The Time Machine

[Beny]

If you could go back in time and bring back one player per test nation, who would you bring back?

Aus- Dennis Lillee... Lillee, McGrath, Warne. Now that's a bowling attack
Eng- David Gower... Like him. Great player to watch.
Pak- Imran Kahn... I think the team could do with both the on feild talents, and the leadership of this guy.
India- Kapil Dev... Pace bowling in India has never been the same without him. Great allround player.
WI- Viv Richards... Lots to choose from but I'd like to see how he goes today.
New Zealand- Haddle... Need I explain?

[Kirsty Harris]

For England I'd choose Alan Knott...if only to end the seemingly endless Jones/Read debate...no one could argue that Knott trumps both of those players, surely?!

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Beny

Aus- Dennis Lillee...
Eng- David Gower...
Pak- Imran Kahn...
India- Kapil Dev...
WI- Viv Richards...
NZ- Hadlee...

Good thread Beny.

But I can't help feeling that if you're putting in Isaac Vivian Alexander, because you want to see how he'd go today... then surely you'd pick:

AUS: Bradman
ENG: Hammond
PAK: Hanif Mohammed
IND: Gavaskar
WI: Sobers
SA: Graeme Pollock
NZ: I'll stick with Sir Richard Hadlee (but largely because I don't really know any of New Zealand's cricket history).

[Beny]

AUS: Bradman

I certinly did consider this one. However I think we've plenty of talented batsmen right now. Bowlers are always more difficult to come by.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Beny

However I think we've plenty of talented batsmen right now.

Though not too many averaging 99.

If he could continue to average as he did, throughout his career, you could drop a batsman and play an extra one of those hard to find bowlers.

The "shut up Ian Botham" thread makes me think that our time machine should bring these irritating commentators back to the real world:

AUS: Kerry O'Keeffe
ENG: Ian Botham
SA: Barry Richards
WI: Ian Bishop
NZ: Ian Smith
IND:Ravi Shastri
PAK:Asif Iqbal

A worryingly large percentage of "Ian"s there. I wonder if that means anything?

It would be very important to get a Harmison bumper high enough to eternally cease Kerry O'Keeffe's incredibly annoying laugh.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Beny

If you could go back in time and bring back one player per test nation, who would you bring back?

Oh easy.
Aus::Lillee
Eng::Jardine
Pak::Wasim
India::Bedi
NZ::Haddle.
Windies::Holding

Jardine in charge of Harmison and Flintoff!!!

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Jardine in charge of Harmison and Flintoff!!!

Yes, but "leg theory" isn't very useful when you're only allowed two men behind square on the leg-side.

Nevertheless, it would be good to hear the Australian government whinging again.
I don't think they'll need to though.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Oliver

Yes, but "leg theory" isn't very useful when you're only allowed two men behind square on the leg-side.

I know Oliver, but lets pretend, could you imagine the hush in the crowd, as Jardine packed the leg side, the fear in Pontings eyes, the fear in Tony Blairs eyes. .

Back to Earth, I am sure he would use them well.

[Andy Mellon]

Hmmm. Intreguing question

WI: Marshall - I didn't get to see enough of him while he was alive. From what I did see, he was awesome. He even beats my all time favourite, Curtley Ambrose!!
Aus: Hmmm. Mark Waugh. Great to watch and a fantastic all round performer
Eng: I don't think there's anyone I'd bring back. There's players that I love from the past, but no one person I'd love to see that I haven't seen. Maybe bring back JWHT Douglas - but not for cricketing reasons!
NZ: Dion Nash - taken away from the game due to injuries too early. Very committed and great to watch.
India: Tricky. I think maybe Javagal Srinath. Unsung hero of India on many occasions.
Pakistan: Waqar Younis. On his day, the most destructive bowler and another fantastic player to watch. Otherwise, Salim Malik. From what I saw of him, he was amazing.
South Africa: Barry Richards - just to see what he could do. Purported to be one of the all time greats, but never given the chance to prove it.
Zimbabwe: Andy Flower. Zimbabwe's only world-class player. Deserves to still be playing
Sri Lanka: Aravinda de Silva. Another amazing batsman on his day and fantastic to watch.

[greg]

Australia- Has to be Bradman,just to be able to see how good he really was.

England- Trueman,always a loudmouth,would be interesting to see if he was as good as he says he was.
India- Gavaskar,could solve the opening problem
Pakistan- Imran Khan,They need a great leader to take them forward.
South Africa- Pollock,never had a chance to fulfill his potential.
Zimbabwe- David Houghton,was too old when they started in Test cricket but a fine player.
New Zealand- Hadlee.Don't need to say anymore.
West Indies- Sobers,they need more than him though at moment.
Sri Lanka- Aravinda de Silva,great to watch