h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm musing over an article I'm working on for the next

To mark the start of the cricket season in England, I'm putting together my World Cricket XI - five batsmen, an all-rounder, wicketkeeper, spinner and three seamers. There will also be a few spares (one in each position apart from the wicketkeeper) in case of injury, or to change the team around if my side come up against particular pitch conditions. Obviously, as a purist, I'm focussing on a Test side. I'm also limiting myself to a very harsh two players in the first eleven from any Test playing nation.

Anyone care to debate their own choices for any of the above positions? Though I'm not going to reveal my side until the Post is published, it would be fun to play devil's advocate if anyone wants to make suggestions

At the risk of being obvious: Bradman, Sobers, Botham, Ambrose.

I am assuming you mean maximum of two players from any country in main team?
and backups anywhere?


....

Ricky Ponting (AUS/BAT) backup Andrew Strauss (ENG)
Rahul Dravid (IND/BAT) backup Chris Gayle (WIN)
Stephen Fleming (NZL/BAT) backup Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
Brian Lara (WIN/BAT) backup Matthew Hayden (AUS)
Kumar Sangakarra(SLK/BAT) backup Mohammed Yousef (PAK)
Adam Gilchrist (AUS/WKT) -- didnt ask but Brendon McCullum (NZL)
Andrew Flintoff (ENG/ALL) backup Jaque Kallis (RSA)
Stephen Harmison(ENG/SMR) backup Dale Steyn (RSA)
Makyha Ntini (RSA/SMR) backup Chaminda Vaas (SLK)
Shane Bond (NZL/SMR) backup Shoaib Akhtar (PAK)
Muttiah Murali (SLK/SPR) backup Mohammed Rafique (BAN)

I was trying to be current!
If I can pick any then the possibilities are endless!

Nope, current players only - and just one backup batsman, one all-rounder, one spinner, one seamer - otherwise it would be too easy

That makes sense... I was trying to figure out how to keep two people from a country.... ill modify the list then...

Batsman

1 Ricky Ponting (AUS)
2 Rahul Dravid (IND)
3 Brian Lara (WIN)
4 Kumar Sangakarra(SLK)
5 Younis Khan (PAK)
6 Stephen Fleming (NZL) - bckup

Wicket Keeper
7 Adam Gilchrist (AUS)

AllRounder
8 Jaque Kallis (RSA)
9 Andrew Flintoff (ENG) - bckup

Seamers
10 Stephen Harmison(ENG)
11 Makyha Ntini (RSA)
12 Shane Bond (NZL)
13 Shoaib Akhtar (PAK) - bckup

Spinner
14 Muttiah Muralitharan (SLK)
15 Mohammed Rafique (BAN) - bckup

2 Aussies
2 Brits
2 Kiwis
2 Pakistanis
2 South Africans
2 Sri Lankans
1 Carribean
1 Indian
1 Bangladeshi

Nice line up, certainly food for thought Just to clarify (I have made up my own rules in my head for the Post article) you're only limited to two from each nation in your first XI - I suppose the backup players could be any, but I'll limit them to one from each when I make the final selection just for variety, ie:

1. AUS
2. AUS
3. ENG
4. ENG
5. SA
6. SA
7. PAK
8. IND
9. SLA
10. SLA
11. NZ

Backups: 1. ENG 2. BLA 3. AUS 4. SA 5. IND

for example Of course, there's no need for you to do your team once again, I'm just explaining how my team will be made up.


Anyway, on to your team at last I'll play Devil's Advocate as I say, so don't be offended by my prying questions - you'll have chance to get your own back in a fortnight!

I'm interested first of all to know who would open your batting? You've got plenty of middle order flamboyance, but I'm struggling to see a natural opener - I know Gilchrist has in the past, but his ideal position is surely to crack on at 6 or 7.

I do like the look of the middle order - you've got big scorers, quick scorers and 'The Wall'. I suppose this part of the team is the easiest to pick - who to leave out rather than who gets in - but I like the look of it, great balance. Do you think Lara is still an automatic choice at 3 or 4 though? and what about Tendulkar?

You've got cracking bowlers - they're all quickies apart from Kallis though. Flat pitch, cloudy day, ball getting on a bit - who do you throw the ball to? Bond can bat a bit, but apart from that Harmy, Ntini and Murali look a rather long tail - there's be a bit of a fight over who went in at 11!

If you played two spinners, you'd have a great combo in Rafique (who I'd love to see bowling for a decent team) and Murali - probably the strongest part of your team, especially if Sangakkarra got a few overs too. Warne is presumably missing because there's Aussies elsewhere in your team - were Kumble or Bhaja close?

Ooh, and who's your captain and why?


Now we've got your team, it would be great to hear your thoughts behind it

OK! Here's my try. This is based on your rules as far as I can tell!

1. Trescothick - on form still the best opener in world cricket.
2. Nafees - the Bangladeshi lad who looks as if he has a great future in the game after good knocks against Australia.
3. Dravid - has to be at 3.
4. Inzamam (Capt)- no argument on current form. Making him captain for sheer entertainment value!!
5. Hussey - in his natural position and the best batsman in the world full stop. Great fielder as well.
6. Flintoff - not too high for his great ability. He is the great all rounder in the world at the moment.
7. Boucher - still a class act with the bat and behind the stumps.
8. Warne - with only one more Aussie it has to be Warnie.
9. Ntini - one of the best in the world.
10. Shoaib Akhtar - without Lee this team needs a paceman.
11. Chris Martin - my real surprise choice. Fastest Kiwi to 50 wickets beating Hadlee and a real handful on a bouncy pitch.

Backups
Strauss - in English type conditions one of the best, but still chancy on foreign pitches.
Ponting - only left out because I wanted Hussey more.
Dhoni - soon to be the world's best keeper/ batsman but shaded by
Boucher because of lack of experience.
Vaas - still great at tying up an end but more incisive than Pollock.
Vettori - the best 'normal' spinner in the world and a great bat!

Pick the bones out of that!!
SBE

Batsman - Order

1 Rahul Dravid (IND)
2 Kumar Sangakarra(SLK)
3 Ricky Ponting (AUS) *
4 Younis Khan (PAK)
5 Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
6 Adam Gilchrist (AUS) +
7 Jaque Kallis (RSA) -- for flat pitch? Andy Flintoff instead
8 Stephen Harmison(ENG)
9 Makyha Ntini (RSA)
10 Shane Bond (NZL)
11 Muttiah Muralitharan (SLK)

Your questions had me rethink my lineup...
The only reason why I had Brian Lara on my team was that I didnt represent windies anywhere, who as twice world cup winners require some mention. What better than 400 Lara? But Tendulkar has much better class and works well in any conditions, plus Tendu could bowl if needed.

Rahul Dravid and Sangakarra would make good openers as they have both done it before and can prosper. If all else fails there is Sachin and Ricky coming up, who can also do well with the new ball.

If the pitch was flatter I would leave Kallis and go with Flintoff instead. I would probably start off with a duo of Ntini and Bond.

Warne did miss out because I already had two great Australians. Kumble doesnt really represent the cricketers of the day and he I didnt include because I truly feel that he should retire and give younger caps chance. The same reason why Inzi didnt make the cut.

As spinners go, I would have liked the duo of Murali and Vettori or Murali and Rafique. But I left Vettori out because I had two kiwis on my list, and Murali is still more experienced then rafique.

I think Harmy and Ntini can bat as well, Murali on the bat is a bit of problem. But I am leaving it to the Batsman to do their job.

The team led by?
RICKY PONTING OF COURSE!
He is doing a fine job already, and he is kept his team on the top of both tables.

Any pointers?
Black Cheetah -

I'm going to take a pounding when my team comes out, because you guys are selecting very strong sides about which there can't be much argument, and they'd probably knock my team all over the place I know at least one of mine will probably get a resounding I just love the debate. Just for intregue, there's only two players between both your first teams that I'd consider an automatic choice


So, SBE, you were doing very well until your justification for picking your first player:

'1. Trescothick - on form still the best opener in world cricket.' - he's averaged 31 in his first three Somerset matches, and if you take out his magnificent 154 against Notts it drops to 7. You can certainly make a case for Banger, but certainly not on form

Nafees is a very interesting choice; he certainly looks the part, but I think it would be too soon to select him for my World team with just one century under his belt. Same with Hussey - wonderful average, but hasn't really played a decent team yet, has he?

Boucher - very good choice. A man who keeps wicket superbly first and foremost and deserves a place in the SA side on that alone. I personally don't buy this wicketkeeper-batsman bull. The fact is, batsmen bat, bowlers bowl, keepers keep wicket. Boucher is very rare in that he is an excellent keeper who bats a bit, but for me the keeping must always come first. There's only one keeper in the world better than him, but for that one you'll have to wait

I love watching Inzy try to run between the wickets

Chris Martin *is* a surprise in the bowling attack, I'd always thought he was a far better singer than bowler What's he got that Bond or Oram haven't then? They certainly look better on paper.


The best middle order batsmen - your Dravids, Pontings, Laras, Tendulkars, for example - play at their best when the openers have made a good start and taken the shine off the new ball. Even Inzy doesn't look too hot when the new ball is jumping around, and I wouldn't trust either of your opening pairs to be around after 20 overs. If they did, though, it would quite a spectacle

It's interesting how you've made up your teams. In mine, as I'm sure yours too, there's a big smidgeon of sentimentality ('I've always wanted to see him play in the flesh') a good dose of excitement ('He's a real livewire') and a certain amount of gritty get-the-job-doneness.

I'd shift Bond up to 8 in your line-up, BC - he can bat well enough to give the last batsman a chance to get his runs in Personally, I'd be delighted to see Ponting capatin the Aussies for as long as possible, as he seems to think being captain means handing out the chewing gum and asking Warne and Gilly for advice

GEOFFREY BOYCOTT!!

Fair point on Banger!! However, over the last couple of years he has been brilliant. Bond is a crock and Oram, though the better bat, is not as good a new ball bowler. I had the pleasure of watching Chris Martin in NZ and in a poll of batsmen he came way above Bond and Oram in answer to the question, "which bowler do you least like to face." He can run through a side or tie up an end as required. I wanted to give Nafees a chance as my real bolter in the batting side. As to Hussey - there really is no argument. He is class.
SBE

'Oram, though the better bat, is not as good a new ball bowler'

With Akhtar and Ntini in the side, I wouldn't be giving the new ball to anyone else anyway

I would certainly have Boycott on my commentary team

In fact, he fits my idea of a model opener; a player who, regardless of the circumstances, steadfastly refuses to get out. You have to have flair, but for me the top of the order is solidity, and in that respect I think I've found my perfect opening two.


Anyway, I could be 'pure class' against Bangladesh

Wait till November. You'll have hours to appreciate Hussey's class as he smashes Flintoff and co around the ground!!
Check out my second team!!

1. Smith
2. Strauss
3. Ponting
4. Fleming
5. Kallis
6. Bravo
7. Akmal - your wktkeeper and very nearly mine before Boucher won.
8. Vettori
9. Hoggard
10. Muralitharan
11. McGrath - only out of my first team due to Warne.

SBE

Akmal, now there's a good choice for a wicketkeeper. Not mine, but he could have been

I think your second team has got a bit more balance than the first one - other than you've got two spinners And two all rounders, come to think of it It's just a shame you keep picking these hapless, past it Aussies Ponting wouldn't even make the Barton second XI, let alone my world XI... When Hussey is the new hot talent in the Test side at almost 30, there's something wrong somewhere. And he's got a girl's name

Well, maybe shift with Ntini, because I think Harmy can bat better.

Long live Ponting!

I've changed the rules

I'm only picking one from each nation, making ten, and then one wildcard player (so there will be two from one nation and one from each of the others).

If accepted, it will be in the Post next Thursday; I'll try to post a link here and also publish my original team after it comes out

1 Brendan Taylor
2 Rahul Dravid
3 Brian Lara
4 Ricky Ponting *
5 Younis Khan
6 Brendan Taylor
6 Adam Gilchrist +
7 Mohammed Rafique
8 Stephen Harmison
9 Makhya Ntini
10 Shane Bond
11 Muttiah Muralitharan

Sorry in a hurry forgot

1 Brendan Taylor (ZIM)
2 Rahul Dravid (IND)
3 Brian Lara (WIN)
4 *Ricky Ponting (AUS)
5 Younis Khan (PAK)
6 +Adam Gilchrist (AUS)
7 Mohammed Rafique (BAN)
8 Stephen Harmison (ENG)
9 Makhya Ntini (RSA)
10 Shane Bond (NZL)
11 Muttiah Muralitharan (SLK)