ICF WORLD XI ICF ALL TIME TEST WORLD XI : OPENERS

[rtmohanlal]

2 batsmen  stands out from the pack. Gavaskar & Smith - Both have good-great records everywhere, have enough longevity, have played some clutch knocks,have been very good under pressure in general.

[Brainfade]

Gavaskar and whoever the f he wants at the other end.  If it's Chetan Chauhan or Srikkanth, so be it.  

 

For poll purposes, I picked SMG + GCS.  In addition to all the arguments made, L-R combo is another reason that some captains have said is a good thing to have.  

Edited January 24, 2017 by Moth2Flame

[express bowling]

My pick would be

 

1)  Gavaskar

 

2) Sehwag  ( in Asia )   ......  no one can be better or as destructive

 

2)  Hayden  ( outside Asia )

[BeautifulGame]

12 minutes ago, express bowling said:

My pick would be

 

1)  Gavaskar

 

2) Sehwag  ( in Asia )   ......  no one can be better or as destructive

 

2)  Hayden  ( outside Asia )

Hayden averages 28 in Newzealand and 35 in both South Africa and England.Not sure the point of picking Hayden away Asia (which was his stregnth) apart from Australia

[King Tendulkar]

Greenidge was awesome . Watch out if he was limping 

[Trundler27]

With all due respect, IMHO stats do not capture everything. I'm sure that every nominee /batter has some weakness because there was only 1 Bradman ever seen by cricket. Further to that, all these nominees have amazing overall stats. Almost every opening bowler would get weak-kneed when these guys walk out to the middle.

I would personally be very comfortable sending out Hayden and Sehwag against any bowling line-up ever seen. With my openers, I would be looking to set the tone and these two guys did it better than most. I would keep more 'solid' Dravid like options in the middle order to balance the fact that my openers might not be there for the entire first session or more.

[Muloghonto]

What about the English openers like Len Hutton, Jack Hobbs, etc ?

IMO Len Hutton is a very underrated opener - guy averaged 50+ opening on uncovered & unrolled pitches, against the pace attack of Ray Lindwall & Keith Miller.

 

[sandeep]

6 minutes ago, Muloghonto said:

What about the English openers like Len Hutton, Jack Hobbs, etc ?

IMO Len Hutton is a very underrated opener - guy averaged 50+ opening on uncovered & unrolled pitches, against the pace attack of Ray Lindwall & Keith Miller.

 

OP ruled out guys who played before 1960.  Thoda reading bhi kiya karo.  

[sandeep]

14 minutes ago, MultiB48 said:

smith and cook tuk tuk

I wonder what these new age fans would do if they ever traveled back in time to watch SMG bat.  He was renowned for wearing down the opposition bowlers and batting a lot of time - and getting most of his runs late in the day.  His "strike rate" in the 1st half of his innings would likely be in the 20s!

[jalebi_bhai]

Smith and Gavaskar. Smith would also be a candidate for captain in my team. 

[maniac]

Gavaskar-Sehwag

Gavaskar-Hayden

Smith-Sehwag

 

These are my top 3 combos

 

 

[Sajid_Rana]

Anwar should replace Sehwag.

[sandeep]

6 minutes ago, Sajid_Rana said:

Anwar should replace Sehwag.

Sorry, this thread is for all-time test opening batsmen.  Please use the search tool to find the thread for former-matchfixers-who-feel-guilty-after-personal-tragedy-and-then-turn-into-religous-preachers.  You can put Anwar deservingly on that list.

[maniac]

11 minutes ago, Sajid_Rana said:

Anwar should replace Sehwag.

Only thing that can replace in relation to Anwar is his luscious beard that can be used for Sehwag's bald patch

[kira]

51 minutes ago, Sajid_Rana said:

Anwar should replace Sehwag.

Bhai this is a batting thread, we know that you guys know very little about batting (being a pakistani fan)  but at least don't crack jokes on a serious thread 

[bowl_out]

From the era that I've watched - Hayden and Sehwag

[OpeningBatsman]

Loved watching VIru, but can't pick him over Haydos n Sunny.

[Sooda]

Like others, gone for SG and GS ! Smith to captain potentially

[OpeningBatsman]

1 hour ago, kira said:

Bhai this is a batting thread, we know that you guys know very little about batting (being a pakistani fan)  but at least don't crack jokes on a serious thread 

Did you see the World XI picked by Strauss? 

 

He has Cook and Trescothick as the opening pair for a world XI 

[OpeningBatsman]

Just now, Stumped said:

Fairly sure he picked it based on players he played with/against and how they performed, which basically ruled out Sehwag given he was a massive flop against England for Strauss's career. Cook, Smith and Trescothick were then the 3 other best performing players during Strauss's career so I don't think it's exactly much to facepalm over, fairly logical to be honest.

If it's based on players he played with or against, it's fair. 

 

My bad, I thought it was a world XI comprising all the Eras, that's why I was surprised.