Here’s what my team would look like –
AC Gilchrist
SR Tendulkar
IVA Richards
BC Lara
RT Ponting
MG Bevan
Imran Khan (c)
RJ Hadlee
CEL Ambrose
J Garner
Murali
Some spots were easy to fill in while others had close competition. Gilchrist and Tendulkar opening is a dream pairing at the top. Richards at number 3 has extra ordinary stats and he walks into the team as well.
Lara is a much better batsman statistically at number 3 and Ponting bats higher up as well. However, some accommodations have to be made given that it is a world XI and all the best players cannot bat in their favorite positions. Dean Jones just misses out.
Bevan at six walks right into the team as well. Maybe Hussey will challenge Bevan for this spot after a few years (or some one else in the all-time XI) but right now, it is too early to consider Hussey.
For the all rounder of the team, Imran Khan brings much more to the table compared to a Kapil Dev, Chris Cairns or even some one like a Lance Klusener. That he was an inspirational leader and would be the automatic choice to captain the team adds further weight to his selection.
The bowling spots provided a bit more stiff competition. I went for Hadlee, Ambrose, Garner and Murali ahead of McGrath, Akram, Warne and Saqlain. I cannot look past Ambrose and Garner. The mean and tall bowlers would never give an easy run (as evident by their economy rates). Bowling together, they would be capable of causing problems to most opposition.
Then, there is Hadlee v Akram. Hadlee’s ODI bowling is phenomenal as is Akram’s. Hadlee’s stats: Ave of 21.56 and eco of 3.30. Now even in an era where runs were not scored that fast, an economy of 3.3 is amazing, not to forget the average. Add to that, the batting of Hadlee is stronger (batting average – 21.61). Hadlee offers more than Akram for me. Given also that the tail of my team is pretty weak batting wise (Ambrose, Garner, Murali), some one like Hadlee at 8 is a better option.
Where the spinner’s spot is concerned, Saqlain could have been in with a real chance had he played much more. Where Murali v Warne is concerned, it is a close call. Warne brings in more to the team in the batting department. However, Murali’s bowling average (23.07) compared to Warne’s (25.73) sneaks it for Murali.
The one possible weak aspect of the team is less variation in the fast bowling department. Akram could make the ball talk even on the flattest of wickets while McGrath could test the best of the batsmen not just because of pace. I decided to go in with what I thought would be the most dangerous bowling attack. The Windies of the 70s and 80s didn’t have that much variety in their attack but they did the job.
However, on a subcontinent or a flattish wicket, where tail batting would not be needed as much, I could probably replace Hadlee and bring in Akram and McGrath for Hadlee and Ambrose respectively. Similarly, on a pitch where quite a few wickets are likely to fall and where a bit more spine in the tail is needed, Warne could replace Murali.
There would always be Jonty Rhodes as the 12th man of course.
I’d like to mention a couple of players who were excellent at the time ODIs were introduced, with records that would stand up even today, yet are barely mentioned in these discussions. One is English, the other Australian.
You might guess the Australian: it’s Greg Chappell. In 72 ODI innings he averaged over 40 at a strike-rate of over 75. He also took 72 wickets at 29, economy 4 (which was expensive for the time). An absolutely incredible player.
The Englishman? Dennis Amiss. OK, he only played 18 ODIs, but he scored the first and second century. In the five times he passed fifty, he only once failed to make a ton. His strike-rate was also very respectable, while his average runs per innings is higher than anyone, yes anyone, on the all-time averages list.
that would be an awesome side, but as you say the tail is very brittle – the last three batsmen would be sitting ducks for any good bowler.. I would like to replace Garner/Ambrose with Pollock, instead of McGrath – he brings in more depth with the bat…
Surprisingly no player from England – after all they have reached the maximum number of finals in the World Cups.. Go back 10 years, and England used to have a good team
Hello Geoff.. Excellent pointers. Greg Chappell, considered by many a decent student of the game to be the finest Australian batsman ever after Bradman could definitely have adopted to the modern one day game and improved his strike rate as a result of it (75 in the era he played isn’t bad as it is). Who he replace for you in an all time XI?
Regarding Amiss, I am not that sure. His List A averages stood at just 35 – not too flash. Had he had even a List A average of say 45 in that era, I am sure he would have been talked about more…
Kunal: Yes, Shaun Pollock could be very useful. I can’t look past an Ambrose/Garner combination because they were so economical and there is Hadlee at 8. Pollock is no muck with the ball though and the economy of 3.7 is not bad at all in the era he has played. It is a case of what you want to give more priority but he could definitely come in for me on a pitch where more wickets are likely to fall. Good pick mate.
England were a good side many years back but who could you have in an all time XI? Botham comes to mind immediately for instance but his ODI batting was not that great and his economy rate of 3.96 in the era he bowled isn’t that impressive too.
I’m not saying Dennis Amiss should definitely play, or Greg Chappell, I just wanted to mention them. If I were to play Chappell, it would have to be at Lara’s expense, genius as he is, because it’s impossible to drop Richards or Ponting. If Amiss played, it could only be in place of Tendulkar, as Gilchrist is a wicket-keeper. And you can’t drop Tendulkar.
Fair enough mate. I knew you were not saying they should definitely be in the XI.. I was just asking your opinion.. :) Lara for all his brilliance does seem the weakest link in the middle order which means that if any one comes in, he would be the one who would go as things stand.
Excellent team, mate. And though I have not watched many of these players in live matches I am tempted to go with it except one change: I am not too comfortable with dropping Akram out of a one day side for ANYONE – and that means I would like to drop one of the ‘twin means’ Curtly (who is THE greatest Test bowler I have seen i.e. since mid 80’s) and Joel. Akram at his 90’s best could be a Hadlee-like swinging menace or a Curtly-esque miser as the situation allowed him to be.
Glad you liked the team. I rate Ambrose very highly as well and it is very much reasonable for any one to select Akram in his All time ODI XI of course. The variations he offered, the control he had was mind boggling.
hey my team would be . . . . .
1. G. Smith
2. V. Sehwag
3. H. Amla or R. Ponting
4. S. Tendulkar
5. M. Hussey
6. A. Flintoff
7. M.S Dhoni
8. D. Steyn
9. I. Shama
10. M. Johnson
11. M. Murali
12. I. Mendis
13. N. Bracken
Backup Keeper: Kumar Sangakarra
that would kill anthing would love critisism