Unselected XI
(plus Imran)
I'll just get the opening batsmen up to begin with, and come back when I have more time.
First up is a Sri Lankan. I admit he mostly played in the middle order, and early on was keeper-batsman. Averaging 42 overall, and 44.9 when not playing as a wicket keeper (which he isn't), opening the batting I have one of very few Sri Lankans left that I thought of for my shortlist. I admit he may be out of position, but I could have sworn he opened as well - I just can't find examples of it.
Hashan Tillekeratne
83 Tests. 4545 runs, average 42.87
Partnering the Lankan, one of Australia's best. I considered Desmond Haynes, Victor Trumper (widely regarded as the best Australian batsman before Bradman), and others for this position. I was surprised this man was not taken, given I associate his name so closely with his oftentimes opening partner Bill Ponsford (in Glinn McGraw's team).
Bill Woodfull
35 Tests. 2300 runs, average 46.00
At number 3, one of India's modern greats. Overshadowed by the likes of Tendulkar, this man probably would have had more recognition if not playing in such a strong batting side. His average probably isn't a reflection of how good he was for most of his career, his rough patches were few but severe when they hit. Able to score fluently anywhere under any conditions, or fight off an attack when required, he had the attotude of a number three.
Sourav Ganguly
113 Tests. 7212 runs, average 42.17
With a twenty year Test career spanning from England's Golden Age where he played alongside the likes of Hutton and Illingworth into the limited overs era, some regard him as their best ever batsman and one of their most successful captains. Thfirst man to play 100 Tests and according to Cricinfo "In an era of outstanding English batsmen, he was the most durable, with a Test career spanning more than two decades."
Sir Michael Colin Cowdrey
114 Tests. 7624 runs, average 44.06
Arguably the man who began the rise of West Indian cricket from also-ran to tough competitors, but not the world-beaters they would become somewhat later, this man turned the heads of the cricket world to the Carribean. He had some great contemporaries, including the other twp "W"s but possibly only Sobers would eventually rise above him.
Sir Frank Worrell (c)
51 Tests. 3860 runs, average 49.48
Rounding out the top six is the obligatory Kiwi. His job was often to protect Martin Crowe as much make runs himself. And make runs he did, never moreso than the 1985/6 Trans-Tasman Trophy where his innings, and Hadlee's bowling, at the Gabba set New Zealand up for their first Test win and first series win in Australia. Not entirely classical, but entirely effective, he mastered the sub-continent average over 40 in all three nations including over 50 in India at a time when few from outside the region performed well there.
Andrew Jones
39 Tests. 2922 runs, average 44.27.
At number seven I am cheating a little by taking a selected player who was a team unto himself. As well as being a superb bowler in any conditions, and having had the capability to play as a batsman alone had hois bowling not been so good he was the only person so far to have actually been able to unite the Pakistan team to play as a team. For that reason he is also the Unselected XI vice captain. When he craked one through the covers they blew up like one of those huge Pakistani marquees - he is the incomparable
Imran Khan
88 Tests. 3807 runs, average 37.69. 362 wickets, average 22.81.
Menrioned earlier in the thread, but never taken as people seem to prefer keeper-batsmen over keepers. I'm picking him ahead of Marsh, Healy and Grout, probably the finest pure gloveman to play the game and the first English wicket-keeper to score a century in Test cricket. And the man could keep to spin, having been tested by the spit and venom of Derek Underwood.
Alan Knott (+)
95 Tests. 4389 runs, average 32.75. 250 catches, 19 stumpings.
While England's great batsmen of the post-Bradman era get deserved recognition, one of their great bowlers often gets a bit less. Capable of turning draws into wins with his constant nagging line and length, and fierce leg-cutter, this man could extract life from the deadest pitches was almost unplayable on a pitch which had anything in it.
Sir Alec Bedser
51 Tests. 236 wickets, average 24.89.
I'd like to claim this man as my Kiwi, but like all good Kiwis (and many others) he became Australian. Very few spinners can be compared with Warne, but this man belongs in that category. In some ways I'm not totally shocked he was overlooked in this draft, as Warne and O'Reilly were obvious choices, but I'm very glad he was.
Clarrie Grimmett
37 Tests. 216 wickets, average 24.21.
Great West Indian quicks were a dime a dozen in the 1970s and 1980s, but they all were preceded by one man. The genuine fast bowler of his time and perhaps responsible for sending so many others to choose that path as kids. Maybe batsmen of later eras can blame this man for what they faced on a reguar basis.
Sir Wes Hall
48 Tests. 192 wickets, average 26.38.
12th man was a difficult choice. Largely through team balance. Should I go with the extra spinner (I had hoped for playing one of Grimmett and Bedi with the other as 12th man for the right conditions). In the end I have gone with another West Indian quick Colin Croft.
If I was go down the "Bichel" route of perpetual 12th men, it would surely be Gus Logie. He did play 52 Tests, but it seemed like he had a career being a specialist short leg.
Some very good players did not make it. Desmond Haynes misses out largely due to requiring a Lankan and a Kiwi. A solid case could be made for making Tillekaratne keeper and Haynes opening.
Richie Richardson, Sir Clyde Walcott, VVS Laxman and Peter May all came very close to making it into the middle order.
Fred Spofforth and Maurice Tate could very easily have made it into the side as well. Indeed Croft, Spofforth and Tate would be a formidable fast bowling line-up on its own with perhaps Underwood as a spinner.
