All-time best ODI and Test XI combined?

[Harsh Thakor]

In this post I am selecting my all-time test and ODI XI combined.Thus players who would be selected for a test and ODI XI.

ALL-TIME COMBINED TEST AND ODI XI

Greenidge
Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Brian Lara
Javed Miandad
Jacques Kallis
Adam Gilchrist(W)
Imran Khan (C)
Shane Warne
Wasim Akram
Michael Holding

No doubt very controversial excluding Bradman and Sobers or modern greats like Ponting or Mcgrath or even Hadlee.

I still feel Greenidge was for a while the best batsmen in the world in the 1980's like when scoring double centuries in England in 1984 and close to the best ODI batsmen in the 1970's and 80's.

Tendulkar's choice is unanimous with his record in both forms of cricket which is head and shoulders above anyone but arguable whether he should be the opener in test matches.In combined cricket there may never be an equal.

Viv Richards is arguably the best match-winner in both form sof the game who in peak period was the best ever batsmen combined.No batsmen was so merciless against great opponents.

Chose Lara over Ponting because of flair and mastery in run chases,like in Sharjah v Pakistan in 1993 in an ODI.In tests he was possibly the best after Bradman

.Miandad was a class act when the chips were down and one of the best finishers in ODI's .He was also a master on bad wickets.

Kallis was not a great match-winner but neverthless laid the base for many a famous victory with his great all-round ability.More suitable at no 6 than Botham,Kapil Dev or Hadlee.

Gilchrist was the ultimate match-winner or cricketer to hit the nails in the coffin.

Imran would win his place as a captain overshadowing any all-round cricketer as a skipper .His batting prowess and great speed and movement with the ball would be an asset to any side as a match-winner.

Warne's cricketing prowess as a leg-spinner would win him a place.

Wasim's ingenuity in terms of craft and combined record is ahead of any pace bowler if not any bowler.

Michael Holding blended his great speed with economy better than Jeff Thomson,Malcolm Marshall and arguably even Dennis Lillee.Mcgrath and Hadlee had better figures but I feel with his great speed through the air Holding may be a more suitable candidate.No doubt again very debatable on excluding Mcgrath who would make it on stats.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

Gavaskar (Test - BAT)
Sachin (ODI -BAT)
Viv (ODI - BAT)
Ponting (ODI - BAT) (C)
Lara (Test - BAT)
Kohli (ODI - BAT)
Sangakkara (Test - WK/BAT)
Imran (Test - ALL ROUNDER)
Warne (Test - SPINNER)
McGrath (ODI - BOWLER)
Marshall (Test - BOWLER)

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Gavaskar (Test - BAT)
Sachin (ODI -BAT)
Viv (ODI - BAT)
Ponting (ODI - BAT) (C)
Lara (Test - BAT)
Kohli (ODI - BAT)
Sangakkara (Test - WK/BAT)
Imran (Test - ALL ROUNDER)
Warne (Test - SPINNER)
McGrath (ODI - BOWLER)
Marshall (Test - BOWLER)

I excluded Marshall as his record was not outstanding in ODI cricket .Mcgrath missed out by a whisker or even Hadlee.

 

[Sam99]

No McGrath? what a joke. Sanga/Ab can easily replace Miandad.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

No McGrath? what a joke. Sanga/Ab can easily replace Miandad.

Almost made it.Considered speed element which was lacking.No doubt fantastic record and in it on stats.

 

[The Viper]

Not sure if Kallis would make a ODI 11. I would probably move IK to 6 and then pick murali/ Mcgrath for 4th bowler.

 

[Srtfan]

No McGrath& ponting

 

[Srtfan]

G smith
Sachin
Ponting(c)
Viv
Lara
Gilly(wk)
Hadlee
Akram
Warne
Murli
McGrath
2 fast bowler & 2 spinner.hadlee over imran for better bowling.

 

[Buffet]

Any combined ODI and test XI has to have McGrath.

He is the only bowler in history who can claim to be among the top 3 in both formats. May be Hadlee can push for it, but McGrath not being there is simply criminal. You have to actually go by performance. He performed everywhere in test. He performed everywhere in ODI. He performed better than pretty much everyone in WC. He also lasted longer than pretty much every pacer.

There is absolutely no reason to not have McGrath. He will be among the top 3-4 players in history who will be in shortlist for such XIs. It's not marginal case.

 

[Sachin136]

Ponting over Miandad, Murali over Warne, McGrath over Holding. Tough to think of who could be a good replacement for Kallis.

And maybe Pollock over Imran. You would need a better 5th bowler for ODIs.

 

[Buffet]

Ponting over Miandad, Murali over Warne, McGrath over Holding. Tough to think of who could be a good replacement for Kallis.

And maybe Pollock over Imran. You would need a better 5th bowler for ODIs.

Nah, IK should be there if you are considering Test and ODI both. Pollock wasn't that great in test. Kallis is not that great in ODI. Apart from Dev, I can't think of another name who is certainty better than IK in ODI as an all rounder and I don't need to add much about IK's stature as test all rounder.

Yes, I am aware of him contributing with bat and abll at different times, but still he is ahead of others. IK has a stronger case than anyone else when it comes to one person for Test and ODI both.

 

[Sidilicious]

M Hayden
G Smith
S Tendulkar
V Richards
R Ponting
A Gilchrist
I Khan (c)
W Akram
S Warne
M Muralitharan
G McGrath

Batting is on the weaker side for ODIs with IK coming in at 7. He wasn't the best ODI bat.
For Tests the batting is fine though.

 

[Attiq_Lone]

Sunil Gavaskar
Sachin Tendulkar
Ricky Ponting
Brian Lara
Inzamam ul haq
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Muttiah Muralitharan
Glenn Mcgrath

 

[alized]

What’s the point? Test and ODI isn’t played together. Makes no sense! Might as well add T20 in it too

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Sunil Gavaskar
Sachin Tendulkar
Ricky Ponting
Brian Lara
Inzamam ul haq
Adam Gilchrist
Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Muttiah Muralitharan
Glenn Mcgrath

Gavaskar in ODI?Many better openers in this format.No Viv Richards who was better than anyone in ODI's?Not Miandad ?

 

[Ab Fan]

Hayden
Sehwag
Viv
Tendulkar
Lara
Gilchrist (wkt)
Imran(C)
Wasim
Warne
McGrath
Murali

All minimum greats in Odis and tests both. Three fast bowlers and two legendary spinners. In the middle order, we have Viv, Lara and SRT. Up to them to decide the order. Warne at 9 can bat as well. So, depth is there as well.

 

[Sidilicious]

Hayden
Sehwag
Viv
Tendulkar
Lara
Gilchrist (wkt)
Imran(C)
Wasim
Warne
McGrath
Murali

All minimum greats in Odis and tests both. Three fast bowlers and two legendary spinners. In the middle order, we have Viv, Lara and SRT. Up to them to decide the order. Warne at 9 can bat as well. So, depth is there as well.

We have pretty much the same team except Sehwag (I had Smith) and Lara (I had Punter).

I had the same problem as you, Imran at 7 in an ODI is on the weaker side. Firstly, this team does not have a finisher. All of top 6, are known for playing 1-4. There isn't a true finisher in this side.

Then Imran at 7, isn't ideal for ODI. As an ODI batsman, he was more of an accumulator. Not someone who could finish an innings. His average has been propped up by batting at 3-5. He does have runs at 6, but a lower average and not a high SR. Even though Wasim and Warne follow him at 8 and 9, their batting exploits came in tests than ODIs. Wasim was used a pinch hitter a few times, but that is different from taking responsibility at 8.

Again, the lower order batting 7-9, would have been perfect for tests. But in ODIs its not as good.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Hayden
Sehwag
Viv
Tendulkar
Lara
Gilchrist (wkt)
Imran(C)
Wasim
Warne
McGrath
Murali

All minimum greats in Odis and tests both. Three fast bowlers and two legendary spinners. In the middle order, we have Viv, Lara and SRT. Up to them to decide the order. Warne at 9 can bat as well. So, depth is there as well.

Great list.Not Tendu opening in tests?Sehwag above Greenidge?

 

[Ab Fan]

We have pretty much the same team except Sehwag (I had Smith) and Lara (I had Punter).

I had the same problem as you, Imran at 7 in an ODI is on the weaker side. Firstly, this team does not have a finisher. All of top 6, are known for playing 1-4. There isn't a true finisher in this side.

Then Imran at 7, isn't ideal for ODI. As an ODI batsman, he was more of an accumulator. Not someone who could finish an innings. His average has been propped up by batting at 3-5. He does have runs at 6, but a lower average and not a high SR. Even though Wasim and Warne follow him at 8 and 9, their batting exploits came in tests than ODIs. Wasim was used a pinch hitter a few times, but that is different from taking responsibility at 8.

Again, the lower order batting 7-9, would have been perfect for tests. But in ODIs its not as good.

Actually I forgot Ponting but again not much between him and Lara.

For tests, it is a perfect XI but for odi, yes, a finisher is missing. Dhoni and Bevan are two names that come but Bevan didn't succeed in tests and Dhoni was just a good test batsmen and his keeping was slightly under par in tests.

Maybe ABD can come in. A fantastic test batsmen and brilliant middle order Odi batsmen who although wasn't a great finisher but with a clutch Imran coming after him can resolve the issue. However, the batting in tests may go a little down but with Lara, Tendulkar, AB, Gilly and Imran, it is still excellent.

 

[Ab Fan]

Great list.Not Tendu opening in tests?Sehwag above Greenidge?

Tendu don't need to open in tests as he makes the middle order strong. Hayden is an obvious name for opener and Greenidge can come in place of Sehwag as well, particularly for non-Asian countries.

 

[Sidilicious]

Actually I forgot Ponting but again not much between him and Lara.

For tests, it is a perfect XI but for odi, yes, a finisher is missing. Dhoni and Bevan are two names that come but Bevan didn't succeed in tests and Dhoni was just a good test batsmen and his keeping was slightly under par in tests.

Maybe ABD can come in. A fantastic test batsmen and brilliant middle order Odi batsmen who although wasn't a great finisher but with a clutch Imran coming after him can resolve the issue. However, the batting in tests may go a little down but with Lara, Tendulkar, AB, Gilly and Imran, it is still excellent.

Possibly, if Kohli's form continues in Tests, you could have him come in place of Lara. That would help the ODI Batting, without impacting the tests.

 

[Ab Fan]

Possibly, if Kohli's form continues in Tests, you could have him come in place of Lara. That would help the ODI Batting, without impacting the tests.

Yes, Kohli can get in as well but he has got more serious competition for his position from Viv, Lara, Tendulkar and Ponting. At 5-6, he doesn't give the same power game/ slogging game.