zen Posted January 3, 2022 Posted January 3, 2022 I have done countless AT11s, dissected players based on stats, written long articles, and so on, but, to be frank, beyond a certain point, stats so not matter as much as we think for top players. Stats usually gain meaning for players who are way ahead of their peers in terms of averages and strike rates after accounting for a decent sample size in terms of games, conditions, and opposition played. Apart from these 5-6 key players, the rest have multiple interchangeable options in tests, in the order of debut: Don Bradman (Not only an avg of 100 but also significantly ahead of his peers) Garry Sobers (Not only a great batsman, but also a bowler who would bowl both pace and spin. A left arm bowling option as well) Gavaskar (for being an opener who is good versus both pace and spin, and in a variety of conditions) Shane Warne (for being a leg spinner in the league of his own) Muralitharan (for being a off-spinner in the league of his own) Adam Gilchrist (A unique high strike WK batsman. If he played purly as a batsman who knows his batting "stats" could have been even better) Tempted to add Malcolm Marshall for pace bowling to the list above but a team can be equally competitive with a Hadlee or a McGrath or a Steyn for example. With the above out of the way, what is your "good to watch" 11 picked from top players?
zen Posted January 3, 2022 Author Posted January 3, 2022 Below is Ian Chappell's Thrill-a-minute 11 - Link 1. Virender Sehwag The most destructive batsman in world cricket. Admirably simple approach to batting. 2. Roy Fredericks A century off 71 balls against Lillee and Thomson at the WACA. West Indies reached 200 in the 20th (eight-ball) over. 3. Viv Richards The fastest Test century, in balls (56). An intimidating presence. When an umpire once told a fast bowler three bouncers in a row was enough, Viv said, "Don't stop him." 4. Brian Lara Features in two of the top four entries for most runs off an over in Tests. Exceptional against spinners. 5. Doug Walters Three times he scored a century in a session in Test cricket. Also kept the dressing room as loose as a size-eight cap. 6.Sir Garfield Sobers (capt) The greatest cricketer of all time. As captain he claimed the final two wickets - caught at second slip and then caught at leg-slip - in the last over of a one-day match when the opposition needed six to win. 7. Adam Gilchrist (wk) One of the cleanest strikers I've seen. Hit the second-fastest Test century (57 balls). 8. Shane Warne Champion bowler who made every ball an event worth watching. Would have loved bowling under Sobers' captaincy. 9. Dennis Lillee Great fast bowler who thought only of taking wickets, never of saving runs. Also bowled a "soap on a rope" in a festival match to an astonished batsman. 10. Wes Hall Extremely fast bowler with a wonderfully, rhythmic, long run to the wicket. Great entertainer either with bat or ball and perfect man to respond to the toast at the official function. 11. Bill O'Reilly Bradman said he was the best bowler he ever saw. Aggressive legspinner, who once responded when asked if he'd ever performed a Mankad: "I never found a batsman that keen to get to the other end."
Prabhdeep Singh Posted January 3, 2022 Posted January 3, 2022 Virender Sehwag Rohit Sharma Viv Richards Sachin Tendulkar Brian Lara Garfield Sobers Adam Gilchrist Mitchell Johnson Wasim Akram Shane Warne Dale Steyn
Vijy Posted January 4, 2022 Posted January 4, 2022 I want an ugly-but-effective XI. It would consist of some amazing players too: Chanders, Smith, etc.
Majestic Posted January 4, 2022 Posted January 4, 2022 Sehwag Barry Lara Viv Richards Sobers(c) KP/ABD Gilchrist (wkt) Wasim Warne Donald/ Lillee Marshall
rkt.india Posted January 4, 2022 Posted January 4, 2022 10 hours ago, zen said: I have done countless AT11s, dissected players based on stats, written long articles, and so on, but, to be frank, beyond a certain point, stats so not matter as much as we think for top players. Stats usually gain meaning for players who are way ahead of their peers in terms of averages and strike rates after accounting for a decent sample size in terms of games, conditions, and opposition played. Apart from these 5-6 key players, the rest have multiple interchangeable options in tests, in the order of debut: Don Bradman (Not only an avg of 100 but also significantly ahead of his peers) Garry Sobers (Not only a great batsman, but also a bowler who would bowl both pace and spin. A left arm bowling option as well) Gavaskar (for being an opener who is good versus both pace and spin, and in a variety of conditions) Shane Warne (for being a leg spinner in the league of his own) Muralitharan (for being a off-spinner in the league of his own) Adam Gilchrist (A unique high strike WK batsman. If he played purly as a batsman who knows his batting "stats" could have been even better) Tempted to add Malcolm Marshall for pace bowling to the list above but a team can be equally competitive with a Hadlee or a McGrath or a Steyn for example. With the above out of the way, what is your "good to watch" 11 picked from top players? What was so good to watch about Bradman, gavaskar or murli the chucker
Majestic Posted January 4, 2022 Posted January 4, 2022 5 hours ago, Vijy said: I want an ugly-but-effective XI. It would consist of some amazing players too: Chanders, Smith, etc. G Smith M Hayden( brutal but ugly) S Smith J Kallis S Waugh Chanders Prior(wkt) Pollock Kumble Bumrah McGrath Vijy 1
zen Posted January 8, 2022 Author Posted January 8, 2022 For Tests, I like you have a rough structure like below for hypothetical teams: 2 specialist openers versus makeshift openers to identify opening as a specialist role 3 batsmen 1 WK AR 1 AR 1 pace bowler 2 express pace bowlers (express pace makes a difference!) 1 spinner If a batsman can bowl a bit or a bowler can bat at bit (esp. at #8), a bonus! My definition of pace (in kmph) in 2022: Express pace: 150+ Fast: 140-150 Fast medium: 130-140 (fast of 80s due to protective equipment of that time) Medium: 120-130 Batsman can be good to watch due to hard hitting stroke play and/or elegance ... Pace bowlers should be not only able to bowl at pace but also effectively swing, reverse, and bounce. The team: Sehwag B Richards Bradman V Richards Sobers Gilchrist M Procter Warne Steyn Bond Akthar
Jay Posted January 9, 2022 Posted January 9, 2022 Not ATG good to watch but this is a good first 11 for those who want to watch attractive cricket without having any idea about the game in general. This 11 also suits those who have never played red ball cricket in real life at a competitive level. Jayasuriya Hayden Ab de villiers Stokes shahid afridi Pant Pandya Kumble Brett Lee Mark wood Shoaib akthar
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