The Greats

[Robertinho]

I agree with Faaip, there have been some Ashes which were definitely not "great", and it's just way, way too broad, though Ashes 2005 would've been a definite addition.

YES
Imran Khan
G.D. McGrath
A.C. Gilchrist
S.R. Waugh
I.V.A. Richards
M.D. Marshall
D.K. Lillee

NO
J.H. Kallis
Laxman's 281
Ashes

I would, however, like to nominate the 2005 Ashes.

 

[Robertinho]

Ashes-Yes
Laxman's 281-Yes
Imran Khan-Yes
G.D.McGrath-Yes
A.C.Gilchrist-No
S.R.Waugh-Yes
I.V.A.Richards-Yes
M.Marshall-No
D.Lillee-Yes
J.Kallis-No

 

[OZOZ]

Ashes-Yes
Laxman's 281-- NO
Imran Khan-Yes
G.D.McGrath-Yes
A.C.Gilchrist-No
S.R.Waugh-Yes
I.V.A.Richards-Yes
M.Marshall-yes
D.Lillee-Yes
J.Kallis-No

 

[social]

Amazing how many are voting "no" to Gilchrist.

The guy is a certainty for an all-time X1 but isnt rated great?

 

[vandemataram]

Ashes ..... NO .. Some ashes series were not even near great
Laxman's 281 ... YES.
Imran Khan .... Yes
G.D.McGrath...no
A.C.Gilchrist no
S.R.Waugh.... no
I.V.A.Richards... yes
M.Marshall... yes
D.Lillee.. yes
J.Kallis... NO

Tendulkar should have been on that list.

 

[suchchin]

Ashes- I'm not sure about them
Laxman's 281-Yes
Imran Khan-Yes
G.D.McGrath-Yes
A.C.Gilchrist-No
S.R.Waugh-Yes
I.V.A.Richards-Yes
M.Marshall-Yes
D.Lillee-yes
J.Kallis-No

 

[andyc]

NO
J.H. Kallis
Laxman's 281
Ashes

 

[Dasa]

Amazing how many are voting "no" to Gilchrist.

The guy is a certainty for an all-time X1 but isnt rated great?

He isn't a certainty in my all-time XI and I think he's overrated by many (primarily Aussies)...What I can't believe is people not voting for Laxman's 281.

 

[Dasa]

Tendulkar should have been on that list.

Tendulkar has already been voted on.

 

[Adamc]

Hmm, if you're going to include individual innings/bowling spells, this list could get very long very quickly...

 

[Robertinho]

Yeah Tendulkar is already a 'great' per se. Laxman's 281.. hmm, look, I'm reluctant to vote on individual innings, to put them in the same class as great players (like Bradman, Sobers, you get the dealio)

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I'm also dumbfounded by the "no"s for Gilchrist. One of, if not THE most destructive batsman in the history of test cricket, one of only four keepers with 300+ dismissals, and widely regarded as the catalyst that formed one of the greatest batting lineups ever seen in test cricket, and in the process one of the greatest teams, and he's not great? No for McGrath and Marshall are equally odd, though Marshall isn't one of my favourite bowlers he's certainly a great.

 

[marc71178]

Ashes - Yes
Laxman's 281 - No
Imran Khan - Yes
G.D.McGrath - Yes
A.C.Gilchrist - No
S.R.Waugh - No
I.V.A.Richards - Yes
M.Marshall - Yes
D.Lillee - No
J.Kallis - No

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Hmm, if you're going to include individual innings/bowling spells, this list could get very long very quickly...

I don't think that's a bad thing, really. As long as the voting is discerning, and only the best are considered great, it could be an interesting list.

And, on that note, I'd like to nominate Bradman's 334 against England at Headingley. Widely regarded as the greatest innings ever played, so I'd say it rates a mention.

 

[social]

He isn't a certainty in my all-time XI and I think he's overrated by many (primarily Aussies)...What I can't believe is people not voting for Laxman's 281.

4500 runs @ 53 and 300 dismissals dont lie.

Unless your keeper is Sanga or Flower, then you've weakened the batting to such a point that no perceived increase in keeping quality will ever make up for it.

 

[social]

I don't think that's a bad thing, really. As long as the voting is discerning, and only the best are considered great, it could be an interesting list.

And, on that note, I'd like to nominate Bradman's 334 against England at Headingley. Widely regarded as the greatest innings ever played, so I'd say it rates a mention.

I think Bradman himself regarded McCabe's 232 no as the greatest innings he'd ever seen and Sobers' 254 @ Melbourne as the greatest innings played in Aus.

He also rated one of his double hundreds from the same series as a better innings than the 334.

 

[wahindiawah]

Ashes - NO
Laxman's 281 - yes
Imran Khan - Yes
G.D.McGrath - Yes
A.C.Gilchrist - No
S.R.Waugh - yes
I.V.A.Richards - Yes
M.Marshall - Yes
D.Lillee - No
J.Kallis - No

 

[Robertinho]

Can I nominate Michael Holding's over to Geoff Boycott at Kensington in 1981?

Regretfully I've yet to see it but, having read this, and I'm sure many saw it, I feel it's worthy:

His over to Geoff Boycott in the cauldron of Kensington Oval early in 1981 has gone down in history as the finest, fastest, most ferocious gambit of all time.

 

[wahindiawah]

I'm also dumbfounded by the "no"s for Gilchrist. One of, if not THE most destructive batsman in the history of test cricket, one of only four keepers with 300+ dismissals, and widely regarded as the catalyst that formed one of the greatest batting lineups ever seen in test cricket, and in the process one of the greatest teams, and he's not great? No for McGrath and Marshall are equally odd, though Marshall isn't one of my favourite bowlers he's certainly a great.

Almost everybody on that list is great, but it seems to me that people are voting for the "very great" among all the greats.

The last Ashes series was one of the greatest test series ever, but before that Ashes series have been a bit booring and one-sided, thats why i didn't voted for them.

 

[Dasa]

4500 runs @ 53 and 300 dismissals dont lie.

Unless your keeper is Sanga or Flower, then you've weakened the batting to such a point that no perceived increase in keeping quality will ever make up for it.

I don't want to get into a huge debate now, but I think Gilchrist has been a batsman who has benefited greatly from the decline in bowling standards and flat pitches, and there are much better 'keepers around. Add to that, in my all-time XI I'd have a couple of all-rounders in there, I don't see the rationale in picking Gilchrist.