All-time XI and Asian XI of Test cricket's greatest battlers?

[Harsh Thakor]

This is my choice of a test XI of cricket's most determined players.They are not the most classy,technically perfect or statistically best but those who demonstrated the greatest fighting spirit or mental tenacity.


All-time battlers XI

Gavaskar
Boycott
Ian Chappell
Javed Miandad
Alan Border
Steve Waugh
Ian Botham
Alan Knott (W)
Imran Khan (C)
Shane Warne
Dennis Lillee

Boycott and Gavaskar were ultimate epitome in concentration.Chappell and Miandad niggled oponents more than anyone in a crisis.Waugh and Border ultimate to bat for your life to save a test.Imran and Lille the ultimate to make a Muhammad Ali style comeback with the heart of a lion.Warne would never not accept a challenge.Knott the most gritty.Botham at his best the ultimate trier in every department.The likes of Ken Barrington,Kallis and Ted Dexter just missed out.


Asian XI of battlers

Gavaskar
Hanif
Dravid
Mohinder Amarnath
Miandad
Younis Khan
Dhoni (W)
Mushtaq Muhammad
Imran (C)
Kapil
Murlitharan


Hanif batting was like meditation.Dravid,Amarnath Miandad and Younis were champions when a team's back was to the wall.Dhoni was determination personified regardless of the situation.Mushtaq more than often championed a crisis.Iman was the equivalent of a Muhammad Ali when coming back after a stress fracture in 1985.Kapil posessed endurance and never0say die spirit of a lion which enabled him to capture so many scalps on pancakes in the sub-continent.Murlithararan reminded you how a snake fought without legs.

 

[Ab Fan]

Your Asian XI batting looks great but the bowling lineup don't make sense as one player looks missing. I would drop Mushtaq Muhammad and put in Anil Kumble in the Asian XI because very few demonstrated the mental tenacity and fighting spirit of Anil Kumble.

Depending on conditions, he can be a lethal third pacer or second spinner in that team.

There are many players I would have loved to add in all time XI but unfortunately...

 

[Robert]

Not sure I would call Botham a battler exactly - he was at his best when the cause looked lost, then he would do something inspirational. I can think of an exception - where he stonewalled Imran, Wasim and Qadir all day for 50*. Gower said he went all focused and stubborn and stated “They are not going to get me out”. Would that he had done it more often, rather than try and bash his was out of trouble.

Atherton and Collingwood were better “battler” examples for England.

Internationally, Gavaskar was the king of them all in my time.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Not sure I would call Botham a battler exactly - he was at his best when the cause looked lost, then he would do something inspirational. I can think of an exception - where he stonewalled Imran, Wasim and Qadir all day for 50*. Gower said he went all focused and stubborn and stated “They are not going to get me out”. Would that he had done it more often, rather than try and bash his was out of trouble.

Atherton and Collingwood were better “battler” examples for England.

Internationally, Gavaskar was the king of them all in my time.

Great choice.What about Imran and Lillee?Remember comebacks which were sensational

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

I don't know if he would make the Asian XI, but you have to give a special shout out to Arjuna Ranatunga as well. The guy was spite personified, and I believe he raised the level of Sri Lanka through his sheer bloodyminded-ness. His numbers wouldn't back it up, but he'd make the subs bench.

For the world XI, I think Ben Stokes will justify his place in the 5 years, if he doesn't do so already.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Interesting concept.

I'll detract from it slightly by only selecting an XI of tough scrappers that I saw play live.

G. Smith
Cook
Dravid
Kallis
S. Waugh
Chanderpaul
Boucher
Warne
Steyn
McGrath
Walsh

 

[England First]

Stewart
Boycott
Dravid
Kallis
Waugh c
Collingwood
Russell wk
Warne
Akram
Ambrose
Mcgrath