Tendulkar figures in Wisden’s World Test XI

[Harsh Thakor]

Personally bar Bradman and Sobers to me the 2nd xi could well beat the 1st xi.chosen by Wisden.Lillee.Murli,Imran and Hadlee could surpass the likes of Barnes,Marshall,Akram etc.Batsman like Gavaskar,Barry Richards.George Headley,Brian Lara,Graeme Pollock,Walter Hammond would equal the power of Viv Richards,Tendulakr,W.G.Grace and Hobbs.Only Bradman and Sobers are unanimous choices for a 1st xi.Lara could well replace Tendulkar,Gavaskar and Hutton could well replace Grace and Hobbs.Lillee ,Imran and Hadlee could well replace Wasim,Barnes and Marshall.If one considers the runs and centuries scored by Gavaskar against the most hazardous bowling attacks and Barry Richards' match-wining ability a combination of those 2 as an opening pair in an all-time xi could be more appropriate.Lara may surpass Sachin as a match-winner,Headley was a better batsman than Bradman on wet pitches,Gilchrist would easily outscore Knott as a batsman,Imran's all-round prowess was superior to Akram's as he was better batsman,Hadlee was a superior batsman to Barnesand Lillee was arguably Marshall's equal. A strategy for the 2nd xi to beat the 1st xi would be to include 2 match-winning all-rounders to match the impact of Gary Sobers.Match-winning bowling all-rounders would give the crucial edge as Alan Davidson had stated.Remember Bradman did not face the same standard of bowling or as diverse attacks as later batting greats like Gavaskar or Viv Richards. My 2 xi's 1st xi Barry Richards Jack Hobbs Bradman Viv Richards Brian Lara Gary Sobers Imran Khan Alan Knott Richard Hadlee Shane Warne Wasim Akram 2nd xi Gavaskar Hutton Headley Tendulkar Graeme Pollock Jaqcues Kallis Adam Gilchrist Malcolm Marshall Dennis Lillee Glen Mcgrath Murlitharan In my 1st xi I have chosen Imran and Hadlee not only because of batting ability but because of a brilliant combination of Hadlee's control with Wasim's mastery of swing.Brian Lara,in test cricket to me would edge Tendulkar because he was better at his peak as a match-winner with the penchant for registering mammoth scores and turning games single-handedly for a weak batting side.Neverthless readers could well counter my choice as it is subjective. W.G Grace may have been the greatest of all cricketers but did not prove himself as an opening batsman at the highest level of Cricket.Barnes was a genius but thrived on the most seamer friendly grassiest tracks.I wonder how efective Sydney Branes would be on slow,flat pitches where Akarm and Marshall revealed their prowess.If Bradman and Sobers were included then my 2nd xi could well beat the 1st xi.It is a virtual photo for the remaining 20 players. I would love the views of readers.

[Raghav_12]

Vaughan's list lost all credibility as soon as he contemplated to include Ian Botham in all time playing XI.