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[Manormanic]

I think, like Gilchrist, Botham was one of those players who could take a game away from the opposition.

he could, but did he really do it often enough to be worthy of inclusion in an all time world XI?  After all, his record against the best side of his day - the West Indies - was woeful and as either a genuine all rounder or a third seamer there are so many more compelling candidates. 

[alba caerulea]

as either a genuine all rounder or a third seamer there are so many more compelling candidates. 

His stats sit comfortably alongside any of them. Imran has slightly better figures but I've left him out to concentrate on his political career

[Manormanic]

His stats sit comfortably alongside any of them. Imran has slightly better figures but I've left him out to concentrate on his political career

do they really?  Okay, I'm not even going to dignify the idea of Botham as a front line seamer because its patently ridiculous.  If he gets in, its as a bowler who could bat six/seven, and I'll only therefore compare him like for like. 

Botham's test stats were 5200 runs at 33 and 384 wickets at 28

Sobers managed 8000 at 57 and took 235 at 34
Imran 3800 at 38 and 362 at 22
Kallis 13000 at 57 and 282 at 32 (with power to add)
Miller 3000 at 37 and 170 at 23

I could go on but you get the point, surely?  Even if we select Sobers purely as a batsman and sixth bowler, there are others comfortably ahead of Sir Beefy...

[alba caerulea]

do they really?  Okay, I'm not even going to dignify the idea of Botham as a front line seamer because its patently ridiculous.  If he gets in, its as a bowler who could bat six/seven, and I'll only therefore compare him like for like. 

Botham's test stats were 5200 runs at 33 and 384 wickets at 28

Sobers managed 8000 at 57 and took 235 at 34
Imran 3800 at 38 and 362 at 22
Kallis 13000 at 57 and 282 at 32 (with power to add)
Miller 3000 at 37 and 170 at 23

I could go on but you get the point, surely?  Even if we select Sobers purely as a batsman and sixth bowler, there are others comfortably ahead of Sir Beefy...

I hate to nullify your research but I've already selected Sobers and Kallis. And this is a post-war team so I've put Miller in the same bracket as Bradman - both are ineligible. Imran I've already covered

[Alvaro]

Miller didn't debut until after the war did he?

[The_Bird]

Miller didn't debut until after the war did he?

Just, 1946

[Manormanic]

I hate to nullify your research but I've already selected Sobers and Kallis. And this is a post-war team so I've put Miller in the same bracket as Bradman - both are ineligible. Imran I've already covered

Oh, I'm aware that you'd gone down the route of picking Botham at nine, I was just trying to give you an out on that.  You barely need another seamer in that side (so either pick a batsman or a bowler who is better than the others you've got) and in any event it is incredibly rare to influence a match with the bat from nine!

[alba caerulea]

in any event it is incredibly rare to influence a match with the bat from nine!

I think this team would only be batting once in the majority of its Test matches so he would have a few chances to pile on quick runs

Miller didn't debut until after the war did he?

Perhaps Miller would have a good case then, I thought he played either side of the war

[Manormanic]

Perhaps Miller would have a good case then, I thought he played either side of the war

Nah, he was just breaking into state cricket before the war

[alee]

my best eleven

Adam Gilchrist
Sachin Tendulkar
Viv Richards (c)
Ricky Ponting
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis
Garry Sobers
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Malcolm Marshall
Glenn McGrath

[LNB]

My post war XI

1. Gordon Grenidge
2. Barry Richards
3. Sir Viv Richards
4. Brian Lara
5. Steve Waugh (c)
6. Sir Garfield Sobers
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10. Curtly Ambrose
11. Joel Garner

Subs
12.Jacques Kallis
13.Malcolm Marshall
14.Inzamam-ul-Haq
15.Muttiah Muralitharan

Would love to see Sir Viv and Inzamam batting together and see what sir Viv's reaction would be when big inzi ran him out.
inzi scored close to 11739 runs in one day matches, he probably could have scored an extra 1000 runs had he not been run out 40 times.

[jamielsn15]

Here you go, for what its worth...

1. Greenidge
2. Barry Richards
3. Lara
4. Viv Richards
5. Tendulkar
6. Sobers
7. Gilchrist
8. Wasim Akram
9. Warne
10. Marshall
11. Lillee

12th. Kallis

Gone for the openers as we know they batted well together - which you can't level at most other composite XI's selected from different countries.

I'm sure there's no explanation needed for the middle order.

Sobers over Kallis because he could bowl spin and medium pace

Gilchrist, Warne, Marshall and Lillee no great surprises - Akram over McGrath for something different - left arm and a much better bat (not that he'd be needed!).

Close calls for me; Sangakkara over Gilchrist - decided against as he batting average dropped significantly as a keeper and Ponting at his absolute best - just couldn't get him in over Lara or SRT...

[Nickauger]

my best eleven

Adam Gilchrist
Sachin Tendulkar
Viv Richards (c)
Ricky Ponting
Brian Lara
Jacques Kallis
Garry Sobers
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Malcolm Marshall
Glenn McGrath

Where are your openers?

[Manormanic]

think he's hoping for a one day game....

[ProCricketer1982]

Where are your openers?

He wont' need openers with that line up.