3 formats: 3 teams (What If?)

[ddrap14]

I'm going to quickly drop in with a slightly different 45-man grouping: a 15-man squad for all three formats, divided by birth year (21st century, 1994-1999, and 1993 and older).

Young Squad

1. Sam Konstas - As much as there's questions about his Test future, he walks into that side and probably the LO ones too for young people only.
2. Cam Kellaway - Again, I don't think any current Aussie player is as overhyped as Kellaway - he's not been better than Sangha, K-Pat or Ward and people think he's the future of the Test team - but he's clearly one of our better young options.
3. Oliver Peake - Maybe he's not quite here YET, but I certainly believe in him as a Test/ODI player more than I do the other options for this slot (Sam Fanning mainly).
4. Cam Green - Without pesky elders like Steve Smith, Green can slot into his natural position. I'm a huge believer in him, I think he and Pucovski (F) are this generation's best young Aussie talents.
5. Ollie Davies - I'm very high on Davies. He's a good young aggressive batsman. I don't think he's as good as Travis Head, but I think he's the kind of guy we need to build up towards succeeding him.
6. Cooper Connolly - Still clearly wet around the ears, but anyone who does what he did to us two years ago in the BBL final at 20 is a quality player. He's going to be one of our key limited overs players once he's got more experience and maturity.
7. Lachie Shaw - My reaction to his first BBL campaign was as follows: the bloody Sixers got another one??? He's the gloveman almost by default in this side, but I do think if another one comes up, his fielding is even more of an asset than his batting.
8. Will Salzmann - Let me have my bolter. Salzmann has been incredibly impressive in the OD chances he's got with NSW, and he clearly has the talent to succeed at other levels once NSW have space for him in the team. (or, more likely, he leaves for South Australia).
9. Todd Murphy - Spinner for first class matches. He's clearly good enough. He's kinda ass at limited overs though.
10. Fergus O'Neill - Is he fast enough? Some say no. Does he take enough wickets? Everyone says yet. He's not Glenn McGrath, but he proves the same principles work.
11. Mahli Beardman - Is definitely fast enough. Lots of promising names in this crop of quicks - the QLD Toms, Jack Nisbet, Sam Elliott - but none have Mahli's hype.
12. Jayden Goodwin - The sole backup batsman in this side, Goodwin's the least hyped of WA's big three batting talents, but also the best. He's not Aus level yet, but if it's politically possible, he could be a good asset for the Zimbabwe national team. (I showed restraint and didn't make this Weibgen).
13. Jack Edwards - Increasingly a bowling all-rounder, but easily good enough for this squad as a bits and pieces backup across all three formats.
14. Mitch Owen - Not a Test option, but walks into the LO side. Hits the biggest ball in Australia, and hits it regularly.
15. Tanveer Sangha - Limited overs spinner. Got the flexibilty to take him because two of my backup bats in this bracket bowl seam.

Medium Squad
1. Jake Weatherald - Sneaks in by two months. Not a massive limited overs factor, but what he brings is solid first class form, and the capability to disintegrate an attack in T20s with his hitting.
2. Matthew Short - Not entirely sure he makes the Test side for this grouping, but has to be the first name in the ODI batting lineup. A properly good limited overs batsman.
3. Nathan McSweeney - In this squad, he's got the freedom to bat at his natural #3. A quality player, although it was clear the Test ordeal shook him a bit last year.
4. Jason Sangha - A first class average of 33 doesn't tell the full story, as Sangha is a hyped player who was - like everyone else then - mismanaged by NSW's horrid attempt at an academy structure. He's found his form in SA and I'd be surprised if he doesn't get a baggy green in the next 2-3 years.
5. Ben McDermott - Is of course a much better player in limited overs, but can Do a Job in all three formats. I didn't think I'd ever see an innings like his 113 again at the time.
6. Aaron Hardie - I rate Hardie just as much as I rate Green in limited overs cricket. He's another who's not quite as great at first class but literally who is in this age bracket...
7. Josh Inglis - Him.
8. Jhye Richardson - Oh if only he could stay healthy. Then the fast bowling cartel would have five members. It'd be getting close to the mafia...
9. Brendan Doggett - In here over Dwarsh because the rest of my quick bowling picks are all LO tilted. Doggett's one of the best domestic FC bowlers at the moment.
10. Matthew Kuhnemann - Clearly the first choice spinner for this bracket now that Sweppo is washed. Heat legend too for turning down the move.
11. Riley Meredith - Maybe too many express bowlers here, but hard to leave out such a great limited overs bowler.
12. Matthew Renshaw - A lot of people forget he's only 29. He's also an incredibly underrated limited overs batsman, so even if the Test form never returns - and I do think if he can get it back he can succeed at the international level - he's a useful bench player at worst.
13. Tim David - A true black ace, he's never going to play a Test but is such a gun at the limited overs formats he gets a spot in the squad here.
14. Xavier Bartlett - A workhorse who's a like for like for Richardson if he goes down, and also probably starts all our ODIs and T20s. I love this dude
15. Nathan Ellis - Had Spon here, but when I remembered Ellis, I thought he fit in better. Proper grinder, bowls the hard overs, and can hit a few too

Old Squad
1. Usman Khawaja - With only geriatrics allowed, he's even more obviously the best choice opener.
2. Kurtis Patterson - This spot goes to Davey Warner for LO purposes if I don't follow his retirement IRL. With him gone, K-Pat moves up from three to two, giving a spot in the squad to...
3. Hilton Cartwright - I'll give the point to anyone who complains about this option, but with at least two if not three picks who only make the Test XI, plus two who only make the one-day Xis, we need all-format players, and Cartwright can be a competent all-format player.
4. Steve Smith - Let the easy picks roll!
5. Travis Head - Another one
6. Beau Webster - And another
7. Alex Carey - And yet another
8. Mitch Starc - Oh and now we've hit the
9. Pat Cummins - Fast
10. Josh Hazlewood - Bowling
11. Scott Boland - Cartel
12. Nathan Lyon - Realistically is of course in the first 11, but I couldn't break up the joke
13. Marnus Labuschagne - Turbowashed, but still worth a squad position in case he figures out how not to be.
14. Glenn Maxwell - Let's be honest, he's gotta be in the T20 side. If this means that we don't have enough guys for the ODI one, get the Bison on speed dial.
15. Adam Zampa - Replaces Lyon in limited overs games.

Near misses: Will Sutherland, Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Sean Abbott, Michael Neser

 

[ddrap14]

Next country!

Young Squad
1. Lhu-andre Pretorius - He's just kinda really good? This is what we thought Sam Konstas was when he ramped Bumrah. I love this kid's game.
2. Connor Esterhuizen - A solid limited overs player and a... okay, he's not very good at first class, but we'll hire someone on the bench for that.
3. Jordan Hermann - The next man up, he's really got the quality to play all three formats internationally. And the results.
4. Dewald Brevis - Just starting to emerge into being a truly international quality batter. Strong domestic performances, and very strong at T20 especially.
5. Tristan Stubbs - At the very least, Stubbs is a T20 asset. He's still finding his game in Tests but he certainly has a lot of promise.
6. Bryce Parsons - The spinning allrounder will probably be the main spinner here. Had a bit of a breakout in SA20 last year.
7. Tiaan van Vuuren - Can you tell I was running out of batting options?
8. Marco Jansen - In a fight with Cam Green for the tallest man in world cricket. In a fight with the best in the world for best left-arm quick.
9. Matthew Boast - A strong bowler, Boast is a pick for someone who might get some limited overs cricket with South Africa's national team soon, although he's also good enough for first class. Also a solid T20 hitter.
10. :Bwl: Gerald Coetzee - Has fallen out of favour somewhat internationally, but easily makes this team given what he's up against in terms of competition.
11. Kwena Maphaka - One of the most talented teenage bowlers since Pat Cummins. South Africa's cartel is almost as good as ours.
12. Dian Forrester - Kind of went crazy last season with 60+ averages in one day and a solid first class average too. Overall, Pretty Good.
13. Keegan Lion-Cachet - A solid young keeper and also one of the few batsmen I could possibly find.
14. Andile Simelane - I really do not rate this guy. But he's made his senior international debut at 22, and the depth here isn't great.
15. Nqaba Peter - A starting spinner for limited overs cricket. He's still developing his craft, but has some promise - much necessary with the ages of Maharaj, Shamsi and co.

Medium Squad
1. Aiden Markram - He's the reason why South Africa have finally won an international final. Full stop. No ifs, no buts.
2. Ryan Rickelton - I rate Rickelton highly, he's a good solid keeper batsman who can provide international quality performances across all three formats.
3. Tony de Zorzi - Not the biggest de Zorzi fan personally, but he's worth a backup pick, especially for ODIs sicne Rickelton likely won't open in them.
4. Matthew Breetzke - He averages 116 in ODIs! Jokes aside, probably a FC bench player but a starter in the limited over formats.
5. David Bedingham - Probably a FC only player but a hell of one at that. Dominated County in one of its more bowler friendly eras, and then slotted back in to CSA.
6. Kyle Verreynne - Good enough to bat in the top six. I remember watching him make 64 on a South African tour where they couldn't buy a run.
7. Wiaan Mulder - It's crazy to say this about someone with a Test 367 on the books but I do think he's a more natural fit at 7 than he is at 3, especially with South Africa's glut of batsmen-wicketkeepers.
8. Senuran Muthusamy - Him or Bjorn Fortuin. Take your pick.
9. Nandre Burger - beef
10. Lungi Ngidi - Somewhat harmed by the fact that Rabada is in the same bracket. But still worthy of being here all on his own.
11. Kagiso Rabada - One of the most dominant bowlers of this generation, he's an automatic pick in the team.
12. Lesego Senokwane - A terrible showing against Zimbabwe, but a good first class season means he gets in as the backup.
13. Donovan Ferreira - The ultimate utility player, Ferreira is a backup batsman, spinner and wicketkeeper. He's probably good enough with the bat in LO anyway to make it here.
14. Corbin Bosch - I personally think Bosch is also a tad overrated - his international averages are inflated by Zimbabwe - but he's a very handy all-round player.
15. Beyers Swanepoel - I simply cannot ignore results like Swanepoel's. He's dominated first class cricket for years now.

Old Squad
1. JJ Smuts - Old openers are definitely questionable for South Africa, with Elgar retired especially so. Smuts provides a bowling option and is a good LO hitter. He's okay at first class.
2. Pieter Malan - The other opener is much more of a Test player than Smuts is. He's good at OD too though, and deserved more than one Test.
3. Rassie van der Dussen - An experienced head with ability and history in all three formats, he's the kind of cricketer you want around the side.
4. Temba Bavuma - South Africa's captain has shaken a monkey off his back in late years, turning into a fittingly good bat for the World Test Champions.
5. Heinrich Klaasen - Bending the rules. I can't find another wicketkeeper, and I assume he's treated better by CSA in this reality.
6. David Miller - Not a Test pick, but automatic for LO sides. Smashes the ball, and with Heinrich Klaasen retired (F), the best finisher here.
7. Shaun von Berg - SVB is old now, but he definitely should have been more capped, and he's still leading the CSA 4-day tournament in wickets in his age-38 season.
8. Glenton Stuurman - Perhaps lacking in pace, Stuurman is definitely not missing any wicket taking ability. He's got a lot of them in domestic. And he provides something different to Anrich and Beuran.
9. Keshav Maharaj - Maharaj had a long route to get to being one of the best spinners in the world, but he got there. While comparing him to Garry could be a stretch, both our countries will miss them when they leave.
10. Anrich Nortje - A bruising quick. Nortje is a guy who's just really tough to face. Still good enough for the team in honestly all three formats.
11. Beuran Hendricks - The difference between him and Dane Paterson is that Dane is better but is also retired.
12. Reeza Hendricks - Will open in place of Malan in T20s. Maybe find some action otherwise!
13. George Linde - A backup spinner and one who's solid at LO, a Maharaj weakness to an extent. Also a decent bat.
14. Ottniel Baartman - A strong limited overs option for this team. It's safe to say that this option is needed.
15. Hardus Viljoen - A limited overs focused selection, Viljoen was a standout SA20 player last year and fits right into the team's needs.

 

[ddrap14]

Time to do India while I listen to my lectures for this week!

Young Squad
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal - Cannot field for his life, but he's one of the best Test and T20 batsmen in the world and likely only isn't also one of the best ODI ones because of opportunity.
2. Ayush Mhatre - Is kinda very good. This kid is the future. Also looks suspiciously like Virat Kohli
3. Tilak Varma - The best T20I batsman in the world and it's not even really a stretch. Still working on the other formats, but I see no reason he can't also work in them.
4. Devdutt Padikkal - Useful in all three formats, but only an absolute lock in One Day, where he averages 79
5. Yash Rathod - We need a First Class batsman here because the bench is loaded with T20 options. Rathod's exactly that, and has ODI value too.
6. Dhruv Jurel - Thank goodness he's here, because the wicketkeeper pool is almost entirely in the medium squad otherwise. A talented gloveman and passable batsman.
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy - His bowling is still very definitely developing, but he's a decent all-round player who can make an impact in all three formats if given the chance.
8. Anshul Kamboj - On the brink of his Test debut, Kamboj is probably the best first class bowler for this side and thus is an auto-selection.
9. Harsh Dubey - Kind of dominated Ranji Trophy this year. With Bishnoi already in the Indian T20 setup, no sense not calling him up for this.
10. Harshit Rana - I needed fast bowlers. He's played for India.
11. Mayank Yadav - A bowler this fast is always going to be an asset, assuming that his body doesn't turn to mush and paste.
12. B Sai Sudharsan - Is still working on his first class abilities, but is honestly one of the best ODI batsmen in the world and very good at T20 too.
13. Abhishek Sharma - A pure hitter, Abhishek likely only plays a part in limited overs, but what a part he can play with his strike rate and handy offies.
14. Ashwani Kumar - Limited overs bowlers are not a strength of this group yet; Ashwani's the best, but still, meh
15. Ravi Bishnoi - A spinner who's better in limited overs but can play a role in first class if it's needed as well.

Medium Squad
1. Abhimanyu Easwaran - With all of India's openers being old or young, Easwaran will finally get a go here - he's very deserving.
2. B Indrajith - See Easwaran description.
3. Shubman Gill - There's an argument he's in the best form in the world right now. Probably captains this side.
4. Shreyas Iyer - Is likely here mainly for one day batting, but could do a job in the Test team.
5. Rishabh Pant - An easy pick. Pant's aggressive batting, combined with the fact that he can keep, means he walks into all three formats for this team.
6. Sarfaraz Khan - Deserves a longer go after his great First Class history. Not useful for LO, but fortunately Sanju Samson is on the bench.
7. Rinku Singh - I fully believe Rinku's the most underrated player out there. Absolutely could make the team in all three formats.
8. Washington Sundar - A surprisingly good Test batsman - he can probably play at 7 there - Sundar's main asset is his bowling - not economical, but does take wickets.
9. Kuldeep Yadav - Unfortunate for his career to clash with the R's, as he's more than good enough to be a all-format player. That's what he'll be here with Ashwin retired and Jadeja too old.
10. Mohammed Siraj - Takes some heat sometimes, but Siraj is younger than Bumrah and Shami and thusly our best bowler for this bracket.
11. Avesh Khan - A lot of options for the final spot here, all of whom I feel are frankly mid. Akash gets it because he's the one who's best at this moment, excluding his horrible One Day record.
12. Ruturaj Gaikwad - An opener for the limited overs formats, probably alongside Gill.
13. Sanju Samson - A backup keeper who's also going to draw in as a pure batsman in T20 and probably ODI too.
14. Axar Patel - I'm so tempted to bring Sai Kishore here instead, but Axar is incumbent IRL and shouldn't fall totally out here either.
15. Arshdeep Singh - A specialist limited overs bowler, Singh provides some depth and some death.

Old Squad
1. Rohit Sharma - Retired from Tests but should be able to do a job still in limited over formats for this team.
2. KL Rahul - Might not be the best choice with the gloves, and might have been the scapegoat when maybe Rohit and Kohli deserved it, but has found a second wind as of late.
3. Mayank Agarwal - Got a lot of criticism for the crime of (checks notes) not being Sehwag or Gambhir level. Still solid.
4. Virat Kohli - Obviously.
5. Suryakumar Yadav - SKY is obviously the captain for T20, and he's an easy pick there - and probably makes the ODI team too.
6. Rajat Patidar - Probably the best of the remaining options. This is a thin pool now with the likes of Pujara and Rahane gone.
7. Shivam Dube - Shivam sneaks in the first team here over Hardik because he'll be a better contributor in first class. He can play a role everywhere.
8. Ravindra Jadeja - Jadeja is statistically one of the greatest ever spinners, and with his buddy Ashwin retired, he's arguably the second easiest pick for this side.
9. Mukesh Kumar - First class specialist Mukesh is one of the few non-retired compliments for Shami and Bumrah, which helps him significantly.
10. Mohammed Shami - A strong bowler who spearheaded the Indian attack in the late 2010s while Bumrah was still developing.
11. Jasprit Bumrah - Might be the GOAT of Indian fast bowling. Sneaks into this side by 25 days.
12. Karun Nair - Probably a little overrated, but I need a Rohit/SKY replacement for Tests.
13. Hardik Pandya - Draws into the team for limited overs games. His record is surprisingly average (it looks a lot like Liam Dawson and I know @Supreme General's thoughts on him) but he gets the job done.
14. Bhuveneshwar Kumar - No idea if he's retired or not, but he's doing the business for his IPL side still.
15. Varun Chakravarthy - Varun is not at all going to play a part in Tests, but is criminally underrated in the lower formats. Averages 14 in T20is.

 

[Till Valhalla]

Avesh Khan - A lot of options for the final spot here, all of whom I feel are frankly mid. Akash gets it because he's the one who's best at this moment, excluding his horrible One Day record.

Avesh or Akash?

 

[ddrap14]

Avesh or Akash?

Avesh, I had Akash first but then changed it