Cricket fans select their greatest test team of all time

[Crookbond]

Was Gilly really effective in tests?

Not really. He just has an average of 47 with a strike rate of 81 and a small matter of 100 centuries and 26 half centuries.

[Trichromatic]

Farokh Engineer opened the batting. After Gilchrist' date=' everyone expects WK's to bat. Not the same after Engineer.[/quote'] Or would it be wrong to say that after Gilly keepers are selected on the basis of their batting.

[Crookbond]

Or would it be wrong to say that after Gilly keepers are selected on the basis of their batting.

Both keeping and batting. The days of the Knotts, Taylors and Marshs are history.

[achilles]

Farokh Engineer opened the batting. After Gilchrist' date=' everyone expects WK's to bat. Not the same after Engineer.[/quote'] What I essentially mean is that Adam Gilchrist didn't present the world the concept of a Wicket-keeper who can punish the opposition ball-after-ball. Farokh Engineer was the person who introduced this brand of batting. And if we are looking essentailly at the last 2 decades, I think it was Romesh Kaluwitharana who reinforced the vibrant way of batting. Gilchrist simply had the advantage of "hype" over these 2.

[King Tendulkar]

Would have picked Dravid at 3!

[Crookbond]

What I essentially mean is that Adam Gilchrist didn't present the world the concept of a Wicket-keeper who can punish the opposition ball-after-ball. Farokh Engineer was the person who introduced this brand of batting. And if we are looking essentailly at the last 2 decades, I think it was Romesh Kaluwitharana who reinforced the vibrant way of batting. Gilchrist simply had the advantage of "hype" over these 2.

and the runs, centuries, strike rate as well....

[mishra]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63919.html

As i said my point was not regarding his stats. In odis, he used to take the game away from oppenent. Win it, all by himself. Demotivate opponenets. In tests runs he may have scored centuries, But rarely Aussies needed him to score runs. For me, As Farokh used to say. Wicket keeper should be WK first... So we need a wicket keeper there. If my memory is right, In his cricketing days Jeff Dujon used to be called "Lion Behind the Wickets" I did a google and found out term has been associated to Ian Healy on some blog.... $£&%&%&*$£! &%&%&*$£! James Coolridge

[King Tendulkar]

Gilly is best wk/batsman ever! His keeping skills were top notch and batting superb. A must for greatest team ever! It also helps that he is a living saint

[Trichromatic]

As i said my point was not regarding his stats. In odis, he used to take the game away from oppenent. Win it, all by himself. Demotivate opponenets. In tests runs he may have scored centuries, But rarely Aussies needed him to score runs.

I remember one inning distinctly and linked that. He scored few centuries when team needed it.

[mishra]

I remember one inning distinctly and linked that. He scored few centuries when team needed it.

The same Game was won by Aussies by 10 wickets. As i said, Aussies rarely needed his batting. For me for tests there has to be a wicketkeeper. I am dead certain that Gilly used to be top notch wicketkeeper. Unlike most of his rest of legendary teammates He was a gentleman of the game too. All I am saying is Gilly is being choosen over other for his batting abilities. I think that in a test game a wicketekeeper should be choosen on keeping abilities. Unless offcourse he is captaining the side

[Serani]

Just one question here. Why Gilchrist over Dhoni? Both are similar batsmen. Dhoni has won the ODI WC as has Gilchrist, but Dhoni did it with an average bowling attack. Dhoni is the better captain. Dhoni won the T 20 WC and lead us to #1 in tests too. Dhoni's wicket keeping is better too. I mean in terms of athletics and general jumping around the field. Very close to call between the two.

Are you actually taking the piss? Do you know anything about cricket? Are you insane?

[King Tendulkar]

^ Unfortunatley I have to agree with you here:--D

[Utalk]

Harbajhan will replace Warne in this team in next poll which will probably be done in 4/5 years.May be Dhoni too will dislodge Gilly.

[Serani]

MS Dhoni actually being good at test cricket is one of the biggest myths of our time, solid with the gloves and mediocre with the bat yet he is being compared to a man like Gilchrist or Sanga? Fine he is a cracking one day player but that really doesnt matter.

[Sooda]

Obviously Gilly is the great Keeper-bat, but not necessairly a must for an all time team. Mishragreat has a point, you could argue that for a side with a super-strong batting line up as an All time XI would be, they could afford a pure keeper, their bowlers may well prefer one. There are wk's- Healy, Knott maybe- with superior keeping skills if not necessarily amazing with the bat.

[Sooda]

What I essentially mean is that Adam Gilchrist didn't present the world the concept of a Wicket-keeper who can punish the opposition ball-after-ball. Farokh Engineer was the person who introduced this brand of batting. And if we are looking essentailly at the last 2 decades, I think it was Romesh Kaluwitharana who reinforced the vibrant way of batting. Gilchrist simply had the advantage of "hype" over these 2.

Gilchrist was not the first keeper batsman no youre right, even Les Ames in the 1930's was a great one. But Gilchirst was scale of batting ability was unparalelled for a keeper. And no keeper came close to being as aggressive a batsman, reflecting the manner in which his side played the game. Not hype just much much better than anyone else in history. Kalu was not very good batsman, yeah he could hit the ball but so could Budhi Kunderan- and Budhi even opened the bowling for India once, beat that...

[King Tendulkar]

MS Dhoni actually being good at test cricket is one of the biggest myths of our time, solid with the gloves and mediocre with the bat yet he is being compared to a man like Gilchrist or Sanga? Fine he is a cracking one day player but that really doesnt matter.

Do you even watch cricket????? Sanga has not kept in tests for quite a few years. The cricket illetaracy on this forum is scary at times!!!

[King Tendulkar]

Harbajhan will replace Warne in this team in next poll which will probably be done in 4/5 years.May be Dhoni too will dislodge Gilly.

Well if you guys had computers in pakistan then you could participate in these polls. Until then you will just have to watch us dominate such polls:winky: In fact you should commend us on our genorisity in voting Akram on:--D

[Ultimate_Game]

MS Dhoni actually being good at test cricket is one of the biggest myths of our time, solid with the gloves and mediocre with the bat yet he is being compared to a man like Gilchrist or Sanga? Fine he is a cracking one day player but that really doesnt matter.

Your ignorance astounds me. Sangakkara hasn't ket wickets in Tests in ages. When he used his average was nothing to shout about. Dhoni's average of around 40 and that too when he's the captain is one of the best. In fact if he continues in a similar vein and has an average hovering around 40 or so he will deserve to be up there with the all time bests coz he would be selected as a batsman/wk and a captain.

[The Outsider]

Your ignorance astounds me. Sangakkara hasn't ket wickets in Tests in ages. When he used his average was nothing to shout about. Dhoni's average of around 40 and that too when he's the captain is one of the best. In fact if he continues in a similar vein and has an average hovering around 40 or so he will deserve to be up there with the all time bests coz he would be selected as a batsman/wk and a captain.

Why later? Dhoni would be my first pick as a keeper/batsman in an all time XI of FTBs even now.