World Twenty20 XI

[King Pietersen]

McCullum's got a far better T20i record than both those guys. Dhoni's a fine ODi batsman, but has been pretty poor in T20's. Sangakkara's done ok, but McCullum has a reputation as an excellent finisher in NZ, has a better strike rate than both those guys and has more T20i runs than any other player. I don't think there's a better International T20i wicket-keeper than McCullum.

 

[Biggy]

I'd like to see:


Mahela Jayawardene*
David Warner
Shane Watson
Ross Taylor
Kevin Pietersen
Brendon McCullum+
Yusuf Pathan
Nathan McCullum
Charl Langeveldt
Shaun Tait
Dirk Nannes

 

[sifter132]

^I wouldn't mind facing the 8 overs of Pathan, McCullum and Watson. But otherwise that's a pretty destructive batting order

 

[War]

Based on a mixture of career performances & current form, i'd pick:

Kallis
Gayle
Watson
KP
De Villiers
White
McCullum
Vettori
Gul
Malinga
Nannes

Taylor/Morgan, Steyn/Tait, Swann/Harbhajan.

 

[pcfan123]

I think Gul is a has been now. He used to have some devastating yorkers but its been a while since I have seem him bowl with any zest.

 

[Dare]

I don't think there's a better International T20i wicket-keeper than McCullum.

Yea but he has stopped keeping in 2 out of 3 formats. Sanga and Dhoni still keep wicket in majority of formats they play in.

 

[riz7khan12]

McCullum

think this is brendon mccullum, if it is then he really should open i think he has opened for nz in about 90% of the t20's he has played, he wouldn't really be suited anywhere else.

 

[Howsie]

Yea but he has stopped keeping in 2 out of 3 formats. Sanga and Dhoni still keep wicket in majority of formats they play in.

He still keeps in both test cricket and one day cricket, I doubt he'd have any trouble doing the job in a 20/20 game.

 

[Dare]

He still keeps in both test cricket and one day cricket, I doubt he'd have any trouble doing the job in a 20/20 game.

Hopkins was the keeper in the ODIs against Australia and there was a article on cricinfo saying that McCullum is considering giving up the gloves because of his back problems and because Hopkins has been doing well for NZ.

Everyone knows that Sanga can do it in tests but when he gets selected by someone they are given some slack because he doesn't keep wicket in tests.

 

[King Pietersen]

But Sangakkara's batting record in T20i's isn't great, and he's not in good form. Appears to be hugely over-rated in this format AFAIC. McCullum has an excellent record, is a very good keeper (even if he isn't keeping atm) and is in fairly decent form. There just isn't a stand-out wicket-keeper in this form of the game in World Cricket. James Foster had the potential to be that guy, as he is IMO the best gloveman in the world, but England have decided to go for the extra batting of Kieswetter; though Fos is a better batsman than most give him credit for. McCullum is really the only guy that stands out. Dhoni has a Clarke-esque, poor T20i record; Sangakkara's hugely over-rated; McCullum doesn't keep anymore; Boucher's got a dismal record; Kieswetter's new to International cricket; Kamran Akmal can't catch; Ramdin's dismal and Brad Haddin is in awful batting form atm. I'd rather go with the best T20i batsman of the lot, McCullum, and give him the gloves back, as he is a very talented keeper.

 

[BKB1991]

Kamran Akmal?
jk, McCullum is easily the pick.

BKB1991 added 2 Minutes and 8 Seconds later...

I think Gul is a has been now. He used to have some devastating yorkers but its been a while since I have seem him bowl with any zest.

I think there are some things that you dont lose as time goes by. Umar Guls yorkers at the death is one example. He may be an ordinary bowler in the ODIs, but he has still got it in the T20s. I think its just that its 24 balls and it doesnt put much effort compared to the ODIs and Tests

 

[War]

think this is brendon mccullum, if it is then he really should open i think he has opened for nz in about 90% of the t20's he has played, he wouldn't really be suited anywhere else.

Although i do agree preferable 9 times of of 10 you would want him opening. I'd sayMcCullum would be fine batting down the order in a T20 to be honest. All those scoops shops he plays, movement around the crease is perfect for batting in the last few overs.

These THREE ODI innings vs AUS:

- TVS Cup 2003

- MCG 2004

- Christchurch 2005

I remember him doing just that batting down the order.

 

[aussie1st]

I'll just go with the Aussie side with a few tweaks

Warner
Jayawardene
Watson
White
David Hussey
McCullum
Daniel Vettori
Mitchell Johnson
Shane Bond/Afridi
Dirk Nannes
Shaun Tait

Michael Hussey was in there but forgot about Jayawardene. Dussey and Vettori the spinners, if its a spinning deck could add Afridi for one of the pacemen.

 

[BKB1991]

I'd go with:

Jacques Kallis
Chris Gayle
Mahela Jayawardene
Kevin Pieterson
David Hussey
Eoin Morgan
Brendan McCullum
Shahid Afridi
Dale Steyn
Umar Gul
Saeed Ajmal


Gayle and Kallis would be an amazing opening pair, their styles complement each other perfectly, plus thats a left-right combination. The Middle order looks pretty strong too. KP and Jayawardene are in magnificent form and can stabalize the innings and play their shots at the same time. David Hussey and Morgan are great @ 5 & 6. Again they can play the huge shots and consolidate as well. McCullum is there as I need a keeper and he could be an important finisher down the order. Afridi takes the All-rounders spot with ease and even the bowlers can hit out a few.

The bowling looks great. Steyn to start things off, and the new ball goes to either Gul or Kallis. Afridi could come as a first change and they valuable part time options in KP, Hussey and Gayle. Plus in the depth their bowlers like Ajmal, who is an underrated T20 bowler, and Gul. Heck Even Steyn can bowl there.

Looks like a very strong team that

Missed Out:
Watson - With Gayle and Kallis opening there is no spot for him, as Kallis can bowl Watson's medium pacers instead, and Gayle has the aggresion.
White - Would like to him there as well, but Hussey gets the preferance.
Vettori - Afridi takes the all-rounder spot, so there is no place for him.
Malinga - Was a case between him and Gul, but I'd prefer Gul over him.

 

[TumTum]

^ I can't believe you chose Kallis to open, he loses more games for his team