My World XI

Having read the fascinating discussion between the Times' cricket correspondents, past and present, I thought about the greatest players that I've watched. The likes of Don Bradman, Alan Knott, Barry Richards and Garry Sobers were a bit before my time, and I never saw enough of Dennis Lillee at his peak. The XI that I've chosen has four West Indians and three Australians, with India and Pakistan sharing the final four places. That's probably a reflection of the fact that West Indies and Australia have dominated cricket over the time that I've watched it, while the subcontinent's dazzling talents have occasionally stopped them in their tracks.

1. Sunil Gavaskar: The most compact batsman I've ever seen. He once hooked his way to a 94-ball century against West Indies, while his final Test innings of 96 on a minefield in Bangalore was a masterclass in how to play the turning ball. Those 13 centuries against West Indies kill off any argument against his selection.

2. Gordon Greenidge: Just two words. Lord's 1984. That 214 in pursuit of an almost impossible target will linger long in the memory for the power and audacity of the strokeplay. If anyone's ever cut the cricket ball with more violence, I'd love to see it. Any suggestion that those averaging 50+ now are better players is positively laughable.

3. Vivian Richards: Just edges out Greg Chappell. No one I've seen has commanded the crease like he did, or had such presence. His century at the Kotla in 1987 was proof of his mastery of all conditions. Also, how many batsman have you seen who could pick the ball up from outside off stump and deposit it nonchalantly over the fence at square leg?

4. Sachin Tendulkar (right): There's no need to go into any technical details here. How many could have dealt with such unbearable pressure and delivered such excellence for so long? Some of us thought that he might struggle in Australia earlier this year. Instead, he made two centuries and 494 runs. Genius.

5. Brian Lara: No one has given us batting voyeurs more pleasure over the past two decades. The languid elegance, the footwork against spinners, and his ability to find the gaps in the field were matchless. His batting against Murali on the 2001 tour of Sri Lanka was from a different planet.

6. Imran Khan: Of the great allrounders of the 1980s, he was a class apart. Technically good enough to bat in the top order, he was also the master of swing. And you'll never see a more magnificent action.

7. Adam Gilchrist: There can't have been many who became all-time greats after making their debuts so late. Until his keeping slipped up late in his career, he was competent and often brilliant behind the stumps. With the bat, he could be a tornado. South Africa suffered the most back in 2001-02.

8. Shane Warne: No other bowler I've seen had such an aura about him. Even in the IPL, bowling the one that went on straight, he'd still befuddle batsmen with the force of his personality. I'd agree with the Times panel and make him captain as well.

9. Wasim Akram (left): Once the pace dropped a bit, he concentrated on swing, cut and guile. He could do things with the cricket ball that most can only dream of. When most of the world's greatest batsmen tell you that he was the one they least wanted to face, it means something.

10. Malcolm Marshall: I've never seen a more intimidating or consistently aggressive bowler. Physically unremarkable, he was quick, skiddy and clever. As lethal with the bouncer as he was with the one that pitched up and deviated off the seam.

11. Glenn McGrath: The water-torture man - drip, drip, drip till the batsman gave up. He gave you next to nothing to hit, and used bounce and subtle movement better than anyone else I've seen. Took his batting more seriously than most No.11s too.

Comments

[Pete]

Strange.
I thought I said "Sachin Tendulkar has just got to be the greatest batsman of the generation." etc...

[Al]

"Tendulkar overrated"?
Considering that he has been "overrated" by practically all the great cricketers from Bradman down to Lara,Ponting and co. for almost 20 years.....

don't you think that it is far more likely that the tendulkar baiters/fans who profess to some knowledge about cricket are in fact "overrating" their own self acclaimed knowledge?

[John Orford]

"Tendulkar overrated. Period." Evidently Pete is from the USA. Congratulations, the only person there who understands cricket.

[Umair]

Hi Dileep,

I think the best and most conclusive way to select a World XI which incldes the opinions of all concerned would be to ask the journos, ex-players, commentators and current players on their XI (post 70's or whatever criteria) and also get some views of cricket fans. Then tally up the most chosen players and voila you have your formidable list.
It may take a bit of time to gather opinions and do the stats but hey it would make great reading.

What do you think?

[ktom]

Any team that has Steve Waugh or Fred Flintoff cannot be considered a serious World XI. Waugh only ever played for himself, and was lucky to have a magnificent side around him. Flintoff is flash in the pan who will be cut down by chronic injury before he gets a chance to really prove himself over the long run. Definitely no place for any Englishman.

[Shanil]

Well, I know I'm going to get shot down, but here goes:

My test cricket XI From players I have seen…. (and at their very best)

Greenidge (pretty much throughout his career)

Tendulkar (before the elbow injury, but pretty damned useful after it as well)

Ponting (after the Kings Cross tranny incident in the 90s)

Richards V (pretty much throughout his career)

Waugh S (c) (after he got reinstated to the team, and up to and including the Ashes series where he hurt his leg)

Gilchrist (95% of his career)

Flintoff (24 months leading up to and including Ashes 2005)

Warne (pretty much throughout his career)

McGrath (pretty much throughout his career)

Murali (95% of his career)

Ambrose C (95% of his career)

My only real toss-up was Ambrose vs Akram. There’s no way McGrath can be dropped because of his wicket tally, but Ambrose nudges past Akram because at his best he was just damned scary. You could have got him to stand at the wicket and glare while someone else bowled.

Down side – three absolute bunnies at the end, although McGrath was much improved. But on the plus side the top 5 on average have scored 9,781.20 runs at an “average” average of 51.94, so in theory Gilchrist would come in “on average” with the scorecard reading close to 200-250 for 4. Add to that Gilchrist and Flintoff at their best, and it’s a pretty potent batting line up which can afford a couple of bunnies. I reckon the 4 bowlers plus all rounders could defend any total above 150 on any ground in the world.

Unlucky to miss out – Lara (loses to Ponting – too irresponsible), Mohammad Yousuf (only two brilliant seasons compared with Ponting), Pietersen (too new and could not cane the Kiwis), Waqar (moustache), Brett Lee (his brilliant period is still a bit new), really unlucky was Mike Atherton, but Greenidge just tipped him. Bonus for Atherton would have been not having to face McGrath or Ambrose who were the only two bowlers to really have his number. I think Hayden was also pretty unlucky, but he’s a to$$er so it doesn’t matter.

Let’s not forget Geraint Jones… (sorry)

[I like it]

I like the team except one change-- I would keep 2 spinners and 3 pacers combination. So Murali has to be there in place of either Marshall or Wasim.

[Theeban]

my world eleven would be
Brain Lara
Kumar Sangakara
Ricky Ponting
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Steve Waugh
Imran Khan
Wasim Aram
Shane Warne
Curtly Ambrose
Muttiah Muralitharan.

[Dileep]

Interesting that you don't mention who you would drop from this "pathetic" team to accommodate Kallis? Lara? Tendulkar? Viv the Greatest?

[MIlan]

where is jacques kallis on the list. Come on guys this team is pathetic without without kallis but good thing mcgrath is on it though

[shilbhadra datta]

indeed , its very interesting to read all the comments , arguments and counter arguments about the value of each player. therefore the various world xi's that have been selected and posted. however, what i do find not so clearly written is the criterion for the selection and the period taken into consideration. please note that i've seen all my matches live at the eden gardens, kolkata.

the selection , i'm making is takes 1972-1973 as the staring year and summer of 2008 as the end of the period. the sole criteria to select players is that they should be primarily artists who give spectators a visual delight yet are aggressive and quite cut above the average . the team will have three fast bowlers, two spinners, one all rounder, one wicket keeper,four regular batsmen . this team shall play only test and one day matches.

World Artists XI ...........
sunil gavaskar, sachin tendulkar, brian lara, zaheer abbas, vvs laxman, david gower, kapil dev, wasim akram, jeffery dujon, bhagawat chandrashekher, erapalli prasanna, micheal holding, mark waugh, glen mcgrath, mahela jayawardane,

there are fifteen players in this team to be managed by ian chapple.

thank you,
shilbhadra datta.

[tom]

I think it's impossible to pick an all time team, so here's the Present Day World XI ( present day being 2002-)

Hayden
Tendulkar
Ponting
Lara
Pietersen
Flintoff
Gilchrist
Warne
Akram
McGrath
Muralitharan

[Pete]

Finally,someone with some good sense.
Sachin Tendulkar has just got to be the greatest batsman of the generation.
Take into account all forms of the game and he has a good case as the greatest ever(with due apologies to the Don)... the dreary boring tendulkar baiters notwithstanding.

[Ravesh]

Tendulkar overrated. Period. Put Dravid in there, a much more reliable performer, or Ponting. Other than that, the list is passable. Perhaps Laxman at 5 or 6.

[Venkat Reddy]

Any all time great test team that does not feature Rahul Dravid to me is a waste of time.To me he is easily India's best player over the last 15-20 years and one of the all time greats.I think you can throw Sachin out and put Dravid in there.And this comes from the biggest Sachin fan there ever has been.

[Tony Mason]

Thanks for the laugh with your wicket-keeper selection. A team like this with its superlative batting would be fine even if the keeper was guaranteed to make a pair every match, so you go for the greatest keeper. Gilly was a genius but can't seriously be considered to be in the top 100 wicket-keepers of all time. Either Alan Knott or Bob Taylor must guard the sticks.

[Ash]

I think Laxman should be there
Also Fleming - he was a good batsman but a remarkable captain.

[P James]

I'd be tempted to throw in Stephen Fleming as an opener... not for his batting but because he's the best captain i've seen... And any team with the likes of Bradman, Lara, Tendulkar, Richards... is definitely gonna still get runs!

[The Pav]

Just imagine

Lillee, Holding Ambrose pounding in at Sunny Gordon, Lara & Viv on a good boucy WACA wicket

Could life get any better!!!

[Alex H]

What! no Dravid, Ambrose, Bradman or Sobers

[subramanian]

No arguments here. Every position is well-thought out and I bet there can't be a better team. I would try to pick an alternate side to match yours, strictly from those who I have watched (mostly post 90's)

1.Matthew Hayden
2.Gary Kirsten
3.Kumara Sangakkara(mainly to free up a wk slot)
4.Ricky Ponting
5.Jaques Kallis(edges out Dravid)
6.Inzamam-Ul-Haq
7.Andrew Flintoff(edges out Pollock)
8.Curtly Ambrose
9.Waqar Younis
10.Muthiah Muralitharan
11.Allan Donald

The biggest question is-who is the No.11?

[junior]

I think you should pick the top team of the decade and then pick a world XI to oppose the world team.Then you will get a better perspective of the best.when we check batsmen scoring runs--we need the check not only the opposition but also the wicket on which the 100s were scored.Also where wickets were taken and against whom.Lile everyone saying lara vs murali.But when murali took 400 test wickets,330 wickets were right-handers.That means only 70 wickets were left-handers.That's about 16-17% of wickets.So that doesn't say much for murali vs left-handers.No wonder lara was successful,knowing brian as well he would have known that to.thanks.

[NMC]

Dileep

A very good choice, I disagreed with the team athers selected. Regarding who is better Hadlee or Imran, Hadlee admitted in a interview that out of us four (Hadlee,imran,botham & Kapil) IMRAN was the best because he was very consistent and could bat at no.4 at test level.

[Aparna]

1>Mathew Hayden
2>Virendar shewag
3>Brain Lara (missed out- Pointing/Dravid>
4>Sachin tendulkar
5>Jaque Kallis (missed out- Kevin peitersen/VVS Laxman )
6>Adam Gilchrist (missed out- Sangakara )
7>Shane Warne
8>Wasim Akram
9>Glenn Macgrath
10>Muttaih Muralitharan
11>Shoaib Akthar

[Adeel Anwar]

my team would be .

Sunil Gavaskar
Don bradman
Viv Richards
Rahul Dravid
Brian Lara
Inzamam ul Haq
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Micheal Holding

Gavaskar at the top but he was the most compact opener i have ever seen. Extremely intelligent. Never gave his wicket away. Deserves the opening spot when u need to see off the new balls and frustrate the new ball ballers.

Bradman. He has to be in any BEst TEST side. A near hundred avg at top of the order. Gets his spot automatically.

Viv Richards. The mayestro of ruthless batting. HE was strong and most importantly Fearless. Urged on for a challenge and mostly won it as well. Beat the bowlers to submission.

Rahul Dravid. He's my personal FAV a lot of ppl might object on this but for a test team a wall like him when wickets tumble up the order. Always performed well against leading teams. He is a batsmand to depend on. Might have lost a form a lil but still in his haytime he was the best around

Brian Lara. Plays pace and spin equally well. He has more match winning and match saving innigs to his name. He was the sole warrior at times for westindies with 100 plus scores when the team tubled at 300 or so.. shows his class and his ability to play under pressure.

Inzamam ul Haq. Probably the most underated batsman of all times. The big bear has played hell lot of inngings under pressure and came out successfull at hte other end. THe innings agains bangladesh was one of the most amazing comebacks. the pressure of losing against the test minnows with only two wickets to support him. He showed his class.

Adam Gilchrist. I was kinda stuck between Knott and gilli but then i had to hand it to Gilli. He changed the face of the game by his powerhouse batting. He smacked 100's at numbe 7 has a test avg above 50.

Imran khan i'd name the captain because as good an allrounder he was he was better with marshalling his team around. the only captain of pakistan that made the team a true pro unit. His aggression as a captain was always applaudable. and with bowlers like wasim warny and holding he could really go for it.

Wasim Akram. arguable the best left armer to touch the cricket field. He was a magician with the cherry... or oranges as qouted by boycott lol.. and a batting to add a lil plus.. he's right in there. i'd get him to open the bowling with HOlding.

Shane Warne. THe spinner of the century. Clever mysterious aggressive one of the great captains aussies never had. He used to work the batsman out... he had a terror zone of his own. he has to edge on murli.

Micheal Holding. I love the tag he got "whispering Death".. i used to copy his action as well during my bowling. a sight to watch. truly an aggressive yet intelligent bowler.

Thats my eleven.. 12th man will be Glenn Mcgrath coz we can always switch with a batsman depending on the conditions of the pitch when we need one extra bowler.