Hello and welcome to the final of test cricket draft.
Please keep in mind that The voters are being asked to choose a team that will prevail over a five match series on these respective grounds.
Team Aldo-------------------------------------------------Team Donaldo
S.Gavaskar-------------------------------------------------- M.Hayden
S.Jayasuriya-------------------------------------------------J.Langer
R.Pointing (c)------------------------------------------- ---- R.Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar-------------------------------------------- Brian Lara
M. Crowe---------------------------------------------------- A. De Silva
D. Lehmann------------------------------------------------- Imran Khan
M.Boucher(wk)----------------------------------------------Dujon(wk)
Shane Warne------------------------------------------------D.Vettori
Wasim Akram----------------------------------------------- R.Hadlee
Bishop------------------------------------------------------ M.Marshall
Mcgrath-----------------------------------------------------A.Roberts
Please keep in mind that The voters are being asked to choose a team that will prevail over a five match series on these respective grounds.
- Eden Gardens, Kolkatta ( Good for spin and batting)
- Kingsmead, Durban (Good for pace bowling)
- National Stadium, Karachi (Good for spin bowling)
- Lords, London (Good for pace bowling and batting)
- SCG, Sydney (Good for spin, pace and batting )
Team Aldo-------------------------------------------------Team Donaldo
S.Gavaskar-------------------------------------------------- M.Hayden
S.Jayasuriya-------------------------------------------------J.Langer
R.Pointing (c)------------------------------------------- ---- R.Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar-------------------------------------------- Brian Lara
M. Crowe---------------------------------------------------- A. De Silva
D. Lehmann------------------------------------------------- Imran Khan
M.Boucher(wk)----------------------------------------------Dujon(wk)
Shane Warne------------------------------------------------D.Vettori
Wasim Akram----------------------------------------------- R.Hadlee
Bishop------------------------------------------------------ M.Marshall
Mcgrath-----------------------------------------------------A.Roberts
After the nail biting encounter in the series against IL which went to the last session of the last match, the team has had a massive morale boost by coming out as winners from such a tight situation. Moreover, they are delighted to see the Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram join the ranks and take the bowling unit to another level.
I doubt much introduction is needed but anyway, Gavaskar played in a time where all time great fast bowlers reigned supreme, and few men stood tall, one of them was Sunny. Against great attacks like the Windies, Aussies, English, Pakis, etc, Gavaskar not only prized his wicket like very few other but also went on to be an absolute run machine, making records that stood till Sachin came and broke them. 34 centuries and over 10k runs is a testimony to him, but more than anything it is his impeccable technique, resilience, mental toughness that proved to be impossible to break down for the very best of them. At this stage in the draft we have some top bowling attacks, so he is exactly the type of man you need to deal with the new ball.
Partnering him would be Sanath Jayasuriya, who can be the more aggressive one in this pair, take the attack to the opposition and specially use his expertise of the subcontinent conditions to milk the bowlers. Also capable of staying on the pitch for long periods he can be vital in the Kolkata test. Following them is Ponting, one of the best number 3s of all time and the innings would be built around him. As always he will play his natural game while staying on the crease for ages and driving the team to a good score. With the platform set by Sunny and Sanath, he will have the license to play his natural game.
At 4, the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. What needs to be said about him? If I start writing his records and achievements we would be here all day. From the age of 16 to 40, 24 years of pleasure, entertainment, emotions, worship, you name it. Undivided admiration from his peers. Bradman himself considers him as good as he was, Lara wants his son to be like Sachin, Viv Richards calls him God. Technically, mentally a superhuman. From his century as a teenager at Perth standing tall over to that tragic game against Pakistan in 99 to the destruction of Shane Warne. Across generations and eras there is one man who continued to defy age, defy the pressure of a billion cricket fanatics. The whole batting will revolve around him and Ponting, both capable of staying on the pitch for ages and keep scoring.
Martin Crowe comes in next. a superstar batsman of his generation and a beautiful stroke maker, he will use his world class technique and temperament to continue the work done by the top order. At 5 is the talented Darren Lehmann, didn't play much due to stiff competition but he was a brilliant player of pace and great against short pitched bowling. Also technically good enough to survive on tough conditions.
In bowling, the attack is led by one of the best fast bowlers of all time, Glenn McGrath. Holding the record of most test wickets for a fast bowler, McGrath as we all know showed control and accuracy of line and length like no other, could land the ball on the same spot 6 times in a row and still move it both ways. More often than not he will take early wickets. Partnering him would be the legendary Wasim Akram. Capable of controlling the ball like no one else could, moving it both ways, cunning yorkers, expert in reverse swing with the old ball, and a highly tactically efficient brain to surprise any batsman with the huge variety and ability he possesses, he would be deadly alongside McGrath. This opening pair should get through the opposition's top order a fair few times and that will give me a huge advantage. First change would be Ian Bishop, if not for injuries he would have been in the same bracket as the other WI greats, certainly cut from the same cloth, Bishop generated electric pace and struck fear in the batsmen's eyes. Last, but not the least, is IMO the greatest spinner of all time : Shane Warne. Nothing much needs to be said, could turn the ball on any surface and had the intelligence and tact to get any batsman out. All in all the bowling has balance to it with McGrath being the accurate one who can move it both ways, Akram using his swing, pace and variety to attack the batsman with full license while Bishop providing sheer pace and bounce. Jayasuriya, Sachin and Lehmann can provide spells to give a rest to these bowlers.
Boucher is the wicket keeper in the team who holds the record for most test dismissals, and as a pure wicketkeeper, one of the best in the game.
To win a test match you need to take 20 wickets and I believe my attack is capable of it, being suited to all surfaces and against most type of batsmen. The batting his enough class to make totals good enough for these bowlers to defend. And the captain is a cunning **** who will go to any lengths to get his team the win.
The sub is Wasim Raja, a majestic stroke player and a useful bowler, Raja played the game in great spirit and entertained the crowds. He will come in for Darren Lehmann if the game is being played on a subcontinent track.
