rkt.india Posted May 28, 2013 Posted May 28, 2013 A best XI of this IPL season, without a limit on the number of foreign players, might look like this: Gayle, Hussey, Kohli, Watson, Miller, Dhoni, Johnson, Steyn, Faulkner, Malinga and Narine, with Pollard as 12th man. A wealthy franchise owner's dream. Reality, however, dictates that only four foreign players may be on the field at any point of time during a game, and that was the brief for our ESPNcricinfo staff in India while voting for the best XI of 2013. Three foreign players - Chris Gayle, Michael Hussey and Dale Steyn - were in such irresistible form that they picked themselves, but there was a tie in the number of votes for the fourth, between Shane Watson and James Faulkner. Picking Watson would result in a line up of match-winning batsmen until No. 7, a strategy used by Chennai Super Kings to steamroll into the final, but it would require Watson to bowl a full quota of four overs, which he's done in only six out of 16 games this season. Choosing Faulkner, however, meant a bowling attack comprising five specialists, a tactic used by the champions Mumbai Indians. A specialist batsman at No. 7 is a bit of a luxury in the Twenty20 format, so Faulkner made the cut. The notable foreign players to miss out on that fourth spot were Kieron Pollard, Mitchell Johnson, Sunil Narine, Lasith Malinga, David Miller, AB de Villiers, and top wicket-taker Dwayne Bravo, who lost out to Faulkner because of a much inferior economy rate. The Indian players were far easier to pick. Virat Kohli was the only unanimous choice in the XI, and Mohit Sharma the only uncapped player. The only other Indian quicks to get votes were Vinay Kumar, who was too expensive, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was impressive but not compelling enough. It was a close-run thing between Rohit Sharma and Stuart Binny, the difference between them being one vote. Rohit, who took over the Mumbai leadership from Ricky Ponting and led them to their maiden IPL title, slotted in as vice-captain, largely because MS Dhoni had more votes. Binny was the 12th man. Had Shikhar Dhawan not been injured for six games, he would have been a strong contender too. The XI comprises five specialist batsmen, a wicketkeeper-batsman, three fast bowlers, an offspinner and a legspinner. Team of the tournament 1. Chris Gayle (RCB) - 708 runs, average 59, strike rate 156 2. Michael Hussey (CSK) - 733 runs, average 52, strike rate 129 3. Virat Kohli (RCB) - 634 runs, average 45, strike rate 139 4. Suresh Raina (CSK) - 548 runs, average 42, strike rate 150 5. Rohit Sharma (Mumbai) - 538 runs, average 38, strike rate 132 6. MS Dhoni (CSK) - 461 runs, average 42, strike rate 163 7. James Faulkner (Royals) - 28 wickets, average 15, economy rate 6.75 8. Harbhajan Singh (Mumbai) - 24 wickets, average 19, economy rate 6.51 9. Amit Mishra (Sunrisers) - 21 wickets, average 19, economy rate 6.35 10. Dale Steyn (Sunrisers) - 19 wickets, average 20, economy rate 5.66 11. Mohit Sharma (CSK) - 20 wickets, average 16, economy rate 6.43 12th man: Stuart Binny (Royals) - 293 runs, average 33, strike rate 147 http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2013/content/story/638043.html
rkt.india Posted May 28, 2013 Author Posted May 28, 2013 theres an indian fast bowler in XI :woot: 4 foreigners clause, otherwise Malinga would have made it easily.
rkt.india Posted May 28, 2013 Author Posted May 28, 2013 Miller deserves a place Even Watson, MVP, but only 4 foreigners can make it.
Lord Posted May 28, 2013 Posted May 28, 2013 Even Watson' date=' MVP, but only 4 foreigners can make it.[/quote'] I'd pick Watson for Steyn.too many bowlers picked by OP
rkt.india Posted May 28, 2013 Author Posted May 28, 2013 I'd pick Watson for Steyn.too many bowlers picked by OP Where are too many bowlers, only 5 of them, Faulkner is alrounder. Bowlers win you matches.
Lord Posted May 28, 2013 Posted May 28, 2013 Where are too many bowlers' date=' only 5 of them, Faulkner is alrounder. Bowlers win you matches.[/quote'] Faulkner is a bowler(atleast going by IPL).need a genuine allrounder amongst top 7.Watson is much better
rkt.india Posted May 28, 2013 Author Posted May 28, 2013 Faulkner is a bowler(atleast going by IPL).need a genuine allrounder amongst top 7.Watson is much better Dont need so many batsmen in T20. Bowling gets weak.
Swing_n_Speed Posted May 28, 2013 Posted May 28, 2013 I'd go with Watson instead of Hussey, Bring Binny in at 7. Out goes Faulkner and in comes Narine. Out goes Mohit and in comes Bhuvi. Bhajji out and in comes Binny. 12th man = Bhajji If you're an all-rounder with T20 you will always be in demand. And if you're an Indian all-rounder than you've hit the jackpot. I now realize why Irfan Pathan was that costly at the auction. Expect Stuart Binny to go for a pretty dime too at the next auction. Bhuvi too is supposed to be an allrounder rit?
Crookbond Posted May 28, 2013 Posted May 28, 2013 You forgot two important "players" Umpire - Asad Rauf Team Owner - Gurunath Meiyappam
Jersey #10 Posted May 28, 2013 Posted May 28, 2013 You forgot two important "players" Umpire - Asad Rauf Team Owner - Gurunath Meiyappam You mean main "players" You can bring in any era gera natthu gera in the XI and win matches as long as you have these two "players" backing the XI.
Recommended Posts