Hello and welcome to Group D round robin match of test cricket draft.
Please keep in mind that The voters are being asked to choose a team that will prevail over a three match series on these respective grounds.
Please keep in mind that The voters are being asked to choose a team that will prevail over a three match series on these respective grounds.
- Eden Gardens, Kolkatta
- Lords, London
- SCG, Sydney
Saeed Anwar (LHB): Top class opener, and was absolutely brilliant to watch. He was a very good stroke player. His career was shorter than it should have been because he took time away from the game due to a family tragedy, and he wasn't the same player after it. Averaged 45.5, scored 4000 runs, made 11 hundreds @ a strike rate of 55.
Alec Stewart (RHB) (WK): Stewart is a solid opener who was especially good against the quicks. It is hard to judge his average – it drops when he keeps, and rises substantially when he opens. I’ll just leave his career stats here. Averaged 39.54, scored 8500 runs, made 15 hundreds @ a strike rate of 48.66
Alvin Kallicharran (LHB): Another little master. Standing at only 5 foot 5He was considered among the best in the world in the 70s, and was still in his prime when dropped due to him taking part in a rebel tour. His West Indies career was cut short when he took part in a rebel tour to South Africa. He continued playing club cricket though – and fared very well against his former teammates (see below article). Averaged 44.43 (in the 70s and 80s!), scored 4400 runs, and made 12 100s (No strike rate available)
Here is an article written about him by his son: http://www.alloutcricket.com/blogs/comment/alvin-kallicharan-west-indies-63
Greg Chappell (RHB) (VC): One of the premier batsmen of the 70s and early 80s. He did not average below 45 against any opponent. He made a century in his first and final Tests and 22 more in between. However, the most outstanding batting of his career left no trace on the record-books, his 621 runs at 69 in five unauthorized World Series Cricket "SuperTests" in the Caribbean in 1979, off a West Indian attack of unprecedented hostility. Averaged 53.86 (in the 70s and 80s!), scored 7100 runs and made 24 100s (No strike rate available). Got 47 wickets with his part-time medium pace.
Inzamam-ul-Haq (RHB): Inzy is one of my personal favorite players. He played from the early 90s thru 2007 – so he faced some very good bowling in the first 10 odd years of his career. He was (IMO) among the top middle order batsmen of the last 20 odd years. I don’t think I need to talk too much about him. I’ll only say that he has been promised free food for life if he doesn’t run any of his teammates out! Averaged 49.60, scored 8800 runs and made 25 100s @ a strike rate of 54.02
Jimmy Adams (LHB): Jimmy will complement the stroke-makers above him in the order. He is naturally defensive, and will be able to anchor the innings while the others above (and below!) him play their shots. He is also a useful part-time spin option. Averaged 41.26, scored 3000 runs, and made 6 100s @ a strike rate of 37.57. Got 27 wickets with his part-time spin.
Imran Khan (RHB) (RMF) (Captain): I’m not going to say much – Probably the best all-rounder after Sobers. He will lead my team by example and inspire them to dominate with bat and ball – just like him. In his last 10 years of international cricket he played 51 Tests, averaging a sensational 50 with the bat and 19 with the ball.Averaged 22.81, and took 362 wickets @ a strike rate of 53
Averaged 37.69, scored 3800 runs and made 6 100s (no strike rate available)
Bruce Yardley (RHB) (OFF-SPIN): He is (along with Mallett) one of the two best off spinners Australia have ever had. He was also an exceptional fielder, and a useful batsman – he averages nearly 20. He will bowl alongside MacGill, and they will form a very good off-spin/leg-spin combo. Averaged 31.63, took 126 wickets @ a strike rate of 70.
Javagal Srinath (RHB) (RF): India’s work-horse of the 90s. Srinath will be a very useful 3rd bowler, and will also be very useful at the Eden Gardens – he averages 26 in India. Throughout his career, his was THE main strike bowler. Being 3rd option will take that pressure off him, and bowling with a GREAT fast bowler at the other end can only help him. IMO, he is a much better bowler than the stats suggest. He had no support, and was often a 1 man pace attack (Venkatesh Prasad doesn’t fecking count!). Averaged 30.49, took 236 wickets @ a strike rate of 64.
Joel Garner (RHB) (RF): The “Big Bird”. One of the great West Indian quicks – there’s not much I should have to say about him – one of the best fast bowlers ever – he can bounce you out, break your leg (or stump!) or get you caught in the slips. Averaged 20.97, took 259 wickets @ a strike rate of 50.8
Stuart MacGill (RHB) (Leg-Spin): Australia’s second best spinner of the past 20 years. He will always be compared unfavorably with Warne, but his record is nothing to sniff at. He has a brilliant strike rate, and will bowl well under pressure – every time he played, his performance was scrutinized and compared to Warne. Averaged 29.02, took 208 wickets @ a strike rate of 54.
Jeremy Coney: 12th man (not used) – Right handed batsmen and medium pacer. I will decide whether to play him at one of the grounds later.
Averaged 37.57, scored 2660 runs and 3 100s. Averaged 36, took 27 wickets with the ball.
Thoughts on the game: I'll talk tactics in detail the thread tomorrow afternoon/evening. The way I see it, I have a stronger middle order, better openers and greater variety in the bowling. I think my spinners are also much better than his (If I'm correct - Herath averages 40 outside Sri Lanka!!). Overall, I see my boys bowling him out with no issue at all. He has great bowlers - Kapil, Ambrose and Willis - but I have great batsmen, and think mine will outscore his comfortably.
Mohsin, Geoff Marsh, Jones, Flower(WK), Azharuddin, Ganguly, Kapil(C), Herath, Amrose, Willis, Fraser
Player Profiles:
Mohsin Khan- The stylish opener from Pakistan. Made consecutive centuries in Australia. Has only played 4 innings in Lords but has scored a mammoth 316 runs in them. Dealt with pacers easily and had a great average of 37 which was very good at that time.
Geoff Marsh- The gritty opener from Australia. He’s a great foil for Mohsin as he’ll ensure that he’ll keep his wicket and taking the shine off new ball. Had a respectable average of 34.
Dean Jones- Incredible batsman and had an average of 48 at that time which was excellent. Averaged an astonishing 93 in India and 70 in England. Can deal with pace and spin easily.
Andy Flower- The second best wicket keeper batsman in the history of cricket after Gilly. Had an brilliant average of 50 and was one of the best players of spin in that era which is highlighted by the fact that he averaged more than 110 in India. Also a great wicketkeeper.
Azharuddin- A very stylish batsman who was incredible to watch in full flow. He and Tendulkar were the only who looked capable batsman on foreign pitches in 1990’s when the rest of Indian batting looked rubbish. Also loved Eden Gardens and in innings he scored 860 runs with the help of 5 centuries and 2 half-centuries.
Ganguly- No Description needed.
Kapil Dev- Again nothing more to describe other than the fact that he was India’s greatest bowler, allrounder and Captain. Lovely swing bowler and hard hitting batsman. Team Captain.
Herath- Underrated spinner who just completed 200 wickets at an average of 30 which is very good in this time of flat pitches and smaller grounds. Has played most of his career in Sri Lanka, but he showed in his performances against Australia in Australia that he’s a class bowler.
Ambrose- Averaged 19 and 20 in Australia and England. One of the greatest ever. Nuff said.
Bob Willis- Took more than 300 wickets for England and has a legitimate claim for being England’s greatest fast bowler ever. He, Ambrose and Kapil will be my front line pace attack bowlers.
Angus Fraser- Underrated bowler who has more than 175 wickets at a very good average. Will be a nice foil for other pacers.
