Would you play Keith Miller in your Australia ATG XI?

[kyear2]

Peak Viv beats peak Smith, especially if we are talking top attacks.

But the top 7 are pretty equal if Miller is there.for Australia.

WI like I say have the edge in pace. Aus in spin is not as big an advantage as being made out.

Exactly.

 

[kyear2]

If Miller is there the bowling overall advantage to Australia is quite palpable

This is why that doesn't work. If he's bowling more than the 6 or so overs that Sobers is contributing per innings, it's taking away from the front line guys, who one can argue are just that little bit better. And again at the expense of the batting.

The most you can argue is keeping them fresher, but all of these guys can bowl long spells and Warne is holding down an end. Not to mention how Miller would feel about bowling the dog overs.

I'm not saying your way is wrong, just wouldn't be my take on it. Giving up a big batting disadvantage at 6.

Think of it this way. Would anyone advocate for moving Sobers to 5 and batting Miller at 6 for the World XI? Just let Garry bat and stand at 2nd. It's the same exact scenario, and the arguments are the same. The batting here is even stronger to support it, Sachin at 4 and Garry at 5? But it doesn't quite make sense does it?

He's not going to bowl enough (not that he can't, he just wouldn't) to make the sacrifice worth it.

 

[Johan]

Trumper
Hayden
Bradman
Smith
Border
Miller
Gilchrist
Davidson
Warne
O Reilly
McGrath

 

[Red]

It's clear that Aus have the best AT XI due to the Bradman factor, and the WI have the second best overall side, but England have a great shot at beating either side on their day. England have the best openers (Hobbs and Hutton), a very strong batting lineup, solid spin options and a very good pace attack. Very solid side all round.

South Africa round out the top 4, with their spin options being their weakness.

It would be awesome to see a WTC played with all time sides. Would be great.

South Africa would flog England imo. And their spin options are very good

 

[subshakerz]

South Africa would flog England imo. And their spin options are very good

Yeah SA have an exceptional batting lineup and better bowling.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Yeah SA have an exceptional batting lineup and better bowling.

England has better batting and closish pure bowling. The MVP for SA are their plentiful all-rounders.

 

[Johan]

SA batting isn't all that exceptional for the ATG sides honestly, Barnes/Trueman is good enough to handle the SA bowling imo, It's the all rounders for SA that are problematic

 

[capt_Luffy]

SA batting isn't all that exceptional for the ATG sides honestly

I think it's the 5th best among the ATG ones.

 

[subshakerz]

SA batting isn't all that exceptional for the ATG sides honestly, Barnes/Trueman is good enough to handle the SA bowling imo, It's the all rounders for SA that are problematic

Richards
Smith
G Pollock
Nourse
Kallis
ABD - keeper?

Yeah it's behind England's a bit for sure but not sorely lacking.

England would be obliged to have Botham in their lineup which weakens their batting.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Richards
Smith
G Pollock
Nourse
Kallis
ABD - keeper?

Yeah it's behind England's a bit for sure but not sorely lacking.

England would be obliged to have Botham in their lineup which weakens their batting.

England really doesn't needs Botham in the line-up. Grace can be the allrounder with Hammond as the 6th option. And if Botham plays, Rhodes can be the spinner.

 

[subshakerz]

England really doesn't needs Botham in the line-up. Grace can be the allrounder with Hammond as the 6th option. And if Botham plays, Rhodes can be the spinner.

Yeah but it's like Lillee for Australia, some players are simply too archetypically of that country's cricket set up to drop IMO

 

[capt_Luffy]

Yeah but it's like Lillee for Australia, some players are simply too archetypically of that country's cricket set up to drop IMO

Then Rhodes makes up for it somewhat imo. Almost as good (arguably better) than Laker, Verity and Underwood as a bowler and averaged almost 40 while opening pre War (though the batting output will be less if he plays as a foremost bowler).

 

[capt_Luffy]

Also, if you really think about it, dropping Botham and fielding Grace makes sense from a 'cricketer stature' POV as well.

 

[subshakerz]

SA:
Smith
Barry
G Pollock
Kallis
Nourse
ABD - keeper
Proctor/Faulkner
Pollock
Steyn
Donald
Tayfield

What do you think of this lineup @Johan

 

[capt_Luffy]

Hutton
Hobbs
Hammond
Root
Barrington
Botham
Knott
Underwood
Bedser/Stratham
Trueman
Barnes

Where to fit Grace?

In place of Botham (and like, he is either a top 4 batsman or you don't count him)

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hutton
Hammond
Grace*
Root
Knott+
Larwood
Laker
Trueman
Barnes


Larwood because the team really needs a hard hit the deck strike pacer, better if express. Anderson is just not a great fit, as is Bedser.

If you really want Botham:

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hutton
Hammond
Grace*
Botham
Knott+
Rhodes
Larwood
Trueman
Barnes

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hutton
Hammond
Barrington
Root
Knott
Botham (Peak version?)
Trueman
Barnes
Anderson

 

[subshakerz]

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hutton
Hammond
Barrington
Root
Knott
Botham (Peak version?)
Trueman
Barnes
Anderson

I don't like moving an opener to no.3

 

[Johan]

If Botham isn't fat or injury ruined he's a huge factor

 

[subshakerz]

If Botham isn't fat or injury ruined he's a huge factor

We can't pick or choose. It's overall Botham

 

[Johan]

Richards
Smith
G Pollock
Nourse
Kallis
ABD - keeper?

Yeah it's behind England's a bit for sure but not sorely lacking.

England would be obliged to have Botham in their lineup which weakens their batting.

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hutton
Hammond
Barrington
Root

is quite a bit better imo, especially Smith and Kallis are decently inferior to Sutcliffe and Hammond for me. Nourse is also nah inferior to all of the English top 6 for me. I don't think I'll have Botham unless it's peak Botham, or else I'll just go with the bowling of Barnes/Trueman/Laker/Larwood after Knott.