I really don't like Gilchrist as an all time one day opener. Tendulkar and Greenidge were/are far more accomplished. One scores at a very high rate, and the other would have in today's power plays. Both also score runs regularly. Gilchrist has made a career of having many short cameos. He is not a consistent performer with the bat. The fact he is the wicket keeper makes everyone want to pick him (and then open with him). If one is to bat their keeper down the order, then Gilchrist doesn't automatically get picked in my opinion. How long before people start to accept that Dhoni is a very accopmlished one day player?

My team
Greenidge, Tendulkar, Richards, Jones, Javed, Bevan, KEEPER (Gilly for sake of argument), Akram, Pollock, Warne, Garner.

Of course, I only have four bowlers here, so I can either drop Bevan for an allrounder at six - Javed was a great finisher (or bat Gilly at 6 and pick Hadlee/Imran). Alternatively, I can drop the keeper (is he that important a position in LOI cricket - Javed has kept before, even did it in a world cup semi) and then pick Imran/Hadlee. The batting is deep (batting down to 10) so I might be able to find a place for Curtley and drop Pollock if needs be.

That side isnt too bad at all. I'd personally have Bevan instead of Zaheer Abbas. I like the idea of having Bevan and Javed around to finish matches off.

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Mark.

Gilchrist scored virtually as fast before power plays were introduced. Tendulkar and Greenidge may have been/are fast scorers, but IMO are more the kind of players who'll accelerate throughout their innings, rather than score furiously from ball one. If he bats down the order, then I think he's wasted.

I think going in with specialists is the way to go. Going in with part-time keepers to shore up the batting strikes me as a fairly defensive move. Personally, I think the only other competitiors for the wicketkeeping position are Dhoni, Dujon and Boucher.

Strangely, Ambrose never seemed to be at his best in ODIs. I think better alterantives if you want ot drop Pollock could be found in Waqar Younis, Donald, Holding- or maybe even Murali in a twin-spin attack.

Ambrose's big match record is exemplary. World Cup and World Seris cup he was very impressive. I've no objections to the three you mentioned, Curtley's just one of my favourites, that's all.

Also, When did Gilchrist ever play LOI internationals before power plays? Tendulkar, if anything actually decelerates after he gets to fifty in limited overs cricket. Gilchrist is basically a Sehwag type player, who without the glives would not be mentioned in this thread. I'm happy with Greenidge and Tendulkar. I'd expect 100-0 after 20 overs - and I'll take that with IVA coming in at 3..

Just a matter of opinion, in the end. Personally, I like to eat my cake and have it too- I consider having someone like Gilchrist, who can take it to the opposition from ball one (and accelerate after reaching 50) partnered by someone like Tendulkar or Mark Waugh or Greenidge or Haynes, who can hit the attack off it's length or build an innings as the situation may require, to be the best of both worlds. I know I probably haven't explained it very well, but there you go.

P.S. By "Power Plays" I meant what was introduced along with the SuperSub- not just fielding restrictions per se. I missed Greemidge's career, so it never occured to me that they might not have existed back in the 80s. But as Gilchrist has proved to be the most destructive batsman of the PowerPlay era, I'm satisfied that he could achieve something similar 20 years ago. Besides, as much as Curtley, Gilchrist is a big match player, just check out his work in the World Cup finals.