Media Park wrote:Had an essay written on the best World XI of my time, but I hit the wrong button and it's all gone, so no explanations, here it is
Hayden- Two-toned opener. Not only did he average in the fifties, but as I've posted previously, his first career stanza was as a dominant and imposing opener, the second half, which began on the last test of the 2005 Ashes, he became a watchful accumulator of runs. Not as good to watch, but certainly as effective.
Sehwag- What's not to like? Shahid Afridi with the batting average. Generally these overly aggressive batsmen don't convert big time, yet Sehwag owns, among other things, two Test triple hundreds. Same number as Bradman. The fact is he can change a game in a session, and add in to that his handy off spinners.
Lara- The most beautiful strokes I have ever seen came from this man. The fact that the latter part of his career he was a batsman attempting to carry a poor team only increased my estimation of the man. Had the most Test runs when he retired, Still has the highest Test score.
Tendulkar- The day today, where I give reasons for my selection is the best possible chance for the Little Master to score his 100th international century. A flawless player, who dominated Warne and Murali their pomp, he owns most relevant batting records in this day. No better batsman since Bradman, although a young West Indian may go close.
Kallis- So in the hypothetical match, you've managed to get the opposition three down, and Kallis comes to the crease. Oft forgotten when names like Lara, Sachin, Dravid and Ponting are mentioned, Kallis stacks up admirably against them, is near impossible to shift from the crease, and is a quality medium pace bowler, with over 200 Test wickets.
Mohammed Yousuf- 90 Tests, probably missed another 30 through his problems with the board, and 1788 runs in 2006 alone showed the sort of player he was. Wouldn't have much pressure at number six in this team, he would simply play his shots and dominate along the way.
Boucher- In a World XI, with the batting on display above him, you simply select the best pure wicketkeeper. This was the only selection anyone queried, and I will admit, if I selected a wicketkeeper batsman, any of McCullum, Sangakkara or Gilchrist would be ahead of him, but purely as a wicketkeeper, the best of my time gets the nod.
Pollock- I saw the arse end of Pollock's career, gone was the zip that I have seen in old footage on youtube, more cunning and guile, but a 400-Test seamer, and a token ranga selection, coming in at number 8 would be a blessing, another guy who can hit. Probably relegated to a change bowler in this team, underpinning the quality of the other two pacemen.
Bond- A short Test career through injury. We saw his best, and it was better than the rest. Pure and simple. If he had been fit, no pace bowlers record would have stayed.
Muralitharan- History will show Murali as the best spin bowler in the history of the game. Strike-rates, averages, runs per over do not do justice to the record of Murali, the eyes bulging out of the socket, the revs on the ball, all speaks volumes more than the stats. Bent arm or otherwise.
McGrath- The best accurate seam bowler of the modern era. A ridiculous ability to land the ball in the right spot every time. So many different balls on his armoury. Couldn't bat to save himself.
Edited with reasoning.
