When I looked at making the team in this draft, I aimed for balance, and a mix of top quality aggressive batsmen and bowlers capable of winning matches and a stability required at the highest level of the sport. After the league rounds, I have acquired Malcolm Marshall and Brian Lara, and a very sore penis.
Matthew HAYDEN - One very burly half of probably the greatest opening combo in Test cricket. The sheer number of matches Hayden bludgeoned mercilessly away from the opposition established his credentials as a matchwinner, not just as a slogger at the top of the order. His strength lay in carrying an excellent run of form through the series, scoring at a rapid rate and hitting centuries in succession.
He smashed 30 centuries, hitting 8625 runs overall at 50.73.
Justin LANGER - The biggest mistake any opposition would make was to underestimate Langer as a grafter and blocker and focus their efforts on Hayden. An extremely accomplished strokemaker, Langer hit 23 centuries, with 7697 runs overall at 45 plus.
Rahul Dravid - I was thrilled to get him in this draft because I've wanted him in my team for the past two drafts. To my mind, among the top 3 Test batsmen of our generation, and one of the best No. 3's in this draft. A proven matchwinner, he has 36 centuries across the globe, with an astounding 21 away from home. Average of 52.33 with 13288 runs.
Brian Charles Lara - The sort of batsman you want to write the full name of. A legend of the game, and possibly one of the greatest batsmen of all time. Lara had no discernible weaknesses when in full flow, and his performances propped a largely average Windies sides of the 90s and 00s to memorable victories against the powerhouses of world cricket. When he scored, he went for the monstrous scores and total humiliation of the opposing attacks, a highlight of all my top order batsmen. A genius of the sport, he has enough testimonials from fellow legends to have me bleating on. 34 centuries, 11953 runs.
Aravinda de Silva - One of the greatest Sri Lankan batsmen, a batting mainstay in the 80s and 90s for an evolving Lankan team. His attacking prowess is well known, but he possessed a strong defensive mindset, and played some of the greatest fast bowlers of the time with great skill. 20 centuries at what seems to be a relatively low average of 43, but at a time when such averages were the key signs of a world class player.Averages 48 at Number 5.
Hansie Cronje - Captain at 24, Hansie led SA to 27 victories and 11 losses in 53 Tests. A fantastic number 6 to have, with an average of 36, and 6 centuries. A career he threw away as he gave way to avarice, and that would remain the lasting regret for anyone who ever thinks of Hansie Cronje and remembers his battle of wits and technique with the best bowlers of the 90s. A handy bowler, he bowled regularly for SA with an average of 29.
Jeff Dujon - One of the top three keepers in the draft, IMO, and one of the finest of all time. At number 7, he comes in with an average of 32, and 5 Test centuries. And he's not going to drop anything. No chance.
Daniel Vettori - One of the most underrated Test cricketers, I feel.Blessed with a keen cricketing brain, Vettori has a stupendous record given that he plays and has played for a largely mediocre to decent outfit. 360 wickets, with 20 fifers and 3 tenners. On his way to being in the elite few who have 4000 runs and 400 wickets. 6 Test centuries at No. 8. My god.
Richard Hadlee - One of the all time greats and a legend of the sport. He would walk into most all time XI's. 431 wickets at a ridiculous 22.2. 36 fifers, 9 tenners. 2 Test centuries.
Fun fact: Has dismissed Haynes 7 times in 10 Test matches, with 3 ducks, and Greenidge 6 times in 10 matches.
Malcolm Marshall - The Greatest in the Windies quartet, and lays a claim for the greatest of all time. I certainly think so, at least. From cricinfo,
" Malcolm Marshall slithered to the crease on the angle, pitter-pat feet twinkling as if in dancing shoes. It was reminiscent of a sidewinder on the attack. Purists occasionally criticised his action as too open, but it had method: he maintained mastery of orthodox outswing and inswing from a neutral position without telegraphing his intent. He was lithe, with a wickedly fast arm that elevated him to express status. Only in inches was he lacking - but he even turned that to his advantage with a bouncer as malicious as they come, skidding on to the batsman. Later in his career, he developed a devastating legcutter which he used on dusty pitches. Allied to a massive cricket intelligence, stamina and courage, Marshall had all the toys and he knew how and when to play with them. His strike rate of 46.22 was phenomenal, his average of 20.95 equally so. He may well have been the finest fast bowler of them all.
In 1984, he broke his left thumb while fielding early in the match, but first of all batted one-handed, hitting a boundary and allowing Larry Gomes to complete a century, and then, with his left hand encased in plaster, he shrugged off the pain to take 7 for 53. Four years later, on an Old Trafford wicket prepared specifically for spinners, he adjusted his sights, pitched the ball up, and swung and cut it to such devastating effect that he took 7 for 22. Let that be a lesson, he seemed to be saying, and indeed it was. The whole cricket world mourned his tragically early death, from cancer, at 41."
376 wickets at 20.94, strike rate a staggering 46. My super trump card for all cricket games as a kid.
Andy Roberts - One of the greatest fast bowlers ever. I watched and adored him as a kid because my family was obsessed with the Windians. Superb control of the cricket ball, a phenomenal brain. Roberts, Hadlee, and Marshall. I'd be saying my prayers as an opposition batsman. Average of 25, with a strike rate of 55.
Subs:
Allan Lamb - Tough as nails, technically excellent, 14 Test hundreds, and a whopping 89 first class hundreds against some top quality international bowling. The legendary West Indian fast bowlers were a brand he particularly relished, and he scored 6 out of his 14 hundreds against them. A valuable no.5 batsman to have.
Big Bruce Reid - As tall as Garner, and at his peak, as dangerous. In a career riddled with injuries, big Bruce had a career average of 24 odd, and a strike rate of 55. International class by any standard.
This is a team which wouldn't even consider defeat as an option. I'll be going from the jugular from ball one, whether it's Haydos and Langer opening the batting or Marshall, Roberts and Hadlee bowling. Some absolute legends, and a selection of some of the smartest cricketing brains ever.
I'll reserve my judgements and responses on the oppositions stratagem. Personally I feel this team would be nigh on impossible to beat.
All the best.
