World All-Time XI

[Ernest]

He He, Nice try Rachael, 4 out of 12. remember Warne/Laker.

Notice that in striving to be neutral it was Warne on the left.

[juman]

1.Hobbs
2.Gavascar
3. Viv Richards
4. Bradman
5. Sobers
6. Gilchrist
7.Imran
8. Wassim Akram
9.Malcom Marshall
10. Ambrose
11. Murali

[greg]

1.Gavaskar
2.Hobbs
3.Bradman
4.Pollock
5.Headley
6.Sobers
7.Gilchrist
8.Marshall
9.Warne
10.Muralitharan
11.McGrath

[ykickamoocow]

No one has mentioned the greatest international test captain in the world, the man who struck fear into the hearts of the English and the third highest run scorer in the world (ever) and scored a 150 against every test playing nation in the world. This man is of coarse Steve Waugh and the greatest test captain ever deserves to be in the greatest team.

[Rachael]

That comes down to sheer competition for places: only Donald Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Sir Garfield Sobers, Shane Warne, Sir Viv Richards and Adam Gilchrist stand out by so much as to guarantee a place.. and that leaves just one opening berth and at most two middle order berths (one if you play Gilchrist and Sobers at 5 and 6) to be competed over by all the world's great batsmen.

I've no qualms with Steve Waugh's mention in this company... but even on the captaincy front he would have many rivals (though surely few with quite the same batting and occasional-bowling to offer).

[Maranello]

Agree about the others Rachael, but the decision to include Viv Richards in an all-time World XI would be far from unanimous amongst the experts and commentators. There are many more effective, more aesthetically pleasing and more prolific batsman around; yes, Viv brought something unique to the crease as a batsman, but so did Waqar Younis as a bowler, and no one sensible would argue that the latter is guaranteed his place in an all-time XI. Viv would be one of many batsmen in line for the three vacant middle-order berths, and his spot is by no means guaranteed to the extent that Bradman, Sobers, Hobbs, Warne and even Gilchrist are.

[Ninjaman]

I can think of at least 4 bowlers I believe to be better than Shane Warne, so would not consider him to be a definite choice either

[Milo]

Maranello,

Just out of interest, who was more aesthetically pleasing than Viv in full flow?? Also, very very few players in the history have been more prolific (and effective) than Viv at peak. The 1976 year and the World Series cricket he was just awesome. He also showed he was clearly the world's best on the 80 tour of Pakistan and his annihilation of the Australian bowling line up in th 79-80 series down under.

I agree that Viv should just miss out on being a fixture for everyone's team (although he makes mine), but this was more to do with his innability to adapt his game to fit the pitch/game situation on occasions. His desire to counter attack sometimes got him into trouble (especially when he was in his mid to late 30s). However, up to his 32nd birthday, he probably reached heights that only Bradman has been able to beat.

Oh and yes, I have to agree with Ninjaman about Warne. I can think of millions of Indians that wouldn't put him anywhere their side.

[ykickamoocow]

Originally Posted by Rachael

That comes down to sheer competition for places: only Donald Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Sir Garfield Sobers, Shane Warne, Sir Viv Richards and Adam Gilchrist stand out by so much as to guarantee a place.. and that leaves just one opening berth and at most two middle order berths (one if you play Gilchrist and Sobers at 5 and 6) to be competed over by all the world's great batsmen.

I've no qualms with Steve Waugh's mention in this company... but even on the captaincy front he would have many rivals (though surely few with quite the same batting and occasional-bowling to offer).

Steve Waugh comes in at number 5 so he is a middle order batsman. Also the Greatest 11 needs a captain and S.Waugh is the only captain i know of that is good enough to be in the world 11.

[Milo]

Well, Bradman was captain of arguably the best side of all time. He could bat a bit too. In addition, Imran was a quality captain, Viv never lost a series and when Sobers skippered the West Indies they were probably the best side in the world under him.

Waugh's a great batsman, but he isn't the only great player to make a good skipper.