Cricket fans select their greatest test team of all time

[Alchemist]

This team is missing Misbah. He is so influenced by tests, that he plays similar style in ODI too.

[Ultimate_Game]

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

I was referring to non-FTB scenario as well. Let's say that Dhoni is able to maintain his current average over the next 5 years or so and India remains one of the top teams under his captaincy surely he has the case to be selected in the AT XI as a wk-batsman and a captain. At the end of the day results matter and Dhoni somehow is able to get the results. His value to the teamis more than simply his batting average. The guy has great man-management skills and knows how to lead a team, which will come in handy when you are captaining a team of super-stars of all All Time XIs.

[The Outsider]

^ That's eerily similar to the Paki argument of getting Imran into all time XIs on the basis of his captaincy.

[King Tendulkar]

Anyone wanting Dhoni in world test greatest ever 11 is bonkers and needs psychiatric help. They are the same type he would hail Beckham as all time great footballer. The power of the media is extrodinary on preying on the vulnerable

[Serani]

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.

Well in these hypothetical xi's it really doesnt matter that Sanga hasnt kept in a few years. Either way Dhoni is the biggest flat track bully in world cricket, just look at that WI series he was an embarassment in every innings apart from when he made a 50 in the easiest conditions of the series.

[Ultimate_Game]

^ That's eerily similar to the Paki argument of getting Imran into all time XIs on the basis of his captaincy.

Imran didn't outdistance himself based on captaincy from the other all-rounders. Imran's main claim to fame is that he won the World Cup but so did Kapil and against greater odds. Dhoni has been able to win almost all the major trophies and has managed to achieve what Imran didn't - leading his team to the top of the Test table and was the first Indian captain to at least manage to draw in SA. Imran was not able to get the better of WI or even Aus when he was the captain.

[mishra]

Well in these hypothetical xi's it really doesnt matter that Sanga hasnt kept in a few years. Either way Dhoni is the biggest flat track bully in world cricket' date=' just look at that WI series he was an embarassment in every innings apart from when he made a 50 in the easiest conditions of the series.[/quote'] Did he not win the series? Did he not keep the wickets? Despite all Harpers effort, Did he not maintain that India WI game and friendship is improved? How was he embarrasment?

[Serani]

Did he not win the series? Did he not keep the wickets? Despite all Harpers effort, Did he not maintain that India WI game and friendship is improved? How was he embarrasment?

I mean his batting, basically acknowledging the fact he is not a good enough batsman in tough conditions so giving his wicket away innings after innings.

[mishra]

^ That's eerily similar to the Paki argument of getting Imran into all time XIs on the basis of his captaincy.

When was Pakistan number 1 test team for a year?:haha: :haha: :haha:

[Ultimate_Game]

Well in these hypothetical xi's it really doesnt matter that Sanga hasnt kept in a few years. Either way Dhoni is the biggest flat track bully in world cricket' date=' just look at that WI series he was an embarassment in every innings apart from when he made a 50 in the easiest conditions of the series.[/quote'] It does matter whether Sanga kept wkts or not. If he didn't keep then he can only be considered as a batsman, else I can argue the case of Dravid as a wk-batsman purely on the fact that Dravid used to keep as well and did so competently for a few years under Ganguly. As for Dhoni, no matter what you say but he shows up when he's needed. He was the chap who remained unbeaten and shielded the tail the last time India toured Eng - he was the man who stood between Eng and victory and was the reason India was able to get away with a draw. As for the "easiest" pitch in the 3rd Test, it may have been easiest pitch of the series but still wasn't a batting beauty - that was the reason you didn't see scores of 500-600. He made the game safe for India in the last Test by scoring a crucial half century else India wouldn't have managed to get much of a lead against WI.

[Serani]

Can you possibly tell me when MS Dhoni has ever been anything other than a mediocre performer (in tests)? Would be much appreciated. Can you tell me when he has ever scored runs in difficult conditions, and dont mention that Lords innings when Lords is the flattest track in england or maybe its the oval, oh wait he scored runs there too. Could you possibly point me in the direction of any middle order batsman or even lower order for that matter who has a worse technique than Dhoni?

[Ultimate_Game]

Can you possibly tell me when MS Dhoni has ever been anything other than a mediocre performer (in tests)? Would be much appreciated. Can you tell me when he has ever scored runs in difficult conditions, and dont mention that Lords innings when Lords is the flattest track in england or maybe its the oval, oh wait he scored runs there too. Could you possibly point me in the direction of any middle order batsman or even lower order for that matter who has a worse technique than Dhoni?

Can you tell me how many "mediocre" wks have batting average more than Dhoni's? Or maybe can you enlighten which wiket-keepers scored tons of runs in seaming/swinging conditions when batting was difficult? Answer is not many, and most probably only Gilchrist and even then Gilchrist had a touh time in challenging conditions - Flintoff found him out in 2005 and he was never able to succeed against India (spin). You won't find many batsmen, let alone wk, scoring runs in helpful conditions and you can't hold it aganst Dhoni. Currently Dhoni ranks behind Gilchrist but if he goes on for the next 5 or so years he may very well overtake Gilly. As for technique, the end result is to score runs else likes of Sehwag shouldn't even have made it past the local league and Sanjay Manjrekar would have been the best batsman since Bradman. At the end of the day results matter, not opinions or technique.

[Serani]

Can you tell me how many "mediocre" wks have batting average more than Dhoni's? Or maybe can you enlighten which wiket-keepers scored tons of runs in seaming/swinging conditions when batting was difficult? Answer is not many, and most probably only Gilchrist and even then Gilchrist had a touh time in challenging conditions - Flintoff found him out in 2005 and he was never able to succeed against India (spin). You won't find many batsmen, let alone wk, scoring runs in helpful conditions and you can't hold it aganst Dhoni. Currently Dhoni ranks behind Gilchrist but if he goes on for the next 5 or so years he may very well overtake Gilly. As for technique, the end result is to score runs else likes of Sehwag shouldn't even have made it past the local league and Sanjay Manjrekar would have been the best batsman since Bradman. At the end of the day results matter, not opinions or technique.

Prior's average is a lot better than Dhoni, and shout me a holler when king FTB can score a ton in these conditions son. Oh and coming in at 72/5... http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/426413.html

[Ultimate_Game]

Prior's average is a lot better than Dhoni, and shout me a holler when king FTB can score a ton in these conditions son. Oh and coming in at 72/5... http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/426413.html

We will talk when Prior actually manages to win something for Eng or take them somewhere. As for me as a #7 bat there's not much difference between an average of 38 and 42 but Dhoni brings much more to the table than likes of Prior. Maybe you can set up a poll on any cricket forum, bar an English one, whome would the fans want t have in the team - Prior or Dhoni, and you will get your answer.

[The Outsider]

I won't even pick Dhoni in an all time Indian XI - Kirmani and Engineer would be sure fire picks ahead of him.

[punjabi_khota]

Cmon people, Dhoni in all time test XI ? :facepalm:

[Ultimate_Game]

I won't even pick Dhoni in an all time Indian XI - Kirmani and Engineer would be sure fire picks ahead of him.

You are entitled to your opinion but I would go with Dhoni and Engineer as the backup.

[Serani]

Prior even has a higher strike rate than the great attacking batsman MS Dhoni (FTB)

[Ultimate_Game]

Cmon people' date=' Dhoni in all time test XI ? :facepalm:[/quote'] Nope, not now. It was a hypothetical discussion whether Dhoni can be a contender to the AT team if he continues on a similar path for the next 5 or so years.

[Serani]

Nope' date=' not now. It was a hypothetical discussion whether Dhoni can be a contender to the AT team if he continues on a similar path for the next 5 or so years.[/quote'] Whats this the path to mediocrity?