Indian All Time Test XI, Part I : Openers

[Roshanrocks]

SELECTION of the openers Selectors of all-time XIs have two advantages over national selectors, who have to choose the team for the next Test match or next series. One, they can pick players they have never seen in action. Vijay Merchant played his last Test in 1951; only a couple from our jury were alive that year. The other advantage is that all-time XIs, unlike current ones, do not have to be picked on potential alone. No place, therefore, for someone like Salim Durani, who fell short of greatness as an allrounder despite 29 Test matches, a century in the West Indies and his role in India's first-ever series win against England in 1961-62 (23 wickets, 199 runs). No potential, then, or such things as "entertainment value", just proven performance. The Best XI is not necessarily the Ideal XI. According to Don Bradman, the Ideal XI would comprise two openers, one of whom is a left-hander; three middle-order batsmen, one of whom is a left-hander; one allrounder; one wicketkeeper who can bat; one fast bowler to bowl with the wind; one fast-medium bowler to bowl into the wind; one offspinner; and one left-arm spinner (or legspinner). Any attempt to force a left-hander to open for India would keep out more deserving candidates whose only drawback is that they are right-handed. Nari Contractor was the first left-hander to open regularly. India believed for long that the way to get their money's worth out of a wicketkeeper was to make him open the batting. This thinking was also partly inspired in the pre-Gavaskar days by the conviction that openers were sacrificial lambs anyway, their main duty being to protect the middle order from the new ball. No one, not even Vijay Merchant and Mushtaq Ali, began as openers. Some volunteered to open knowing that was the only way they could fit into the XI; enlightened self-interest, it was called. It is ironic therefore, that for over half a century India held the world opening record of 413 (Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad). If all-time teams seem unfair to players of the distant past, it is partly because the later players have had more opportunities to strut their stuff upon the world stage. Also, more recent players have the luxury of better equipment, covered pitches, physical training and psychological inputs, and are thus better prepared than their predecessors, with the records to show for it. A googly might have worried Victor Trumper (or indeed Bradman himself in his final Test), but the modern batsman deals with it comfortably. All projections that give the nod to a former great over a recent candidate come with the understanding that given the same opportunities, the old-timer would have performed just as well, or better, adapting his game to the needs of the situation. OPENERS The candidates Sunil Gavaskar In the all-time XI, one end would seem to be reserved for Sunil Gavaskar, the first man to 10,000 runs, and a bulwark against extreme pace in the pre-helmet days. In his early days Gavaskar was seen as a clone of Merchant, whose first-class average is second only to Don Bradman's, but who played just 10 Tests (average nearly 48), all of them against England. Vijay Merchant If Gavaskar disqualifies himself because of opinions expressed rather too strongly for the cricket board's or the ICC's comfort, then Merchant would be the automatic choice. In fact, whatever the final XI, a case can be made for an equally balanced alternative XI - with Gavaskar opening in one and Merchant in the other. Virender Sehwag To open with Gavaskar and Merchant might be over-egging the pudding. Partnerships blossom by dint of differentiation and with Sehwag at the other end, India can have the best of both worlds - a top-class defensive batsman at one end and a creative, attacking one at the other. Navjot Sidhu Three of the four in the list (Gavaskar being the exception) began as middle-order batsmen. Sidhu began as a strokeless wonder before blossoming into an aggressive six-hitter, whose calculated attack on Shane Warne first made the great spinner look ordinary.

[Roshanrocks]

My guess Gavaskar Sehwag Dravid Tendulkar Vishwanath ? Kapil Dev Dhoni Kumble Srinath Prasanna Zaheer

[Sir john]

My guess Gavaskar Sehwag Dravid Tendulkar Vishwanath ? Kapil Dev Dhoni Kumble Srinath Prasanna Zaheer

:finger:

[Sir john]

good news that siram veera not in jurry listB->

[Roshanrocks]

:finger:

wots the feckin finger for? :mad:

[Lord]

Gavaskar Sehwag Dravid SRT Ganguly Dhoni Kapil Srinath Kumble Bhajji? Zaheer

[Sachinism]

Openers have to be Gavaskar and Sehwag

[Zelig]

It's a no-brainer. SMG and Viru. My XI (based on those I've seen and heard of) SMG Viru Dravid Goddy Vinoo Mankad/VVS Kapil Dev MSD Kumble Srinath Bishan Bedi Prasanna Water snatcher: Azhar

[Lord]

It's a no-brainer. SMG and Viru. My XI (based on those I've seen and heard of) SMG Viru Dravid Goddy Vinoo Mankad/VVS Kapil Dev MSD Kumble Srinath Bishan Bedi Prasanna Water snatcher: Azhar

he'll mix something in it

[Sir john]

wots the feckin finger for? :mad:

why you doubt over vishwanath

[Sooda]

Its actually one of the easier all time teams as alot of it picks itself. Im a bit surprised that GG did not make the openers shortlist though, maybe it is too early in his career but its not like weve had loads of great openers to choose from.

[achilles]

My All time India XI- 1. Vijay Merchant 2. Navjot Singh Sidhu 3. Rahul Dravid 4. Sunil Gavaskar 5. Sachin Tendulkar 6. Mohinder Amarnath 7. Farokh Engineer (wk) 8. Kapil Dev © 9. Bhishan Singh Bedi 10. Javagal Srinath 11. Mohammad Nissar Honorary mentions: 1. Anil Kumble 2. Vinoo Mankad 3. Virender Sehwag 4. Syed Kirmani 5. Zaheer Khan *** Its a bit surprising that Dhoni is considered over Farokh Engineer for an All Time list ***

[Roshanrocks]

why you doubt over vishwanath

because i have only read stories about him and havent seen him bat, if u have seen him bat kindly post your views about his batting here. And thats no feckin reason for showin me the finger. If you cant think of the right words to use in a sentence then dont post anything.

[Roshanrocks]

*** Its a bit surprising that Dhoni is considered over Farokh Engineer for an All Time list *** Cricinfo have not yet declared their all time XI and most people wont know much about Farokh Engineer who played cricket in the 60's and 70's. Its only the cricket "experts" who would know better i presume.

[Sir john]

because i have only read stories about him and havent seen him bat, if u have seen him bat kindly post your views about his batting here. And thats no feckin reason for showin me the finger. If you cant think of the right words to use in a sentence then dont post anything.

don't take me wrong,i just doubt over your selection :--D

[achilles]

Cricinfo have not yet declared their all time XI and most people wont know much about Farokh Engineer who played cricket in the 60's and 70's. Its only the cricket "experts" who would know better i presume.

Hmm. Engineer saab is one of the best keeper-batsmen in the history of the game. It is believed that the Adam Gilchrist's of this world must have taken a cue from Engineer saab's book.

[Roshanrocks]

Hmm. Engineer saab is one of the best keeper-batsmen in the history of the game. It is believed that the Adam Gilchrist's of this world must have taken a cue from Engineer saab's book.

I will wait and see what cricinfo writes about him, I hope for a good write up :hatsoff:

[Kumar]

Gavaskar Sehwag/Merchant Dravid Tendulkar Hazare Dev Engineer Srinath A.Singh Bedi Kumble quite a tough call personally. especially at no 5 and no 2. 12th man

[kabira]

First 4 select themselves. Vinoo Mankand and Kapil select themselves Kumble, Srinath select themselves thats 8 members fixed. Only debate is for 3 spots.

[dial_100]

I would play Mohinder any day man. He was our best all rounder. He was good with his bowling and terrific batsman. Especially on difficult wickets. ON patta wickets you will find many to fit in All time Indian XI. SMG VS RD SRT MA ?? NOt sure..... FE/MSD/SK KD AK EP JS