ICF All Time Test XI : Openers

[The Outsider]

Well, in the off season thought I'll start a series of threads to pick an all time XI from ICF. The way I've thought about it is to have separate polls along the lines of the following team composition: 1. Openers (1 & 2) 2. Number 3 slot 3. Middle Order (4 & 5) 4. Batting All Rounder or lower middle order batsman (6) 5. Wicketkeeper (7) 6. Bowling All Rounder (8) 7. Fast Bowlers (9 & 10) 8. Spinner (11) I'll try to set up a new poll every few days to allow for some discussion in each category. Perhaps batting slots 3, 4, and 5 can be combined into one poll, but I've always thought of the number 3 position as sort of a specialist position though a lot of batsmen have successfully moved around these slots. I can change it around if people want so. I'll put up nine names in a category in each poll initially to allow for some name which deserves to be there and I have omitted, which can be added as the tenth name. The idea is not just to vote but get a discussion going on some of the great names of cricket. To start with the openers - I'll be making this a multiple choice poll to allow two choices but please make only 2 choices rather than more.

[Dravid_TheWall]

I voted hutton and gavaskar.

[Dravid_TheWall]

I am also laughing at the people voting for Hayden. Yes he is good but not the best. If you're going to put Hayden, may as well put Kirsten as an option. Not much difference.

[Crookbond]

It would make much more sense if it's made explicit that this XI for Tests. Bizzarre requests like Jayasuriya and Saeed Anwar will take a back seat.

[The Outsider]

It would make much more sense if it's made explicit that this XI for Tests. Bizzarre requests like Jayasuriya and Saeed Anwar will take a back seat.

Yeah, edited the title - it is for Tests. In default mode, I just think about tests so forgot to mention it explicitly. How could you miss Gayle? Even I am surprised at the initial vote Hayden is getting. Smith, Haynes, Kirsten, Taylor, Slater were some other options I was considering putting in.

[Ultimate_Game]

Gavaskar and one of Hutton/Hobbs and eventually went for Hobbs as the 2nd opener. Barry Richards could have been one of the options but for apartheid.

[rkt.india]

Yeah, edited the title - it is for Tests. In default mode, I just think about tests so forgot to mention it explicitly. How could you miss Gayle? Even I am surprised at the initial vote Hayden is getting. Smith, Haynes, Kirsten, Taylor, Slater were some other options I was considering putting in.

Because most people have no clue about Hutton, Sutclife, Hobbs etc., havn't seen them, apart from stats and people wont want to have two similar openers in Gavva and Boycott. Hayden could play spinners as well as fast bowlers, though was not great against swing bowling, but could score quickly.

[Crookbond]

Yeah, edited the title - it is for Tests. In default mode, I just think about tests so forgot to mention it explicitly. How could you miss Gayle? Even I am surprised at the initial vote Hayden is getting. Smith, Haynes, Kirsten, Taylor, Slater were some other options I was considering putting in.

You are making a "bleedingly obvious" point as the Ravi Shastri of ICF would say. :winky: I voted for Gavaskar and Hobbs which should be the winning combination as U_G says.

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[jairamesh]

I will be basing my votes on who I have seen play regularly either live (TV or otherwise) or through extensive online clips, not subjective views passed off by others. So the likes of Hobbs and Sutcliffe will not feature in my voting range. Foremost I have gone for Sehwag for obvious reasons might be susceptible in English conditions and against good swing bowling, but 75% of Tests won't involve such conditions. Tough choice between Gavaskar and Hayden, but I have seen alot of Hayden and opted for him to partner Sehwag for a "shock & awe" approach to opening. So I have gone for two green pitch bunnies:hehe: but that's where I believe I will need a strong no.3 who have to cover-up for these two's obvious failures in certain conditions.

[Crookbond]

Because most people have no clue about Hutton' date=' Sutclife, Hobbs etc., havn't seen them, apart from stats and people wont want to have two similar openers in Gavva and Boycott. Hayden could play spinners as well as fast bowlers, though was not great against swing bowling, but could score quickly.[/quote'] Ignorance is no reason for excuse. But, I take ignorance than Mr. Know-It-All who don't know sh!t but would be the first ones to point others don't know "cricket". Hayden wouldn't make the all-time Australian XI forget the World XI.

[Raghav_12]

This is gonna be an explosive thread.

[rkt.india]

Arrey don't you know they all had "exquisite takneek" ... just ask the Tawny Greeg of ICF ... don't be fooled by a "Deck of Videos" they mean jack sh!t :hysterical:

:cantstop:

[Crookbond]

This is gonna be an explosive thread.

I get a feeling something's going to give in here.

[rkt.india]

Ignorance is no reason for excuse. But' date=' I take ignorance than Mr. Know-It-All who don't know sh!t but would be the first ones to point others don't know "cricket". Hayden wouldn't make the all-time Australian XI forget the World XI.[/quote'] :agree:

[rkt.india]

Ignorance is no reason for excuse. But' date=' I take ignorance than Mr. Know-It-All who don't know sh!t but would be the first ones to point others don't know "cricket". Hayden wouldn't make the all-time Australian XI forget the World XI.[/quote'] I dont think there is a huge difference in any of these guys. They all are worthy of it and anyone can make it because if one is 9.5 than another one is 9.6 and then it has always been a fashion to glorify the old age.

[jairamesh]

I get a feeling something's going to give in here.

Not this thread, but the "Middle Order" voting thread is gonna go kaboom!! I can't wait till then:dance:

[Dravid_TheWall]

Ignorance is no reason for excuse. But' date=' I take ignorance than Mr. Know-It-All who don't know sh!t but would be the first ones to point others don't know "cricket". Hayden wouldn't make the all-time Australian XI forget the World XI.[/quote'] Mate, Hayden would be laughing himself if he saw this thread. :cantstop:

[Lurker]

Len Hutton and Sunil Gavaskar would do very well for me. Hobbs coming in a close third. I could have gone with either of these three gentlemen really. Hayden in the line-up? Nah. Nor should Gooch and Boycott in my opinion. Then again whether you placed Morris, Greenidge etc my pick wouldnt have changed so its all good. Now if Barry Richards was in that would have made me think a bit ;)