Test draft vote & debate thread - everyone come in and vote!

[Simon]

Agree with some re the bowling attacks, I commented on Jamee's as saying he had the best bowling attack, but I did mean the best fast bowling attack. As has been mentioned he has no spinner and a lack of part timers so he will struggle in a lot of conditions. Most of the teams are pretty even so it just come down to personal preferences.

 

[Uppercut]

With the way the picks went all those players went after I got Kallis and Sangakkara. Bishop was the best strike bowler left. I could have picked a bowler ahead of Kallis, but looking at some of the guys batting at seven. I'm glad I picked a batting all rounder like Kallis. I think it was worth it for balance in the end.

Yeah, I'd have left Sangakkara for a while. The WK question can always be addressed later, and I'd rather have a Donald in my team than a Sangakkara. It's just personal preference obviously, but i don't see a keeper of the standard of say, Ian Healy in a side and think "ohh, major weakness there" whereas i do think the lack of a strike bowler has that effect.

Kallis I'd have jumped on. I think it's incredible that someone in this era can perform to such a high standard with both bat and ball. As batting all-rounders go i think he's the best ever- yes, better than Sobers.

I actually rate team 4 very highly too for the reason you stated, however I dunno if I like Sangakarra at 6 and Lloyd at 7, but in the end of the day nothing wrong with having batsman who are capable batting higher, batting in those positions!

What are your thoughts on my bowling attack of Trueman, Walsh, Tate, Laker, Sobers?

That it seems really good, but I'm not very familiar with it. I only know Sobers, Laker, Tate and to some extent Trueman from folkore, and Walsh was past his best when i saw him (and i was too young to judge him really). Even players like Marshall, Ambrose, Lillee, Holding I can see enough archive footage to form an opinion of them, however misguided it may be. It's a difficulty in voting on Laker or Tate that the game they played seems completely different to anything I've ever known.

 

[chaminda_00]

I actually rate team 4 very highly too for the reason you stated, however I dunno if I like Sangakarra at 6 and Lloyd at 7, but in the end of the day nothing wrong with having batsman who are capable batting higher, batting in those positions!

I think people underestimate how effective Lloyd was at 6 and 7. He was probably better there then at five. Personally I think he is the best No 7 ever, even better then Gilly.

Sangakkara can slot in higher and may bat occasionally at five, if we require a massive chase or in major trouble. But do think he will struggle to keep and bat at his best consistently batting in the top 4. As was shown through his career.

 

[chaminda_00]

Yeah, I'd have left Sangakkara for a while. The WK question can always be addressed later, and I'd rather have a Donald in my team than a Sangakkara. It's just personal preference obviously, but i don't see a keeper of the standard of say, Ian Healy in a side and think "ohh, major weakness there" whereas i do think the lack of a strike bowler has that effect.

Kallis I'd have jumped on. I think it's incredible that someone in this era can perform to such a high standard with both bat and ball. As batting all-rounders go i think he's the best ever- yes, better than Sobers.

In sides like this personally I think it is a slight weakness not to have specialist batsmen as deep as possible. Against the quality of bowling that in these sides I think keepers and all rounder that average in 30s. Might struggle to contribute a lot with the bat. It not a major weakness, but imo the standard required at 6 & 7 should be high. Also when I picked Sangakkara, Flower and Walcott went as well. If you were going to pick a keeping all rounder it would have been then.

I would have liked another strike seamer. But like take our balance attack and the likes of Kallis, Sangakkara and Hutton over one. I think with Larwood and Bishop we have enough strike power in the pace attack away from home. Add in the guile of Bedser I still think we have a great pace attack.

 

[funnygirl]

Team B can run through any side without much difficulty.

 

[biased indian]

Team B can run through any side without much difficulty.

on 4th and 5th day spinning pitch that team will struggle ...you will have to win toss all the time

 

[chaminda_00]

Just had a closer look at NUFAN side. Probably the most all round side in comp. Got pretty much every base covered.

 

[biased indian]

Team G

Arthur Morris
Desmond Haynes
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
David Gower
Gary Sobers*
Rod Marsh+
Maurice Tate
Fred Trueman
Jim Laker
Courtney Walsh

My vote for this team ,nice mix of left handed and right handed batsmen ,one great allrounder ,one decent allrounder,players with vast experince and vast number of runs and wickets.nice attack with a spinner and 3 fast bowlers and one who is good to do both

and interstingly this team good do well in ODI's as well

 

[NUFAN]

I have ended up going for Team L after much thought.

The side looks very solid on paper, with a pair of solid Australian openers followed by a fantastic middle order of Hammond, Chappell. Harvey and Hazare. I think they will gel nicely and Imran and Knott at 7 and 8 is a strong batting order for sure.

Bowling wise Imran and Waqar are going to dominate in Pakistan and so should O'Reilly. Reid looks a little suspect, but injuries shouldn't factor THAT much. Other crickets earlier in the century didn't play too many more than 27 Tests in a 7 year span. His record in Pakistan is also decent [14 wkts @ 25 in 3 matches].

Outside the main 4 bowlers, Hammond is very useful and Chappell and Hazare can roll their arms over if need be too.

The leadership group of Taylor, Khan, Simpson, Chappell should ensure no stone is left unturned.

This side is also a very good fielding unit too.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Disappointed that pretty much every team other than mine has got a vote. And of the other two that haven't, one was a mess and the other was taken over by another participant half way through.

Fail, Heef.

 

[Somerset]

Disappointed that pretty much every team other than mine has got a vote. And of the other two that haven't, one was a mess and the other was taken over by another participant half way through.

Fail, Heef.

I wouldn't read too much into it, though admit I am slightly surprised that your team has failed to pick up a single vote. Maybe the inclusion of McCullum as your wicket keeper batsman has put some off.

Interesting to note that the teams with the most and second most votes currently were not even in my top three of four so I guess everyone looks for something different in what they consider to be the best side.

 

[fredfertang]

We're assuming they're all at the peak of their powers presumably?

On that basis Team D by a country mile

 

[silentstriker]

Disagree. It's a very solid group, but nothing stands out. I like the style of F, but there are 2-3 weak spots. In the end, I have to go with H. Bowling > Batting any day, and considering the records of most spinners, I'd take the four fast bowlers any day of the week. I don't buy that they'd poof out after 30 overs, at all. A few of those bowlers had a lot of stamina. Boycott is solid, as is the middle order. None of the top six would make my all time XI, but its still a solid group. Dhoni hasn't done much to be considered captain, and I'd probably have a few others in that team over him. BUt overall, fast bowling > any other discipline in terms of winning games.

 

[Something_Fishy]

Chose B, mainly because of their bowling line-up, (which I believe is better than the one with Marshall, Garner, Donald and Statham) and Hobbs and Waugh. Only questionable selection for me is Inzy, though he did average nearly 50. When they play at Lord's they will dominate. Question is: who will open the bowling? Lol. I'd probably go with McGrath and Pollock/Steyn (if is overcast and he can swing the ball you want him to get 2 or 3 early wickets). Waugh is an incredible captain, AND scored 10000+ runs. Amazing. Eddie Paynter is severely underrated and Bill Lawry was a limpet (though is commentary is a bit dodgy - lol). Jeff Dujon is the greatest Windies keeper ever and is a solid 7. I don't think there is a weak side, and many can compete for the no.2 spot, but this is the best team. 'Nuff said.

 

[chaminda_00]

We're assuming they're all at the peak of their powers presumably?

On that basis Team D by a country mile

Disagree, we are the best but not by that amount.

 

[Matt79]

Chose B, mainly because of their bowling line-up, (which I believe is better than the one with Marshall, Garner, Donald and Statham) and Hobbs and Waugh. Only questionable selection for me is Inzy, though he did average nearly 50. When they play at Lord's they will dominate. Question is: who will open the bowling? Lol. I'd probably go with McGrath and Pollock/Steyn (if is overcast and he can swing the ball you want him to get 2 or 3 early wickets). Waugh is an incredible captain, AND scored 10000+ runs. Amazing. Eddie Paynter is severely underrated and Bill Lawry was a limpet (though is commentary is a bit dodgy - lol). Jeff Dujon is the greatest Windies keeper ever and is a solid 7. I don't think there is a weak side, and many can compete for the no.2 spot, but this is the best team. 'Nuff said.

In fairness Inzi was the very last player picked, so he was probably a good choice with 131 players already off the table.

 

[silentstriker]

And Flintoff, and a few others in people's team who are batting at six in an all time side is very much not a good thing, in my mind. He should be eight.

Look at some of the other #6: Steve Waugh, Walcott, Sobers, Martyn, Flower...

 

[Matt79]

Hazare...

 

[Jakester1288]

Everything went wrong when I picked Hussey. I had to quickly make a pick, and didn't think, and he wasn't in his massive dire batting slump at the time, so I quickly put him down.

 

[chaminda_00]

Everything went wrong when I picked Hussey. I had to quickly make a pick, and didn't think, and he wasn't in his massive dire batting slump at the time, so I quickly put him down.

It was Vettori's selection that stuffed your side. Personally I think you could take out Vettori and pick some guys still left and your side would look a lot better. If you wanted a spinner Underwood is still there. If you wanted an all rounder Barlow is still there, he would add a fair bit to your batting. I would have been surprised if someone didn't pick Hussey soon after if you left him anyway.