Before I make my double-pick which I'm
really happy has come at this particular point in the draft, let me elaborate just a little bit more on my previous two picks.
Hedley Verity (40 caps) - I intended on picking just one spinner, and it was a 50/50 between Hedley Verity and Jim Laker. I
could've gone for Jim Laker and while that would've arguably been a better pick,
@Aislabie's
VARP attracted me towards Verity just a little bit more.
Sydney Barnes (27 caps) - even with some of the great names that are
still available to make up my bowling, I would've been an absolute idiot to have not gone with Sydney Barnes. My only two fast-bowling shortlisted names that could've been picked between the Cummins pick and Barnes pick were Shoaib Akhtar and Fazal Mahmood. Two very interesting names to put in a team with Don Bradman, especially the former, but neither that were as enticing as Barnes.
Now for my double-pick, I'll go with
Aubrey Faulkner (25 caps) and then
04.
Graeme Pollock (23 caps). I had initially thought of Graeme Pollock and [my current next pick] to use as a double-pick here, but then I got a little cold-feet'ed about having a long tail. So Aubrey Faulkner makes the cut, and will play at No. 7 even if it is one of the positions he's been the least prolific in. Graeme Pollock is a natural for a No. 5, but you may have noticed Don Bradman at
four - because that is exactly where he will play. At four. Not conventional, but also not at all a departure for him. As much as it pains me to be putting him in a position that sandwiches him between a position where he averaged 103.63, and a position where he averaged 142.33 - I think it's worth a go to put him there for the balance of the team if I do indeed get the No.3 that I want. If not, my entire middle-order can move up a spot and be much better for it, and I'll just get another bowler in.
NMA XI
01.
Victor Trumper (48 caps)
02.
03.
04.
Don Bradman (52 caps)
05.
Graeme Pollock (23 caps)
06.
Clyde Walcott (44 caps) †
07.
Aubrey Faulkner (25 caps)
08.
09.
Pat Cummins (47 caps)
10.
Hedley Verity (40 caps)
11.
Sydney Barnes (27 caps)
@ahmedleo414 - double-pick (one outstanding pick, one active pick)
