England's all-time best ODI XI
The perfect example of Australia’s current dominance over all things English is when I came off second best to one of the nation's favourite foodstuffs this week. I’d taken two chomps of my ‘great Aussie meat pie’ during the interval at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, when I heard a menacing crack at the back of my mouth.
Yes, I had broken a tooth. It seems even an inanimate clump of pastry and minced meat won’t go down without a fight here. While I was assessing the damage at the back of my mouth, Simon Mann and Angus Fraser were locked in a raging debate on Test Match Special. Selecting England’s greatest ever one-day XI was never going to be a straightforward task, and so it proved.
We had a deluge of your texts and emails to get through, and like the snowflakes covering most of the UK at the moment, no two of you provided the same all-star team (which will play a fictitious match against a World XI - I think the match should take place in late April at Headingley!).
Eventually, and much to the consternation of Gus as Simon played chief selector (someone had to), they settled on this side:
Graham Gooch
Marcus Trescothick
Robin Smith
Kevin Pietersen
Allan Lamb
Andrew Flintoff
Ian Botham
Alec Stewart
Darren Gough
Bob Willis
Derek Underwood
I'm pretty sure that line-up wouldn’t be bowled out for 120 by New Zealand, albeit on dry and slightly two-paced pitch in Adelaide.
Once the team had been announced, another torrent of emails filled the TMS inbox, from listeners up in arms at some key omissions. How could we leave out Neil Fairbrother, the best 'finisher' England have ever had? Surely David Gower merited a place? The Warwickshire contingent were disgusted that Nick Knight had been overlooked. And what about John Snow?
But that was the point of the whole exercise, to stir up a debate, and it was great fun.
Be sure to tune in for tomorrow's interval in the Australia v England match, also in Adelaide, when Simon and Gus will go head-to-head again to decide on an all-time World XI.
There could be blood on the carpet, with some big names missing out, so I’d advise you to get in early with your suggestions once we go on air at 3:15am: remember the details, 84040 for text messages, and tms@bbc.co.uk for your emails.
Or, of course, you can just reply to this blog entry.
Tomorrow (Friday) is another massive day for England on this ill-fated tour of Australia. After their limp display against the Kiwis on Tuesday, they are suddenly behind the 8-ball when it comes to qualifying for the final against the Aussies. New Zealand's margin of victory meant they gained a crucial bonus point, which will act as a tiebreaker if they split their final two games against each other.
That means England may need a win over Australia at some point, to spoil the Aussies' bid for a first perfect season since Steve Waugh's side won every Test and One-Dayer against the West Indies and Zimbabwe in 2000-01.
But how on earth are England going to recover and mount a serious challenge to Ricky Ponting’s side? I was going to point to Australian complacency, but I reckon the fact it’s Australia Day will focus their minds.
Australia Day marks the date in 1788 when the first fleet under Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove, and set up the colony of New South Wales. Nowadays it takes the form of a 24-hour back-slapping exercise, exuding how great it is to be Australian, and what a wonderful, blissful paradise this land is.
With James Anderson and Jon Lewis doubtful for tomorrow's match, it’s hard to see how England can ruin the annual Aussie love-in.
The sad thing is that with the exception of Willis and underwood that lot have all been part of teams that have been battered by the Aussies. As if we needed a reality check.
If Oz bat first tomorrow we could be in for a record breaking score - and victory margin.
Still Freddie and Collie will tell us about how great the spirit and hopefully they will pick themselves up.
Complain about this postNo Graham Hick?
No Phil DeFreitas?
No Mike Gatting?
Surely if you put together a composite side of the two teams that got to the WC finals in 1987 and 1991 then that would have you close to be best ever England ODI XI.
Complain about this postWhere's the great Richard Ellison...
Complain about this postvery good selection
Complain about this postvaughan as captain maybe?
where is mike gatting?
gough????
where is jim laker?
I would have expected to see David Gower's name in the XI. However, the problem with the current team is not that it is not good technically but the general attitude of English cricket to ODIs. In the recent past, ODIs have not been taken seriously. ECB seems to consider it as a necessary evil and the players just go through the motions. There is no consistency in team selection and there is no game plan. ODIs are treated as rehearsals for new and out of form players. Why was Darren Gough selected for two/ three matches last summer? Unless the English team stops living from one ashes series to the next, it has no chance of being a top cricketing nation.
Complain about this postvery good selection
Complain about this postvaughan as captain maybe?
where is mike gatting?
gough????
where is jim laker?
All-time ODI world XI (not including England players):
S Tendulkar
Complain about this postA Gilchrist
R Ponting
AV Richards
M Hussey
M Bevan
Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
M Muralitharan
G McGrath
J Garner
Complain about this postthe team is fantastic and superb,england need to rebuild the same present team and dominate the cricket world.
The omission of Neil Fairbrother is unforgivable - he's without doubt the finest one-day batsman this country has produced. Listening to the selection on TMS, I think Simon Mann is the only person who disagrees with this.
Complain about this postI think the selection is very good, but I think that Graeme Hick should be in for Robin Smith.
Hick's off spin adds an extra element to the bowling as well.
Complain about this postHow about this for a World all-time XI:
Bradman
Barry Richards
Viv Richards
Ponting
Tendulkar
Botham
Flintoff
Gilchrist
Warne
Muralitharan
McGrath
Possibly a bit biased towards recent players but one-day cricket is now more exciting and watchable than it used to be (I'm sure Bradman would have excelled in it even today). Alternatively you could just pick Australia.
Complain about this postNot sure of Pietersen
Complain about this postA third of those players are in the current squad!!!
I know that Marcus and Kevin arent playing in this competition but if three of our best one day players of all time were at the World Cup you would have thought we could win the thing.
And as we know, there is more chance of Australia renaming Australia Day "Thank you for our country England" Day.
Get Gower or Thorpe in that team and push Marcus out.
Complain about this postMuch as I like Freedie Flintoff, he unfortunately does not have the leadership skills needed to produce the best from the England players.
Complain about this postLike Martin Corry in Rugby, who really could not inspire his team in the way Johson could, so poor Freddie could not emulate Michael Vaughan.
Classic was the 3rd test, when England had Autralia on the ropes, but went in to bat without either purpose or direction, and subsequently got stuffed.
He is a great bloke, with plenty of guts and skill, but like Ian Botham before him that is clearly not enough!
If there was ever a brilliant example of good captaincy, for those old enough to remember, Michael Brearley was the one, He took an underperformin England team from cosistant defeat to victory!
How...who knows!
why is hoggard not in there?
the best genuine swing bowler in the world, and not even given the nod!
Complain about this postMy world 11, gilchrist,tendulkar,kallis,lara,jonty rhodes,bevan,imran khan (captain)klusener,wasim akram,muralitharan,mcgrath
Complain about this postI would agree with the team proposed!
Complain about this postI can't believe they excluded Neil Fairbrother,
consistently the most efficient run getter for England when under pressure, brilliant in the field, got us to the final agaisnt Pakistan in the world cup and almost won it for us.
First name on my teamsheet
Complain about this postNo major quibbles with the side, but it's saying something about not only England's current attitude to one day cricket but our long held one that our entire middle order is made up former South Africans!
Complain about this postWhat about the worst all time England ODI team?
Complain about this postRest of the World XI
1 A Gilchrist (W/K)
Complain about this post2 M Waugh
3 V Richards
4 S Tendulkar
5 P Da Silva
6 M Bevan
7 I Khan (Capt)
8 S Pollock
9 W Akram
10 S Warne
11 G McGrath
I'd have to include Nick Knight - a fantastic player and a true match-winner. He would open the batting with Trescothick and Gooch would move down to three. The side still feels batting-heavy, but I guess we haven't produced too many world class one day bowlers.
Complain about this postTeam looks ok but is missing 2 vital players, where the hell is Graeme Hick and Neil Fairbrother? surely you guys are not that short on memory that you forgot how these 2 formed one of the most formidable middle order 1 day partnerships of our generation?
Come on guys, smell the coffee
Dean
Complain about this posttake out allan lamb and put in fairbrother.there's your ultimate team.nick knight is a very strong contender but tres and gooch are an elite partnership (taking away tres's off the field problems). bowling is fine.
Complain about this postPerhaps our current woes in the one day game are not such a surprise given that there is not a single England born player worthy of a place in the middle order?
Why is it thtat England cannot produce batsmen of the calibre of Robin Smith ?
Complain about this postI soppose the next question is - Who would you have as the captain?
Out of that line-up I'd say Graham Gooch - but I am interested to see other opinions!
Pete
Complain about this post... you mean all-time best 8. 3 of the XI are not PURE Englishmen. Sorry, but I could not resist!
Complain about this postForget 'all-time best' team. England should wheel that same team out tomorrow. I bet even today Beefy would teach the current squad a thing or two!
Complain about this postDeadluy Derek on a different planet to Monty or any of these second rate spinners the press seem to laud. The deadly/Knott partnership was out of this world, Knotty was a far superior keeper/batsman than Stewart was.
Complain about this postWorld XI
Tendulkar
Complain about this postganguly
Gavaskar
Lara
Inzy
S Waugh
Gillchrist
Mcgrath
Akram
Walsh
Murlitharan
What a side that is. I would have definitely tried to get Fairbrother in there, massively underrated, and at his peak was one of the finest ODI players in thr world. Unfortunately, England could desparately do with some of his calibre right now, as being blown away by a quite frankly average NZ attack chasing such a low total is frankly an embarassment.
I don't give up all hope though. If our bowlers fire again like they did in the last match, when Flintoff bowled phenomenally well, then there's no reason why we can't push Australia close again, especially if we introduce Ravi Bopea, who I have been most impressed with at domestic level.
Complain about this postMy vote would go to Neil Fairbrother instead of Robin Smith as Fairbrother had a better average in more tests and was also a fantastic fielder...
Complain about this postMy All-time World XI to play the All-time England XI would be:
Complain about this postGordon Greenidge
Chris Gayle
Sachin Tendulkar
Clive Lloyd
Viv Richards
Steve Waugh
Adam Gilchrist
Richard Hadlee
Shane Warne
Wasim Akram
Michael Holding
What we need to do as a team is learn to work in the system, by which I mean that everybody, needs to contribute towards the success of the team.
The way forward is to get these players motivated and get back to winning ways before the world cup.
One thing is for sure you can not have 11 Freddies in England team.
Complain about this postWheres Derek Randall? Hes got to be worth a place for his fielding along with his comedy footwork at the crease. And to really stir things up, hed be in instead of Pietersen. Lets get the party/argument started!
Complain about this postI don't think there's anything wrong with the team we have at the moment. We have some encouraging players. I just think they need to go back to basics
Batters: tough balls hit around for singles and two's and knock the bad balls for boundries.
Get yourself in before you stick it to the bowler.
Bowlers: Line and lengh - It's not difficult to hit roughly the same spot most balls. I do it for my club. These are professionals, they should be able to do it all the time.
Once those simple club-cricket demands are met. confidence will start to flow, and that can never be too bad a thing.
Complain about this postSo, South Africans batting at three, four and five in the England all-time best ... What does that tell us?
Complain about this post...no space in the team for Angus Fraser?? Also I hate to disrupt your free flowing batting attack, but where is Graham Thorpe?? Thorpey is still the best " nurdler" of a ball in modern English cricket. He's be my no 4 anytime.
Complain about this postDo you really think this team would be able to beat the current aussie team??
Complain about this postIs it that the australians are just brilliant or that we are just terrible?
Any side that has Alec Stewart batting at no. 8 has gotta be pretty awesome...
Complain about this postBeats Gilo or Dalrymple that's for sure!
The other thing that strikes me is the number of 'characters' in the side - lamb, smith, gough, pietersen, etc.
Now we have collingwood, bell and lewis!
A good selection my only doubts are of Darren Gough being in the side? I think i might have put Harmison in if not for current form.Also i might have prefered Alan Knott in my side. Being a kings lad i would prefer Gower instead of Smith!
Complain about this postcant someone get on the phone and ask nick knight if he wants a couple of weeks in the west indies? surely he is still good enough for one swansong out of retirement?? or even ali Brown? darren gough? robert croft? over 30 does not mean over and out!
Complain about this postMy World XI :
Sachin Tendulkar
Sanath Jayasurya
Vivian Richards
Ricky Ponting
Brian Lara
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan (c)
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Curtly Ambrose
Mutthiah Muralitharan
12th Man : (just missing out) Glenn Mcgrath
Complain about this postSurely you must include Neil Fairbrother in that list as a reserve.
Complain about this postProposed World XI
Gordon Greenidge
Complain about this postMatthew Hayden
Sachin Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Brian Lara
Adam Gilchrist
Kapil Dev
Wasim Akram
Joel Garner
Allan Donald
Muttiah Muralitharan
Tendulkar
Gilchrist
Ponting
Lara
V.Richards
S.Waugh
J.Kallis
C.Ambrose
W.Akram
G.McGrath
120! The best English team of all time would be lucky to make 12 against a ineup like this.
Ashes to the World Cup undefeated - that's the challenge now. Hapy Oz Day!
Complain about this postHere would be my one-day world XI
Gayle
Complain about this postGilchrist
Ponting
Pietersen
Hussey
Flintoff
Dhoni(Wk)
Pollock
Muralitharan
Ntini
McGrath
What, no Mark Ealham?!
Complain about this postwhere is the classical Monty Panesar?
Complain about this postwho out of that lot would patrol cover and mid wicket putting doubt into the batsmen's minds? Australia would pick up 6 an over in singles! Need someone like Randall in there at least I reckon.
Complain about this postSorry - forgot a spinner. Shane Warne maybe?
Complain about this postWasim and Warne to start with, then of course there's Michael Bevan - surely a shoe in at number 6.
Tendulkar
Gilchrist
Ponting
Lara
Richards
Pietersen
Bevan
Hadlee
Wasim
Warne
Garner
Sub fielder: Jonty Rhodes.
Am I allowed Pietersen in this side as well as the England side? He does, after all, live in the world.
If not, I'd replace him with the equally effervescent Jayasuriya opening the innings with Gilchrist and Tendulkar coming in at 3 with the rest of the order the same.
Warne above Murali for me; he wouldn't get in at the expense of my all-rounders either but he can carry the drinks.
Wouldn't much fancy seeing that lot on the same team sheet!
Complain about this postSmith, Pietersen, Lamb
wouldn't be any problem understanding each others accents
Complain about this postSurely there's a place for England's best ever one day batsmen and finisher in Neil Fairbrother.
Poor lad was overlooked for Tests long enough yet still genuinely delivered on the one day stage against the best bowling attacks of the day.
Complain about this postEasy!
Sanath Janasuryia
Chris Gayle
Viv Richards
Michael Bevan
Andrew Symonds
Kevin Pietersen
Adam Gilchrist
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Glenn McGrath
Joel Garner
I have left out some batsmen like Ponting and Tendulkar on the basis that the people in the team can both field a lot better or bowl a lot better. Warne over Muralithran due to his batting and slip catching ability. Temped to fit one of the great all rounders in like Hadlee, Bothan or Flintoff but their numbers did not stack up. Pietersen over Hussey was also a big call but I am going on Pietersen's ability to dominate the bowlers (even in such a poorly performing side). Wicketkeeper was no contest. McGrath got the pace bowling slot just for sheer consistency. Garner could also swing a bat I remember so I had him in over over equally laudable candidates. Akram could bat as well as being a wonderfully penetrative bowler. The captain would have to be Richards. Not a bad line up!
Complain about this postSorry - forgot a spinner. Shane Warne maybe?
Complain about this postnice but potentially flaky middle order. thorpe is the obvious remedy
Complain about this postA very well considered team. But surely no all-time greatest England ODI XI would be complete without the matchless (sadly quite literally!) Patrick Ian "Percy" Pocock? As I remember, he had a very economical ODI bowling average, and I for one doubt he'd have been flogged mercilessly from Wagga Wagga to Yallingup like most of the alleged "spinners" we currently have on show.
Complain about this postSurely Nick Knight deserves a mention.
Most of the most consistent england one day batsman.
Just a theory.
Complain about this postPretty good selection; I think 8 of the 11 are unanswerable. Of the other 3, Willis is a probable - his place only threatened by Snow, and there is a case for using Trescothick as 'keeper and Stewart missing out. The Lamb selection is the big bone of contention. Surely you're not suggesting Lamb is a better one-day player than Hick or Fairbrother, or even Gower. Gower would miss out for me as well - his batting is serene, but you would have to hide him in the field as he could not throw at all.
My XI: Gooch (c), Trescothick (w), Hick, Smith, Pietersen, Fairbrother, Flintoff, Botham, Gough, Underwood, Willis - back up Gower, Stewart, Snow.
Complain about this postFor all the talk about his perceived test match failure, Graeme Hick remains one of our great one day players. The series with Australia and Sri Lanka, in which he got three hundreds and a fifty in four games menas he should be a shoe in ahead of Allan Lamb.
Complain about this postWhat about Neil Fairbrother..???
Complain about this postFairbrother should be in for Lamb, not only for his batting but for his brilliant fielding. The selected team has a few "pedestrians"
Complain about this postsurely stewart as captain
Complain about this postNot selecting David Gower is just repeating the crime committed by Grahame Gooch.
Leaving out Neil Fairbrother is also a similarly shortsighted ECB mistake..
And why no Fred Trueman? Bob Willis may have been a good English fast bowler but for a true great Fiery Fred would put the fear of God into the opposition.
Complain about this postI would have thorpe in the team, not just a great batsman but a great fielder too, 1 of the safest pair of hands we have hand
Complain about this postLloyd (4)
Vaughan as captain?????
He's lucky to be in the current (pathetic) one day team!
Complain about this postsurely stewart as captain from that lot
Complain about this postOut of that selection gooch would be captain but in my selection he would be replaced by knight, and im not sure who to drop but i think fred trueman might have been a good ODI player. Maybe even thorpe but theres plenty of decent batting there anyway. looks a good team and certainally wouldnt get bowled out for 120.
Complain about this postWhat about Neil Fairbrother?
Often touted as England's best ever one-day batsman and the only true finisher we have had that could be compared to the likes of Bevan.
Complain about this postA very good line-up. But I reckon it would still lose to the current Australian side. That's how good they are.
Complain about this postAgree with the calls for Laker. I'd put Trueman in as well - neither played any ODI cricket but they'd make my team regardless.
Complain about this postI can't argue with the strength and depth of the selection, but it's worth pointing out that this is a side of rubbish fielders: something of an oversight considering the modern game. With the exception of Botham and Flintoff in slips, this lot was always a bit slow. Just wondering if a Fairbrother or Ramprakash figured in thinking about fielders in the gulley or at point?
Complain about this postUnfortunately, nowadays that team just wouldn't be good enough in the fielding discipline.
Neil Fairbrother would have to be included for batting plus fielding.
Likewise Derek Randall. And Gower.
Willis was a terrible fielder as was Underwood - in their day it just wasn't considered important, bowling was enough. Underwood probably still makes it in for his control and ability to bowl 10 miserly overs.
The WK is the heartbeat of any ODI team - I would be inclined to play Stewart as a batsman and have Jack Russell as WK.
My team would be:
Stewart
Trescothick
Gower
Randall
Fairbrother
Flintoff
Botham
Russell
Gough
Jones (S)
Underwood
The bowlers really are difficult to pick!
Complain about this postI suspect the reason why there is no Jim Laker, lloyd, is that he played his last game of first class cricket 6 years before the first ever one-day international.
Complain about this postAre the current selectors missing a trick in this triangular tournament? All of those guys are still alive......
Seriously though, Nick Knight should have been a shoo-in ahead of Banger. And I don't support Warwickshire!
Complain about this posti think neil fairbrother was the greatest english ODI batsmen.
i see him as an english michael bevan.
how about a worst ODI team?
gavin hamilton&harmy would have to be in it..........
Complain about this postNo bob mcGrath?
greatest all rounder (statistically) ever!
Complain about this postI would put Jonty Rhodes in a word XI - he saved loads of runs through his fielding ability
Complain about this postwhat about mark ealham ???
Complain about this postIt's a nice idea but you've forgotten the Fletcher factor. He would leave out Smith and Trescothick because they can't bowl, Underwood and Willis because they can't bat and Botham and Gough for the same reason he thinks Nixon and Jones are better than Read. Then he'd sit watching with the same cheerless expression on his face that greeted Monty's fivefer in Perth.
Complain about this postI agree with the selections apart from Lamb and Willis. I would instead have plumped for Thorpe and Emburey. Also, I would want Stewey batting higher than number 8!!!
Complain about this post... and let's not forget that this is a veeeery young England team who are still learning their way in cricket.
Loye + Nixon = seventy something.
Nice one, Fletch!
Complain about this postGower's ODI average is only 30, way below that of those picked and Fairbro and Knight. so I think we can rule him out.
The records of Fairbro, Knight, Lamb, Smith, Tresco and Gooch are all pretty similar, so any four from those would do the job.
World XI?! How tough is that?
I'll start with some obvious picks:
Gilchrist, Richards, Akram, Tendulkar, Garner (check his record - best average, best economy!)
my probable XI:
Gilchrist, Greenidge, Tendulkar, Richards, Ponting, Bevan, Imran, Akram, Hadlee, Garner, Murali
no place for Botham! his record is inferior to Imran and Hadlee, we've plenty of batting and plenty of bowling (if one of the main 5 misfires Bevan, Sachin and Richards all bowl a bit)
Complain about this postI reckon your line up would score more than 120 against New zealand if you put them in tomorrow . In fact you could put WG Grace and Colin Cowdrey in their current (dead) state and their scores would look no worse than average for England's middle order. In fact I reckon any county one day team would have scored more than England on the day. It was just pathetic and I wish we didn't have to keep listening to Collingwood trying to talk himself and the team's performances up on the same website where the awfulness of their efforts is more than apparent!
Complain about this postMaybe Alan Knott for Alec Stewart.
Complain about this postDon't think Deadly Derek would be as good on today's wickets, perhaps Jack Simmonds instead.
I can't think of any other spinners except Gilo.
My world XI one day side would be:-
JAYASURIYA
GILCHRIST
PONTING
TENDULKAR
RICHARDS
I KHAN
BOTHAM
AKRAM
WARNE
HADLEE
MCGRATH
with LARA, MURALI and WALSH just missing out.
Complain about this postpietersen and flintoff still get out too cheaply and the better one day cricketers would be fairbrother for his batting and teamwork in fielding and ability to call for quick singles . the most under-rated all rounder was ealham who in the one day game was a good middle order batsman and took plenty of wickets
Complain about this postTendulkar
Complain about this postGilchrist
Ponting
Richards(c)
Lara
S.Waugh
I.Kahn
S.Warne
W.Akram
C.Ambrose
G.McGrath
Pietersen? Flintoff? You're having a laugh! Two members of the worst one day side in English cricketing history. Hugely overrated. Lucky to get into a county side!
Where's Grahame Thorpe? Best batsman at the end of an innings. Always kept the scoreboard ticking along.
Also Gower, Gatting, Knight - Ali Brown if there was any justice in the world!
Complain about this postDAVID E - Tendulkar is probably the greatest ODI batsman of all time (40 centuries, 14500 runs, top scorer in 2 World Cups). His only rival is Viv Richards. Why have you left him out? He'd make an all-time ODI XI if he batted left-handed.
Complain about this postIt's a reasonable selection, although Hick should be in for Lamb. I notice one or two people quibbling about Pietersen's selection - I think he's been picked mainly because he's by far the greatest one-day batsmen in English cricket history - a strike-rate of 95 and an average of over 50. These are figures he will more or less maintain throughout his career.
Complain about this postGenerally, the selections indicate just how good England's side was in 1992, and how we've never since come close to replicating it.
Not a bad selection at all, bit of a shame Fairbrother misses out though, especially with his fielding playing such a factor too.
Complain about this postThe reality is though, when the boys pick their World XI tomorrow we'll be looking at a similar result... another English loss.
my all time one day XL
Complain about this postM Waugh
Tendulkar
Dean Jones
V Richards
B Lara
Gilchrist
Imran (Capt)
M Marshall
garner
Murali
Mcgrath
Is it me or do numbers three, four and five have something in common? England's main deficiency is currently a lack of mental toughness. (Which maybe explains why Pietersen is the only player the Aussie seem to have real concern about.) We could win the next world cup easily if we get a few more SAfrcians and the odd Aussie to change their citizenship.
Complain about this postSomeone asked : where is jim laker?
Unfortunately he never played in an ODI it's not possible to rank him with other players who have.
Complain about this postthis english team is so bad i could get a pub team to beat them dennis compton is turning in his grave.
Complain about this postNot much in the way of spritely fielders in this bunch! Fairbrother is a must and with Stewart batting way down at 8 you could afford to add Randall. Trescothick and Smith would lose out.
Complain about this postinteresting that there are 3 south africans making the top side
Complain about this postThe real problem with England, or for that matter any other country,is taht they do not have bench stength comparable to the one with the aussies. The aussies have at least 30 more players to chose from besides their first 15. These 30 players are equally competent and can make the grade to the first 15.This is exactly why the aussies keep on winning against any country, let alone England.The only chance to beat the aussies is to play as if they are playing their last game of their lives.It is like putting heart, soul,and body together for one single cause. Question is will England do that?
Complain about this postbajarkar
World 11
Complain about this postGreenidge
Gilchrist
Richards
Bevan
Miandad
Kallis
Klusner
Sobers
Khan (Imran)
Mcgrath
Muralitharan
All-time World XI?!?! Can of worms, endless debate. Suggested XI as follows. May appear bowler-heavy but variety in attack and plenty of batting down the order (save for Nos 10 & 11). Some of top order batting out of position but in any World XI players must be prepared to accommodate other greats.
1. Adam Gilchrist
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Viv Richards
4. Ricky Ponting
5. Brian Lara
6. Michael Bevan
7. Imran Khan
8. Malcolm Marshall
9. Wasim Akram
10. Glenn McGrath
11. Muttiah Muralitharan
12th. Andrew Symonds
Honorable mention - Michael Hussey. May have stolen Bevan's spot at No. 6 but has not yet proven himself over a long enough period.
Complain about this postDavid E... What's the point of selecting 10 players who bowl? My team:
Gilchrist
Jayasuria
Ponting
Richards
Tendulkar
Bevan
Imran
Warne
McGrath
Muralitharan
Garner
Even then, might be worth taking the Australian appraoch and including another batsman, say Lara, or a batting allrounder like Symonds, and letting him, jayasuria and richards share 10.
Complain about this postWhere is Neill Fairbrother?
Complain about this postWorld XI
Gayle
Complain about this postGilchrist (wk)
Jayasuriya
Lara
Chandapaul
Ponting
Viv Richards
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
McGrath
Waqar Younis
I'd put me in it, because I am arrogant and the best.
Otherwise its good.
Complain about this postGood batting...good bowling. But would probably be the worst fielding side in the history of ODI cricket.
Complain about this postMarcus Trescothick would be too tired to play and would return home. Put Hick in
Complain about this postYes it about sums it all up. Good old England. The best we can hope for is a South African batting order.
Complain about this postSurely Frank Tyson would start off bolwing proceedings for the England XI; facing Victor Trumper on the Rest Of The World team...
Complain about this postImagine a smash hit from Victor on a full toss from Typhoon Tyson; the ball would be in orbit in no time...
Good to see the South Africans holding it together in the upper order. Why don't we throw in Hick for good measure?! I was going to suggest we need a spinner, but then i remembered that's never been our forte!
Complain about this post
Complain about this postWas Neil Fairbrother ever in with a shout?
What about Geoff Boycott
Wallie Hammond
Len Hutton
Freddie Trueman
Brian Statham
etc etc.
World 11 must include the greatest of all time Barry Richards. And dont forget Colin Bland
No-one has mentioned Dennis Lillee
Complain about this postPLEASE TELL ME IF U DISAGREE
Classic World XI
Bradman (best oppener)
Sobbers (best medium pace all rounder)
Gilchrist (best keeper batsman ever)
Botham (best all rounder ever)
Lara (best left hander)
Hammond (ideal number six)
Hobbs (ideal seventh)
I Khan (all rounder at eighth)
Warne (better batsman than Laker,O'reily or Mrali)
Lillee (main attacker)
W Akram (left handed pace is always useful)
Complain about this postTendulkar
Complain about this postGilchrist
B Richards
V Richards
C Lloyd
I Botham
W Akram
M Procter
R Hadlee
K Dev
Muralitharan
Knight must be in England's greatest ever ODI team. He outperforms Tresco and Gooch on that score.
Fairbrother too. He was one of our best ever. Probably in the place of Lamb.
As for an all-time ODI side, well, Chris Gayle doesn't get anywhere near it (he's far too hit and miss) and anyone who leaves Ponting out obviously didn't watch the way he destroyed India in the last world cup final. For me it's
Jayasuria
Gilchrist
Ponting
Viv Richards
De Silva
Bevan
Imran
Wasim
Warne
Garner
McGrath
with Klusner 12th man
Complain about this postThe line up of your all time looks reasonably solid...but to be a realistic argument you would have to put them against another all time XI, say an Aussie one, and see who wins! ha
...while a nice exercise in wishful fantasy in a time of dire strife, and a worthy diversion therefore, there is no real link to reality with such discussions or anything real to be gained, particularly as the responses so far show the selection options are just too broad.
But what I really take exception to in the article is the following comment:
"I'm pretty sure that line-up wouldn’t be bowled out for 120 by New Zealand, albeit on dry and slightly two-paced pitch in Adelaide."
Oh, so it wasn't the fact that once again the England players performed terribly it was the pitch was it?? lol
NZ managed to get over 200 and they are presently as woeful as England....so the pitch just isn't an excuse.
You need to start calling things as they are, all the excuses made for England to qualify their woeful outings doesn't help.
GIVE THEM HAIRSHIRTS! ha
Complain about this postDavid E must be crazy - Tendulkar is/was one of the best fielders in the ODI game, and is more than just a bit part bowler - 5-32 against Australia ring any bells?
Complain about this postGreatest England ODI...??
With 3 South Africans!!
A sorry tale.
Complain about this postPerhaps we should rename it the best South African ODI side.
Complain about this postDon't agree with the order. Can't argue with most of the player selections. Stewart should be at number 3 with Pietersen 4 , Botham 5 and Flintoff 6. There aren't really any other people that could have been selected really.
Complain about this postNo room for one-day specialists such as Hollioake, Croft or Ealham?
Complain about this postYou'd have to have Knotty! Not only a great attacking batsman, but the only keeper with the ability to take advantage of the genius of Deadley.
Complain about this postHow can they leave out 'Sir' Geoffrey Boycott ? See again his match winning 146 against Surrey in the Gillette Cup final. We need class ansd a bit of aggression at the top of the order.
Complain about this postMIKE HUSSEY IS THE BEST ONE DAY CRICKETER EVER, THE GAME JUST SUITS HIM, AND HE IS THE BEST FINISHER EVER!, PICK HIM OR DIE
Complain about this postCan you really have forgotten to include the most naturally gifted batsman this country has ever produced? - David Gower
Complain about this postCurrent Best ODI XI
Complain about this postA Gilchrist
S Jayasuria
R Ponting
S Tendulkar
K Pietersen
M Hussey
A Flintoff
S Pollock
C Vaas
G MgGrath
M Muralitharan
My All-Time Australian ODI side to thump this English side.
1. Adam Gilchrist
2. Mark Waugh (all-rounder)
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Dean Jones
5. Andrew Symonds (all-rounder)
6. Michael Hussey
7. Steve Waugh (all-rounder)
8. Michael Bevan
9. Shane Warne
10. Brett Lee
11. Glenn Mcgrath
With McDermott and Damien Fleming as 12th men.
Try and prevent that side scoring 500 runs.
Complain about this postToo many South Africans in the middle order, I would replace Smith with er,... Graham Hick,... hang on a minute.
Would also replace Trescothick with Nick Knight and Underwood with John Emburey. Derek may be one of the greatest spinners of all time but he did not play enough ODI and Emburey was great bowling 'at the death'.
Complain about this postThorpe needs to be included, I'd say ahead of Allan Lamb. An extra bowler - Alan Mullally
Complain about this postNo room for one-day specialists such as Hollioake, Croft or Ealham?
Complain about this postother than botham there really aren't any decent fielders in that side. that's pretty key in one day cricket, don't you think? there's a few fatties who'd happily stand at slip all day, but who's gonna field at backward point and run around like jonty rhodes? you'd end up with the same thing as the world XI game. great talents but no fielding back up.
just my two cents.
Complain about this postI agree with most of the team selections, but I would have Graham Thorpe in there instead of Lamb. Every team needs a nurdler and he was the best England have had at this job, and he knew how to guide the side home. When you see the "hit it and hope" attitude of the current lot it makes you pine for someone who could build an innings.
I do feel Nick Knight should be in there too, and though it may be controversial I would replace Pietersen with him, play him up top and drop Gooch to three. Has Pietersen really done enough yet to be classed as one of our greatest ever? For all his talent he gets out too quickly too often to stupid shots.
Complain about this postThe England team is hardly going to be like lightening in the field - even with each player in his heyday. You would fancy the Australians to get 20 odd extra runs as most of the selection would as a rule field in the slips, at fine leg or mid-on. You can picture the silence as Gooch is sent out to deep midwicket, Lamby to patrol the covers and Willis to save a single on the leg side. The only athletic fielder is Pieterson, and he can't catch....
Complain about this postInteresting that the middle order of Smith, Lamb and KP, none of them are actually English
Complain about this postLack of balance with no nurdler batsman - fairbrother?, also only 5 recognised bowlers is unusual for a 1 day team - I'd have the old pie chucker in there myself Mark Ealham, was really good for England. Also, maybe despite few caps, arguably the best one day player i've ever seen - matt fleming - bowls, bats, and i was there when he got 3 direct hit run outs in 4 balls against surrey - great fielder
Complain about this postHey David E,
Your team is dreadful
They would have zero chance against these boys
Tendulkar
Lara
Ponting
Dravid
Richards
Gilchrist (WK)
Botham
Dev
Shaun Pollock
Warne (cap)
Ambrose
How can anyone not pick Tendulkar. Over 14,000 one day runs and 40 ODI hundreds at an average in the 40's. Easily best limited overs player ever.
Complain about this postThe England team proposed is strong, and the reaction to include Fairbrother is commendable - the nearest thing to Bevan we ever had at making the most of overs 20-40 (without throwing away wickets like the current mob!!).
As regards the opposition, a throwback to a debate held in many pubs and bars, I am sure: Try this for size.
Gilchrist (w/k)
Tendulkar
Richards
Ponting
Lloyd C (c)
Bevan M
Imran Khan
Wasim Akran
Shaun Pollock
Joel Garner
Glenn McGrath
Complain about this postsome great choices for world eleven. but what about Desmond Haynes. Check his one day record.17 centuries, 57 scores over 50.
Complain about this postI DEFINITELY WOULD START WITH
Gordon Greenidge
Desmond Haynes
Vivian Richards
Graham Gooch
Ian Botham
Joel Garner
Macolm Marshall
Shane Warne
My biggest concern about the proposed TMS all-time England ODI XI is in the fielding department. They seem to be extremely top-heavy on great slip catchers (Goochy, Tres, Lamb, Smith, Beefy & Fred). However only one (or two max) fielding there at any time in a ODI - this leaves too many passengers in other catching positions and, more importantly, in the outfielding.
Complain about this postNick Knight? As good if not better ODI opener than Tresko I reckon
Complain about this postAlan Knott rather than Alec Stewart
Gower rather than Gooch
Derek Randall as super sub. He and Gower would prove their inclusion by the best fielding known to the England team.
Also, please can we have an All Time Best COACH i the form of Mike BREARLEY. The greatest psychological captain any team has had.
Complain about this postI don't like the middle order, looks a bit fragile I think. I would put Graham Thorpe in at 4, for steel and Fairbrother at 5. And is there much point batting Stewart so low? Why not put Knott in as the better keeper, and a late innings improviser? Unless you want to put Stewart at 3 instead?
I think Gooch is the only real choice of captain for the team. I know others in the line up have been captains, but all the others have very mixed to poor records.
Complain about this postSimon (post 32)...not sure where you get your stats from but Fairbrother averaged somewhere in the mid teens in test matches and Robin Smith well over 40...However Fairbrother did average nearly half a run more that The Judge in ODIs (both played 70-odd)!
Complain about this postRobin Smith at 3 - what a legend. Still holder of the highest ODI score by an ENGLISHMAN (against Border's all conquering Aussies no less!) despite the current plethora of matches vs Bangladesh, Netherlands and USA. Not sure I'd select Botham as all rounder - this side misses the bustling dynamism of Ian Austin, Vince Wells or Ronnie Irani
Complain about this postStewart is wasted at eight. Either he should go in earlier or you should pick a better keeper.
Russell has demonstrated how keeping can be central to the one day game and wouldn't be out of place at 8.
Complain about this postwhere is graham thorpe?he should be in the best eleven.
Complain about this postpeitersen is a ledgend
But where Is rupert cooper
the future of cricket
just wait
get a bit of panassar in their
RESPECT!!!!
Complain about this postTo all those idiots out there - Lamb was better than Hick and Fairbrother in both test and one day cricket and to think of leaving him out is utter buffoonery
Complain about this postbest 11 for ODI playing in present
Complain about this postSanath Jayasuryia
Adam Gilchrist
Virender Shewag
Sachin Tendulkar
Kevin Petersen
Michael Hussey
Andrew Flintoff
Shaun Pollock
Bret Lee
Glen Mcgrath
Muttaih Muralidharan
How can you NOT have Hick in there I know not. Him at 3 and not Smith. Hicky was a fine catcher and bowled a bit too.
For me Thorpe should be in there. Instead of Lamb. Plus Stewart should bat higher than Freddie and Botham. Otherwise its a cracking side
that vs an All time Aus XI of
Mark Waugh
Adam GIlchrist
Ricky Ponting
Greg Chappel
Dean Jones
Micheal Bevan
Mike Hussey
Shane Warne
Dennis Lillee
Brett Lee
Glenn McGrath
Hmm...the mouth waters...
Complain about this postAll time XI (all non English) - Qualification is that I must have seen them play ODI's (I'm 29).
1 Tendulkar
Complain about this post2 Gilchrist
3 Richards
4 Lara
5 Ponting
6 Bevan
7 Kluesner
8 Pollock
9 Ambrose
10 Muralitharan
11 McGrath
All time World -11
Complain about this postK Srikanth
Tendulkar
Md.Yusuf
V Richard
Clive Lloyd
Kallis
Kapil Dev
Gilchrist
Kumble
Akram
Garner
What's the chances of Monty being on the list by this time next year?!!!
Complain about this postThe team is well chosen. Amongst the batsmen all of the top five average 39 or more. By contrast the likes of David Gower and Mike Gatting hover around the 30 mark. Neither would contribute much in the field either (although Gower was a decent enough fielder early in his career).
I would agree Fairbrother is unlucky. His average is a match for Lamb or Smith and he had an excellent brain for one-day batting. A superb fielder too.
I question whether you need Alec Stewart batting as low as 8 - might be better off with a brilliant keeper and inventive batsman like Alan Knot. Alternatively, leave one of the batsmen out, keep Stewart and give yourself the luxury of another bowler.
Just looking at this team makes you think about how dreadful the current lot are.
Complain about this postAlan Knott for Alex Stewart, he was a better keeper and no one could keep to Underwood like him, and with all the recent debate on the wicketkeeping place, apart from Stewart to a degree, England have never replaced him at Test or ODI.
Complain about this postAmazing team selection.
I definately agree with this selection.
This team can win any match on his day as there are lot of great ODI players.
Good selection.
Why dont you get the job of England selection
Good.
Complain about this postNadeem Sharifuddin
USA.
World XI:
Gordon Greenidge
Alan Border
Viv Richards
Ricky Ponting
Ian chappell
Mike Proctor
Adam Gilchrist
Richard Hadlee
Dennis Lillee
Shaun Pollock
Joel Garner
or
Lawrence Rowe
Gordon Greenidge
Vic Richards
Brian Lara
Barry Richards
Gary Sobers
Imran Khan
Rodney Marsh
Kapil Dev
Wasim Akram
Bishen Bedi
Complain about this postedmund kean - re England's worst ODI XI. Gavin Hamilton never played an ODI for England. He did, however, finish the 1999 world cup as the top British runscorer in the competition having scored a stackful for Scotland (217 at 54.25) which is more than all time England greats Stewart (125 at 25.00) and Flintoff (15 at 7.50) combined. What chance another Scot, Ryan 'Rhino' Watson, finishing the 2007 competition as the top scoring British batsman?
Complain about this postHick or Fairbrother instead of Pieterson....he hasnt played enough one dayers to be in this team.
Complain about this postMy world XI is as follows, actually its a world XIII, two subs
G. Greenidge
B. Richards
S. Tendulak
V. Richards
R. Ponting
Imran Khan
A. Gilchrist
Wasim Akram
R.Hadlee
S. Warne
G. MCGarth
Zaheer Abass
M. Muralitharan
M.Procter
The batting line-up is enough to scare any bowler. What would you say if asked to take the first over?
Complain about this postI was listening to the selection too - did Simon Mann never see Fairbrother bat?! Why was he so adamant Lamb should be in? I, too, remember Lamby smashing Bruce Reid for 19 off the last over back in 86-87, but Faribrother was more consistent (don't know averages to be honest) and who can forget his 113 against the Windies when he smacked one BP Patterson for a large six. Plus he's a leftie, plus he was great in the field. I'd also be tempted to put Thorpe in instead of Smith and Hick's case is also good. Too many bashers in that team - no balance.
Complain about this postMr Mann, please listen to Mr Fraser, and probably 95% of the cricketing-public, next time
My All time ODI eleven.
Adam Gilcrict
Complain about this postC.Tendulkar
Viv.Richard
J.Miandad
Clive Loyd (c)
Steve Waugh
Imran Khan
Kapil Dev
Wasim Akram
S.Warne
Murlithran
gooch
Botham
fairbrother
hick
Lamb
Flintoff
Stewart
Defraitis
Embury
Gough
Willis
Marcus Cole
Complain about this postid have to surprise everybody, and saying if maybe he was a few years younger Darren Maddy would be in this England squad and be playing his way out of danger just like he does for Leicestershire week in week out. I also believe that given the right amount of chances that stuart broad could become a worldclass talent that england should nurture with care!!
Complain about this postgooch
Botham
fairbrother
hick
Lamb
Flintoff
Stewart
Defraitis
Embury
Gough
Willis
Marcus Cole
Complain about this postI cannot argue with the class in the batting order. However, whilst Underwood, Gough, Willis, Botham and Flintoff are a potent strikeforce, if one of them has an off day, KP/Gooch are the only other options with the ball. As this batting lineup is strong enough to have Stewart at 8, surely there is room for another bowler? I would probably look to include another spinner...any takers for Giles? The other option would have to be Defreitas.
Complain about this postThats plain crazy.
Complain about this postNeil Fairbrother has to be in there!
Hick should still be in the team.
Complain about this postme,me,me,me
Complain about this postThats a alrite line up, but i think theres room for improvement his my best england 11 of alltime.
Mal Loye(Plays amazing shots,uses power plays)
Andrew strauss (Best lefthander in ther world)
Ian Blackwell (Hit sixes in any ground)
Grahame Hick (Underated cricket player)
Alan Knott (Best ever wicket keeper batsmen)
Alan Steele (best pull short in the world)
Paul Collingwood (put the ball anywhere)
Sajid Mahmood (Underated, got ability to be best bowler in the world)
Ashley Giles (best left arm offspiner)
Liam Plunkett (best seam position in world cricket)
Andrew caddick (Unplayable bowler)
I beleive if this team was to play in the world cup in march they would win it by a mile.
Complain about this postYou have 5 slips and 3 total non fielders. Are there no experts at all in the English cricket establishment?
Complain about this postNot sure Simon Mann was quite deferential enough to Gus on a few selections. Not a great fielding side, has to be Nick Knight and Fairbrother instead of Smith and Lamby respectively and Daffy Defraitus in for Willis all adding a bit of spark in the field!
Complain about this postMy alltime very best Eleven
1.Adam Gilchrist
2.Sanath Jayasurya
3.Ricky Ponting
4.Bryan Lara
5.Inzamam-ul-haq
6.Abdul Razzaq
7.Imran Khan( Captain)
8.Andrew Flintoff
9.Shane warne
10.Wasim Akram
11.Glenn McGrath
12th man Sachin Tendulkar
make coments if u like
Complain about this postExactuly how can the so called experts pick Deadly when he played a hand full of o.d.i.s admitadly a great test bowler but that isnt the question surely , Willis too had a rubbish o.d.i . record , christ i wouldnt be suprised if they considered Pringle , i can still see Viv smashing him for 6,s @ Old Trafford now lol .
Complain about this postwhat about ashes winning captain michael vaughan trescothic needs to be a mentally stronger player phil tuffnell, gatting, caddick, strauss as other opener
Complain about this postHow's about replacing one of the Robin Smith, Kevin Pietersen, Allan Lamb line up with arguably the best one-day fielder we've ever produced ... and not a bad bat at 4 or 5 either ... aka Derek Randall ? Saving runs, holding catches, running the opposition out and generally putting dobt in the batsman's mind/limiting his scoring options is just as valuable in a one-day match as scoring a 50 or taking a fourfer.
That's about the only change I'd make ... other than picking me ... who once made 44 off 14 balls when sent in to 'up the run rate' for Staffordshire Under 19s vs N. Ireland U19s back in the late 70s ... just ask Kim Barnett or Dipak Patel, who were also members of that team ... oh happier days !!
Cheers and thanks for all the pleasure you've given this particular cricket/sports nut over the years
Yours
Paul Turner
Complain about this postflintoff is the only name in the list that i would contest the most vehemently.
it would appear that as a present player he is in the list more on reputation and potential then his record.
i'm sure there were better one day players but the selectors of the list felt that they 'couldn't leave him out' but they should.
Complain about this postGordon Greenidge / Jayasuria
Saeed Anwar
Sachin Tendulkar
Mark Waugh / Aravinda DeSilva
Viv Richards
Adam Gilchrist
Dennis Lillee
Shane Warne
Muralitharan
Wasim Akram
Curtly Ambrose
Complain about this postAny ODI World XI would be incomplete without the following at their respective positions
The players feature below are the ones with proven ODI records.
A Gilchrist (wk)
S Tendulkar
R Ponting
V Richards
J Miandad or A DeSilva
S Waugh
I Khan (C)
W Akram
S Warne
J Garner
D Lillee or R Hadlee
A very strong side indeed.
Complain about this postWhere is Graham Hick, Defraties, Gatting and FairBrother ?
Complain about this postSponge!! Hoggard is not in the squad because first of all he doesn't really play ODI and when he does he is usually easy to attack!!
Complain about this postWhat about
DF Watts
RM Haq
RR Watson
GM Hamilton
NFI McCallum
DR Brown
NS Poonia
JAR Blain
GA Rogers
RT Lyons
A bunch of fine cricketers. They lost to Kenya!!!!
Complain about this postwhere's Nick Knight???
Complain about this postWorld 11
Gilchrist
Lara
Complain about this postGary Pratt???
1.Gilchrist (w)
2.Jayasuria
3.Ponting (c)
4.De Silva
5.Tendulkar
6.Bevan
7.Imran Kahn
8.Warne
9.Wasim Akram
10.Waqar Younis
11.McGrath
5 Australians...oh dear.
Complain about this postStewart at 8! I would bat him at 6 and move Flintoff down to 8! Way over rated with the bat as far as I am concerned.
Complain about this postThree words - Neil Harvey Fairbrother.
Complain about this postThere have only been two true batting geniuses - Barry Richards and Bradman - but I think the one day stuff is beneath Sir Don so I'll make him manager of an International Entertainment XI - with apologies to Michael Bevan and Glenn McGrath - of:
Richards B A
Complain about this postGreenidge G
Richards V
Pollock G
Gilchrist A
Botham I
Kapil Dev
Miller K
Hadlee R
Warne S
Garner J
England's all-time worst XI - how about the current squad?! Well, if that's a bit harsh how about
Complain about this postC. Tavare
C. Balderstone
P. Robinson
J. Crawley
R. Irani
M. Ealham
W. Hegg
I. Salisbury
K. Shuttleworth
P. Silverwood
P. Tufnell
Slow scoring, slow in the field, bottle it under pressure - how much have we learnt over the years?
As for the English XI the omission of Gower is a mistake. I once saw him play a televised one-wicket, five over, score as much as you can thing against the likes of Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge, Gooch and others and he absolutely creamed the lot of them. Won in a canter.
And if I can't have Botham for my international XI (because he's taken by England) I'll make do with Sobers.
Complain about this posti read like the first 10 comments and thought what the hell are these people talking about. Firstly you can't have players who haven't played odi cricket. e.g bradman, laker. As we have no way of knowing how they would have performed in the game. In the england xi, people sayin no pietersen. pietersen may have only played two years but it is clear that he is the one of the best players in the world. Take the runs he has scored regularly against the best team in the world, australia. You didn't see many of the players of the past scoring lots of runs against the west indies. Hoggard, lol, that doesn't even deserve a response
Complain about this postYour magnificent line up features a lot of slip fielders, 1 left hander, if he turns up of course and an awful lot of COME ON LADS - WE CAN HAVE THIS LOT - WE ARE ENGLAND. Marvellous!!!
Apart from Messers Gooch and Stewart they would batter the world in an after match drinking bout I should think.
I can only take exception with the bowling choices of Willis and Underwood. I would replace them with Cork and Panesar.
Nice to know you are still finding ways of making this tour interesting.
Complain about this postGood cricketers one and all! But let's be candid, its hard to imagine any England XI beating the current Australian side. The real question remains, do we want to remain fighting for second place with SA, India et al or are we going to move out of this neo Edwardian funk and into the truly post modern era.
In fact it's not only cricket as this would seem to apply to all our national teams, footie and Rudgy also. It's all getting a bit embarrassing isn't it - all the hype and then reality bites! Time to clear the longrooms, this bread and circus treatment of the fans won't wash anymore.
Complain about this postAndrew Flintoff
Complain about this postAndrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff (12th man)
Fairbrother should be in that list ......somewhere !
Hewas the best nurdler I have ever seen ......never lost his head.
Complain about this postAll you're all time world XI's are forgetting this is one-day cricket not a test match. You are trying to score more in 50 overs than you can restrict the enemy to, not take 20 wickets. This is the team.
1) Jayasuria
2) Gayle
3) Tendulkar
4) Lara
5) Imzamam
6) Pietersen
7) Gilchrist
8) Flintoff
9) Cairns
10) Pollock
11) Vaas
You don't need Warne's and Murali's, my top 3 batsman are all 150 makers and restrictive spin bowlers. I have a strong middle order that can all score at 8 an over when required. Then come the hitters at 7, 8 and 9. My number 10 and 11 are no mugs with the bat either. I have 4 fine pace bowlers. I open with pollock and vaas, darting it around with deadly accuracy, starving the runs. the comes Flintoff 1st change. I have cairns, jayasuria and gayles to bowl the middle overs then back to my primary seamers at the death.
My team rocks!
Complain about this postThose selections for England ODI teams are bullcrap,the selections of the Australian teams and the world teams are also bull crap.On another subject why is the cricket from South Africa,India and Pakistan so boring?Why are the commentators react like if they are giving details of a funeral.Viewing the test matches between South Africa and Pakistan is a waste of time.The cricket is boring and the commentary is a joke.To Robin Jackman and Barry Richards
Complain about this postthanks for puting me to sleep,I needed the rest.
The ashes series was a blessing ,thanks for some some great cricket.To Lawry, Greig, Chappel,slater,NIcholson,Taylor and Boycott on the mobile,great work. With Jackman and Richards there is no need for a lullaby.
The England XI I'd say is close to being as good as it could be, though I'd find somewhere for Knight and Fairbrother.
In terms of World XI I'd go for
1. Jayasuriya
2. Tendulkar
3. Lara
4. IVA Richards
5. Kallis
6. Imran Khan
7. Gilchrist
8. Hussey
9. Warne
10. Marshall
11. McGrath
For me 2-8 is interchangeable.
It might seem a bit batsmen heavy but Khan and Kallis are both all rounders with some of the other batsmen being able to offer the odd over or two.
Complain about this postIs this seriously the All time England eleven for one day matches?
Where is F S Trueman?
Where is J B Statham?
Where is Dennis Compton?
Where is Jim Laker?
Where is Colin Millburn?
Where is Ted Dexter?
Where is Ken Barrington?
Perhaps an argument may be made that these superstars never played one day cricket, but they had spirit, class and great skills and attitude.
Complain about this postWe just need Boycott tha' no lad
We dont need anyone else lad, I say we dont need anyone else.
Complain about this postBring in Hick for Smith to give more options, bring in the fielding star Fairbrother who has a terrific average to boot and I'm surprised wasn't one of the first names in, and displace Trescothick with Knight who has a better average anyway. I wouldn't bat Stewart below Botham unless circumstances dictated it necessary, special mention for Mike Hendrick who took 35 wickets at 19.46
Graham Gooch - 4290 runs @ 36.98
Complain about this postNick Knight - 3626 runs @ 40.29
Graeme Hick - 3846 runs @ 37.34 & 30 wkts @ 34.20
Kevin Pietersen - 1564 runs @ 60.15
Neil Fairbrother - 2092 runs @ 39.47
Andrew Flintoff - 2849 runs @ 34.74 & 112 wkts @ 26.76
Alec Stewart - 4677 runs @ 39.47 (WK 159ct/15st)
Ian Botham - 2113 runs @ 23.22 & 145 wkts @ 28.54
Darren Gough - 609 runs @ 12.43 & 235 wkts @ 26.42
Bob Willis - 83 runs @ 10.38 & 80 wkts @ 24.60
Derek Underwood - 53 runs @ 5.89 & 32 wkts @ 22.94
No Neil Fairbrother? He was a magnificent one day player.
Complain about this postBRING BACK BIG BOBBY KEY
Complain about this postI have looked at everyones World XI. Of those I read no one seems to have mentioned Richard Hadlee. I think he was a great bowler, hard to score runs against and definately is worth aplace in the side.
Complain about this postRikki Clarke surely has to be in there? great performances with both bat and ball from what i have seen
Complain about this postworld big hitters XI
A Gilchrist
M Hayden
C White
K Pietersen
A Flintoff
M Hussey
A Symonds
B Lee
M Muralitharin
S Sreesanth
S Jones
It may have the majority Aussies but you can surely look no further. I was struggling to pick a good bowling line up that strengthened the batting. Peoples opinions on the whole team and variations would be valued.
Complain about this posti know this is gna sound abit pro pakistan butttttt
saeed anwar
Complain about this postadam gilchrist
sachin tendulkar
inzamam ul haq
steve waugh
ian botham
richard hadlee
gary sobers
imran khan
wasim akram
waqar younis
Wouldn't it be more usefull to try and pick a team that could at least win one match in the next world cup?
Complain about this postFor what it's worth, my world XI would be:
Sachin Tendulkar
Adam Gilchrist
Viv Richards
Sanath Jayasuriya
Sourav Ganguly
Clive Lloyd (Captain)
Imran Khan
Shane Warne
Wasim Akram
Glenn McGrath
Joel Garner
And I'd have Ed Joyce as 12th man just to get an Irishman in there.
Complain about this posthow on earth has trescothick got in he shouldnt even be considered for the odi team in the present!!!!
Complain about this postWORLD TEAM
A.Gilchrist (wkt) *
S.Tendulkar *
V.Richards (capt.) *
R.Pointing *
B.Lara
M.Bevan
W.Akram
R.Hadlee
S.Warne *
M.Marshal *
G.McGrath *
I picked this team based on the fact it is against England (so therefore more than likely would be in England at Lords).
Complain about this postThe players * are definates.the others i considered greats such as Jayasuriya & Inzy (but not in English conditions) for the batting spots ,but, went with Lara for his skill against the spinners in the middle of the innings and Bevan because he was the best finisher in the game.
Considered Pollock, Imran , Kapel Dev & Kallis for the all rounder spots,but, went with Wasim because of the way he can bowl at the end of an innings and Hadlee because i think in todays game he would be the best one day all rounder in the game.
Humm, decent side, if a bit thin on the bowling (what if someone breaks down? Gooch and Trescothick are your only options...). Personally I don't see how you can put Lamb in above Fairbrother!
Also, Robin Smith was a very good test player, and decent at one-dayers, but surely Gower and Hick were better? Gower just shades it because I love watching him bat (not that Hick in full flow was boring either).
Re world 11. A few dead certs to start with:
Gillchrist as keeper is a no-brainer, Tendulkar has nearly twice as many 100s as the next man, so also must play. Viv Richards is probably the best one-day batter of all time, and Bevan must surely slot in at 6.
7 is for an all-rounder, assuming we can't pick english players, Imran Khan leads those who played ODIs (not Sobers eg). This saves me having to start a Khan/Botham debate as well.
Now the bowlers: wasim Akram is a must, and I reckon Ambrose was the best seamer of all time (in ODIs). For the spinner, I would pick Warne, although Murali's record is superior, simply because he won 2 world cup semi-finals virtually single-handedly.
This leaves 3 places free, a no3/4, a no5 and another seamer. I would have Ponting at no3, just edging out Lara, and Clive Lloyd at no5, simply for THAT knock in 75 (world cup final, 50/3 and you know the rest...). The final bowler's place is very very tricky, Hadlee, Garner, McGrath, Donald, and many others all vying for it. I'll give it to Donald as he was very quick on his day (faster than any of the others imo) and also because I must have a south african in there...
Thus the team:
Gillchrist (wk)
Tendulkar
Ponting
Richards
Lloyd (capt)
Bevan
Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
Warne
Ambrose
Donald
Batting goes down to 9, 5 genuine world class bowlers and also Tendulkar and Richards can fill in if needed.
Complain about this postJohn Snow carried the Engish attack for years never with a decent partner, for my money our best fast bowler. England best ever batsman was Wally Hammond not that I remember him.
Complain about this postwat about lancashires allrounder and i mean allrounder ian austin wat a great one day player he was
Complain about this postloye
Complain about this postTrescothick
vaughan
pietersen
shah
collingwood
flintoff
prior
broad
jones
monty
loye
Complain about this postTrescothick
vaughan
pietersen
shah
collingwood
flintoff
prior
broad
jones
monty
there must be a place for Dermot Reeve.He produced probabaly the most amazing bowling spell i remember.Can,t remember the full details but it was in Oz i think.All i remember is he was well nigh unplayable because he landed the ball consistently on the right spot(albeit on a helpful wicket) .I seem to recall he got about four wickets but could have had them all.Even though the batsmen couldn't lay bat on ball as Dermot got it to move allways.Can anyone confirm that i remember correctly?Boyks anyone?
Complain about this postWorld cup winning team
loye
Complain about this postTrescothick
vaughan
pietersen
shah
collingwood
flintoff
prior
broad
jones
monty
World XI
Gilchrist
Jayasuriya
Ponting
Barry Richards
Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
Hadlee
Warne
Murali
12th Man Sean Pollock
Complain about this posthu is the captain
Complain about this postSurely NAthan Astle has to be in a world Xl.. that fella can play....
Neil Fairbrother is the best one dayer of all time, he hsa to be in the one day Xl of all time.
Complain about this postIt seems that the passion has been lost in all english teams recently, not just the cricket, we need some good old fighting spirit back in our ranks and a new anthem to spur the teams on! jerusalem or something! God save the queen obviously lost it's passion after the last ashes win!
Complain about this postWhat about Phil DeFreitas - the man was great as 1st change & could contribute with the bat far better than the current day bottom order.
Chris Broad at the top of the order perhaps in place of Trescothick?
Complain about this postIF you left out the Aussies - who could make up a "best-of" by themselves - then maybe there's room to consider some other kiwis. Chris Cairns (both for bat and ball); Martin Crowe (at his best one of the best); Steven Fleming (mostly for his fielding and captaincy); and of course Richard Hadlee.
and perhaps one of the most under-rated yet consistently miserly (as a bowler) and effective ( as a batsman) and athletic (as a fielder) players ever, Chris Harris.
just a thought.
Complain about this postwhat about Gus Fraser? Perhaps the most economical and difficult bowler to attack? Can you really leave out one of the greatest lefties of all time...D Gower?
Complain about this postGower should definitely be in any 'best ever' England team. Despite people's varied view of his professionalism and character, his record speaks for itself. A team without Gower in it isn't worth watching!
What about neil fairbrother?
Complain about this postThe inclusion of the erratic and selfish Peterson is an insult to the integrity of team cricket, and the exclusion of Gatting is an insult to the sanity that was English cricket
Complain about this postNot read all ther posts but in the World XI all of you seem to be missing Benaud - fine leg spinner/batsman and a shoe in as Captain - hell you could also have him commentating between overs
Complain about this post