A Cricket "Eggheads"

A Cricket "Eggheads"

Author
Discussion

cherryowen

Original Poster:

11,956 posts

211 months

Saturday 13th May 2023
quotequote all
The perfect XI for test cricket. The team to beat, so to speak.

Gordon Greenidge
Matthew Hayden
Don Bradman
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Adam Gilchrist (W)
Shane Warne (C)
Glenn McGrath
Curtly Ambrose
Jeff Thompson

Looking at it, I'd be happy with that team despite it favouring the bats. But I'm happy with the bowling attack with a combination of leg spin / seam / pace / aggression.



M11rph

703 posts

28 months

Saturday 13th May 2023
quotequote all
To bring your 10 up to the traditional 11 I'd be tempted to add another bowler or an all rounder.

Malcolm Marshall or Waqar were my first thoughts, but then I went with...


...I.T.Botham handy with bat and ball, not a bad slip fielder either.

I'm still trying to work out how to get I.V.A.Richards in that team. Artistry with the bat, a bit of off spin, outstanding cover fielder. With Botham in the team I'm dropping Tendulkar and giving The MasterBlaster a call.

Gordon Greenidge
Matthew Hayden
Don Bradman
Brian Lara
Viv Richards
Ian Botham
Adam Gilchrist (W)
Shane Warne (C)
Glenn McGrath
Curtly Ambrose
Jeff Thompson

NowWatchThisDrive

766 posts

111 months

Saturday 13th May 2023
quotequote all
Been a while since I've thought about one of these but it's always a joy so I'll chip in. Would be interesting, possibly hilarious, to see how my picks have evolved over time...anyway, shooting from the hip:

1. Graeme Smith (c, possibly)
Not much justification needed, a purist may say Jack Hobbs and that's fair although I'd have similar reservations about him to what I'll say about Bradman below.

2. Alastair Cook (c, possibly)
Bit controversial in terms of merit maybe, but I just love the guy as a batsman and a galvanising presence.

3. Don Bradman
Who else? The difference in playing conditions between his time and now would concern me, but it sort of feels like sacrilege not to have him here.

4. Viv Richards
Hard to see past Sir Viv, a modern-day alternative would be Steve Smith but I just don't think I could bring myself to select him.

5. Sachin Tendulkar
Could easily be him, Ponting or even Lara depending what mood I'm in.

6. Garry Sobers
Greatest all-rounder ever, so can't really justify not having him here. If I could select based on the most fun to get pissed up with afterwards then Beefy in this spot.

7. Adam Gilchrist (wk)
Has to be this man with the gloves, no question.

8. Wasim Akram
Master of the old ball.

9. Shane Warne (c, possibly)
My head says this could be Murali instead, my heart says Warney every time.

10. Curtly Ambrose
Part 1 of lethal opening bowling attack, and the man I'd least like to bat against myself.

11. Glenn McGrath
Part 2 of lethal opening bowling attack. Let my head rule my heart on this one as I'd love to say Jimmy here, but couldn't bowl him outside of England.

Leithen

12,109 posts

274 months

Saturday 13th May 2023
quotequote all
First shot.

1 Haynes
2 Greenidge
3 Bradman
4 Richards (C)
5 Tendulkar
6 Sobers
7 Oldfield (W)
8 Warne
9 Trueman
10 Holding
11 Anderson

andyA700

3,310 posts

44 months

Saturday 13th May 2023
quotequote all
Don Bradman
Len Hutton
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Alan Knott
Ian Botham
Shane Warne
Gary Sobers
Dennis Lillee
Jeff Thompson
Jimmy Anderson

cherryowen

Original Poster:

11,956 posts

211 months

Sunday 14th May 2023
quotequote all
cherryowen said:
The perfect XI for test cricket. The team to beat, so to speak.

Gordon Greenidge
Matthew Hayden
Don Bradman
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Adam Gilchrist (W)
Shane Warne (C)
Glenn McGrath
Curtly Ambrose
Jeff Thompson

Looking at it, I'd be happy with that team despite it favouring the bats. But I'm happy with the bowling attack with a combination of leg spin / seam / pace / aggression.
Remiss of me to list a X, rather than XI (late night off-the-cuff post is my excuse).

So, to complete my team I'll go Wasim Akram for some left-handed uncertainty, old ball swing, and accuracy.

I must admit I.V.A. Richards was my first choice at 5, but I couldn't get past Sachin's artistry and determination.

I did toy with adding Jimmy Anderson at no.11, but I'd already picked one of the best seamers ever in McGrath and I wanted some speed and aggression in my bowling attack. Thompson ticked the box (ahead of Marshall and Holding)

Lotusgone

1,313 posts

134 months

Sunday 14th May 2023
quotequote all
Len Hutton
Sunil Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Allan Border (c)
Jacques Kallis
Gary Sobers
Alan Knott
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Dennis Lillee
Joel Garner

...with regrets for not finding room for Richard Hadlee.