Your Personal Dream Team

[Aislabie]

Okay so there's a lot of talk about All-Time XIs and stuff, but here's something completely different: your dream XI to go and watch play a cricket match.

There are no right or wrong answers here, just a bunch of completely subjective teams, and a whole lot of love for cricketers who have brought us some entertainment. My own team will be comprised of players I've watched in person, but yours don't have to be. It's your team.

(Also, if your team is for a certain format, please let everyone know)

 

[Aislabie]

Okay, so this is my team. And I've made it a Twenty20 team because that's what I'm most likely to go and watch.

1. Prithvi Shaw - Possibly the most gifted batsman I've ever seen. I could watch him bat all day and not get bored, which is exactly what I did when he was playing for India 'A' last year.
2. Matthew Wade - The opposite of Shaw; his batting was all bristling alpha dominance. Made an already weak Northants look like they'd never bowled before. Plus this is a T20 team so he doesn't need to be a proper red-ball grinder.
3. Mohammad Ashraful - I know most of the time he was pretty dreadful, but the one time I watched him was at Cardiff in 2005. Walks into my team like he walked on water that day against Australia.
4. David Sales - He was just such an ever-present when I used to go and watch Northants, and he'd always make runs. For years, I was convinced the bottom-hand short-arm shovel over mid-wicket for twelve was a viable shot because I'd seen him do it so often.
5. Michael Hussey - When I used to watch him at Northants he was an opener, but I'll put him in the slot he made his own. Very rarely have I watched anyone make batting look so simple.
6. Dan Christian - Potentially a bit of an odd selection, but after watching him hit a 40-ball hundred at the county ground, I will happily pay an entrance fee just on the off-chance he could do it again.
7. Rob Keogh - I've not picked him because he's a great batsman or bowler, though he is underrated in both facets, but because his fielding brings a whole new level of excitement to the game. Best fielder in county cricket by far.
8. Ben Scott - Such an underrated wicket-keeper; on TV I saw him stand uo to Dirk Nannes - in person I simply never saw him make a mistake. (And this was at a time when as a Northants fan I'd got used to Gerard Brophy and Riki Wessels as normal)
9. Tim Murtagh - Specifically the Lord's Test 2019 spec Murtagh, the Murtagh who bowled slower than me yet still rushed every England batsman. The Murtagh who had me and half of Lord's baying like madmen, believing the game was Ireland's to lose. That Murtagh.
10. Shane Bond - I watched two one-day internationals he played in, and I desperately regret that I can't remember more of his bowling. A fantastically skilled bowler with a beautiful action.
11. Matthew Anderson - A barely-known Australian spinner who emerged at a time when Warne, MacGill and Miller were spinning teams out for fun. I watched him play Grade cricket about ten years ago and he was still superbly skilful.

Is it balanced? Not exactly, but it's a T20 so it'll do. And that's the mad, impossible team I'd empty my bank account to watch.

 

[asprin]

I'll go for a Test team comprising of players that I have either seen live on TV or in person.

1. A. Cook - 7/10 times, you would expect him to see off the new ball. Doesn't count for great entertainment scoreboard wise but the skill at display more than makes up for it. Rarely have I seen a batsman not get bored of doing it so consistently.
   
2. V. Sehwag - Arguably the most destructive batsman of the 2000s and perhaps till date. With him at the crease, you're sure to witness a flurry of boundaries and a lots of oohs and aahs. Very demoralizing sight for any bowler.
   
3. R. Ponting - I don't think I have seen any other batsman own the #3 position as much as this guy has. K. Sangakkara came a close 2nd.
   
4. M. Azharuddin - Who can forget those wrists when it came to Azhar. I fondly remember watching him live and the way he was milking the bowlers, scoring heavily in the square leg and mid wicket region was a delight to watch. J. Kallis came a close 2nd.
   
5. G. Maxwell - You wouldn't really associate him as a Test player, but boy if it's his day you're sure of getting 10x times worth your money. I just cannot fathom how easy he makes hitting those big shots look so easy.
   
6. C. Hooper - Cool as a cucumber. Gives a very reassuring feeling when at the crease. Very useful spinner as well. N. Astle came a close 2nd.
   
7. M. Boucher - Not an exceptional batsman but his wicket keeping skills were as good as any. You would feel comfortable as a bowler (both pace and spin) knowing your keeper isn't gonna mess much behind the stumps. Andy Flower came a close 2nd.
   
8. C. Cairns - A bowler who was very decent with the bat as well. Always loved watching his swing in helpful conditions.
   
9. A. Kumble - A warhorse. You can expect 110% from him every time he takes the field. His intensity and grit (both while batting and bowling) is something I would pay to watch gladly.
   
10. S. Warne - The name itself is enough. The way is tries to outsmart the batsman is a treat to watch. Plus, he seems to be court controversy quite often, which can only add to the entertainment factor.
11. S. Akhtar - He is the opposite of V. Sehwag. What Sehwag does to bowlers, he does to batsmen. No matter how good a batsman you are/were, you will always be wary of him even if you're batting on a 100. A steaming Akhtar is a treat to the sore eyes. If there was one player from Pakistan that I had wished would have played for India, it's this guy. Not Imran, not Akram, no Waqar - but S. Akhtar.

 

[Aislabie]

N. Astle came a close 2nd

In my view, he played the best single innings in cricket history. If any batsman ever deserved to win a match single-handedly, it was Astle when he got his 222

 

[asprin]

In my view, he played the best single innings in cricket history. If any batsman ever deserved to win a match single-handedly, it was Astle when he got his 222

I remember that vividly because I had the privilege of watching it live. Absolutely destroyed the bowling.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

1. Rohit Sharma- Arguably the best limited overs batsman in modern day Cricket who was never consistent for about half a decade in his career but once he was send to open the batting in the limited overs format the rest was a history to remember.

2. Sachin Tendulkar- The Master Blaster is no short of being regarded as the best player in the history of the game. The man played his game for nearly 3 decades and he was ever so humble and passionate about the game, his country and in his personal life. He respected the game more than anyone else. He never played to succeed but he played to enjoy the game he loved. He was possibly the player because of whom I started watching this game.

3. Virat Kohli- Yet another modern day great who wanted to achieve dominance and be regarded as the best of the game. He actually never played to become the best for the world but he wanted to become the best for his Country and make them a Champion side in World Cricket. To make India a dominant side has been his only ambition. He is probably the fittest ever Cricketer to play the game. Mentally very strong and physically very stable for sure King Kohli can't be kept out of any side at Present.

4. Kumar Sangakkara- Probably the classiest batsman I have ever seen in my life. He was a wonderful player. His soothing cover drive is a sight for me to watch in Cricket. I have never seen any batsman who plays his shot with such perfection and still look so stylish and classy. 4 consecutive hundreds in 2015 World Cup is probably the best part of his long career.

5. AB de Villiers- Known as a slogger in his early days who was in the Proteas team just to accelerate the scoring rate De Villiers made his name even in the Test format and became one of the rare players to play more than 100 Test matches for South Africa. Infact he played 96 consecutive Test matches before he missed one just to be there at the place for the birth of his child. Probably the humblest and the most passionate player I have ever seen. His commitment towards the game was just brilliant.

6. MS Dhoni- This guy's knowledge about the game and his game awareness his just brilliant. He is probably the best minds in the World Cricket and equally successful as Captain. He was the only Captain in the history to win all coveted titles in World Cricket. As a wicket-keeper he was pretty average but he worked so hard and today we won't find any better keeper than him. His lightning fast stumpings are a sight to watch. He was very destructive as a batsman and he made himself a name as a finisher. He calmness and composure were the best qualities he had in himself.

7. Glenn Maxwell- The position I have given is probably unfair regarding the abilities that he possessed. This man widely regarded as The Big-Show has every Unorthodox Cricket shot in his book. He can strike the ball clean and long at his own will. He has the ability to hit boundaries to any delivery that a bowler can bowl. He is just that good. Most of the times I am dissapointed that he throws his wicket away but ability wise he was even better than someone like AB de Villiers.

8. James Faulkner- I mean I just can't forget the way he used to turn the game around for his side with his batting. The hundred that he scored in Bengaluru against India was just priceless. The way he won the game for his side against England in an ODI match at the Gabba back in 2014 certainly left everyone stunned. He was equally good death bowler and had the ability to swing the new ball as well.

9. R Ashwin- Although I agree he hasn't been as good as he used to be in the past but he is a very smart Cricketer and probably very under-rated. I think he has more varieties as a bowler than anyone else in world Cricket. He is the fastest to 350 Test wickets breaking the records of bowlers like Warne and Muralitharan. If you hear him talk about the game you will feel like the knowledge he has is just immense. Equally good batsman down the order who can strike the ball a real long way.

10. Zaheer Khan- How can I forget one of the best fast bowlers to have played for India. He was a very potent reverse swing specialist and a death bowler as well. He is someone who can swing the ball both ways. He was the highest wicket-taker in 2011 WC which won his side the World Cup after 28 years. Had it not been for injuries he would've been far better.

11. Jasprit Bumrah- A bowler with an awkward action who runs in like a trundler but as he gets momentum through his short run-up he starts gaining speed and throws thunderbolts towards the batsmen. He can bowl quick with equally effective slower balls. He can bowl some very good Yorkers and can swing the ball both ways even when he gets a little bit of help.

 

[ShamiLoverGlipGlops]

My ideal team for Test

1. Graeme Smith
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Younis Khan
5. Kumar Sangakkara
6. Shakib Al Hasan
7. Jason Holder
8. Daniel Vettori
9. James Anderson
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Henry Olonga

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

My ideal team for Test would be

Alastair Cook
Murali Vijay
Cheteshwar Pujara
Michael Clarke
Virat Kohli
Steven Smith
Matt Prior
Graeme Swann
R Ashwin
Dale Steyn
James Anderson

This is not the All-time Test XI but these are the players who have given me some good memories because of which I started enjoying Test Cricket and understood it's nature in a better way.

 

[Bevab]

I have two lineups corresponding to the two different time periods in which I have watched cricket. Part one of my lineup would be from the 2000s and the early 2010s around when I stopped watching cricket except for the occasional series or big tournament. In test cricket, this would be my lineup.

1. M. Hayden - incredibly powerful batsman who made his strength count. Had an insatiable appetite for centuries too. A true match winner who I was lucky enough to watch play for Chennai in the IPL.
   
2. V. Sehwag - he had issues with his footwork, was vulnerable when the ball started swinging, arguably lacked the desire to grind for extended periods of time and yet remains the one player who ensured that childhood me was not bored with the first session of a test. An entertainer whose absolute disdain for spinners will never cease to amuse me.
   
3. R. Ponting - incredibly good at playing anything back of the length and extremely good with the drive too. Not the most tactically adept captain but one who led his team by sheer willpower and excellent management skills. So good was he at batting that his fielding is often forgotten or underrated as he remains one of the best fielders in history especially at creating runout opportunities out of nowhere. A shame that his average dipped quite badly instead of remaining at around 58 like it did for most of his career.
   
4. S. Tendulkar - it was a treat to watch him in full flow with some of his shots being pure flair and perfection. Had the mental toughness to bounce back from his tennis elbow injury and constantly adapted to the changing world of cricket throughout two decades.
   
5. K. Pietersen - the word best to describe him would be mercurial. Arguably the most influential English batsman in recent history, Pietersen had almost every shot in the playbook practiced to perfection and could improvise upon a moment's notice with outrageous shots that others could simply not even imagine. His 186 in Mumbai is rightly considered as one of the greatest test innings' in Asia.
   
6. AB de Villiers - one of the most talented cricketers ever. Could guarantee you a 129(116) to push a lead into the unassailable territory or a 43(297) to try and desperately save the game with equal rates of success.
   
7. A. Gilchrist - redefined the role of a keeper batsman in test cricket. While there were keepers who could bat decently before him, none could do so with such success to rival even top order batsmen and also be one of the best keepers of his era. Nothing is more demoralizing than the fact that after you finally dismiss most of the invincible Aussie batting lineup, you have Gilly walking out to smash runs at a strike rate that made you question if he was playing an ODI.
8. M. Johnson - so rarely has someone dominated an entire series all by themselves. Yet that is exactly what Johnson did in the 2013 home Ashes with the help of his captain's tactic of short bursts of furious pace. Someone who had consistency issues throughout his career and yet I loved watching him bowl furious spell after spell in that glorious 2013-14 period of his.
   
9. D. Steyn - I rate him as the greatest test pacer in history simply because of his record everywhere he played. Pace? Swing? Accuracy? Steyn had them all. His unrelenting aggression and intensity made for some of the most entertaining spells ever.
   
10. M. Muralitharan - the spinner that I most loved watching. Murali's action was not the most beautiful, but it made him the most successful bowler in history. Had the endurance to bowl long spells that would have broken lesser men and was a very classy person off the field during troubling times in his home country.
    
11. G. McGrath - unlike my other two pacers, McGrath did not have pace that would have had batsmen quaking in their shoes. But what McGrath had was the ability to bowl without missing his mark or losing concentration. It amazed me back then that a bowler could bowl with such unnerving accuracy that batsmen would commit errors while playing him. McGrath beat the batsmen in a duel of concentration and it has always remained a source of fascination that a bowler could best a batsman in something that was supposed to be his strength.

Other players that I loved watching were D. Vettori, M. Jayawardene, G. Smith, S. Akhtar and B. Lara himself.

 

[A.P Haux]

This doesn't look like a proper dream team but it is a modern t20 team. These players are my favourite in the modern day cricket so this is actually kinda a dream team
1. Chris Gayle
2.Brendon Mccullum
3. AB de Villiers
4. Ben Stokes
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Thisara Perera
7. Shahid Afridi
8. Hardik Pandya
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Sunil Narine
11. Dale Steyn

 

[dasabhi]

According to current trends of Indian cricket, we can share and discuss the favorite players who performed best according to their position played and made a difference for the Indian cricket team. They are shared below with the love of bleeding blue.

1. Rohit Sharma (voted 57%)
2. Virender Sehwag (46%)
3. Virat Kohli (92%)
4. Sachin Tendulkar (97%)
5. Yuvraj Singh (61%)
6. MS Dhoni (98%)
7. Kapil Dev (79%)
8. Anil Kumble (78%)
9. Harbhajan Singh (46%)
10. Zaheer Khan (70%)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (66%)

 

[Alexei.]

Chris Gayle
Brendon McCullum
Babar Azam
Ab de Villiers
Jos Buttler
Glenn Maxwell
MS Dhoni
Mitchell Starc
M Amir
Trent Boult
Lasith Malinga

 

[Ed Smith]

1. - Alastair Cook
2. - Matthew Hayden
3. - Sachin Tendulkar
4. - Kumar Sangakkara
5. - Steve Smith
6. - Kevin Pietersen
7. - Adam Gilchrist
8. - Freddie Flintoff
9. - Shane Warne
10. - Muttiah Muralitharan
11. - Glenn McGrath

 

[El Loco]

Just based on individual cricketers that I've loved watching play over the years. I compiled it before I'd decided what format it would be in. Think I'll go with T20.
Really do miss the days when the Friends Provident Trophy was regularly broadcast on Sky Sports.

1. Will Jefferson
Absolute unit of a man, loved how he would use his height to get over the ball and pull it over yonder.
2. Shaun Marsh
Casting the mind back to how much of a novel phenomenon the IPL was when it first started out, I remember clearly how this guy, not previously known on the international stage before, absolutely smashed every bowling attack to smithereens.
3. Ian Bell
Warwickshire legend, elegant cover driver. Tailed off towards the end of his international career but I remember many a hundred he scored to rescue England out of the lurch.
4. James Hildreth
Feels like almost as long as I've watched cricket that I've waited for this guy to get an England cap, but it has just never come.
5. Abdul Razzaq
My favourite all-rounder of all time and an emphatic match winner. A proper clean striker of the ball, he could whack it into all areas of the park. Felt that Pakistan never made the most of his talent. Was always a bit miffed as to why he was never recalled back into the side. His century against South Africa with one wicket remaining is right up there with one of the best displays of brute hitting at the death I've ever seen.
6. MS Dhoni
With such an unorthodox technique, he was always either going to score zero or a hundred, and that made watching his performances very captivating for me.
7. Graham Napier
Great all-rounder and another player who was evaded by an England appearance. Played the most insane T20 innings I've ever seen at the expense of a downtrodden James Kirtley, despite the fact he by his own admission was more reliable as a bowler. And his bowling really was something to behold, regularly clocked up 90+ mph and banged in yorkers at the death. How this man was never awarded an IPL contract is beyond me.
8. Saeed Ajmal
Incredibly difficult spinner to read with loads of tricks up his sleeve. I particularly enjoyed the time when the rumour was being spread around that he had invented a new ball called the 'Teesra', which shrouded him in even more mystery
9. Umar Gul
For me one of the greatest T20 bowlers of all-time and another one with a great yorker in his armoury as well great movement off the seam. Impossible to forget his heroics in the 2009 World T20 where he was also the first bowler to ever take a 5-fer in a T20I. When he was brought on in the 13th over you knew it was gonna go down.
10. Allan Donald
Another Warwickshire legend and the only cricketer I've ever met in person. Formed a devastating new ball partnership with Shaun Pollock, one of South Africa's greatest ever fast bowlers.
11. Shane Bond
To express my love for bowlers who deliver a good yorker and not include this legend would be a cardinal sin, the late in-swing he could generate was absolutely exhilarating to watch. The first name I would search for on the NZ team sheet, but I'd mostly be left searching as injuries robbed me, and the rest of the cricketing world, of being able to see more of him.