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Tim Ponnusamy

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Joined June 2020

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Self confessed sporting fanatic and long suffering Liverpool and St Kilda fan Dream job is to be the ball-by-ball bloke on Cricinfo: 1.1 - Cummins to Burns. Dot Ball Cummins bowls a length ball outside off stump and Burns leaves.

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Great point and you’re just about right.

http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerOpponents.asp?PlayerID=3932

India's greatest-ever Test XI

https://www.theroar.com.au/author/timothy_ponnusamy7681/

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Hi Micko,
I’ve done one for Australia and England as well as a ROW X1 to play each side in their own country.
I’m currently doing my ROW X1 to play India in India – based mainly on record in India and the subcontinent.
I have to say the ROW articles are ones I enjoy the most of – they seem to throw up some obscure names that perhaps people don’t think of straightaway.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

I’d have to have Tommy Latham in there Micko. His record just about stacks up with any Kiwi opener in the history of the game.

Also have to put Rossco in there. Would love Fleming – one of the greatest skippers of all time but don’t think he stacks up to Taylor.

Nevertheless this Kiwi X1 article is coming mate, probably after my West Indies and South Africa X1s but coming.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Good enough to be in this side even if he couldn’t hold a bat.

That’s how good!

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Thanks for the kind words Zak.

I looked at playing an ‘extra batsman’ or all rounder in place of Ashwin, specifically because I’d select Kapil Dev as just a bowler alone but this batting lineup is actually pretty deep. Ashwin has 4 test hundreds and Kumble batting at 9 has 2.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

I remember that. A certain then only 27 year old Indian batsman made his side if I’m not mistaken.

The Australian cricket Immortals

Hi Barry,

Sorry when I say from a rugby league background, I meant vs AFL, Rugby Union and Soccer. Assumed you were a cricket nuffie as we all are.

You know the whole NSW vs Victoria and different way of looking at things. Those of us from Victoria aren’t as accustomed to the whole ‘Immortals thing’ There’s the AFL Legends section but that has about 30 people in it, not a select 8 or so.

If by associated with the sport you’re talking about things like coaching, commentating and being an administrator then Richie makes it for me. If it’s purely about cricketing performances he’d be down the list for me as great as he was.

The Australian cricket Immortals

Hi Paul,
Always a pleasure having you comment on these posts of mine!
I think the Indian spin bowling stocks are world class, it’s just the pace stocks that lack (for obvious reasons). People like Kumble, Ashwin, Bedi and even Chandrasekhar would come close to getting picked in other World X1s, although as per your point perhaps their averages and strike rates were not necessarily otherworldly.
As I have consistently done with these articles, I’m going to do a ROW X1 to play India in India. Stay tuned for that and let me know who you think would win a 5 Test series in India between that side and this one!

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Hi Cadfael,

Unfortunately I never saw Bedi or Prasanna play so my pick is based mainly on records and stats.

Bedi vs Ashwin was close, I didn’t think Prasanna was in the same bracket.

Nothing beats actually having watched someone play though I agree – the biggest deciding factor in my Bumrah pick!

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Haha. I’ve got to be the first Cricket Roar columnist in history who’s sparked intense Tony Abbott related discussion in the comments section. 😂 😂

Regardless I’m chuffed to see that there are two other Aussies out there who agree about the monarchy. Can only assume you two were in nappies in 1999.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Of those 11, I’d put Sobers, Pollock, Lara and Sangakkara in a class of their own as pure left handed batsmen. If you were to pick an All Time X1 from any country, those are the 4 that I think would come into most contention in the middle order.

Hayden would too as an opener but that’s slightly different given the competition for spots.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

You have no idea how hard I tried to fit VVS in this side.

His 281 in Eden Gardens in 2001 is still the best test knock I’ve ever seen and, I’d argue, the real turning point in Indian cricket.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Thanks Micko!

Great point re: great Indian left hand batsmen, certainly in Test cricket.

I think Yuvraj Singh and possibly Suresh Raina would come into contention in an All Time Indian ODI X1

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Sorry Arnab I’m with Bernie here mate. No disrespect to Ishant Sharma but I’d have even Shami ahead of him in the current Indian pace bowling pecking order and both of them a fair way behind Bumrah.

More so than actual numbers for me is the impact Indian pacemen have had in winning games for India overseas. As mentioned in my article, Bumrah was probably only second to Pujara as India’s player of the series in the 2018/19 Border Gavaskar trophy.

The real difference with this pace bowling lineup the Indians now have is that for the first time in their history its a lineup that’s consistently capable of bowling sides out twice in England, South Africa and Australia. For me that’s coincided with Bumrah’s arrival – as good as Sharma’s stats have been in that time.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Hi Arnab,

You reckon Bumrah isn’t India’s best Test quick at the moment? Wow. Would have to disagree there!

I did consider Javagal but I’d rank him alongside Ishant Sharma behind Zaheer, Bumrah and Mohammad Shami from the pacemen I’ve seen. My bias is obviously my age bracket and the fact that the closest I’ve paid attention to Indian cricket has been in series against the Aussies.

I always thought Srinath was average against Australia (he averaged 50 down under with the ball) and 39 in England.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

😂 😂 I think poor old Ajit was a fair way short of this team. Interestingly his stats as a ODI bowler are right up there with the best Indian ODI bowlers of all time.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Great write-up here Barry!

You’re obviously from a rugby league background and are used to having the Immortals distinction.

My biggest question (and I legitimately don’t know the answer) would be whether Immortal status takes into account both on-field and off-field contributions to cricket.

If so, then Richie is the second name selected behind Bradman. I’d also go with Allan Border in my 5. If not, then sub Richie out for DK Lillee in my opinion.

The Australian cricket Immortals

Hi Barry,

Thanks for the kind words.

I’ll be doing a ROW X1 to play India in India shortly. Would be keen to get your opinion on that one including who would win a game between this side and that in India.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Hi Anth,

I considered Chandrasekhar but he was a leg spinner and with Kumble in the lineup I thought it would make more sense to go with another type of spinner.

I understand that his name isn’t mentioned in the writeup but that was only because Kumble’s spot for mine wasn’t up for debate.

India's greatest-ever Test XI

Hi Sheek and TigerBill,

On Pollock and Sobers, slightly off topic but what would your all time left handers / left armers X1 be?

I’d go with:

Matthew Hayden
Alastair Cook
Kumar Sangakkara
Graeme Pollock
Brian Lara
Garfield Sobers (c)
Adam Gilchrist (wk)
Alan Davidson
Wasim Akram
Mitchell Johnson
Rangana Herath

12th Man – Alan Border

The best all-time combined Test team

Thanks for the kind words mate (what is your name btw so I can call you that) haha.

I’m planning to do India next so keen to hear your opinion on that!

The all-time Rest of the World XI to play England in England

……you’re joking right Rowdy?

Wouldn’t make your best Aussie X1 of cricketers without qualification?

Or do you mean your best Aussie X1 discounting all people called Don?

Wowweeee!!

The all-time Rest of the World XI to play England in England

Hi Pierro,

My god leaving Marshall out was tough! Maybe I should’ve just gone for the copout and put a touring squad of 15.

I think Steve Smith is one more great Ashes tour away from cementing the #5 spot too.

The all-time Rest of the World XI to play England in England

Really?

No arguments that he’s the best player but I haven’t read too much about his captaincy in positive light. Far more stuff about him having friction with people like Bill O’Reilly, Jack Fingleton, Keith Miller etc.

The all-time Rest of the World XI to play England in England

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