Test team of the year 2006

[Nate]

Sangakkara hasn`t been playing as wicket-keeper for much of this year, hence I wouldn`t have him in my team.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

May as well wait until the year is actually finished. Couple of fairly close calls still.

 

[steds]

**** yes, but I just got up.

10pm's a funny time to get up, is it not? Unless you aren't actually in Sydney!! *dundundun*

 

[marc71178]

If that doesn't occur Matthew Hoggard 50 wickets @ 29.56 could be included if he has a good boxing over Asif on the basis that he has taken more wickets despite the fact that he will end up with a higher average

I'd be tempted to say that the performances on some of the less helpful wickets that Hoggard's turned in this year would put him ahead to be honest, but it's a judgement call.

 

[Dravid]

What is shane warnes S/r econ and avg for the year?

 

[PhoenixFire]

10pm's a funny time to get up, is it not? Unless you aren't actually in Sydney!! *dundundun*

I forget that I never change that, I'm in Leeds at the moment.

 

[Matt79]

Too drunk to read through the whole thread, so I'll assume this is about picking an XI based on performances in the calendar year 2006:

Hayden
Gayle
Ponting
Youssef
Hussey
Sanggakara
Warne
Hoggard
Ntini
Clark
Murali

 

[adharcric]

Definitely drunk.

 

[Bob Bamber]

Here's My Team:

1.Alastair Cook
2.Andrew Strauss
3.Ricky Ponting
4.Mohammad Yousuf
5.Kevin Pietersen
6.Mike Hussey
7.Kumar Sangakkara
8.Shaun Pollock
9.Brett Lee
10.Matthew Hoggard
11.Monty Panesar

Like many people I didn't pick Flintoff on the fact that he 1, hasn't played that much 2. Hasn't played very well when he has. And I think that Bell , when played has done really well. Hasn't been a great year for seam bowlers or keepers. Ntini was probably unlucky not to make it , but as always for these things I tend to go for a balanced line up . Harmison has been too inconsistant. I just haven't seen enough of Stuart Clark either. With the keepers its taken Gilchrist 12 months to rack up his first century in a while , Geriant Jones has been crap with the bat . And I picked Panesar because hes had such an impact on the game. And I think hes done really well with the ball. OK Murali has been great aswell. But you know , im English.

EDIT - Cook completely slipped over my head. Totally deserves his place. And I somehow forgot about Yousuf aswell. As for Ntini I haven't really followed SA cricket this year. I haven't been able to watch it that much.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Ntini was probably unlucky not to make it , but as always for these things I tend to go for a balanced line up .

You're worse than Fletcher. Lee over Ntini/Muralitharan because Lee can bat a bit at No. 9?

 

[Jono]

How can anyone seriously not have Ntini and Murali in their team of 2006? Both have had phenomenal years.

But I reckon just waiting till after the Boxing Day tests makes sense.

 

[gunner]

anyone who puts lee in their test team is not right in the head

the guy is one of the worse test bowlers out of all the major nations

 

[marc71178]

anyone who puts lee in their test team is not right in the head

the guy is one of the worse test bowlers out of all the major nations

Mahmood
Plunkett
Udal

Need I go on?

 

[silentstriker]

Pathan
Zaheer
Munaf
Sreesanth
Agarkar

 

[Laurrz]

Cook
Sehwag
Ponting*
Yousuf
Pietersen
Hussey
Sangakkara+
Clark
Hoggard
Murali
Ntini

 

[GIMH]

Sehwag (783@43.50)
Cook (982 @49.10
Ponting* (1326 @ 94.71)
Pietersen (1321 @ 57.43, also 1w @188)
Yousuf (1788 @ 99.33)
Collingwood (1077 @ 53.85, also 1w @ 154)
Sangakarra+ (1242 @ 69.00, 20 catches, 2 st)
Clark (37w @ 18.62, also 73 @ 12.16)
Hoggard (50w @29.56, also 107 @ 5.94)
Ntini (50w @ 23.28, also 101 @ 9.18)
Muralitharan (90w @ 16.90, also 75 @ 6.81)

Pretty dire tail, but for me that's the best side of the year. Fairly easy choices right the way through, though I've just realised that I've omitted Hussey, who should be there really. Can't be bothered to change it now, so I'll add him when I revise the side after the last Tests of the year. Strauss could still sneak in, it was tight between him and Sehwag, whose stats for the year are inflated by his double ton against Pakistan, Hayden could also make the side if he scored a big one in the next test, though I don't see it happening for some reason.

Anyway, apologies to anyone who is offended by my ommission of Hussey for Collingwood, other than that i think the choices are pretty fair.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Surely there is a better opener than Sehwag?

 

[Raghav]

Cook
Sehwag
Ponting*
Yousuf
Pietersen
Hussey
Sangakkara+
Clark
Hoggard
Murali
Ntini

Remove Sehwag and place Chris Gayle.

 

[Dasa]

Remove Sehwag and place Chris Gayle.

Why? No hundreds and an average of 38.33 for the year.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I don't see Sehwag as deserving of a spot, really. He scored a third of his runs in one innings, and basically had a good series against Pakistan and was poor against everyone else. Take away those two ridiculous tests against Pakistan and his average is 31, and he only passed 50 twice. Strauss hasn't really had a great year either, and neither has Hayden. Hayden at least made some runs on helpful wickets though, and probably deserves the spot more than the other two.

That's one spot which might change with the boxing day tests anyway. The other one is the fourth bowling spot after Ntini, Clark and Murali.