2nd best all time xi chosen by Wisden

[Harsh Thakor]

I am posting this piece as a debate and a rejoinder to the all time xi chosen by Wisden.Readers please give comments.I have taken this post from www.firstpost. London: For greats who missed out on spots in Wisden’s all-time World Test XI, an English daily has compiled an alternative side including legends like Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar to take on the side led by Don Bradman. According to the list published by ‘Daily Telegraph’, Gavaskar and England great Len Hutton have been included as openers in the alternative XI. West Indians George Headley, Lara, Graeme Pollock and Wally Hammond make up the middle-order followed by former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist and legendary Pakistan all-rounder Imran Khan. Pacers Fred Trueman, Dennis Lillee and Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan complete the side. Gavaskar finds a place in the alternate XI. Getty Gavaskar finds a place in the alternate XI. Alternative World XI: Sunil Gavaskar, Len Hutton, George Headley, Brian Lara, Graeme Pollock, Wally Hammond, Adam Gilchrist, Imran Khan, Fred Trueman, Dennis Lillee, Muttiah Muralitharan. PTI Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/sports/gava...ce=ref_article 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.

[Scarves]

Without using Wisden XI players? My team Len Hutton Walter Hammond Ricky Ponting Jacques Kallis Brian Lara Graeme Pollock Richie Benaud - C Shaun Pollock Ian Healy - WK Glenn McGrath Dennis Lillee Yeah I wanted to build a team that would click. Hutton is a top tier opener. Ponting is a gun batsman and fielder and a fighter. Kallis is the consistently awesome. Graeme Pollock is a beast with the bat ditto Lara. Richie is my spinner, allrounder and captain. He is highly underrated. Ian Healy because my batting is beyond stacked, he is the best pure keeper imo. Glenn McGrath because he is the thinker than would bowl that nagging line and length. Shaun Pollock is in the same mold but can bat and is a little quicker than McGrath. Lillee to basically bowl as fast as possible. My team isn't the best statistically but I feel that this is a really competitive team. I have two spinners (Hutton rolled his arm a bit, FC 29 average with spin). Bowlers are set and batting is stacked. I'm happy with this team.

[G_B_]

my team Gavaskar Sehwag Dravid Sachin Hazare Laxman MSD Dev Kumble Srinath Bedi with the awesome power of the BCCI they would win everywhere.

[Scarves]

my team Gavaskar Sehwag Dravid Sachin Shastri Laxman MSD Dev Kumble Srinath Sivaramakrishnan with the awesome power of the BCCI they would win everywhere.

Now you have. :haha: