World XI Squads Named

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub

A blatantly preposterous work of selection. So senseless as to be laughable.

Absolutely right Zainub. Boucher and Vettori would't even be in my World second or third XI, let alone the first XI! There are many better suited and more qualified alternatives than both of them.

The Test XI is missing Kumble, Harbhajan and Kaneria - any of these would have been a much better selection than Vettori. Similarly, Inzamam would probably have been a better selection, on form and performance, than Tendulkar. My guess is that a World XI without SRT would be unacceptable to the sponsors; even if SRT has to play Playstation Cricket off his sick-bed.

However, apart from that, the Test squad is almost reasonable. The ODI XI is a different matter, and most of the selections are below-par. Sehwag? He has a shambolic one-day record. SRT? Ditto. Kallis? Do we intend to bore the Aussies to sleep? He is one of the world's best Test players, but not a candidate for ODI World XIs - his role in a one-day outfit is to hold it together; a World XI, by definition, is composed of the world's best players and so should not suffer from random collapses! Vettori is there purely to make up the numbers, and I am not too sure about Ntini and Gibbs either, especially as the former seems to be included at the expense of the excellent Vaas, and the latter is taking the spot that should belong to Jayasuriya - the two South Africans should, by rights, be replaced by the two Sri Lankans!

However, the most glaring omission from the ODI team is Inzi - he would be the first name on my team-sheet; easily the most multi-dimensional and astute one-day batsman around, and on form over the past 12 months, possibly the best in the world too.

Were the selectors making a belated April Fools Joke?

[Zainub]

I am glad someone has actually taken the pain to highlight the mistakes of the selectors, although one might argue they are so blatant they don't really need any further highlighting. When I first looked at the squad, in all seriousness, I thought Cricinfo had got it wrong, I thought it was some form of major typographical error or something. That was until I saw the same news appear in several other news agencies.

When I came here, finding a discussion on it, I refrained to analyse it any further then simply calling it a disaster, such a poorly balanced squad for what is being billed as such a high profile event, so poor I thought it didn't even merit any analysis. I still find it hard to believe. Somehow though I have got my self around to actually comment on its composition. It's better to let your frustrations out then fret over them internally they say, so here goes:

First thing you notice about it is how it's fully loaded with South Africans, which is NOT something I would have minded given some of these players would have actually done anything of merit. It actually seems like “Mike Haysman World XI” rather then an ICC World XI. South Africa have actually gone through one of the worst 12 or so month period in their history, losing to Sri Lanka for the first time, losing to India, barely drawing in New Zealand and then losing at home to England, in between all this somewhere they also managed to lose to a Brian Lara less West Indian side, also missing 10 other leading players.

To their credit they bounced back with a good run of ODIs wins, and that despite for the greater part having a harebrained, nut case coach in Ray Jennings, but it is hardly a secret that their team and several of their players were not having a good time. During this period several of the players that have been selected where criticized for their lack of consistency, and some of them were even dropped. Herschel Gibbs who makes it to the one-day squad is there ahead of likes of Marcus Trescothick and Chris Gayle, both of whom are recognized as far more accomplished one-day batsmen then Mr. Gibbs.

Then on top of all his they have also selected Sehwag whose one-day inconsistencies are well documented, what happened to a certain some-one with a mere 10,000 one-day runs under his belt called Sanath Jayasuriya, who also by the way has quite a few hundred one-day wickets at not a massive average. They openers selected are just the opposite of what you would expect a side consisting of the best players in the world to have. Wholly inconsistent and unreliable.

And then there is the matter of Inzi. How you can not have Inzamam in a one-day eleven , any one-day eleven, is simply beyond me. His could seriously understand Inzi's omission from the test squad; his test record in Australia does not inspire confidence, unless you are die hard Inzi fan like some of us Pakistanis here. And I wouldn't argue with any selector not being sure of selecting him there, but to not pick him in the one-day side. That is plain and simple unexplainable, and I challenge Sunny G and his panel to come up with one, only one, no more, valid reason not to. I can assure you they will not be able to do so.

I would have also not minded seeing Sachin get selected just on star value, he's an all time great, one of a kind, you can give him that kind of treatment for an event like this, but to pick him when is NOT FIT. And not only pick him but also make him vice captain of the one-day side. What are you planning to make him do? Sign autographs and do commercials advertisements and perhaps make a cameo appearance as substitute fielder? Are you alright Mr. Sunny G? Are you seriously alright?

To pick Ntini ahead of Vaas in ODIs, Boucher ahead of Sangakkara, Daniel Vettori ahead of Kumble and Harbajjan, dare I say Kaneria, Vaughan ahead of Smith tests (despite the latter’s unpopularity not only amongst other teams but his own as well)...Aaahh...the flaws are endless it seems...I shouldn't have bothered starting going into details. Just one line was enough.

[Captain]

apart from afew selections good teams, and should be a good series, though im not much for them being matches holding official value, they should havea separate stat section, like super stats or somewat.

[Zainub]

Bill Frindal is a cricket statistician and scorer, he's inclined to agree with you, as am I.

[Paoli]

I agree with the South African comment Zainub, but what you have to realise is that there have been awesome South African individual performances by Kallis, Smith, Pollock over the last 18 months, whereas a side like England have played pretty much as a unit with some Freddie and Harmy Magic. Boucher, as I said in my threadstarter, is a joke of a selection as he comes about sixth in my keepers. But, as I said, around the time of SA's last tour of Australia, he was considered Gilly's successor as the best keeper in the world, so that notion may have stuck; but this bloke was dropped by SA last year!!!

Sehwag is the bloke most likely to ignite the spark early, so I'd have him over Shahid Afridi, although Afridi is good value as he offers economical leg breaks and his Aussie record of late has been second to none; but, in saying that, I don't class him as a World XI type of player.

As for Vettori, his record against Australia is good. Yet, I'd have had Kumble, who on his last tour down under had an amazing trot in one innings where he took 8-143 and followed it up with 4-80 odd; a 12 wicket haul in Sydney; where this test is being played. I'd give Vettori a go ahead of Kaneria, but not Kumble or H. Singh.

Vaas deserves a go; as does Sanga in tests, as does Vaughan in the test form; but not ahead of Smithy Zainub. Smithy's record against all teams is second to none. I'd have him in the squad though.

Another unfortunate one is Yousuf Youhana who for me is streets ahead of Inzy to be selected. No.1, he has a brilliant record against Australia. No.2, he is what this side needs; a cool head in the middle order who can switch on and off; and yes, the running between wickets.

Tendulkar; self explanatory folks. Best bat in the world still by a distance and provides irresistable $$$ to Mr. E.Z Cash.

Unfortunately there's always a heap of mistakes in Cricketing rep teams.

[Cricket Girl]

No way does Graeme Smith deserve to be in the side, as bat or captain. All his runs have come against mediocre attacks and his captaincy against England in 2003 and 2005 was dire. Picking him as captain is like saying he's the best tactician outside Australia in world cricket. Laughable. I would have Vaughan or Inzi as captain. Daniel Vettori's selection seemed to confirm that every big national side had to have a player picked. Vettori's not much better a bowler than Ashley Giles, if he is at all. Gayle and Jayasuriya should have been picked in the ODI squad. Boucher has been picked on his form of 5 years ago. Why not give Taibu a go? I reckon by the end of this Ashes series they will wish they could have Simon Jones in the squad.

Still, it will be very interesting to see how England's bowlers do being captained by a muppet like Smith. They will still do well because they are class bowlers but I don't think Smith will get the best out of them.

[Ninjaman]

World XIs should be picked on the basis of who are the best players and then the captain picked after.

On that basis Michael Vaughan has now place anywhere near this team if Inzamam can't even make it!!!

Who the captain is far less relevant than how the particular players themselves approach the game.

[djdannybrown]

Why have they announced the teams already to face the aussies.The series doesnt start while October and anything could happen.I think including people who are not even playing their countries or who were dropped in the last year is strange.Well some strange decisions have been made.
I dont know why wouldnt have just announced it a week before.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Originally Posted by Cricket Girl

No way does Graeme Smith deserve to be in the side, as bat or captain. All his runs have come against mediocre attacks and his captaincy against England in 2003 and 2005 was dire. Picking him as captain is like saying he's the best tactician outside Australia in world cricket. Laughable. I would have Vaughan or Inzi as captain. Daniel Vettori's selection seemed to confirm that every big national side had to have a player picked. Vettori's not much better a bowler than Ashley Giles, if he is at all. Gayle and Jayasuriya should have been picked in the ODI squad. Boucher has been picked on his form of 5 years ago. Why not give Taibu a go? I reckon by the end of this Ashes series they will wish they could have Simon Jones in the squad.

Still, it will be very interesting to see how England's bowlers do being captained by a muppet like Smith. They will still do well because they are class bowlers but I don't think Smith will get the best out of them.

Its been a funny old month for me ! First warming to Brett Lee, then leaping to the defence of graham Smith ! He has done pretty captaining Somerset, and scored alot of runs. It will be interesting to see how he copes under a SA manager who isnt deranged as well. If he can caddick and a few other cider-swigging misfits to fire he should do OK. Glad that over with !

Boucher - pants, I'd rather have Devilliers over him, but Sangakka appears to be head and shoulders above the lot. Vittori - token NZ player ? Looks like that to me, although better than the over rated flemming.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Paoli

Smithy's record against all teams is second to none.

I would strongly disagree with that.

Here's a series by series summary of what he's done so far in his test career.

Australia in South Africa, 2001/02 Series
2 matches 114 runs at 28.50 , best of 68

Sri Lanka in South Africa, 2002/03 Series]
2 matches 2 88 runs at 29.33 best of 73

Pakistan in South Africa, 2002/03 Series
2 matches 180 runs at 90.00, best of 151

South Africa in Bangladesh, 2003 Series
2 matches 31 runs at 15.50, best of 16

South Africa in England, 2003 Series
5 matches 714 runs ay 79.33, best of 277

South Africa in Pakistan, 2003/04 Series
2 matches 112 runs at 28.00, best of 65

Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (SA/WI) in South Africa, 2003/04 Series
4 matches 418 runs at 69.66 best of 138

South Africa in New Zealand, 2003/04 Series
3 matches 290 runs at 58.00 best of 125*

South Africa in Sri Lanka, 2004 Series
2 matches 179 runs at 44.75, best of 74

South Africa in India, 2004/05 [Series]
2 matches 155 runs at 38.75, best of 71

Basil D'Oliveira Trophy (Eng/SA) in South Africa, 2004/05 [Series]
5 matches 269 runs at 29.88, best of 74

Zimbabwe in South Africa, 2004/05 Series]
2 matches 162 runs at 81.00, best of 121

Sir Vivian Richards Trophy (SA/WI) in West Indies, 2004/05 Series
4 matches 505 runs at 84.16, best of 148

What I conclude from the above is that he is great player at home, with suspect record in the sub-continent, and merely boasts of an inflated average thanks to big hundreds scored against the likes of West Indies against whom he scores heavily both home and away, his averages are also helped by the largely one-off performance against England in England in 2003, where he got back to back double hundreds on perfect feather beds, all credit due still. Against Australia though he only averages 28.

I would hardly be inclined to describe all of the above as a record that is second to none. I would have preffered Michael Vaughan over him any time, not only does he have an astonishing record against Australia (in Australia) but also is a FAR, FAR, better skipper then Smith can be at any time.