Who would you choose?

[1eyedog]

You are the captain of a new ODI team in the school playground and you have every international star at your disposal. Who's your first choice?

I'll take Kallis.

He has been doing it for a long time and has the credits in the bank.

[chef]

Re: Who would you choose?

Watson just over Sangakkara.

[comrade]

Re: Who would you choose?

Dale Steyn. The guy is in the top 3 fast bowlers of the last 20 years (with McGrath and Ambrose) and easily the best bowler in the world right now.

Can slog a bit as well.

[Mantis]

Re: Who would you choose?

Tendulkar... Still the best OD batsman in the world.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Who would you choose?

Dhoni hands down, no contest. With a gun wicketkeeper also being pretty much arguably the best ODI bat in the world you are already one leg up over every other side that has to pick a wicketkeeper and give up runs in the process. This is before you factor in any leadership credits you would gain by making him captain.

[lemmon]

Re: Who would you choose?

Hashim Amla, most improved player in the world. Run machine who scores at a decent clip and is a mighty fine fielder. Averages 57 at a strike rate of 94 from 39 ODI's

[comrade]

Re: Who would you choose?

Hashim Amla, most improved player in the world. Run machine who scores at a decent clip and is a mighty fine fielder. Averages 57 at a strike rate of 94 from 39 ODI's

He doesn't have to face Steyn though

[GVGjr]

Re: Who would you choose?

It's interesting how the wicket keeping role is so highly regarded but guys like Sangakkara, Dohni and De Villiers all offer so much I can see why.

[lemmon]

Re: Who would you choose?

He doesn't have to face Steyn though

Haha fair point

[1eyedog]

Re: Who would you choose?

Dale Steyn. The guy is in the top 3 fast bowlers of the last 20 years (with McGrath and Ambrose) and easily the best bowler in the world right now.

Can slog a bit as well.

Don't know how averages compare, but I rate Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram over Steyn and possibly Walsh as well. I rate him on par with Donald but he will surpass him at some stage.

Waqar and Akram were deadly, they always swung the ball at 145km and took wickets regularly. No one was taking wickets faster than Waqar was in his prime.

Aktar I also rate higher than Steyn because batsmen were scared of him, he was much faster (topped at 161+km) and held his pace all day. Steyn was ok over here last year but not really that threathening on pitches that he was used to and should have suited him.

My assessment is not based on averages, Steyn's is very impressive I know. I'd have the following;

1) McGrath
2) Ambrose
3)Younis
4) Akram
5) Aktar
6) Steyn and Donald

[LostDoggy]

Re: Who would you choose?

It's interesting how the wicket keeping role is so highly regarded but guys like Sangakkara, Dohni and De Villiers all offer so much I can see why.

Man, all three blokes in the same team would win any game -- you've pretty much picked my top 3 cricketers in the world (with apologies to Tendulkar and Kallis). De Villiers is BY FAR the most complete player in the game today, and is just one of those guys you can't help but love and be jealous off at the same time.

[lemmon]

Re: Who would you choose?

Dale Steyn. The guy is in the top 3 fast bowlers of the last 20 years (with McGrath and Ambrose) and easily the best bowler in the world right now.

Can slog a bit as well.

I came across an article the other day about the Steyn and it raised a few interesting points about his limited overs form. His one day figures are adequate if not spectacular and he has only played the 47 ODI's compared with 46 tests. In those 47 games he has 67 wickets at 30 with an economy just above 5.2 an over and has never taken a 5 wicket haul. Steyn himself states that the batsmen are more comfortable playing him knowing that they only have to play out 10 overs per game. In contrast Mitch Johnson has a far superior one day record having taken 131 wickets at 26.5 with a better economy and strike rate. Steyn is without a doubt the best fast bowler in the world but this form doesnt really translate to the one day arena, he bowls a much better 'test match' full length and his cricket brain is underrated, a facet not really exposed in the one day arena. His figures are almost the opposite to those of Brett Lee who was/is a tremendous one day bowler but nothing more then an 'above average' test player. Steyn is without a doubt a great test bowler but the tools which make him great in the longer form dont aid his limited overs play.

This is the article for those interested- http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine...ry/497468.html

[1eyedog]

Re: Who would you choose?

Dale Steyn. The guy is in the top 3 fast bowlers of the last 20 years (with McGrath and Ambrose) and easily the best bowler in the world right now.

Can slog a bit as well.

His averages wouldn't stack up, but for sheer quality I don't think Anderson is as far behind as you think.