler short and Vettori is the questionable one, the 2 spinners was because of Sydney.

Other than maybe Vettori it was as close to a genuine World XI side as you could get. That's what was special about it compared to most other "World XI" series. Not sure why Sachin didn't play either. Maybe he's the other change you could make. You'd be hard pressed to find a stronger team on paper than that one that played Tests, personally I don't think most of the others ITT are even close.

Yes, this is why it was so sad.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yes, this is why it was so sad.

It's a ****ing strong team though

 

[OverratedSanity]

Why didnt Pollock and Shoaib play? If they were actually dropped and not injured its stupid as ****.

 

[harsh.ag]

It's a ****ing strong team though

Having Vettori in Australia means going a bowler down. That makes Flintoff your third bowler. That's not strong. Esp when Harmison and Flintoff are operating without Murray Mints and English swing. It's a dreadful attack for the conditions.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Why didnt Pollock and Shoaib play? If they were actually dropped and not injured its stupid as ****.

As I said, Harmy was undisputed no. 1 in the world and in some scary form. Also Kallis + Flintoff, and it being Sydney meant they didn't pick another specialist fast bowler.

Every player in that top 7 probably makes their country's ATG side comfortably, and other than Harmison the rest of the team would be there or thereabouts as well. Obviously the Aus players weren't available but you can't claim that it was a relatively weak ROW side compared to any other era

 

[TheJediBrah]

Esp when Harmison and Flintoff are operating without Murray Mints

Very, very good point

 

[TheJediBrah]

Interestingly though it was the batting that was the problem in the game. The bowlers did very well against a strong Aus batting lineup

Edit: looked up why Tendulkar didn't play, apparently he had an elbow injury. If he was fit would surely have played ahead of Dravid or Inzy

 

[Burgey]

Having Vettori in Australia means going a bowler down.

Having Murali in Australia means going a bowler down. Though I went to that game and he actually bowled as well as I ever saw him out here. A spell he bowled to Katich & Gilly in the second dig iirc was especially awesome.

 

[harsh.ag]

Classic Burgey bait and switch.

 

[Flem274*]

murali in australia - 5 matches, 12 @ 75
vettori in australia - 12 matches, 37 @ 40

vettori > murali in australia

 

[Burgey]

Nah it was a good spell. I remember watching it and being astonished he was causing any issues at all, as you'd expect. Was ****ing freezing out there that day. For some reason I didn't take a jumper with me.

 

[Burgey]

murali in australia - 5 matches, 12 @ 75
vettori in australia - 12 matches, 37 @ 40

vettori > murali in australia

Pat Symcox was better than Murali in Australia ffs. Was all kinds of terrible.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Probably helped that Sydney would be the best wicket for him to be bowling on. Was a bit of turn out there, IIRC Macgill might have been BOG

 

[Burgey]

Yeah MacGill took five in the second dig, and I think McGrath & Lee barely bowled in that innings.

 

[Line and Length]

Australia

Barnes
Morris
Bradman*
Hasset
Miller
Brown
Johnson
Tallon+
Lindwall
Johnston
Toshack

While this "Invincibles" side (2nd Test of the 1948 series), one could argue that Neil Harvey (who played in the 4th and 5th Tests) would strengthen the line up by repacing Brown and batting ahead of Miller.

 

[honestbharani]

Probably the most important side in Indian cricket history.

To me, that would still be the 1983 Kapil's Devils.

 

[mr_mister]

During the 98 series in England SA had in one test

Bacher
Kirsten
Kallis
Cullinan
Cronje *
Jonty
Pollock
Boucher +
Klusener
Donald
Adams

I know Bacher wasn't much chop but there's such depth in batting and bowling here it's crazy. BMac in for Bacher and someone else promoted to open would be the only plausible improvement

 

[Slifer]

RSA IMHO:

Smith*
Petersen
Amla
Kallis
DeVilliers+
DuPlessis
Elgar
Peterson
Philander
Steyn
Morkel

 

[_00_deathscar]

During the 98 series in England SA had in one test

Bacher
Kirsten
Kallis
Cullinan
Cronje *
Jonty
Pollock
Boucher +
Klusener
Donald
Adams

I know Bacher wasn't much chop but there's such depth in batting and bowling here it's crazy. BMac in for Bacher and someone else promoted to open would be the only plausible improvement

Surely a team with Fanie de Villiers would be better than Klusener (tests) or Adams? Must have been a team with that.