look, i know it is just soooo contrived, and we have done best teams before. but i've just watched abc dvd's cricket in the 60's and i'm half way through the "Chappel era' and i thought it might be fun to hear what your favourite (not best) player is in each position.
set your own standards: mine are world cricketers, as i just love the game more than nationality.
opening batsmen should be a pair, i think...but you can create your own.
for me:
Greenidge/Haynes
as a kid, i always felt we were not even close o the job being underway when they were out..
very close 2nd Langer/Hayden
Best I've seen
ReplyDeleteBoon
Hayden
M. Waugh
Tendulkar
Lara
Gower
Gilchrist
Imran
Warne
Holding
Donald
That DVD series is awesome Stoph.
ReplyDeleteMy fave 11 (that I've seen):
Greenidge
Hayden
Lara
Tendulkar
Waugh (Sir Steve)
Border
Dujon
Warne
Ambrose
Darren Gough
McGrath
Don't think Curtly and Sir Steve would share a dressing room though.
yeah, i got given the box set of 50's, 60's, 70's, beyond. and watched most of em on friday night!
ReplyDeleteok, a few more team possies for me.
Haynes
Greenidge
I. Chapell
Tendulkar
I.V.Richards
S.Waugh
A.Gilchrist
Warne
M.Holding
Waqar
McGrath
12th J.Rhodes
gosh, now i'm salivating thing of all the great moments that list have given world cricket. but moreso, the moments i watched them and was in awe at how each of them did something in a game, be it dominate their task, or just something thrilling like a Rhodes catch or run out; spine tingling stuff.
Chapelli gets the cap, Waugh vc. Chapelli didn't have the greatest average (42) but this is about how I see/saw them as players, and his grit and temperament set a standard for blokes like Border, and Waugh and his attacking attitude with Taylor.
Tendulkar because he is the greatest batsman- EVER.
Viv, because as i've said before, i felt when he walked on it was his oval, no matter the country he played in- awesome self belief!
Waugh, because with one look, broke W.I dominance and fostered a new self belief.
Gilly, because his sportsmanship is yet to be matched in the modern era and few could hit so crisply.
the bowlers all speak for themselves.
the sheik.
the speed
the swing
the control
I see Steve ahead of Mark but I have to say I would rather have watched Mark make a 100 than Steve. When Junior was on he made batting look sublimely easy, much like the silky left handed genius Gower. Steve grafted runs against all odds but never looked in. Junior's career was cut short by his perceived lazy technique. And so I will justify my list.
ReplyDeleteBoon - he was my height and faced the fiercest attack known to man and still managed to forge a great career
Hayden - Domination, he could end the contest in a session.
M. Waugh - Fluid motion. Could caress a ball into a woman's undies
Tendulkar - His bat, all middle, or so he makes it seem
Lara - Could be selfish, but could make any bowler look like a ball machine
Gower - Made the ball look like it was in slow motion. Never looked rushed
Gilchrist - Not for his glovework though it was serviceable. He could make a batting collapse a memory in one session
Imran - I grew up watching him define an allrounder, and slip into the ladies. Allrounders these days are nowhere near as consistent as he was
Warne - Genius
Holding - Smooth, quick, ruthless
Donald - White Lightening. Didn't look fast but try telling that to his victims
My team is by far not the best ever. Just the ones I enjoyed watching for their talent or intestinal fortitude.