Top 5 no brainer test picks in an AT Test 11

[zen]

The following are the top 5 no-brainer test picks currently in an AT11: 

 

• Sir Don Bradman. With a batting average of 100, it is like playing an additional batsman in the 11. Because of the evolution of the game, a modern entry level Ferrari could be technically more optimized than a Ferrari GTO but the old GTO sells for $50M to $70M. Like the GTO, Bradman justifies the adage - old is gold. 
• Sir Garry Sobers. As an aggressive test batsman, he is as good as the best in business with the bat. Add other skills to the mix and he is rightly referred to as the greatest cricketer of all time. 
• Sir Richard Hadlee. Among the top 5 pace bowlers of all time and one of the biggest test match winners in history, and overall as a package, Hadlee is difficult to surmount as one of the 2-3 pace bowlers in the 11 - as good a bowler as anyone + batting + fielding + brains. 
• Shane Warne. There may be equally good spinners like Murali, Chandra, etc., but much like what Sir Richard Hadlee is among pace bowlers, Warne is a great overall package among spin bowlers. 
• Adam Gilchrist. Among WK ARs, Gilchrist is a mouth watering pick at the moment.  

 

 

Edited June 1, 2020 by zen

[Gollum]

I will take Marshall over Hadlee, remaining 4 agree. My #3 will always be Viv for his impact and because he would take the fight to the opponent side, one tall quick in Ambrose. 

 

So for me the no-brainers are:

 

#3 Viv

#4 Bradman

#6 Sobers

#7 Gilly

Marshall, Warne, Ambrose 

 

Total 7 in number. 

 

Tough to choose openers, around 6-7 contenders for #5 including SRT, Lara, Kallis. Just one more bowling slot, Hadlee a contender for that alongside few other greats. 

[Ankit_sharma03]

My choice

 

1. Mcgrath
2. Warne
3. Gilly 
4. Sobers
5. Steve Smith

[zen]

21 minutes ago, Gollum said:

I will take Marshall over Hadlee, remaining 4 agree. My #3 will always be Viv for his impact and because he would take the fight to the opponent side, one tall quick in Ambrose. 

 

So for me the no-brainers are:

 

#3 Viv

#4 Bradman

#6 Sobers

#7 Gilly

Marshall, Warne, Ambrose 

 

Total 7 in number. 

 

Tough to choose openers, around 6-7 contenders for #5 including SRT, Lara, Kallis. Just one more bowling slot, Hadlee a contender for that alongside few other greats. 

Those are good picks. I would have likes of Viv, Marshall, and Ambrose in the 11 too but I would not call them no brainer picks as Viv could compete with someone like a Lara or Smith for e.g., and Marshall and Ambrose with some of the other top 5-6 bowlers. While Marshall is arguably the greatest pace bowler till date, I have Hadlee in as one of the 5 no brainer picks as he is the more well known as an AR + brains + led a relatively weak NZ attack (w/o Hadlee, NZ did not win a test during his tenure), while being as good with the ball as the top 5 pace bowlers of AT. 

Edited June 1, 2020 by zen

[Gollum]

10 minutes ago, zen said:

Those are good picks. I would have likes of Viv, Marshall, and Ambrose in the 11 too but I would not call them no brainer picks as Viv could compete with someone like a Lara or Smith for e.g., and Marshall and Ambrose with some of the other top 5-6 bowlers. While Marshall is arguably the greatest pace bowler till date, I have Hadlee in as one of the 5 no brainer picks as he is the more well known as an AR + brains + led a relatively weak NZ attack (w/o Hadlee, NZ did not win a test during his tenure), while being as good with the ball as the top 5 pace bowlers of AT. 

I picked Viv because of his style....Lara, Smith, Sachin, Kallis are good but they can't dominate the way Viv did. I want my #3 to be an enforcer since the openers will mostly be defensive in nature, Viv is in the Ponting mould but a level higher in quality.

 

Marshall because he is the GOAT, all conditions great, Hadlee sometimes lost heart when pitches were too flat but Marshall was relentless. I might still pick the Kiwi in my side but at least to me Marshall is first choice. 

 

Ambrose because I want a giant bowler in my team, an opposite of short, skiddy type (Marshall, Steyn, Waqar). Just the style and he was the best at it, on uneven pitches like 4th innings his height/bounce would run through teams like knife through butter. 

[zen]

2 minutes ago, Gollum said:

I picked Viv because of his style....Lara, Smith, Sachin, Kallis are good but they can't dominate the way Viv did. I want my #3 to be an enforcer since the openers will mostly be defensive in nature, Viv is in the Ponting mould but a level higher in quality.

 

Marshall because he is the GOAT, all conditions great, Hadlee sometimes lost heart when pitches were too flat but Marshall was relentless. I might still pick the Kiwi in my side but at least to me Marshall is first choice. 

 

Ambrose because I want a giant bowler in my team, an opposite of short, skiddy type (Marshall, Steyn, Waqar). Just the style and he was the best at it, on uneven pitches like 4th innings his height/bounce would run through teams like knife through butter. 

Those are more or less among my 11 players as well but probably picked in a different order for different reasons. My 11 from retired players: 

 

Gavaskar (good player of spin among openers)

B Richards (has not played much international cricket but can win the game with the bat in tough situations) 

V Richards (for many of the reasons that you outlined)

Bradman

Lara (ability to get big 100s)

Sobers

Gilly 

Hadlee

Marshall

Warne

Ambrose