Print

[Gelds]

This is really difficult but I will have a go!

Langer
Gavaskar
Tendulkar
Lara
Richards
Gilchrist (wk)
Sobers
Warne (capt)
Marshall
Wasim
McGrath

Feel this side covers all bases. 5 bowlers, all different in style. Batsmen that can adapt to any situation.

[himanshuvohra]

Langer??? I think you are being harsh on many legends....

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[Gerry SA]

sorry to bring up an old topic

firstly with regards to Tendulkar being 'overrated'. At his peak he averaged 60 in Test cricket. Tendulkar's batting skill easily surpasses Lara, Ponting, Kallis. Lara was flashy but was a peaks and droughts batsman.

Tendulkar's peak was around 1998-2002. His average was over 60 in that period. Until his recent decline Tendulkar averaged more in Australia, England and South Africa than he did in home matches against these sides. So he's either pretty great, or the legendary Australian side was 'overrated'.

Now on to my side:

1. S. Gavaskar(the most complete opener in Test history)
2. B. Richards(Gavaskar's only rival)
3. I.V.A Richards(epic player)
4. S. Tendulkar(greatest modern batsman by a country mile).
5. B. Lara(Prince of Trinidad)
6. J. Kallis(second best all rounder ever)
7. G. Sobers(greatest cricketer of all time)
8. M. Boucher(fantastic keeper)
9. W. Akram(the greatest left armer to ever play the game)
10. G. McGrath(most successful seam bowler in Test history
11. M. Muralidaran(greatest spinner of all time)

[tim2000s]

Nice selection although I think I disagree with Boucher as keeper. Difficult choice between Warne and Muralidaran....

[himanshuvohra]

In my terms warne is a better spinnner who has proved his worth all round the world...he turned the ball everywhere....muralitharan was more of sub continent tiger....but stilll a legend...

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[Buzz]

I have used the ICC ranking of best ever to choose my post war team.
It should be mentioned that on the rankings 900 points is usually the measure of greatness - Tendulkar never got to 900 points. His highest being 898 against Zimbabwe.

Andy Flower is my keeper by the way - look at the stats - no one else is close to him.

Hutton
May (or Barry Richards, I haven't decided)
Ponting
Richards
Sobers
Kallis
Flower
Imran Khan
McGrath
Lock
Ambrose
http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/alltime/test/

[Manormanic]

May was not really an opener....

and who is Iran Khan? 

[Buzz]

May was not really an opener....

and who is Iran Khan? 

sorry amended typo...

but if I don't pick May, i have to pick Hayden using my rankings calculations and why would I want to do that??!!

oooh but I could pick Barry Richards...

[Tumo]

I have used the ICC ranking of best ever to choose my post war team.
It should be mentioned that on the rankings 900 points is usually the measure of greatness - Tendulkar never got to 900 points. His highest being 898 against Zimbabwe.

Andy Flower is my keeper by the way - look at the stats - no one else is close to him.

Hutton
May
Ponting
Richards
Sobers
Kallis
Flower
Imran Khan
McGrath
Lock
Ambrose
http://www.relianceiccrankings.com/alltime/test/

I can't help but agree with this. I'm a huge Flower advocate, streets ahead of Gilchrist in my opinion. Gilly came in when Aus were more often than not shedloads-5, Andy Flower batted at 5 in a side that often found itself 50-3 or something silly like that. He was the one genuinely world class player in his side, and faced strong bowling attacks (as opposed to being able to face his own bowling line-up, he'd have butchered it!), and a sharp keeper to boot, and all the pressure fell on him. Different class. Maybe not the best wicketkeeper alone, but then again neither is Gilly (for the record, it is probably Godfrey Evans)...

[sgcricket]

Here is my XI
1. Barry Richards
2. Sunil Gavaskar
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Graeme Pollock
6. Garfield Sobers
7. Andy Flower
8. Shane Warne
9. Malcolm Marshall
10. Curtly Ambrose
11. Muttiah Muralitharan

[Gerry SA]

Nice selection although I think I disagree with Boucher as keeper. Difficult choice between Warne and Muralidaran....

I chose Boucher as he's not wasted with the bat 8.

Playing Gilchrist there would be worthless, as a peak Gilchrist in top 6 material.

[Gerry SA]

Andy Flower was a average keeper. Little better than a part timer.

As for his batting, he was great on slow pitches like Zimbabwe and India. But it's common knowledge that he was very poor when playing on fast pitches.

[Buzz]

Andy Flower was a average keeper. Little better than a part timer.

As for his batting, he was great on slow pitches like Zimbabwe and India. But it's common knowledge that he was very poor when playing on fast pitches.

Not something that I would consider "common knowledge" in fact I have never heard it before.
His stats are here
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/55427.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

It is difficult that he didn't play a test in Aus and only one in SA - however, given the team he was in, I believe his records stand for themselves.

[Giraffe208]

Not something that I would consider "common knowledge" in fact I have never heard it before.
His stats are here
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/55427.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

It is difficult that he didn't play a test in Aus and only one in SA - however, given the team he was in, I believe his records stand for themselves.

Couldn't agree more. He can only play against the teams he's put up against. Outstanding performer!

[Gerry SA]

Not something that I would consider "common knowledge" in fact I have never heard it before.
His stats are here
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/55427.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

It is difficult that he didn't play a test in Aus and only one in SA - however, given the team he was in, I believe his records stand for themselves.

Well I'm from Africa and know about Flower's short comings.

He also played a full season for South Australia, averaged in the 20s. They pummelling him with short pitched bowling.