Would it have been any different?

Dude, Whats unfair in this? Do you think my team would have been any different even if we didn't speak for 5 years. Except for Bevan everyone in your team was also in consideration in my team - including Moin Khan! So the only thing unfair was I picked the team before you did! I dont think you were discussing Lara or Deano or Bond the other day. Any team that you and I pick independently, at least 5 or 6 players will be common and probably around 3 players we'll surely disagree on.... So what are you complaining about. Let's fix it. Forget my team, you come out with your all time best ODI team without any constraints - pick whoever you want to, then I'll come with mine.

PS: BTW I forgot to mention my captain for the ODI team, it is Shane Warne! And if any of you think its because of his exploits in IPL, pleaseeeeee. For the short span that he was the captain of Australia during C&B tri-series between Aus, Eng and SL in 1998-99, Taylor's legacy of positive attacking captaincy appeared to continue in Australian Cricket and the results were attractive too with 10 wins out of 11 ODI's. If he had behaved a little better, he would have been the captain of the Australian team during its most glorious phase.

This is unfair!!!!!

Well, What can I say? This guy just wrote the top order I was discussing with him the other day.....MY TOP ORDER!!!!!!!!! And now he is asking me to put together a team to challenge his "all time odi XI"... ho ho ho!!!

Hmmmm....... all right..here we go...

Sanath Jayasuriya- When this guy gets going, there are exactly two batsmen in ODI to match him for stroke play(who by the way are in the other team, no marks for guessing who they are!!!!!) and only one batsman to match his audacity(no marks for guessing who that is either!!). A guy who could change a match with his all round ability.

Mark Waugh- Definition of lazy elegance. This guy makes it all look so easy...whether bowling medium pace(which he used to early in his career) spin, pouching unbelievable catches, those back foot cover drives that only Sachin or Lara can rival and those powerful hits down the ground(just ask Darren Gough or Vettori...launched them respectively at Headingley and the Perth roof!!!)

Miandad- Your loss is my gain..... De Silva would have been a shoo in for No.3 on the basis of just one innings he played in the semi final against India....and being an Indian does not stop me from watching it again and again.....but since you picked him..I would go for this guy, who has atleast 4 orthodox shots and 3 unorthodox shots for every delivery. Someone, who could be Bevan or Klusener depending on the situation and do the job as if its a stroll in the park...

Martin Crowe- Anybody who saw Crowe in full flow during WC 92 wouldnt doubt this pick. Pity, his career was cut short by injury.

Bevan- Who else but St.Michael? The best one day finisher next only to Zulu.

Kapil Dev- Chris Cairns, Imran gave a very tough fight, but two things put this man up in front...1. He is an Indian( come on man...i am a selector now..I have to be biased, its cliche!!!) 2. Is definitely a better bowler than the other two in ODIs.


Jonty Rhodes- Crowe at first slip, Waugh at second slip, Jonty at point, Jayasuriya at cover, Bevan at mid on, Wow....

Moin Khan- Another surprise pick for some, but a clutch player, who always comes good in pressure situations, not to mention a brilliant wicket keeper.

Saqlain Mushtaq- One ball to Damien Martyn was enough for this....The ball pitched middle and leg and took the top of off stump, like a leg break....This guy has one of the best strike rates in ODI cricket.

Ambrose- I would pick Ambrose, even if I am selecting a football team! From a whole array of West Indian bowlers, why this man? He could be economical like Mcgrath and he would get wickets like Waqar, plus a handy lower order batsman.

Waqar Younis- If Ambrose can get wickets like Waqar, why do u need Waqar? Simply because its Waqar!!! Only one word defines Waqar perfectly- inevitability. You know, he is gonna bowl full, you know its gonna pitch round about off and middle, you know its gonna be fast and swinging, you know you would have already kept your bat perfectly in line, but its inevitable!!! the ball is going to hit the stumps or pads!!! Bowls like a millionaire but the one bowler, opposition batsman pray that he shouldnt be on song!!!!


12th Man- Chris Cairns- He could just about fit in anywhere in the team....


P.S- Yes, my team is definitely weaker than yours....but remember 1983???

And the next time we pick teams like the way its done in backyard cricket, alternatively....

All time Dream ODI team

At a time when the existence of ODI format is in serious question, lets give it due respect. So as a continuation to the all time dream test team, here is my all time dream ODI team:

Sachin Tendulkar – Need I say more?

Adam Gilchrist – It’s a pity that Greenidge, Haynes or Jayasuriya miss out but that’s what Gily has done to the game!

Viv Richards – As great as he is in Test Cricket, he is even greater in ODI cricket!

Brian Lara – I know his ODI record in the second half of his career was not as illuminating as the first half, but really how can I not pick Brian? The only person whom I would drop Brian for in any team is Sachin and he’s already there…

Aravinda De Silva – Was a toss up between Miandad and De Silva but went with De silva for no real reason actually! Most underrated of the modern greats probably rightfully too for the number of times he used to throw his wicket away in the early part of his career. But he more than made up for it in the second half of his career.

Dean Jones: The quintessential ODI middle order batsman who can either pierce or clear the field comfortably even in the middle overs. Infact he was an ODI batsman far ahead of his times during his playing days…

Lance Klusenser: To say that there has not been a greater finisher in ODI cricket is not an exaggeration at all and to say that there will never be another finisher like him is not blasphemous either!

Wasim Akram: Over the wicket or around the wicket, new ball or old ball, opening the bowling or bowling at the death – Akram will always be my first choice fast bowler…

Shane Warne: It had to be Warne – I have not seen a greater spinner in ODI cricket. Murali was not even in contention since he is unfathomably defensive for such a great bowler in ODI cricket.

Michael Holding: The wisden in its introduction to Holding says “No-one in the game has bowled faster” and let me comfortably add that no-one in the game has bowled better either…

Shane Bond: If one bowler could single handedly decimate one of the greatest teams of all time consistently, then he ought to be picked ahead of even Joel Garner……

12 the man: Joel Garner. Would rely on Klusener, Richards and Sachin to manage the 5th bowler’s quota between them on most occasions, but if I need to go in with 5 bowlers then would swap De Silva or Deano with Garner.

My team's batting is weak???

I wouldnt accept your statement that your bowling attack is weaker than mine, just for the sake that I have Imran. Sobers can double up both as a pace bowler and a spinner, and he can provide more than an adequate back up for the other 4. When you got Holding, Lillee, Akram and Murali, what difference is it gonna make who the fifth bowler is?

Which brings us to the other statement you made that my batting is weaker. Lets just analyse that a little bit. You have Gavaskar, Taylor, Richards, Sachin, Lara, Sobers, Gilli and Akram, considering his batting abilities are very underrated.

Why is my line up weaker than this?

You are probably saying this because of my middle order, consisting of Border, Dravid,Sangakkara, Imran who wouldnt be on par with your line up ( come on man, who can rival Viv, Sach and Brian) but i wouldnt call them weak.

I am thinking of posting an all time one day XI.....