Peak Botham was not only an incredible cricketer but also had a golden arm and would probably get Bradman to slap a long hop to cover just when a wicket was neededInteresting that nobody has put Botham in their all-rounders side. Not having it that he’s not in the top ten all time all rounders personally, on the basis that this imaginary side is picking players at their peak.
Still likely to be a draw then.Tiring out the specialist bowlers is the path to victory for the all rounders.
So a flattish pitch and it probably favours the all round side more.
Specialists have the much stronger top 3, and slightly stronger 4-6, allrounders have MUCH MUCH stronger 7-11, and marginally stronger bowling attack.Hobbs
Hutton
Bradman
Richards
Tendulkar
Lara
Healy
Marshall
Warne
Steyn
McGrath
Simpson
Barlow
Hammond
Sobers
Kallis
Worrell
Gilchrist
Imran
Pollock
Hadlee
Ashwin
Specialists and without much fuss would be my guess.
Should probably pick Murali instead of Warne (worse with the bat) and someone inferior with the bat than Marshall (perhaps Lillee or Trueman)Hobbs
Hutton
Bradman
Richards
Tendulkar
Lara
Healy
Marshall
Warne
Steyn
McGrath
Simpson
Barlow
Hammond
Sobers
Kallis
Worrell
Gilchrist
Imran
Pollock
Hadlee
Ashwin
Specialists and without much fuss would be my guess.
How is the all-rounders bowling attack better.Specialists have the much stronger top 3, and slightly stronger 4-6, allrounders have MUCH MUCH stronger 7-11, and marginally stronger bowling attack.
Variety.How is the all-rounders bowling attack better.
Ash isn't in the same league as Warne
Pollock not as good as any of the specialist pacers.
Top end quality vs depth, would be interesting to see that play out.Variety.
2 left-arm seamers with Sobers and Worrell.
4 spin options - offspin (Ashwin), legspin (Simpson), SLA (Sobers), and left-arm leggies (Sobers).
Chip away at the top 6 and then Hadlee and Imran would destroy the tail.
If any of the specialists has an injury niggle or an off day, Viv and Tendulkar would have to bowl a lot of overs
All rounders such as peak Imran, Hadlee etc were as good as any bowlers to play the game so there’s no difference in top end quality imoTop end quality vs depth, would be interesting to see that play out.
Pollock and AshwinAll rounders such as peak Imran, Hadlee etc were as good as any bowlers to play the game so there’s no difference in top end quality imo
I was never Pollock’s biggest fan but he does have a stellar record while Ashwin (and Jadeja btw) is arguably the greatest ever bowler in IndiaPollock and Ashwin
Bobby Simpson took 70 test wicketsI can't think of allrounder openers right know but the rest off the top of my head seem pretty good
1.
2.
3. Jaques Kallis
4. Keith Miller
5. Gary Sobers
6. Ian Botham
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Imran Khan
10. Kapil Dev
11. Richard Hadlee
Yeah they'll do nicelyBobby Simpson took 70 test wickets
Eddie Barlow?
Don't think all of the matches will be in India.I was never Pollock’s biggest fan but he does have a stellar record while Ashwin (and Jadeja btw) is arguably the greatest ever bowler in India
People have barely mentioned Kapil Dev who took 400 poles as a quick for India - that’s ridiculous
Nah. Even 20 runs contributions from the last 5, gives an additional 100 runs boost. Hammond and Kallis are hardly worse and Grace is as good as those specialist openers. Ban Bradman and All-rounders wins.Those godly tails tended to primarily do well either down hill skiing in high scoring matches or vs weaker opponents.
I would say(using the 11's I listed) that
Marshall, McGrath, Warne and Steyn and a little better than Hadlee, Pollock, Imran and Ashwin. While the openers for the specialists are appreciably better than those for the all-rounders and only Sobers is quite in the same tier of the specialists bats.
So yeah, not particularly close imo.
The gap in 4-6 is also quite big imo. Only Sobers vs Richards is close while Sachin is a tier above Kallis and Lara is several tiers above Worrell. While 7-11 do provide better batting to all Rounders, it won't be of that much use against ATG bowlers. Ashwin for ex, has played almost all of his best innings at home and in WI against poor attacks. His and many other bowling all rounders stats go way down against quality opposition.Specialists have the much stronger top 3, and slightly stronger 4-6, allrounders have MUCH MUCH stronger 7-11, and marginally stronger bowling attack.
There is no way the last 5 are making 20 runs each against an ATG bowling line upNah. Even 20 runs contributions from the last 5, gives an additional 100 runs boost. Hammond and Kallis are hardly worse and Grace is as good as those specialist openers. Ban Bradman and All-rounders wins.