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.....

Mouth watering contest....

That’s the way to respond. Oh boy, that bowling line up is scary, Imran is the killer pick there. I gave a slot to Taylor purely for his captaincy but that seems to be a little too luxurious in retrospect. But then I expect him to compensate for that by handling Murali better than any other captain who has handled him before. Remember he brought the best out of Warne by setting attacking fields and encouraging him to bowl an attacking line and length. If there was a weakness that I could point out in a near flawless career, it was that Murali tended to get defensive too soon. I am sure that under Taylor’s captaincy that would never happen, which would make him more potent.

Compared to your bowling line up, mine looks a little weak purely for the fact that I have only 4 genuine bowlers (for all my respect for Sobers, I cant see him as a consistent match winning bowler) whereas you have 5 absolute match winners with the ball – Imran provides such a great balance along with his leadership qualities – How did I miss him???

But my batting line up has a clear edge over yours. It would make a great contest man. Now that you have picked a 12th man (indirectly helping me to resurrect the balance of my team a bit), let me also pick one. I would go for Richie Benaud – a great leg spinner who doesn’t quite get his due in the modern day media only because of their obsession with Shane Warne and a very handy batsman too. Add that to the fact that he was a brilliant tactician as well. – So when I feel I need a better balance I’ll swap a batsman with Benaud.

Let the games begin...

All time best!!!!

If you had read hesh's post on his all star XI, then continue reading this...else i suggest you read it first before you start scolding me.....!!!!!!!!!

I have tried to pick a team that doesnt have the players whom hesh picked, as my aim was to pick an all star XI which would challenge hesh's XI...Here we go...

Greenidge-Poor man's Viv Richards.....He didnt have that swagger,charisma and he didnt bowl, those are the only differences.

Sehwag- Probably the best man to terrorise, Holding, Akram, Lillee and Murali.....

Bradman- I can only say one thing...thank you for not picking him...

Border-VC- Street fighter to the core....

Dravid- Once again thank you!!!!!!

Sangakkara- If it isnt gilli..its sanga!!!!

Imran-Captain --- somebody who could change the state of the game, by example, or by

tactics....both in batting and in bowling...border and imran, plotting to get somebody like Viv or Lara.. Wow!!!

Marshall---A fast bowler with a spinner's brain.....Playing alongside, holding, roberts, and then in the latter half with walsh and ambrose and still getting 376 wickets is no mean feat!!!

Roberts---Sunny said once, that he would rather face holding than roberts..and thats enough....

Warne---- Well.... lets just say...he floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee!!.

Ambrose--- Stone cold assassin.....

12th man-Kumble-somebody who is intense enough to put his concentration absolutely on the water and towels he is gonna deliver....will definitely be needed..and on a spinning track...with Warne...beautiful....( I know u didnt pick a 12th man and thats why i picked Kumble, bcos I know you would hve picked him!!!!!)

So ready for the game???

Let's get started - My all time Dream XI

To start the blog on an auspicious note, I am starting with a post that I wrote a couple of years ago.... Feel free to agree or disagree with the choices, but more importantly, come out with a team - your best XI that can take this team on.

All time Dream XI
What does a cricket enthusiast do when he is utterly jobless? Well, what else? Select an all time dream cricket team, which doesn’t have any meaning or relevance. Now that I am jobless, I decided to come out with my dream team of all time.
Here it is:

Sunil Gavaskar: Epitome of a test opener. Has all the patience in the world to wear a fast bowler out and has the repertoire of shots to then cash in on it.

Mark Taylor: Should have been Sehwag purely on batting merit. But then I need my dream captain for my dream team.

Viv Richards: For the sheer intimidation factor!

Sachin Tendulkar: By God He’s God!

Brian Lara: The most gifted talent to have wielded the willow ever.

Gary Sobers: Its gotta be Sobers! The most natural cricketer.

Adam Gilchrist: The sight of Gilly walking out to bat after dismissing such a top order can be the most disheartening sight for any bowling attack.

Wasim Akram: The left hand of god!

Michael Holding: Wow! The Rolls Royce. Arguably the greatest fast bowler of ‘em all. If you doubt it ask Geoffrey Boycott!!!

Dennis Lillee: The most complete fast bowler.

Muttiah Muralitharan: The Magician who’s conquered all teams and conditions except the Prince of Trinidad. But, then how does it matter when the Prince is his teammate!

Is any team game enough to take us on?