Make 2 Equally strong Test teams using player from past 15 yrs

[PokerAce]

What I personally feel is that its often easy to make ONE Test Team of great players from the past. Like for instance most teams would automatically have a mid order of Ponting Lara and Tendulkar, most teams would have Hayden as one of its Openers and most teams would have Warne. Its easy. However can you distribute these players around in two teams that are on paper equally strong. I think it would a greater challenge than just coming up with one great test team.

So Let go.

 

[puddleduck]

Two equally strong teams from the last 15 years?

England 2000 v England 2013

 

[PokerAce]

I think there maybe some batting order issues, but I think 2 teams this talented could manage.

Team 1

G Smith
A Cook
R Dravid
R Ponting
B Lara
A Gilchrist
S Pollock
S Warne
S Mushtaq
S Akhtar
G McGrath


Team 2

M Hayden
M Hussey
J Kallis
S Tendulkar
M Clarke
K Sangakarra
W Akram
G Swann
B Lee
D Steyn
M Muralitharan


What do you think? I say fairly balanced and would be one hell of a test match. I know I left out some great players, but that is only natural in all lists of this sort. Most Notably S Waugh, Inzamam and Jayawardene, but I think its a fairly decent job.

 

[VC the slogger]

How about these two?


Team 1

1. Justin Langer
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Jacques Kallis
5. Brian Lara
6. AB de Villiers
7. Mark Boucher
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10. Brett Lee
11. Glenn McGrath


Team 2

1. Graeme Smith
2. Alastair Cook
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Steve Waugh
6. Michael Hussey
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Dale Steyn
10. Waqar Younis
11. Muttiah Muralitharan


Had to leave out a few good 'uns such as Amla, Pietersen, Clarke and Waqar in order to balance things out a bit.

 

[NathanScott45]

Team 1:

#1 Matthew Hayden
#2 Graeme Smith
#3 Ricky Ponting
#4 Brian Lara
#5 Jacques Kallis
#6 Mohammed Yousef
#7 AB de Villiers (wk)
#8 Alan Donald
#9 Courteny Walsh
#1 0 Curtley Ambrose
#1 1 Muralitheran

Team 2:

#1 Virender Sehwag
#2 Mike Hussey
#3 Rahul Dravid
#4 Sachin Tendulkar
#5 Kumar Sangakkara
#6 Hashim Amla
#7 Adam Gilchrist (wk)
#8 Shane Warne
#9 Wasim Akram
#1 0 Dale Steyn
#1 1 Glen Mcgrath

Sorry for the spelling! D:

 

[PokerAce]

Team 1:

#1 Matthew Hayden
#2 Graeme Smith
#3 Ricky Ponting
#4 Brian Lara
#5 Jacques Kallis
#6 Mohammed Yousef
#7 AB de Villiers (wk)
#8 Alan Donald
#9 Courteny Walsh
#1 0 Mcgrath
#1 1 Muralitheran

Team 2:

#1 Virender Sehwag
#2 Mike Hussey
#3 Rahul Dravid
#4 Sachin Tendulkar
#5 Kumar Sangakkara
#6 Hashim Amla
#7 Adam Gilchrist (wk)
#8 Shane Warne
#9 Wasim Akram
#1 0 Dale Steyn
#1 1 Glen Mcgrath

Sorry for the spelling! D:

You Got McGrath in both your teams !!

----------

How about these two?


Team 1

1. Justin Langer
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Jacques Kallis
5. Brian Lara
6. AB de Villiers
7. Mark Boucher
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10. Brett Lee
11. Glenn McGrath


Team 2

1. Graeme Smith
2. Alastair Cook
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Steve Waugh
6. Michael Hussey
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shaun Pollock
9. Dale Steyn
10. Courtney Walsh
11. Muttiah Muralitharan


Had to leave out a few good 'uns such as Amla, Pietersen, Clarke and Waqar in order to balance things out a bit.

Like me you have all left hand openers !! Also I think your team 1 has by some distance the better Batting line up. You should exchange one of Hayden/Lara/Ponting with the other team for Steve Waugh. I think we may have more parity then. Also I am not sure about Walsh and I think he kinda weakens Team 2 bowling in comparison, espcially when you consider Team 1 also has Kallis. Waqar or Akhtar may be better options. Atleast I feel that way.

 

[VC the slogger]

Like me you have all left hand openers !! Also I think your team 1 has by some distance the better Batting line up. You should exchange one of Hayden/Lara/Ponting with the other team for Steve Waugh. I think we may have more parity then. Also I am not sure about Walsh and I think he kinda weakens Team 2 bowling in comparison, espcially when you consider Team 1 also has Kallis. Waqar or Akhtar may be better options. Atleast I feel that way.

Replacing Walsh with Waqar should do the trick then. I do agree that Team 1 has a stronger top/middle-order, but the fact that Team 2 has game changers with the bat such as Gilchrist and Pollock coming in at #7 & #8 sort of evens it out in my opinion. While Boucher, Akram and Warne do have ability with the bat, they are clearly nowhere near those two. Wasim's great 257* came against minnows Zimbabwe of all teams.

And I would wan't to give Waugh to the other team because he can roll his arm over to pick handy wickets while none of Lara, Ponting or Haydos can. He could play the role of a support bowler if a huge partnership tires out the mainstream ones. Tendulkar isn't all that reliable with the ball and Team 1 already has Kallis performing that role.

On the bowling front they seem to be even now with the inclusion of Waqar in Team 1. Akram, McGrath, Warne & Lee vs Waqar, Steyn, Muralitharan & Pollock would be an epic contest.

 

[vaibhavtewatia]

Team 1:

1. Graeme Smith
2. Mathew Hayden
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Brian Lara
5. Mohammed Yousuf
6. Mike Hussey
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Wasim Akram
9. Muttiah Muralitharan
10. Waqar Younis
11. Glenn Mcgrath


Team 2:

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Justin Langer
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Kumar Sangakarra
6. Jacques Kallis
7. AB De Villiers
8. Shane Warne
9. Shaun Pollock
10. Brett Lee
11. Dale Steyn


I'll keep the likes of Walsh and Donald out my XI just because they retired in '00/01.

When in comes to playing in the sub-continent, I would have had Kumble as and extra spinner replacing one of my fast bowlers evidently so in Team 2 due to the presence of a fast bowling A/R in Jacques Kallis.

 

[Aalay]

Team 1

Sanath Jayasurya
Virender Sehwag
Ricky Ponting (C)
Sachin Tendulkar
Jaques Kalis
Shiv Chanderpaul
Kumar Sangakara (WK)
Wasim Akram
Alan Donald
Muttiah Muralitharan
Courtney Walsh

Team 2

Greame Smith
Matthew Hayden
Rahul Dravid
Brian Lara
Mohammed Yousuf
Steve Waugh (C)
Adam Gilchrist (WK)
Shane Warne
Dale Steyn
Glenn Mcgrath
Waqar Younis

 

[Samuels]

I will make the point of differentiation/split in the year 2005. So lets see what I have got.

2000-2004

Virender Sehwag
Matthew Hayden
Rahul Dravid
Ricky Ponting (Ponting at 4 because he play briskly if needed unlike Dravid)
Sachin Tendulkar
Brain Lara
Adam Gilchrist
Wasim Akram (ODIs)/Walsh/Ambrose
Waqar Younis
Allan Donald
Muralitharan

12th man: /Jacques Kallis

Unlucky Chaps: Sanath Jayasuriya, Shoaib Akhtar, Inzamam ul Haq, Andy Flower, Steve Waugh.


From Jan 1, 2005

Alastair Cook/Hashim Amla (to open in ODIs)
Graeme Smith
Hashim Amla (he can open the innings)/Sachin Tendulkar (ODIs)
Kumar Sangakkara
Kevin Pietersen/Jacques Kallis
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Matthew Prior
Dale Steyn
Shane Bond
Glenn McGrath
Saeed Ajmal

Andrew Flintoff (12th man)

Unlucky chaps: Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Graeme Swann

I have dig a whole lot of stats to draft these teams but one thing is certain, that there were too many great figures in pre-2005 era. Even those who missed out to make it into that team like the likes of Saqlain Mushtaq, Jayasuriya or Andy Flower were absolutely brilliant and in some cases better than those made it in the post 2004 team.

 

[asprin]

Team 1 (2000 to 2007)

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Justin Langer
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Brian Lara
5. Steve Waugh
6. Adam Gilchirst
7. Shaun Pollock
8. Shane Warne
9. Wasim Akram
10. Saqlain Mushtaq
11. Courtney Walsh

12th Man: Glen McGrath

Team 2 (2007 to 2014)

1. David Warner
2. Alistair Cook
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Ab De Villiers
5. Mike Hussey
6. Mahela Jayawardena
7. Brendon McCullum
8. Greame Swann
9. Dale Steyn
10. Saaed Ajmal
11. James Anderson

12th Man: Kevin Peitersen

With batting order proving to be problem, had to opt out of players like Ponting, Sangakara, Chanderpaul, Amla, Mohd. Yousuf, Inzamam, Murali, Kumble, Mark Waugh, Flintoff, Lee etc.

 

[vaibhavtewatia]

I will make the point of differentiation/split in the year 2005. So lets see what I have got.

Your first team completely outperforms the second one IMO. Would rather be nice discussing two equal teams from the past 15 years which is the essence of this thread. Also having Tendulkar in both teams would be little harsh to some other batting greats like Michael Hussey.

 

[PokerAce]

Team 1:

1. Graeme Smith
2. Mathew Hayden
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Brian Lara
5. Mohammed Yousuf
6. Mike Hussey
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Wasim Akram
9. Muttiah Muralitharan
10. Waqar Younis
11. Glenn Mcgrath

I would personally have Inzamam over Yousuf, also that Sangakarra gets into your Team 2 as a Batsman alone, is great. I think Sangakarra is one of the greats and way underrated. He should be talked of in the same breath as Ponting, Lara and Tendulkar as the A List Batsman.

----------

Team 1 (2000 to 2007)

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Justin Langer
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Brian Lara
5. Steve Waugh
6. Adam Gilchirst
7. Shaun Pollock
8. Shane Warne
9. Wasim Akram
10. Saqlain Mushtaq
11. Courtney Walsh

12th Man: Glen McGrath

Team 2 (2007 to 2014)

1. David Warner
2. Alistair Cook
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Ab De Villiers
5. Mike Hussey
6. Mahela Jayawardena
7. Brendon McCullum
8. Greame Swann
9. Dale Steyn
10. Saaed Ajmal
11. James Anderson

12th Man: Kevin Peitersen

I think this is by far the most 'interesting' selection. I know the breakdown is somewhat different, but Neither Tendulkar nor Ponting find a place in either of the sides !!. I think most will find it hard to agree with that. The Omission of one of the two maybe, but both missing. Also in Bowling no Muralitharan at all, McGrath only finds place as a 12th man. I think both teams could be stronger than they are presently. Those are some great players you have in there, but I feel, have left some even better players out.

 

[Samuels]

Your first team completely outperforms the second one IMO. Would rather be nice discussing two equal teams from the past 15 years which is the essence of this thread. Also having Tendulkar in both teams would be little harsh to some other batting greats like Michael Hussey.

I have selected the best possible lineup in each scenario. Why would a skipper want his team to be as not good as (can't say bad because the other team is too good too you know) when he could afford to have far better players in the XI?

Hussey was good, very good but if I have to make any changes in the 2nd lineup, I would have Younis or Yousuf for Tests and Virat Kohli (replacing Sachin) for ODIs. Just check the records and you will see for yourself what good the first two have done.

 

[asprin]

I know the breakdown is somewhat different, but Neither Tendulkar nor Ponting find a place in either of the sides !!. I think most will find it hard to agree with that.

It was very difficult to leave out Ponting, but I consider Dravid to be a marginally better No.3 than Ponting. If these teams were ODI-based, then without a shadow of a doubt I'd have gone with Ponting.

Tendulkar, on the other hand, was a calculated omission. His golden era was between 1998 to 2005/06. And since I already had the no.4 slot taken up by Lara, it made no sense to put Tendulkar at no.5. That is just too low for him.

Also in Bowling no Muralitharan at all, McGrath only finds place as a 12th man.

I may be wrong, but I think Murali doesn't have a decent record outside the sub-continent. I wanted bowlers who could perform under any conditions and hence went ahead with Saqlain instead of Murali.

McGrath, I think, is the only one who could be swapped with 1 of the bowlers in Team 1 - probably in place of Walsh, but for some reason I've an inclination to stick with Walsh.

I think both teams could be stronger than they are presently.

I agree. But as I said, keeping the batting order in mind (players in their usual batting position in their respective teams), I had to miss out on some very good players. For every position there seemed to be 3-4 players gunning for the slot.