harshad's team:
Batting Line up
The Openers
1. Virender Sehwag - Starting his test career in the seaming conditions in South Africa, Virender Sehwag coming in to bat when India were struggling at 68/4, struck a masterful century on debut to help stabilise the Indian Innings. One of the most prolific scorer of runs, Virender Sehwag, has scored 23 100s with 13 of them (including a 300+ score) being scored in India. He also has a century at Eden Gardens against South Africa who had a bowling attack consisting of Steyn & Co. Playing at home and batting first, he will thrive in home conditions and will hope to put on a big score.
2.
Wilfred Rhodes - A multi talented cricketer who is one of three players to have batted in all 11 positions. While he started his career primarily as a bowler and came in at no. 11, his batting talent was never in doubt as he showed in his 130 run last wicket stand against the Australians, through the years he was promoted as a batsman and finally cemented his place as an opening batsman. He was one of the earlier opening partner of Jack Hobbs - with whom he shares the distinction of being the first opening pair to put up a partnership of 300 runs - and like with him, his role would be to see off the new ball and provide support to Virender Sehwag.
The Middle Order
3. Rahul Dravid - What can be said about this great man, which has already not been said. A player who has shown time and again that he can bat in any conditions and against any bowling attack since his debut in 1996. With 36 hundreds (including at least one in every test playing country!) he has shown his ability to score runs in different conditions. He has scored 15 100s in India with 4 of them at Eden Gardens.
4.
Graeme Pollock - The South African Cricketer of 20th Century. His average of 60.97 is second only to Don Bradman with players having played more than 40 innings. His greatness is espoused by Don Bradman himself when he said Graeme Pollock was one of the best left handed batsman he had ever seen. While its a shame that he never got a chance to fulfill his talent on the international stage, those who saw him were never in doubt of his abilities. He could bat at steady pace and keep the scoreboard ticking.
5.
Denis Compton - Denis Compton started his career in 1937 at the age of 19 while still playing football. Having lost 6 years of his career to the second world war, he returned to play for England and carried on performing till he finally retired. By the time he retired, Compton averaged more than 50 and had established himself as one the best batsman of his era. In total he scored 17 100s.
6. Mohd Azharuddin - If batting is to be shown as an art, then one does not have to look further than this stylish Hyderabadi batsman. Azhar exploded on the scene with 3 100s in his first three test matches and was the main stay of the Indian team till the year 2000. His classic wrist play has always been a joy to watch. An aggressive batsman who could up the ante any time and could demolish any bowling attack. He has scored 22 100s with 13 100s in India and 5 100s and 2 50s in 9 innings at Eden Gardens.
Lower Middle Order
7. Brendon McCullum - Our wicketkeeper batsman can stroke the ball and change the innings in a session. His strike rate is over 60 and he averages 38. But that is not to say that he only slogs. Brendon McCullum can build his innings and is particularly good at making partnerships with the lower order batsman. He has 5 100s & 7 50s in 48 innings coming in at No. 7. In India he averages a respectable 50.
8. Malcolm Marshall & 9 Wes Hall - both can bat and stick around with a batsman to build a partnership. Marshall has 10 50s to his name while Hall has scored 2 50s.
10. Hugh Trumble & 11. Fred Trueman - Trumble has scored an international 50 to their name and can hang in there, while whatever runs Trueman scores would be a bonus.
Bowling Line Up
Fast Bowlers
1.
Fred Trueman - Arguably the greatest English bowler of all time. Trueman was the first bowler to capture 300 test wickets. He has an average of 21.57 in international cricket. Trueman in particular is known for getting wickets in bunch
2. Malcolm Marshall - Of all the great fast bowlers that West Indies produced during the 70s and 80s, one name stands above the rest in being universally regarded as the best. Malcolm Marshall has bowled on all kinds of surface and delivered on them all. His ability to get the ball to skid, swing, seam at will is what separates him from the rest. Also, England has been the place where his record improves. A career average of 20.94 and an average 19.10 at Eden Gardens.
3.
Wes Hall - Before the mercurial rise of the WI fast bowlers in 70s and 80s, there was Wesley Hall who led the West Indian attack for a decade. His rhythmic action coupled with his ability to generate pace and bounce even on dusty pitches found in India and Pakistan helped him take 5+ wickets 9 times in his career. He ended his career with a career average of 26.38. His average in India is 20.94.
Spinners
Hugh Trumble - Trumble is often labelled as the first major off spinner in the game, who was very economical. He bowled his off-spinners at almost medium-pace, making the most of his height. He bowled over after over keeping an impeccable length, using his long fingers to turn the ball sharply. He could also swing the new ball, varied his pace, and had a very well-disguised slower delivery. The assistance to spin bowling in Indian pitches in general would help Trumble make the best of his abilities.
Wilfred Rhodes - The slow left arm orthodox spin of Rhodes, flummoxed many a batsman of his time. A career spanning 31 years he was the first English player to get 100 wickets and score a 1000 runs. That he was called up to play the decider test at Oval against Australia at the age of 49 is a testimony to his ability with the ball. He was a bowler of uncanny accuracy and flight.
