velu Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 (edited) Quote With the upcoming release of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Two, in cinemas May 4, we present an all-time T20 XI that might represent cricket in an intergalactic showdown Chris Gayle There's the Universe Boss, then daylight, then every other T20 batsman who has ever played the game. Gayle's list of records in the format is simply awe-inspiring - more than 10,000 T20 runs (almost 2500 more than the nearest challenger), 18 centuries (no-one else has made more than seven), the highest total (175 not out), the fastest hundred (30 balls), the most sixes (743 and counting)… you name it, he's bossed it. Virat Kohli In the multi-millon-dollar goldfish-bowl of modern-day Indian cricket, it takes a cricketer of unrivalled stature to absorb the pressures of performing day-in, day-out in front of the most demanding fans in the universe. Kohli has done just that, across formats and franchises, leading the line for India and RCB alike with a ferociously brilliant attitude that carries the attack straight back to every bowler in the game. He is the face of the modern-day game, and he's not just a pretty one at that. Viv Richards The Master Blaster never had the chance to play T20 cricket, but just imagine how cowed the world's bowlers would have been had he done so. The most imperious batsman ever to play the game, Viv would swagger to the middle in his maroon cap (no helmet for him, no matter how ferocious the bowling) and intimidate with the merest gum-chew and jutting-jawed stare. His 56-ball Test hundred against England in 1986 remained a record for 30 years; his 189 not out in an ODI against the same opponents at Old Trafford in 1984 was a hint of what he could have achieved in this bat-dominated era. AB de Villiers The arch-exponent of 360-degree batting, de Villiers makes boundaries from deliveries that his predecessors would have been pre-conditioned to write off as unplayable. Second only to Gayle among overseas heroes at the IPL, de Villiers' most destructive moment came in an ODI against West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015. With flick after flick for six over fine leg, he rattled along to a 31-ball hundred, and a 149 from 44 balls all told. MS Dhoni (wk) The keeper of the galaxy's wickets, and the coolest, most calculating finisher the format has ever known. No runs/balls equation can ever faze Dhoni, who captained India to the inaugural World T20 title in 2007, before hitting the winning six in the 50-over World Cup final four years later. If he's still batting when the match reaches its climax, woe betide the bowling side. Garry Sobers The greatest allrounder in the sport's history, and the most versatile weapon that any T20 team could hope for. His formidable power with the bat is legendary - just ask Malcolm Nash, whom Sobers launched into outer space with six sixes in an over at Swansea in 1968 - but just imagine trying to face his lethal variations with the ball. Hooping swing from a left-arm line with the new ball, or tantalising orthodox spin if the conditions demand. And he was also a mean wristspinner to boot. Then, throw in his ability to catch flies in the outfield, and it's little wonder that no less a judge as Don Bradman described him as a "five-in-one" cricketer. Wasim Akram Arguably the most skilful fast bowler the galaxy has ever seen, Wasim was another who missed the T20 revolution but who would surely have dominated given half a chance. His finest moment (or two) came in the 50-over World Cup final against England in 1992 - a stunning two-card trick to Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis, bowled past the outside and inside-edge respectively, as he snaked Pakistan to the title with peerless command of reverse swing. And, as a hard-hitting batsman who once struck 12 sixes in a Test-best 257, his ability to biff the beejaysus out of the death overs wouldn't have gone amiss either. Shane Warne Arguably the greatest spin bowler in the universe, with one of the greatest game-brains ever conceived, Warne's command of line, length and revolutions was second to none, while his ability to keep cool under fire transcended formats. T20 cricket came too late for him to showcase his fullest repertoire but, as an ever-conniving captain of Rajasthan Royals, he chivvied his unfancied squad to the inaugural IPL title in 2008. With an endless repertoire of variations - some real, several imagined - he would doubtless have outpsyched a host of hard-hitting sluggers in his pomp. Malcolm Marshall With his sidewinder approach, searing pace and skiddy action, Marshall was arguably the most unnerving fast bowler the world has ever known. The most skilful member of West Indies' pace battery of the 1980s, Marshall's unerringly accurate bouncer would spit like a cobra before any batsman had enough time to size up its length, but it was his ability - in his latter years - to throttle back the speed and concentrate on devious swing and cut that underlined what an intelligent player he was. He'd have had a weapon for every situation, not least - one suspects - when guarding his team at the death. Derek Underwood "Deadly" Derek Underwood was nominably a slow left-arm bowler, but his pace through the air was startling at times and, with the exception of his peerless Kent sidekick, the wicketkeeper Alan Knott, few players at the business end ever had the measure of his bottomless bag of tricks. He was at his most lethal on drying wickets in the days of uncovered pitches - witness his mopping-up of Australia at The Oval in 1968 - but he could adjust his pace and flight to suit any surface. He was a mystery spinner before anyone had even coined the term. Lasith Malinga "Slinger" Malinga honed his extraordinary round-arm style as a means of skidding tennis balls out of the surf on the beaches of his native Sri Lanka, and he's been bamboozling generations of batsmen throughout a long and storied career. In an era when opponents like to get "under the ball", via ramps, slogs and lofted drives, Malinga's almost subterranean line of attack instantly ups the ante, and few deliveries are more deadly than his low-slung wicket-to-wicket yorkers. He's the only player to have claimed three ODI hat-tricks, and even made it four in four balls against South Africa at the 2007 World Cup. @BeautifulGame @Viper @sscomp32 @Sidhoni http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1095962.html Edited May 5, 2017 by velu Shunya, Sidhoni and sscomp32 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pollack Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 10 deserving players. One bait. DDfan2017 and Laaloo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 Just now, Pollack said: 10 deserving players. One bait. No runs/balls equation can ever faze Dhoni Sidhoni 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDfan2017 Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Would have been great if it were an ODI team. MSD even in his prime had a strike rate of 119 in T20Is. Gilchrist is the deserving one. Even DeKock or Buttler deserves ahead of Dhoni. No ball/run ratio can ever faze Dhoni is a myth. Laaloo and New guy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkt.india Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Dhoni but no Gilchrist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 11 minutes ago, DDfan2017 said: Would have been great if it were an ODI team. MSD even in his prime had a strike rate of 119 in T20Is. Gilchrist is the deserving one. Even DeKock or Buttler deserves ahead of Dhoni. No ball/run ratio can ever faze Dhoni is a myth. probably the OP considered only their peak potential .. even when we need 12 of 2 balls , dhoni will be cool and will finish the job ( and statistically his record is 100% safe ) Sidhoni 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 4 minutes ago, rkt.india said: Dhoni but no Gilchrist. wk + captain Ultimate_Game 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkt.india Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 1 minute ago, velu said: wk + captain Gilchrist can be the captain too, also won IPL when he captained DC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laaloo Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 No yuvi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 Just now, laaloo said: No yuvi? cant be trusted when the whole galaxy is in danger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laaloo Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Just now, velu said: cant be trusted when the whole galaxy is in danger Oh silly me I thought that was dhoni. Silly me for thinking 6 sixes in an over would be an automatic pick in this team lol. DDfan2017 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 No Samuels ? No Watson ? Looks Andrew Miller took only Pajama leagues around the world into consideration for modern players and mixed them up with retired ODI legends to make this up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 AB De Villiers is joke selection to save the Galaxy, wilts under the slightest pressure, should have gone for Jayasuriya Sanath to open with Gayle, followed by Virat, then Viv velu and DDfan2017 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidhoni Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 They're just stating the obvious tbh velu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I6MTW Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 No Glenn McGrath? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDfan2017 Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 1 hour ago, I6MTW said: No Glenn McGrath? More than Malinga and McGrath, Ambrose deserves a spot in any all time team in any format. I have hardly ever seen Ambrose getting hit or going for plenty even in ODIs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laaloo Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 This galaxy would get obliterated!!!!!!!!! New guy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 For those who think Dhoni criticism is limited only to ICF and everyone outside of ICF worships the ground he walks on, may want to check the comments in that article regarding Dhoni's selection. New guy, Laaloo, Number and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New guy Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 26 minutes ago, laaloo said: This galaxy would get obliterated!!!!!!!!! Lol OP has sold the galaxy to the aliens already, he is being bhivishan following his idol's footstep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 3 hours ago, laaloo said: Oh silly me I thought that was dhoni. Silly me for thinking 6 sixes in an over would be an automatic pick in this team lol. gibbs did it in ODIs too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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