Remembering John Edrich's masterpiece
In what seems a lifetime ago, I wrote an article after David Warner’s 335* against Pakistan arguing that Warner should have been allowed to go for Brian Lara’s record.
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Joined February 2013
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Cricket nut. Red V. Man U.
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In what seems a lifetime ago, I wrote an article after David Warner’s 335* against Pakistan arguing that Warner should have been allowed to go for Brian Lara’s record.
Yep, you guessed it, yet another cricket team comprising a group of people with some vague connection.
In Jon Richardson’s current series of articles on the best cricketing birthplaces, he listed Seymour Nurse in his All Time Bridgetown XI.
Like many of you, I have very much enjoyed All Day Roseville’s series on Ashes teams by month of birth.
We finished yesterday’s review of matches where world-record innings were scored with Don Bradman’s famous 334 at Headingley.
Tim Paine’s decision to declare on David Warner on 335 not out in the second Test against Pakistan gave rise to debate as to whether Warner should have been given a crack at Brian Lara’s record 400.
In recent months cricket fans and media have become somewhat obsessed with Steve Smith, both with the amount of runs he has been scoring and how he’s been doing it.
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.
We finish with the Ws. As expected, this team is immensely strong and probably the most thrilling of all the teams.
After a three month hiatus while I wasted my long service leave watching the Australian cricket team in England, then held my breath for the current series, it’s time to finish the Alphabet XI series given there are only two teams to go.
There were some big decisions to be made in compiling this team. Which tearaway – the Terror or Typhoon?; which Hugh, Tayfield or Trumble?; where do I bat Trumper?; and how many of the 17 Taylors to have played Tests do I pick?
This team should be strong given the deep talent pool to choose from. However I did find it hard to compile given the number of similarly high quality openers and spinners and surprisingly few middle order options.
With the pairs of Richards (and sons) and Russells, as well as other high quality players, the ‘R’ Team is perhaps best described as ‘light heavyweight”’– strong and powerful but just below a few of the others. Still, this is a very strong team.
We are coming round the bend now, with the home straight in sight. This is the supercomposite team including all the letters that you love getting in Scrabble but wouldn’t like to pick a team from .
The P Team is an interesting one in that there are five or six current international cricketers who might reasonably earn a spot in the team by the time their careers have ended.
This is my first composite team and as you’ll see, perhaps it needed a few more letters to make it more competitive.
We have back to back heavyweights with the ‘M’ Team looking every bit as strong as the ‘L’ Team (noting there are more ‘M’s who have played Test cricket than any other letter):
With some of the composite teams coming up, we are now past the half way mark of this marathon. To date, the B Team and the H Team are the stand outs and it’s fair to say that they won’t be challenged by the K Team.
The all time ;J’ Team is next and as you can see the Jayawardenes and Johnsons are doing a good job of keeping up with the Jones’.
Yep, an absolute WTF moment.
Still, they had 3 shots at it from 8 yards.
The bizarre coaching decision that might have cost the Packers a Super Bowl
Sangha can tour but I’d hate him to play. He could be a red ball, gun in a few years but not if he’s being brought up in T20.
Where’s Ashton Turner?
And am I the only one who thinks that Chris Green is a club cricketer?
Tanveer Sangha and Wes Agar are in my Aussie T20I squad for NZ tour
Is Inglis really the best glove man in Shield? ( I haven’t seen enough of him to know).
My Australian Test squad to face South Africa
Every large organisation has a D&I officer these days.
CA won't mention Australia Day to promote BBL games, and the Prime Minister has had a big whinge about it
On the other hand, India just won the unwinnable test with a bunch of T20 cricketers.
Australia's reliance on the 'Big Four' is hindering them
Neser clearly should have played in Brisbane (as a few Roar contributors suggested) after Starc’s lacklustre performance in Sydney.
Also, Cam Green’s bowling was disappointing which didn’t help for Cummins’ workload.
Going forward, Cummins and Haze should be red ball only for Australia. Pay them not to play white ball cdi key because they are way too valuable.
Australia's reliance on the 'Big Four' is hindering them
They are just putting up a graphic now which shows that on the last 13 years, 3 teams have scored 296+ in the 4th innings for losses, including the Pakistan effort with 450 a couple of years ago.
Should Australia have declared at tea?
President Allan Border has a nice ring to it.
Three Australian cricketers who deserved a knighthood
Bradman and Richard Hadlee of New Zealand are the only two cricketers to be awarded such an honour while still playing the game.
Not sure that’s quite right. Alastair Cook is still playing.
I reckon Steve Waugh would be near the front of the queue as well.
Three Australian cricketers who deserved a knighthood
There is certainly a lot to like with Green, not the least him putting a price on his wicket.
Wade and Harris can learn from Green's old-school batting
This is looking like a very good call!
After an exhausting week off the field, it’s time to play cricket
My point is that they aren’t likely to be the words used in such a situation.
After an exhausting week off the field, it’s time to play cricket
India’s odds out to 14s. That seems very high in a two horse race.
Predicting India's strategy for the Gabba decider
While I am no expert on the mind of an overt racist, “brown dog” doesn’t feel like the sort of thing someone would randomly say in that situation.
After an exhausting week off the field, it’s time to play cricket
I really don’t like this resting of test players by not playing them in a test match.
Three English players under the pump in Sri Lanka
Yep. India’s only real chance is if it bats first against a still tired Australian bowling line up.
After an exhausting week off the field, it’s time to play cricket
There are no other openers in the squad unless you move Wade to open and Moises at 5.
Will Pucovski ruled out of Gabba Test as Australia confirm XI
It’s hard enough having one prima donna nut job on your team – the Nets now have two. Harden and Kyrie have a history of dissing team mates – this has disaster written all over it.
The winners and losers of the James Harden trade
Wouldn’t you rely on your MVP QB rather than your D against the GOAT?
The bizarre coaching decision that might have cost the Packers a Super Bowl