World XI- Greatest Team of all time

[MAY-Z]

dont know if it matches anyone elses but

1. hobbs
2. gavaskar
3. bradman
4. sobers (as a batsman only)
5. v richards
6. lara
7. knott
8. kahn
9. hadlee
10. o' reilly
11. barnes
12. warne (to play in place of khan on spinning wickets)

[Rik E Boy]

J.Hobbs
S. Gavaskar
D.Bradman
W.Hammond
V.Richards
G. Sobers
A. Gilchrist
S. Warne
C. Ambrose
D. Lillee
C. Grimmett

12th V. Trumper

Yes, the South Africans were good but just didn't play enough tests. Pollock and Richards in particular were outstanding. I selected Trumper due to his superiority in comparison to his peers under similar conditions. A hundred before lunch on an uncovered wicket shows just how good he was.

regards,

REB

[BPBRB]

I'm fascinated with topics like this and especially when Richard Hadlee's name is mentioned. I'm a true blue Aussie and in fact at times loath the Kiwi's and their "little man" syndrome when "competing" against Australia but I have always had a great repect for Richard Hadlee. His 400 pus wickets, his average per wicket plus tests played to take those wickets is as good as anyone's going around - especially those mentioned in the best 11 selections on this topic.

The one thing that Hadlee never had the luxury of, was having one or 2 other great or good bowlers to assist through his test career. This alone makes his achievements even greater. The Windies in their "hey day" had at the very least one (especially nearing the end of Ambrose test playing days) other great fast bowler or two or more (back through the 70's and 80's to put on the pressure, Lillee had Thomson, Walker, Pascoe, Hogg and Lawson at various stages but who did Hadlee have of any note at the other end? Chatfield, Cairns, Snedden etc. Honest toilers no more. He was a one man band and perhaps the best one man attack in history?

[mal]

I'm fascinated with topics like this and especially when Richard Hadlee's name is mentioned. I'm a true blue Aussie and in fact at times loath the Kiwi's and their "little man" syndrome when "competing" against Australia but I have always had a great repect for Richard Hadlee. His 400 pus wickets, his average per wicket plus tests played to take those wickets is as good as anyone's going around - especially those mentioned in the best 11 selections on this topic.

The one thing that Hadlee never had the luxury of, was having one or 2 other great or good bowlers to assist through his test career. This alone makes his achievements even greater. The Windies in their "hey day" had at the very least one (especially nearing the end of Ambrose test playing days) other great fast bowler or two or more (back through the 70's and 80's to put on the pressure, Lillee had Thomson, Walker, Pascoe, Hogg and Lawson at various stages but who did Hadlee have of any note at the other end? Chatfield, Cairns, Snedden etc. Honest toilers no more. He was a one man band and perhaps the best one man attack in history?

BP sometimes you can actually print significant and accurate posts.
A measure of HADLEES infinite greatness was his abilty to dominate Australian teams
without a decent bowler in support.
I admire NZ as a test nation who in about 50 years of cricket have only produced
a handful of great cricketers, and yet provide great opposition.

THIER BEST
Hadlee
M Crowe
Turner
C Cairns
Bond[when he was younger and fitter]

[BPBRB]

Just "sometimes" Mal? Your selling me short there I feel, try "mostly"

[rod_rooster]

Bond[when he was younger and fitter]

What a shame Bond's career was so interrupted by injury. Yes he is playing now but whilst he is bowling reasonably well at the moment it is nothing on his best. When he was at his best he was a very very good bowler and had the potential to become a great bowler.

[mal]

Just "sometimes" Mal? Your selling me short there I feel, try "mostly"

Your best posts are between November to March.

[mal]

Bond[when he was younger and fitter]

What a shame Bond's career was so interrupted by injury. Yes he is playing now but whilst he is bowling reasonably well at the moment it is nothing on his best. When he was at his best he was a very very good bowler and had the potential to become a great bowler.

Piss off ROD
Was your new years resolution was to be nice to me
You to BP

[rod_rooster]

Bond[when he was younger and fitter]

What a shame Bond's career was so interrupted by injury. Yes he is playing now but whilst he is bowling reasonably well at the moment it is nothing on his best. When he was at his best he was a very very good bowler and had the potential to become a great bowler.

Piss off ROD
Was your new years resolution was to be nice to me
You to BP

No nothing to do with me. I think you made a New Years Resolution to talk some sense

[BPBRB]

Just "sometimes" Mal? Your selling me short there I feel, try "mostly"

Your best posts are between November to March.

Yep too much alcohol and emotion in the footy season!

[Magpiespower]

9/52

[Rik E Boy]

Yep, Hadlee is a genuine legend that's for sure. As for Bond, I don't think we've seen the last of him just yet. The Kiwis always seem to be a bowler and a batsmen short in recent years. I think you can add Luca Vettori to the list of great New Zealanders, he is an oustanding cricketer.

REB's Kiwi Allstars

J. Wright
B. Edgar
S. Fleming
M. Crowe
G. Howarth (c)
J. Coney
C. Cairns
R. Hadlee
I. Smith (wk)
D. Vettori
D. Morrison

12th J. Bracewell


regards,

REB

[Dissident]

I assume many here would have read/seen the DVD of Richie Benaud's Best team?
Quite frustrating really. A great watch but when he gets down to the bowlers and selects S.K. Barnes who he never saw play.... I still don't agree! He chose the team he'd "most like to see play" but really, as much as you can argue that he'd like to see him play because he was told he was good - it doesn't sit well with me.



I find it hard including people who are still playing in "teams of the century" etc as well. At least I can include Warne now.



As for Hadlee - I loved the guy, great to watch. But someone mentioned his record was even more impressive because he had no support of top class bowlers. This is true - but I know that the same argument is used with Muralitharan, except to support his inflated figures.

(This is taking any suspect actions out of the argument)

[GWW]

Yep, Hadlee is a genuine legend that's for sure. As for Bond, I don't think we've seen the last of him just yet. The Kiwis always seem to be a bowler and a batsmen short in recent years. I think you can add Luca Vettori to the list of great New Zealanders, he is an oustanding cricketer.

REB's Kiwi Allstars

J. Wright
B. Edgar
S. Fleming
M. Crowe
G. Howarth (c)
J. Coney
C. Cairns
R. Hadlee
I. Smith (wk)
D. Vettori
D. Morrison

12th J. Bracewell


regards,

REB

Come on REB no Blair Pocock, you cant be serious!!

I'd be interested to know what Coney's test averages (as a batting all rounder) were. To me he was a bit like Mike Brealey, mainly in the side for his captaincy, and all round stability he provided to the side. I seem to recall he was most effective as a one day player, but i must admit i was only 8 or 9 in the early 80's so i'm not certain of his overall test performance. Another player who i think would need to be considered would be Glenn Turner, who although a great one day player, i think would have had a good test average as well. Similarly Andrew Jones was a nuggety little batsman and if he played more tests i would have had him in the side, but his career wasn't long enough.

Without doing any research my side would be:

Edgar
Wright
Fleming
M Crowe
Turner
Howarth (c)
C Cairns
Smith
Hadlee
Vettori
Morrison

12th man Coney

On the topic of Hadlee, i too thought he was a champion (although he spoke funny and most Aussies thought he was a w*****). I'd give strong consideration to having him in an "ALL TIME TEST 11" purely on his bowling without consideration of his batting.

I'd have to do major research to pick my all time team (an almost impossible task given the difficulty in comparing eras, similar to comparing Lockett to Coventry or even Ken Farmer), but i would say the only "definites" in the side would be Bradman, V Richards, and Sobers. Gilchrist through sheer weight of runs and the excitement he brought to test cricket would have to be heavily considered even though he wasn't as technicially proficient as a wicket keeper as Knott or Healy etc. Not sure what knotts batting average was, for me to have him in the side it would have to be over 35, but even then Gilchrist's sheer batting performance would probably see him given the nod by me.

[mal]

With all due respect to REB Glenn Turner played before REB was born.
He was a good opening batsman.
Coney was a fair player.
NZ simply do not produce a quantity of superstar cricketers.
HADLEE is clearly thier very best.

[GWW]

mal, Hadlee best NZ player, but i dont think M Crowe was too far behind, champion bastsman, cut down by injury, retired way too young.

[Magpiespower]

Any Kiwi side simply has to include...

Bert Sutcliffe, star batsman in the immediate post-WWII period.

And John Reid, the great allrounder and walk-up captain (not be confused with his mid-80s namesake, a solid batsman in his own right).

Jeremy Coney averaged around 37 with the bat. Bit of a stretch to call him an allrounder though...

[Maddogmike]

Ponting has to be included.....Phenomenal past 5 years in test cricket have leapfrogged him into one of the Best batsmen to play the game - easily

[power01]

Cmon surely theres room for Ashley Giles!!!!!!!!!!!!

[haloman]

Cmon surely theres room for Ashley Giles!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed. Almost single handedly regained the Ashes for Australia. Eaisly Australia's best in the first two tests. Shame injuries finished his tour earily and had to go to England for treatment