WORLD ELEVEN - Lara wouldnt make mine

[high_on_linseed]

Since the idea of shelling out a fiver to the Torygraph is politically abhorrent to me, I wont be taking part in their fantasy cricket. So, for the record, I have compiled what I feel would be the best TEAM in the world, not necessarily the best collection of individuals, at the moment, regardless of the Torygraphs arbitrary ratings.

About Lara.
Of course, he is one of the best batsmen in the world, though not inarguably the best. And certainly the most prolific run scorer of his time. But I also think he is a bit of a prima donna. I dont know if he would shine as brightly or be as necessary in a really successful batting team inherently full of runs. I say this having watched him for West Indies and Warwickshire....both of whom I know he made a lot of runs for, though he has had bad trots for both. Also, yeah hes a genius, but hes not actually consistent enough to be worth a spot in a team designed, in modern conditions to be invincible.

Here, for anyone whos interested is the best 11 in the world IMO at the moment:

1) MATTY HAYDEN. I think it goes without saying that Hayden is the best opener in the world today. He is equally devastating against pace and spin, and I see no real flaws in his game. He can play straight or against the line as
conditions dictate. If there is one inadequacy it is that he is not great defending against spin. But one of the keys to Aus beating SL on their own patch was the teams collective resolve to attack the spin of Murali. Playing in such a team, Haydens place is impregnable.

2) JUSTIN LANGER. We are spoilt for choice regarding test opening partners. Sehwag is currently the most exciting player in world cricket. Smith is not that highly rated here I know, but he is young and will improve to become a great batsman, even on greentops. Herschelle Gibbs almost makes it, as does Vaughan. And Mark Richardson is very under-rated. But Id rather have a solid technique player, playing alongside Hayden, who can defend and attack with equal aplomb. Hayden and Langer have been one of the most prolific opening partnerships in test cricket history and I wouldnt break it up. Often, Langer has been the rock on which Aussie innings have been based. Is he the most under-rated player in the world right now? Perhaps. He comes with the added advantage of being a so-called dead rubber specialist. While a few of the others ease of the gas, when this team goes 4-0 up, Langer will be doing his upmost to complete the whitewash.

3) RAHUL DRAVID. It was basically a straight choice between him and Ponting. Ponting had the advantages that he would fit better with Langar and Hayden, is generally more fluent, and could skipper the team. But Dravids flawless technique, ability to bat on all surfaces, and rescue the batting when collapse is imminent, make him truly stand out.

4)JAQUES KALLIS. An excellent batsmen, and still a handy fifth bowler. Would add a bit of swing to the attack if conditions were conducive. His all-rounder quotient (gap between batting and bowling average is , I think the highest of all time. Better even than Sobers. Though, I know, he is not the same class as Sobers as a bowler.

5) SACHIN TENDULKAR. Nuff said.

6) STEPHEN FLEMMING. (Skipper) This might be the real surprise. But even a great side needs a skipper of rel nous to hold together a team of individuals. He edges Ponting in this regard, though Ponting is desperately unlucky not to make the team. Anyway, Flemming would be an excellent anchor to sheperd the tail. And he would be at home in Englsih conditions, should Team England ever fancy their chances against this lot!!

7) ADAM GILCHRIST. (Keeper) Who else could there possibly be?

8) SHAUN POLLOCK. Still a very consistent bowler, though not as good as a few years back IMHO, perhaps played too much cricket, and has conciously chosen to bowl within himself. Still excellent though and would make a good no.8 bat.

9) SHANE WARNE. Obvious choice.

10) MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN. Ok, I dont think hes strictly legit. But until proven otherwise, I would be a hypocrite and play him. Theres no doubt, results wise, he vies with Laker for the title of best off-spinner of all time.

11 GLEN MCGRATH. Again obvious. Best seam bowler in the world.

It would be nice to have a genuine fast bowler in there. My only concern is that this attack is a bit long in the tooth. Though, paradoxically, it is much less injury-prone than the younger ones. But, at the momemt, I dont think the likes of Harmsion or Akhtar are quite good enough to make the cut. And Lee and Sam defintiely arent. Shane Bond? Havent actually ever seen him bowl!! Guess, Ill get the chance this summer.

[Rachael]

Hard to argue with a single pick there.

I'm looking forward to seeing Richardson this summer: from what I hear he should get opening batsman's spot ahead of Langer... but I'd like to see him perform consistently over a longer time-frame before pencilling him in as a great opener.

The only other option as opener would be Tendulkar himself: with Ponting, Inzi, Lara and the like waiting in the wings as middle order players (and Tendulkar having the experience of facing the new ball in ODI) that option is very appealing (especially with Dravid sitting at 3: it's not as if the next man in needs protecting).

Further down the order... if Ponting was in the side instead of Langer it would be harder to justify Flemming ahead of Inzi... but I'm sympathetic to your choice.

Then there's that spinner issue: Warne and Murali certainly give you very different spinners... one who's very, very slow but a bit vulnerable when there's no bounce... another who is quicker, but vulnerable where there's limited turn. Personally I'd prefer one OR other of them (depending on the track) with Kumble the other end (as he seems to be able to bowl well anywhere) but if forced to take just 2 of the three for all surfaces... it would have to be the two you pick.

Same issue with the seamers really: Pollock and McGrath tower over the alternatives... and Kallis is not THAT far behind the likes of Gillespie and Ntini (seems to be in the Vaas, Khan, Hoggard bracket)... but ideally it would be nice to have a Harmison or Akhtar available to rotate in on occasion.

Maybe: Tendulkar, Hayden, Dravid, Inzi, Ponting, Kallis, Gilchrist, Pollock, Warne, Muralitheran, McGrath... with Flemming, Richardson, Kumble, Akhtar and Harmison making up the 16.

[Rachael]

It's no good: I think Lara still has to be in there.

Despite my aversion to Inzi (who always seems a bigger danger to his batting partners than the opposition bowlers are) I'd have to say I'd rate him slightly higher than Ponting as a batsman... but as the only alternative to Ponting as captain would be Flemming... Inzi would have to make way for Lara: tough call though.

[high_on_linseed]

I was talking about test, not ODIs, where yes, I would open with a guy like Ponting or Tedulkar, and let the big hitters make thier hay lower down the order. Its hard I know not to include Lara, but I just wonder how much of a team man he really is, and given runs would not be a problem for these guys, that was my main point of saying I would exclude him. Aslo, with guys like Dravid, and Tendulkar higher up the order, i see little point of having Lara at five or six, since his major draw is his ability to compile massive scores. . Inzi has never appealed to me that greatly, though of course hes damn good. But slow between the wickets and contributes nothing in the field.

My main dilemma was Ponting or Flemming as skipper. I just feel Ponting hasnt proven himself yet as a test captain, but theres no reason to suggest he wouldnt be excellent. So, my team might run - Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kallis, etc...but Ill stick with my original selection .

[Rachael]

I always took it that you were talking about Tests: the pyjama stuff is all very well.. but hardly worth giving a lot of thought to!

My point on the Test side would simply be that world cricket is awash with quality middle order batsmen (Dravid, Tendulkar, Kallis, Ponting, Inzi, Laxman, Lara and so on) but not on openers.

Although Tendulkar usually plays in the middle order for India.. he's one of the few middle order greats who also looks as if he could have been (in a different team) a great opener.

I certainly think he'd be a better opener than, say, Vaughan.. and if I had to pick one of them to bat as opener for my life I'd back Tendulkar ahead of Smith, Gibbs, Tresco and the rest.

[Rachael]

Just a thought: Holding is generally reckoned to have bowled the most ferocious over of fast bowling in history. Boycott didn't survive it. If you had to pick openers today on the basis that they might... who would they be?

I'm not sure Hayden would stand as much chance as Langer.. and I suspect Richardson would do better than either... but if I really had to stake my life on one guy I might stil pick Tendulkar.

[Rachael]

Captaincy: I agree that Lara might be a problematic "Team" man.. and suspect he'd be reluctant to answer to Flemming (or even Ponting) - Steve Waugh, maybe... but few others. That said, I wonder how many of the others would be comfortable with Flemming as captain? I don't see any other obvious problems... though I'm not sure Inzi would follow him willingly.

[OZsup]

Lara doesnt make the team? Something is definitely wrong here. Lara can on his day tear apart any bowling attack in the world. His innings of 153* not out against australia is second on the list behind only don bradmans as the one of the top 10 test innings of all time! You say sachin tendulkar nuff said? Sachin Tendulkar hasnt played half the match winning innings that lara has played for the west indies. The 277 against australia at the sydney cricket ground in 1992/1993 series is the best innings seen in australia to date. And sachin tendulkars name is not even in that top 10 test innings list by wisden. Lara is a must in any team. Brian Charles Lara can walk into any team in any era and command a place in any side. Nuff said.

[Rachael]

No-one's really disputing that Lara is (uniquely in this generation) "touched with genius".. it's just that he's at best a rather curious (and perhaps much misunderstood) character.. and in many eyes his character is seen so negatively that people (understandably) wonder if he'd actually be a negative influence on the team.

That's not a judgement on his batting ability..just on what else he brings to the party.

[The Great DonTalon]

I saw lara get 188 in an 19 match in the regional championship in 1987 - he has the second most U19 runs of all time here in the WI former Northern telecom championship after Sherwin Campbell .


ps. cAMPBELL who in that same season got a pair in his 1st game two tons in his 2nd game and a pair in his 3rd game.

LARA IS A BETTER BATSMAN THAN SACHIN...and certainly the most talented ever along with sobers.

Sachin plays across the line too much and is a LBW bunny.guys like hadlee, Lillee and Marshall would have eaten him for bait.