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Sorry for there's a similar thread around but I have searched long enough.
I am interested in reading the thoughts that different posters have about the best players from different eras. The basic premise of this exercise is to select the best XI based purely on your time following cricket. It is assumed that they are going to play against a very strong side in conditions suited equally for all types of players.
I started following the game in the early 90's and here's my Test XI
Matthew Hayden: An average of over 50 in 102 tests makes him the best opener I have seen. Also a strong slips fieldsman but might be forced back into the gully with the strength of others.
Graeme Smith (vc): This would have received a lot of criticism here a month ago (would have had him then as well). Once again averages over 50 in 74 tests and at 27 there's a lot to come. Proved his leadership, toughness and that he can mix it up with the best this summer. Also very safe in the slips.
Ricky Ponting: An average of 57.2 over 127 tests batting mainly at first drop is obviously outstanding. He will soon become Australia's hight test run scorer.
Sanchin Tendulkar: The little master. An average of over 54 from 156 tests makes him the leading career test run scorer. Stunningly made his test debut at 16 and has pretty much dominated ever since. His part time spin bowling could also be useful. Best player I have seen.
Brian Lara: Batting a bit out of place here but I am sure he could cope with it. Average of 52.88 over 131 tests makes him the 2nd highest career test run scorer. Started his career with a still dominate Windies team but had to spend most of career holding together a crumbling line up. His batting was so beautiful it feels a crime to have him out of my XI.
Jacques Kallis: Not the most exciting cricketer going around but you'd be hard pressed many better all-rounders. He is just short of 10,000 runs in test cricket, averaging 54.95 over 127 tests. He has also taken 251 wickets at 30.98. His bowling allows me to play two spinners. Another strong slips fieldsman, don't knick it against my team.
Adam Gilchrist: Finished with an average of 47.6. His aggressive batting was perfect for the limited time he had at the crease with the tail. While his keeping wasn't great he ended up with the second highest amount of test career wicket-keeper dismissals and his average of 4.33 dismissals is significantly higher than others at the top of the list (noted that he played in a side often taking 20 wickets a test). At his peak, he was the batsman I most enjoyed watching.
Wasim Akram: His stats aren't as good as some of his rivals for the spot (still great stats) and I missed the start of his career but I ended up giving him a spot because of what he could offer the side. A left arm fast bowler with the strong ability to reverse swing a ball, he could rip through a side. He averaged 22.64 with the ball, taking 414 wickets in 104 tests. He never seemed to reach his potential with the bat but could be very damaging when he got going. An average of 23.62 is pretty good for a number eight.
Shane Warne (c): Second highest test career wickets with 708 wickets at 25.41, while it's a great average, it does not do him just. He was stunning at his peak, where he was on it felt like he would take a wicket with every ball. A big game player who had the ability to rip through a side as well as holding up an end. The perfect bowler to have at the other end. A batting average of 25.41 coming in at nine isn't too bad. The bowler I have most enjoyed watching my a fair distance. I know it seems crazy to have a player captaining this collection of players who has never captained a test team before but I rate his cricket mind (key word cricket) extremely high.
Muttiah Muralitharan: Obviously a lot of doubt over his action but if he gets to play, he definitely has to make my side. His off-spin and Warne's leg-spin would make a deadly combination. He mas the leading career test wicket taker with 766 wickets at an average of 21.92. He gets a lot of criticism for taking wickets against the minnows but against teams excluding Bangladesh and Zimbabwe he has taken 572 wickets at 24.05, still very impressive. Another one that could rip a side apart.
Glenn McGrath: Mr.Consistency with the ball with the ability to bowl line and length all day. 563 wickets at an average of 21.64 over 124 tests. A player to have bowling at the other end and obviously has the ability to take wickets himself, he would be a great partner for Wasim.
12th man: Shaun Pollock: Great bowling all-rounder averaging 23 with the ball and 32 with the bat, I just felt what the other bowlers were more valuable and the batting depth was already strong enough.
Apologies to many, but mostly:
Steve Waugh: Great leader and batsman just couldn't drop Lara for him. If his body let him he would have had a strong crack at an all-rounders spot.
Curtly Ambrose: Economical and dangerous, very stiff to miss out but I saw more of McGrath's career and thought Wasim added more to the side.
I am interested in reading the thoughts that different posters have about the best players from different eras. The basic premise of this exercise is to select the best XI based purely on your time following cricket. It is assumed that they are going to play against a very strong side in conditions suited equally for all types of players.
I started following the game in the early 90's and here's my Test XI
Matthew Hayden: An average of over 50 in 102 tests makes him the best opener I have seen. Also a strong slips fieldsman but might be forced back into the gully with the strength of others.
Graeme Smith (vc): This would have received a lot of criticism here a month ago (would have had him then as well). Once again averages over 50 in 74 tests and at 27 there's a lot to come. Proved his leadership, toughness and that he can mix it up with the best this summer. Also very safe in the slips.
Ricky Ponting: An average of 57.2 over 127 tests batting mainly at first drop is obviously outstanding. He will soon become Australia's hight test run scorer.
Sanchin Tendulkar: The little master. An average of over 54 from 156 tests makes him the leading career test run scorer. Stunningly made his test debut at 16 and has pretty much dominated ever since. His part time spin bowling could also be useful. Best player I have seen.
Brian Lara: Batting a bit out of place here but I am sure he could cope with it. Average of 52.88 over 131 tests makes him the 2nd highest career test run scorer. Started his career with a still dominate Windies team but had to spend most of career holding together a crumbling line up. His batting was so beautiful it feels a crime to have him out of my XI.
Jacques Kallis: Not the most exciting cricketer going around but you'd be hard pressed many better all-rounders. He is just short of 10,000 runs in test cricket, averaging 54.95 over 127 tests. He has also taken 251 wickets at 30.98. His bowling allows me to play two spinners. Another strong slips fieldsman, don't knick it against my team.
Adam Gilchrist: Finished with an average of 47.6. His aggressive batting was perfect for the limited time he had at the crease with the tail. While his keeping wasn't great he ended up with the second highest amount of test career wicket-keeper dismissals and his average of 4.33 dismissals is significantly higher than others at the top of the list (noted that he played in a side often taking 20 wickets a test). At his peak, he was the batsman I most enjoyed watching.
Wasim Akram: His stats aren't as good as some of his rivals for the spot (still great stats) and I missed the start of his career but I ended up giving him a spot because of what he could offer the side. A left arm fast bowler with the strong ability to reverse swing a ball, he could rip through a side. He averaged 22.64 with the ball, taking 414 wickets in 104 tests. He never seemed to reach his potential with the bat but could be very damaging when he got going. An average of 23.62 is pretty good for a number eight.
Shane Warne (c): Second highest test career wickets with 708 wickets at 25.41, while it's a great average, it does not do him just. He was stunning at his peak, where he was on it felt like he would take a wicket with every ball. A big game player who had the ability to rip through a side as well as holding up an end. The perfect bowler to have at the other end. A batting average of 25.41 coming in at nine isn't too bad. The bowler I have most enjoyed watching my a fair distance. I know it seems crazy to have a player captaining this collection of players who has never captained a test team before but I rate his cricket mind (key word cricket) extremely high.
Muttiah Muralitharan: Obviously a lot of doubt over his action but if he gets to play, he definitely has to make my side. His off-spin and Warne's leg-spin would make a deadly combination. He mas the leading career test wicket taker with 766 wickets at an average of 21.92. He gets a lot of criticism for taking wickets against the minnows but against teams excluding Bangladesh and Zimbabwe he has taken 572 wickets at 24.05, still very impressive. Another one that could rip a side apart.
Glenn McGrath: Mr.Consistency with the ball with the ability to bowl line and length all day. 563 wickets at an average of 21.64 over 124 tests. A player to have bowling at the other end and obviously has the ability to take wickets himself, he would be a great partner for Wasim.
12th man: Shaun Pollock: Great bowling all-rounder averaging 23 with the ball and 32 with the bat, I just felt what the other bowlers were more valuable and the batting depth was already strong enough.
Apologies to many, but mostly:
Steve Waugh: Great leader and batsman just couldn't drop Lara for him. If his body let him he would have had a strong crack at an all-rounders spot.
Curtly Ambrose: Economical and dangerous, very stiff to miss out but I saw more of McGrath's career and thought Wasim added more to the side.
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