I'm really hoping he changes nationality, to be honest. South Africa would be will nigh unstoppable then. Plus it would be funny to watch him call the English team cnuts to their faces.
RedCafe Cricket Draft
- Thread starter KM
- Start date
Does he?
I know Pietersen still has the accent and can't stop messaging but surely he's still counts for the Poms.
I know Pietersen still has the accent and can't stop messaging but surely he's still counts for the Poms.
I was just kidding mate. Btw stunning batting there Donadol. Bats deep till no.9.
Donadol, the game's yet to start so maybe you still have the chance to change. I'm amazed you've chosen to drop Amir. You're basically going with 3 full bowlers in Donald, McDermott and Vettori and a bunch of part timers. Sure Klusener was a decent bowler in limited overs but with a test bowling average of 38, I'd struggle to count him as a full bowler. Thats worse than most part timers. It's a glaring weakness in my opinion.
I'd go with this too. I saw your team, and Donald aside, I don't see you having a chance at 20 wickets. People forget Vettori averages only 34 in tests too.
It was a toss up and to be fair, I'm glad to hear you say that...didn't want to drop my favourite of the lot, barring his indiscretions.
Going with the change, cheers for the tip.
Cheers for the tip.
I'm a little shocked at how underrated poor McDermott is on here. He was a genuinely brilliant bowler in my opinion, and injuries would prove to limit his brilliance. His ODI record is excellent too, just to give you an idea of his consistency, despite those injuries.
Good change in my opinion. With a 40 averaging batsman at 8, it doesn't weaken your batting any and gives you a decent bowling option. A punt sure but a quality punt nevertheless.
On McDermott, I think its a bit like Bishop. Crappy was counting Lee over him as Stretch's second bowler. It's just so long ago that people's memories have faded. Plus it was a period of underachievement for Australia as a whole so there's no halo over him that the likes of Gillespie enjoy either.
On McDermott, I think its a bit like Bishop. Crappy was counting Lee over him as Stretch's second bowler. It's just so long ago that people's memories have faded. Plus it was a period of underachievement for Australia as a whole so there's no halo over him that the likes of Gillespie enjoy either.
I can't rate him as much as I haven't seen him. Simple as. Plus he was in an era with many great bowlers. Today, he would probably be valued a lot more. I think you have a very good team, but your bowling did look weak.
Well Prince gets in. As does Rudolph...even Duminy. I think Pietersen would fit in perfectly fine. Not that he's going there of course.
All of them play at 6. Pietersen doesn't seem like a player who can bat #6.
Why not? He does score at a healthy pace. Hasn't shown any special weaknesses against spinners.
You make room for a batsman with an average of 50 and 21 centuries especially when his competitors are struggling to reach 40.
You make room for a batsman with an average of 50 and 21 centuries especially when his competitors are struggling to reach 40.
De Villers moves down to 6 to make way for KP at 5 especially if he is keeping
mightberight and nm03, you should get your write-ups in. Less than an hour left for Interval and Donado's game to finish.
We should target having all the quarters done this week.
We should target having all the quarters done this week.
Sent mine to KM last night.
Haven't recieved NM03's write up. Now i'm going out.
Oh crap
Wait i have itl
Wait i have itl
Will post it here in a second
My team :
Strategy and Thoughts:
1. Mark Richardson: Left handed opening batsman. Scored 2776 runs @ 44.77 in 38 test matches. 4 100s and 19 50s.
Richardson is a slow batsman who prizes his wicket. He is difficult to remove from the crease and scores at a slow rate. His average (according to cricinfo) was 50 for most of his career, but regressed at the end. He has scored 100s in India and England, and will be a part of my steady but unspectacular opening partnership. His role will be to wear down the opposition bowlers, stay at the crease, and complement the stroke players that come in later.
2. Alec Stewart: Right handed opening batsman. Scored 8463 runs @ 39.54 in 133 test matches. 15 100s and 45 50s.
Stewart is a gritty player that will also be difficult to dislodge. He captained England, and is a more instinctual player to go with the very methodological Richardson. Together they will form a solid opening partnership.
3. Dean Jones: Right handed batsman. He played 1 down most of his test career. Scored 3631 runs @46.55 in 52 test matches. 11 100s and 15 50s.
Jones may be well known for his performances in ODIs, but he is a very solid test player. He is a fighter – he once made 210 in Chennai, and ended the game on a saline drip. He will not give an inch to the opposition. He will complement Lara very well, and is the first cog in my strong middle order. A good outfielder as well.
4. Brian Lara: Left handed batsman. He played at number 4 for most of his career. Scored 11953 runs @ 52.88 in 131 matches. 34 100s and 48 50s. Strike rate of 60. One of the best batsmen of all time. Highest score: 400 not out. A very good slip fielder as well.
Lara is the jewel of my middle order – not much I need to say about him. Better than any batsman on Aldo’s team (IMO) and somebody I loved watching play as a kid. Also captained the West Indies, but when they were on their way down.
5. Steve Waugh (Captain): Right handed batsman. Right handed medium pace bowler. Scored 10927 runs @ 51.06 in 168 tests and took 92 wickets @ 37.44 in 150 innings. Great batsman, great captain, useful bowler (before injuries).
Waugh will be my captain. He will also be a steady influence in my middle order, which I think is now one of (if not the) best in the draft. I don’t need to say much about him. He was also a useful medium pace bowler. He is a real fighter, and rarely loses. He will also make very good use of my 6 (including him) bowlers.
6. VVS Laxman: Right handed batsman. Played in the middle order his entire career. Scored (and still scoring!) 8781 runs @45.97 in 134 matches. 17 100s and 54 50s. Probably would have had more 100s if he didn’t bat so low in the Indian order. To put it simply, he is very very special.
Laxman is the third cog of my middle order. He is a specialist in lost causes, and tormentor in chief of the great Australian sides. Laxman thrives in pressure situations, and is a very stylish player. If nothing else – my team will be a joy to watch. Laxman also (and this is my memory so may be wrong) plays very well with the tail. He has often batted for long periods with the Indian tails. The Aussies (according to cricinfo) simply said they didn’t know how to bowl to him after the 03-04 tour there. That is how devastating he can be. Watching him and Lara play together would be just beautiful. He is also a very good slip fielder.
7. Stuart Broad: All-rounder. Left handed batsman. Right hand fast bowler. Took 161 wickets @31.16 in 49 tests. Scored 1524 runs @27.21 in 49 tests. He is still playing. 1 100 and 9 50s.
Broad is my all-rounder at number 7. He will ably support my middle order, hang around, and score runs quickly. He will also open my bowling along with Makhaya Ntini. He provides important balance to my batting order, and give me wickets early on.
8. Paul Reiffel: Bowler who can bat. Right handed batsman. Right handed fast bowler. Took 104 wickets @ 26.96 in 35 tests. Scored 955 runs @ 26.52.6 50s.
Reiffel is probably my second best bowler, but will bowl as first change, as he primarily did for Australia. He is a line and length bowler who can move the ball both ways off the pitch. He will trouble batsmen no matter the state of the pitch and ball, and will provide valuable wickets after my opening bowlers provide the early breakthroughs. He is also useful with the bat, and ensures I bat down to 8.
9. Paul Adams: Slow left arm Chinaman. 131 wickets @ 32.87 in 45 test matches. Also has the best bowling action ever. He doesn’t even see the batsman!
Adams is one of my two spinners, and has a good average considering spinners don’t get much help in South Africa. He will eat overs, give the quicks time to recover and pick up wickets. Also, bowling in tandem with another spinner will help him.
10. Mushtaq Ahmed: Leg Spinner. 85 wickers @ 32.97 in 42 tests.
Mushtaq is my other spinner. One of the few good leggies ( I can’t remember too many other than Warne and Kumble who are both legends tbh) of this draft, Mushtaq will bowl in tandem with Adams and Matthews to bamboozle batsmen. The argument against him will always be – why does a Pakistani spinner have an average above 30, but Mushtaq also took 100 wickets in a county season in England, so he can do it in all conditions.
11. Makhaya Ntini: Right arm fast bowler. 390 wickets @ 28.82 in 101 matches.
Ntini is one of my key cogs - he is a wicket-taker. plain and simple. Another in the great line of South African quickies, he will be a real threat with the new ball, and a useful workhorse later in the games. Having 2 spinners to take the burden off him, he will be able to get plenty of rest and be fresh and lethal when he bowls. Having their key bowlers fresh whenever needed is not something all the other teams can count on - plus he is VERY entertaining when batting!
12th man: Shahid Afridi: 27 test matches. 1716 runs @36.51 and 48 wickets @36.60.
Boom Boom. Smashing batsman who can both open and bat lower down, useful partnership breaker, great fielder. Captained Pakistan. Most versatile 12th man around.
13th man Greg Matthews: Left handed batsman. Right arm off spinner. Matthews started out as a specialist spinner, but transformed into a batting all-rounder who can bowl. He scored 1849 runs @ 41.08 in 33 test matches. He took 61 wickets @ 48.22 as well. 4 100s and 12 50s.
Matthews is a fighter. He wasn’t good enough as a bowler alone, so retooled his game so much that he has a better average than some specialist batsmen! He will also be the orthodox off spinner of my spin trio, bowling a bit to add variety and eat the overs up. He is more than capable of picking up wickets though. He has taken 10 wickets in a game (over 2 innings) for Australia.
Richardson is a slow batsman who prizes his wicket. He is difficult to remove from the crease and scores at a slow rate. His average (according to cricinfo) was 50 for most of his career, but regressed at the end. He has scored 100s in India and England, and will be a part of my steady but unspectacular opening partnership. His role will be to wear down the opposition bowlers, stay at the crease, and complement the stroke players that come in later.
2. Alec Stewart: Right handed opening batsman. Scored 8463 runs @ 39.54 in 133 test matches. 15 100s and 45 50s.
Stewart is a gritty player that will also be difficult to dislodge. He captained England, and is a more instinctual player to go with the very methodological Richardson. Together they will form a solid opening partnership.
3. Dean Jones: Right handed batsman. He played 1 down most of his test career. Scored 3631 runs @46.55 in 52 test matches. 11 100s and 15 50s.
Jones may be well known for his performances in ODIs, but he is a very solid test player. He is a fighter – he once made 210 in Chennai, and ended the game on a saline drip. He will not give an inch to the opposition. He will complement Lara very well, and is the first cog in my strong middle order. A good outfielder as well.
4. Brian Lara: Left handed batsman. He played at number 4 for most of his career. Scored 11953 runs @ 52.88 in 131 matches. 34 100s and 48 50s. Strike rate of 60. One of the best batsmen of all time. Highest score: 400 not out. A very good slip fielder as well.
Lara is the jewel of my middle order – not much I need to say about him. Better than any batsman on Aldo’s team (IMO) and somebody I loved watching play as a kid. Also captained the West Indies, but when they were on their way down.
5. Steve Waugh (Captain): Right handed batsman. Right handed medium pace bowler. Scored 10927 runs @ 51.06 in 168 tests and took 92 wickets @ 37.44 in 150 innings. Great batsman, great captain, useful bowler (before injuries).
Waugh will be my captain. He will also be a steady influence in my middle order, which I think is now one of (if not the) best in the draft. I don’t need to say much about him. He was also a useful medium pace bowler. He is a real fighter, and rarely loses. He will also make very good use of my 6 (including him) bowlers.
6. VVS Laxman: Right handed batsman. Played in the middle order his entire career. Scored (and still scoring!) 8781 runs @45.97 in 134 matches. 17 100s and 54 50s. Probably would have had more 100s if he didn’t bat so low in the Indian order. To put it simply, he is very very special.
Laxman is the third cog of my middle order. He is a specialist in lost causes, and tormentor in chief of the great Australian sides. Laxman thrives in pressure situations, and is a very stylish player. If nothing else – my team will be a joy to watch. Laxman also (and this is my memory so may be wrong) plays very well with the tail. He has often batted for long periods with the Indian tails. The Aussies (according to cricinfo) simply said they didn’t know how to bowl to him after the 03-04 tour there. That is how devastating he can be. Watching him and Lara play together would be just beautiful. He is also a very good slip fielder.
7. Stuart Broad: All-rounder. Left handed batsman. Right hand fast bowler. Took 161 wickets @31.16 in 49 tests. Scored 1524 runs @27.21 in 49 tests. He is still playing. 1 100 and 9 50s.
Broad is my all-rounder at number 7. He will ably support my middle order, hang around, and score runs quickly. He will also open my bowling along with Makhaya Ntini. He provides important balance to my batting order, and give me wickets early on.
8. Paul Reiffel: Bowler who can bat. Right handed batsman. Right handed fast bowler. Took 104 wickets @ 26.96 in 35 tests. Scored 955 runs @ 26.52.6 50s.
Reiffel is probably my second best bowler, but will bowl as first change, as he primarily did for Australia. He is a line and length bowler who can move the ball both ways off the pitch. He will trouble batsmen no matter the state of the pitch and ball, and will provide valuable wickets after my opening bowlers provide the early breakthroughs. He is also useful with the bat, and ensures I bat down to 8.
9. Paul Adams: Slow left arm Chinaman. 131 wickets @ 32.87 in 45 test matches. Also has the best bowling action ever. He doesn’t even see the batsman!
Adams is one of my two spinners, and has a good average considering spinners don’t get much help in South Africa. He will eat overs, give the quicks time to recover and pick up wickets. Also, bowling in tandem with another spinner will help him.
10. Mushtaq Ahmed: Leg Spinner. 85 wickers @ 32.97 in 42 tests.
Mushtaq is my other spinner. One of the few good leggies ( I can’t remember too many other than Warne and Kumble who are both legends tbh) of this draft, Mushtaq will bowl in tandem with Adams and Matthews to bamboozle batsmen. The argument against him will always be – why does a Pakistani spinner have an average above 30, but Mushtaq also took 100 wickets in a county season in England, so he can do it in all conditions.
11. Makhaya Ntini: Right arm fast bowler. 390 wickets @ 28.82 in 101 matches.
Ntini is one of my key cogs - he is a wicket-taker. plain and simple. Another in the great line of South African quickies, he will be a real threat with the new ball, and a useful workhorse later in the games. Having 2 spinners to take the burden off him, he will be able to get plenty of rest and be fresh and lethal when he bowls. Having their key bowlers fresh whenever needed is not something all the other teams can count on - plus he is VERY entertaining when batting!
12th man: Shahid Afridi: 27 test matches. 1716 runs @36.51 and 48 wickets @36.60.
Boom Boom. Smashing batsman who can both open and bat lower down, useful partnership breaker, great fielder. Captained Pakistan. Most versatile 12th man around.
13th man Greg Matthews: Left handed batsman. Right arm off spinner. Matthews started out as a specialist spinner, but transformed into a batting all-rounder who can bowl. He scored 1849 runs @ 41.08 in 33 test matches. He took 61 wickets @ 48.22 as well. 4 100s and 12 50s.
Matthews is a fighter. He wasn’t good enough as a bowler alone, so retooled his game so much that he has a better average than some specialist batsmen! He will also be the orthodox off spinner of my spin trio, bowling a bit to add variety and eat the overs up. He is more than capable of picking up wickets though. He has taken 10 wickets in a game (over 2 innings) for Australia.
Strategy and Thoughts:
Batting Strategy: The openers will provide a solid platform for the middle order. Stewart and Richardson will grind down Aldo’s bowlers. The middle order of Lara, Jones, Laxman and Waugh will then pile on the runs before my tail-enders (I bat till 8) support the likes of Laxman. I see myself putting on a BIG score, despite the strong bowling lineup I am facing. Don’t forget I have a very good mix of righties & lefties, along with stroke players and fighters. Waugh will complement both Lara and Laxman beautifully.
Bowling Strategy: Mightberight has only 1 (IMHO) AMAZING batsman in his lineup – Kallis. I don’t rate any of the others as much as mine - this might change after I see his lineup. If I get an early wicket and pick him up, I can see his team being bundled out very cheaply. If that happens even in one inning, my strong batting lineup will be all over the opposing team.
Overall view: This is batting vs bowling. Pure and simple. My batsmen are way better than his, and his bowlers are better than mine. I think at least a few of my batsmen will put on big scores, allowing my bowlers to put pressure on his, leading to a win for me.
Bowling Strategy: Mightberight has only 1 (IMHO) AMAZING batsman in his lineup – Kallis. I don’t rate any of the others as much as mine - this might change after I see his lineup. If I get an early wicket and pick him up, I can see his team being bundled out very cheaply. If that happens even in one inning, my strong batting lineup will be all over the opposing team.
Overall view: This is batting vs bowling. Pure and simple. My batsmen are way better than his, and his bowlers are better than mine. I think at least a few of my batsmen will put on big scores, allowing my bowlers to put pressure on his, leading to a win for me.
Laxman at 6 is such a waste.
EDIT: He seems to have had a decent record at the position though.
EDIT: He seems to have had a decent record at the position though.
Iirc, We had Dravid at 3, Tendulkar 4, Ganguly 5 and Laxman for a long time. Plus Laxman specializes at batting with the tail.
His talent has been wasted for a majority of his career.
Can't argue that- I love watching him bat.
If I was supporting your team I'd be wishing for the openers to be dismissed very very early.
I think it should be known that I have been solicited for votes by certain of the protagonists.
For this reason I will not be voting for anyone.
That & I would never read an OP that long anyway & I haven't read the rules either.
If you could just have bribed me then I wouldn't have to post this, few grand should do it, more if you want to get to the final & win.
For this reason I will not be voting for anyone.
That & I would never read an OP that long anyway & I haven't read the rules either.
If you could just have bribed me then I wouldn't have to post this, few grand should do it, more if you want to get to the final & win.
I still think you should replace Adams with Afridi. Afridi didn't play a lot of tests but there's enough evidence of him being a better spinner than Adams from his limited over career.
And Ntini's your best bowler not Reiffel who was a decent medium pacer at best. For a while, Ntini looked like he'd take the step up from good to great. Never made it but still a better bowler than Reiffel.
And Ntini's your best bowler not Reiffel who was a decent medium pacer at best. For a while, Ntini looked like he'd take the step up from good to great. Never made it but still a better bowler than Reiffel.
Go away. It wasn't soliciting as much as asking people I know who follow cricket to come and vote.That's why Ntini is opening and Reiffel is at first change like he was for Australia. I won't go with Afridi - he just didn't do enough in tests - the comments about Philander, Aamir etc show that.
Afridi's ODI peak was very high, but not his test - especially spin-wise. He didn't play tests when he was bowling his best, so I can't fairly claim that it was his "peak"
KM - you are online. Get this started!
You weren't the first...
I'm out. I can only make the poll, the rest you've to post. I'll be back in three four hours actually.
Do the poll if you want. Someone can post the write-ups.
mightberight's only PM'd his to you but we can get around that easy enough. I can just ask him to put it in the thread.
mightberight's only PM'd his to you but we can get around that easy enough. I can just ask him to put it in the thread.
I haven't saved some of it ... let's just wait for KM, there's no rush.
Did you write an essay??? I did mine in 5 mins.
No problem. Should be in your PM sent items unless you've cleared it though.
It's just that when you let a day go, the attention just slips and then it's easy to forget again.
Apologies lads for not voting/getting involved. Been really busy.
Since MBR/Nm03 match is finished.
1.RI
2.Stretch
3.Donadol
4.MBR
It's gonna be 1 vs 2 and 3 vs 4.
Gentleman try to send the writeup as soon as possible. Cheers.
1.RI
2.Stretch
3.Donadol
4.MBR
It's gonna be 1 vs 2 and 3 vs 4.
Gentleman try to send the writeup as soon as possible. Cheers.