[Cricket] World Test XI

[Ooh it’s a corner]

S

Graeme Smith
Saeed Anwar
Virender Sehwag
Steve Smith
Kumar Sangakkara
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Ben Stokes
Gary Sobers
Graeme Swann
Dale Stein
Shoaib Akhtar

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Couldn’t fit Michael Slater in either

Forgot Derek Randall for R - he was always entertaining

 

[jakarta]

S

Graeme Smith
Saeed Anwar
Virender Sehwag
Steve Smith
Kumar Sangakkara
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Ben Stokes
Gary Sobers
Graeme Swann
Dale Stein
Shoaib Akhtar

That's a great lineup but wouldn't like to try and Captain it...

 

[Lincolnshire Seagull]

I wouldn't have Roope but Cliver Rice, Derek Randall, Jonty Rhodes, Wilfred Rhodes... need another pace bowler Carl Rackemann is the only one I can think of off the top of my head but I'm sure there's someone else

I'd have Buck Rogers ahead of Redpath

S is going to be awesome but just wait till W!

Bruce Reid was a good bowler, gives the attack a left arm option too.
Maybe Mark Richardson as an opener

 

[Gwylan]

S

Graeme Smith
Saeed Anwar
Virender Sehwag
Steve Smith
Kumar Sangakkara
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Ben Stokes
Gary Sobers
Graeme Swann
Dale Stein
Shoaib Akhtar

Ss are strong

You'd have to have Herbert Sutcliffe in there - in the top five of test averages
I'd have John Snow above Shoaib

I had Bob Simpson instead of Saeed and Collie Smith instead of Swann (although I agree Swann is probably the better choice)

My team

Herbert Sutcliffe
Bob Simpson
Graeme Smith
Kumar Sangakkara
Steve Smith
Ben Stokes
Alec Stewart (wk)
Garry Sobers
Collie Smith
John Snow
Dale Steyn

But I had to leave out: Keith Stackpole, Michael Slater, Sehwag, Saaed Ahmed, Andrew Sandham, Charles Studd, Greville Stevens, MJK Smith Sadiq Mohhamed, Reg Simpson, Bert Sinclair, David Steele, Frederick Spofforth, Derek Shackleton, Brian Statham, Swann and Ian Smith

You could get a decent Seconds out of that lot

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Good point - too many captains etc. For me Sobers was the best all-round cricketer I ever saw so I’d probably opt for him although that isn’t necessarily logical I know

 

[Gwylan]

Good point - too many captains etc. For me Sobers was the best all-round cricketer I ever saw so I’d probably opt for him although that isn’t necessarily logical I know

Simpson - he was the player that Aussies brought back after the mess of World Series, even though he was over 40

He'd be right up there with Brearley, Benaud and Fleming as one of the best captains of all time

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

In T I’ve so far got

Marcus Trescothick
Mark Taylor
Glenn Turner
Sachin Tendulkar
James Taylor

Bob Taylor

Jeff Thomson
Fred Trueman

Too many openers and too many gaps - maybe too many Taylors?

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

You cannot possibly leave Jim Parks out of this. He was surely a better bat than Matt Prior. And he could bowl a bit of legspin too!

I saw him score his 30,000th first class run - at the United Services ground in Portsmouth. Jim and me go back a long way. (He just doesn't realise.)

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Ss are strong

You'd have to have Herbert Sutcliffe in there - in the top five of test averages
I'd have John Snow above Shoaib

I had Bob Simpson instead of Saeed and Collie Smith instead of Swann (although I agree Swann is probably the better choice)

My team

Herbert Sutcliffe
Bob Simpson
Graeme Smith
Kumar Sangakkara
Steve Smith
Ben Stokes
Alec Stewart (wk)
Garry Sobers
Collie Smith
John Snow
Dale Steyn

But I had to leave out: Keith Stackpole, Michael Slater, Sehwag, Saaed Ahmed, Andrew Sandham, Charles Studd, Greville Stevens, MJK Smith Sadiq Mohhamed, Reg Simpson, Bert Sinclair, David Steele, Frederick Spofforth, Derek Shackleton, Brian Statham, Swann and Ian Smith

You could get a decent Seconds out of that lot

That is a team and a half. In line with my world class propensity for total self-indulgence, Brian Statham once told me to 'get off my bloody car'. Ken Suttle (knew his son) would be my first pick. Still holds - and always will? - the world record for consecutive 1st class appearances.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

In T I’ve so far got

Marcus Trescothick
Mark Taylor
Glenn Turner
Sachin Tendulkar
James Taylor

Bob Taylor

Jeff Thomson
Fred Trueman

Too many openers and too many gaps - maybe too many Taylors?

Titmus, FJ?

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Can I suggest a VWXYZ team to wrap up?

I'll kick off with Warne, and Venkat. That's the spin department out of the way?

 

[jakarta]

Can I suggest a WXYZ team to wrap up?

I'll kick off with Warne, Shane.

Surely you should be able to get a Team of Y's? Why don't you go for a WX and then a YZ Team?

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Or so as not to leave out Venkat and co maybe V and W then XYZ

 

[Gwylan]

Can I suggest a VWXYZ team to wrap up?

I'll kick off with Warne, and Venkat. That's the spin department out of the way?

You're joking? I can think of about 30 Ws who'd make a decent team. That's the easiest of the lot to pick

And there are three world class spinners beginning with V - who to leave out?

Ys are not that difficult either as there are a few Younis and Younuses for Pakistan

 

[Lincolnshire Seagull]

I saw him score his 30,000th first class run - at the United Services ground in Portsmouth. Jim and me go back a long way. (He just doesn't realise.)

My dad introduced me to the joys of his batting back in the 60s. He was disappointed that he took up wicketkeeping because he said he was an excellent cover point too.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

You're joking? I can think of about 30 Ws who'd make a decent team. That's the easiest of the lot to pick

And there are three world class spinners beginning with V - who to leave out?

Ys are not that difficult either as there are a few Younis and Younuses for Pakistan

I'm suffering from selection fatigue - so be my guest.

 

[Lincolnshire Seagull]

In T I’ve so far got

Marcus Trescothick
Mark Taylor
Glenn Turner
Sachin Tendulkar
James Taylor

Bob Taylor

Jeff Thomson
Fred Trueman

Too many openers and too many gaps - maybe too many Taylors?

How far back can we go? Trumper, Tate, Tyson come to mind. But James Taylor??

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

My dad introduced me to the joys of his batting back in the 60s. He was disappointed that he took up wicketkeeping because he said he was an excellent cover point too.

We must have been at the same games. Like a few of the players in those days, I think he was also a pretty useful foottballer too. I've got a very soft spot for the late Kenny Suttle of that era who was also a very decent footballer (Chelsea?). Not only a fellow Worthing resident (as is Jim Parks these days) but he used to contribute a column called 'The Suttle Side of Cricket' in the local rag. I used to feast on this every week. It was mostly about sitting around in the rain in places like Worksop playing cards! Epic stuff.
Of course cricket was pretty much dying in the 60s (financially) but the texture of the county game had great appeal - all those obscure out-grounds (Hastings, T. Wells, Clacton and scores more), all the characters (Colin Milburn springs to mind), the excitement of seeing world class overseas players (Barry Richards) and the anticipation of seeing touring teams (the '66 West Indies). Great stuff for a schoolboy with a summer to while away.
Shit - I've contracted the Nostalgia Virus!

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

How far back can we go? Trumper, Tate, Tyson come to mind. But James Taylor??

As far as your fancy takes you. (I had WG Grace.!)