Now that I have completed my series of articles on All Time XIs by the alphabet, I thought it would be worthwhile opening the decision on which team is best to you Roarers.
What I would like to know from you is pretty simple: which team is the best and why?
I’ll remind you that the match is to be played on late 90s or early 00s Gabba wicket in good weather.
In my lifetime, that has pretty much been the fairest wicket in world cricket offering something for everyone.
To get you started, I have taken the liberty of listing below the four teams that I think are the strongest. That said, if you think another team is worthy of mention in this company please feel free to do so. The full list of teams can be found here.
The four teams I believe are the strongest are:
The B Team
1. Warren Bardsley
2. Sir Geoffrey Boycott
3. Sir Donald Bradman (c)
4. Ken Barrington
5. Allan Border
6. Sir Ian Botham
7. Richie Benaud
8. John McCarthy Blackham (wk)
9. Sir Alec Bedser
10. Bishan Singh Bedi
11. Sydney Barnes
The H Team
1. Sir Jack Hobbs
2. Sir Leonard Hutton (c)
3. George Headley
4. Wally Hammond
5. Neil Harvey
6. Michael Hussey
7. Ian Healy (wk)
8. Sir Richard Hadlee
9. Harbhajan Singh
10. Sir Wes Hall
11. Michael Holding
The L Team
1. Justin Langer
2. Bill Lawry
3. Maurice Leyland
4. Brian Lara
5. Clive Lloyd (c)
6. VVS Laxman
7. Dennis Lindsay (wk)
8. Ray Lindwall
9. Jim Laker
10. Dennis Lillee
11. George Lohmann
The W Team
1. Bill Woodfull
2. Sir Frank Worrell (c)
3. Sir Clyde Walcott
4. Sir Everton Weekes
5. Steve Waugh
6. Doug Walters
7. Wasim Akram
8. Wasim Bari (wk)
9. Shane Warne
10. Waqar Younis
11. Courtney Walsh
I would also recommend Roarers check out the M Team and the G Team – both immensely strong as well.
So, who would win the Best of the Best Test and why?
James T
Guest
Replace murali with macgill and the m's and g's definitely have the bowlers to compete with these in bris. If we assume all players are at their best then none of the bowlers here can contain Lara at his best, then there's lindwall and lillee to bowl them to victory.
JGK
Roar Guru
I used the howstat website as the arbiter of what letters players fell under.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I like the H Team. At this moment in time, I'd have Brad Haddin keeping. Isn't it a little unfair to have Akram, Bari and Younis as W's, or is that a cultural thing?
JGK
Roar Guru
So, no takers for the H team?
JGK
Roar Guru
Hi Mark Abdul Qadir is in the A team and Mo Yo is in the M team.
Mark
Guest
Hi JGK I would like to improve the Multi team (QXYZ) two players I would like to consider Abdul Qadir and Mohammad Yousef formerly Yousef Youhana. Two more captains YY 90 Tests and 7530 runs and 288 ODI and 9720 runs. AQ legspinner great before Warne 67 Tests and 236 wickets ODI 104 and 132 wickets. Also listed in Richie Benaud's Greatest XI and Graham Gooch rates him higher than Warne. This team probably has to play in UAE as the Karachi and Lahore games might be forfeits.
Lancey5times
Guest
I agree that W would edge out B. My reasoning, and I may get in trouble for this, is that in an all-time 11 I don't think Botham is strong enough to bat at 6. This side has 2 number 7's (it also may not need anyone to bat below 4;))
Lancey5times
Guest
I think if G won the toss and survived the first session 0 or 1 down they could bat any side out of this. Love to see them up against H/L
JGK
Roar Guru
Do you think the Ws bowling is better than say the Ls or the Ms?
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi JGK, Wonderful exercise. I was looking for the team that provided the X-factor, but you haven't listed it! ;-) I reckon I will go with the Ws but only if they can contain Bradman of the Bs to a reasonable score. Otherwise, I reckon they have them covered. Aggressive batting plus strong & varied bowling.
nanda
Guest
B and W seem equally strong. However inspite of Bradman, I would think the Ws have the edge. With the 3 Ws and a bowling to die for will b difficult to beat in any condition and in any era