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A well-known cricket blog site has spent the past year compiling all-time Test XIs from the major cricketing nations. So far, they have selected teams from England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and most recently, Pakistan.
Only the West Indies and India remain of the ‘big 8’. In each case, a different jury of 9-10 qualified judges select each team from a list of nominees, which is then published, along with the Readers XI choice.
I have found the jury’s selections to be generally accurate, and closer to the money than the reader’s choices, which tend to favour modern players, and lack an understanding of players from the past. Here are the teams so far:
ENGLAND (published August 2009)
Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton, Wally Hammond, Ken Barrington, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Botham, Alan Knott(k), Harold Larwood, Fred Trueman, Derek Underwood, Sydney Barnes, Denis Compton(12th).
The readers poll varied in two places with David Gower replacing Barrington and Jim Laker replacing Underwood.
Personally, I would pick Laker ahead of Underwood, and swap Compton with Pietersen. However, the huge shock was the non-selection of WG Grace even among the nominees. He dominated his era so profoundly, he must be in the XI and as captain. I would have him at no.5 in place of Compton/Pietersen.
AUSTRALIA (published July 2009)
Victor Trumper, Arthur Morris, Don Bradman, Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Keith Miller, Adam Gilchrist(k), Shane Warne, Dennis Lillee, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting(12th).
The readers poll differed with four batting positions, an indication of the tremendous depth of Australian batting. Openers Matt Hayden and Bill Ponsford replaced Trumper and Morris, while both Ponting and Steve Waugh were included at the expense of Chappell and Border.
Any quibbles I have can only been seen as minor, and I am happy with any of the various combos that might be selected. I wouldn’t mind Ray Lindwall in for perhaps McGrath, but how could you omit McGrath anyway?
SOUTH AFRICA (published December 2009)
Barry Richards, Graeme Smith, Jaco Kallis, Graeme Pollock, Dudley Nourse, Aubrey Faulkner, Mike Procter, Shaun Pollock, John Waite(K), Hugh Tayfield, Allan Donald, Eddie Barlow(12th).
The readers poll differed with AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher and Dale Steyn replacing Nourse, Waite and Faulkner respectively.
I much prefer the jury’s selection which I believe is right on the money. Ironic that for a country that didn’t produce too many great spinners, SA have the legendary offie Tayfield and all-rounder leggie Faulkner in their all-time XI. Awesome batting and bowling depth!
NEW ZEALAND (published October 2009)
Glenn Turner, Stewie Dempster, Bert Sutcliffe, Martin Crowe, Martin Donnelly, John R Reid, Richard Hadlee, Dan Vettori, Ian Smith(k), Shane Bond, Jack Cowie, Chris Cairns(12th).
The readers poll had John Wright, Steve Fleming, Brendon McCullum and Cairns in the team in place of Dempster, Donnelly, Smith and Reid.
Clearly, many readers are unaware and unappreciative of the great qualities of batsmen Dempster and Donnelly, far and away two of the best players produced by NZ despite limited opportunities.
I reckon the jury was right on the money with their selections!
PAKISTAN (published May 2010)
Saeed Anwar, Hanif Mohammed, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Inzamum-Ul-Haq, Imran khan, Rashid Latif(K), Wasim Akram, Fazal Mahmood, Abdul Qadir, Waqar Younis. I nominate Mohammed Yousef as 12th man.
The readers had Wasim Bari and Shoaib Akhtar in for Rashid and Fazal. Once again, the jury has demonstrated a superior cricketing knowledge to the readers. Wasim Bari was a better all-round keeper to Rashid Latif, but the latter got the nod for superior batting ability.
SRI LANKA (published April 2010)
Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara(k), Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Arjuna Ranatunga, Chaminda Vaas, Ashanta de Mel, Somachandra de Silva, Rumesh Ratnayake, Muttiah Muralitharan. I nominate Thilan Samaraweera as 12th man.
The readers had two variations among the bowlers, paceman Lasith Malinga replacing de Mel and spinner Aajantha Mendis replacing de Silva.
Again the jury has pretty well got it right. However, I am uncomfortable with Sangakkara occupying the critical no.3 batting spot and keeping wickets as well.
I would bring in Prasanna Jayawardene as keeper/batsman, but I am stumped (sorry about the pun) as to whose expense! Perhaps either bowler paceman de Mel or leggie de Silva.
One final thing, no captains have been named. So I have offered the following selections:
England – WG Grace(c), Hammond(vc). However, with Grace not nominated, Hammond captain with Hutton his deputy.
Australia – Bradman(c), Miller(vc). Although Miller never captained Australia.
South Africa – Procter(c), Richards(vc). I acknowledge most would select Smith as captain.
New Zealand – Reid(c), Crowe(vc).
Pakistan – Imran(c), Hanif(vc).
Sri Lanka – Ranatunga(c), Jayawardene(vc).
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