An old guy picks his personal Test XI of players he enjoyed watching!

[bujhee kom]

This is not a 'best X1', just an X1 of players I enjoyed watching. I have tried to formulate a team to an extent. I have not included those I saw only at the very end (Sobers etc).

Warner
Sehwag
Lara
Viv
Border
Imran Khan
Adam Gilchrist (w)
Akram
Warne
Holding
Lillee

 

[bujhee kom]

I guess Imran would captain.

 

[MMHS]

This is not a 'best X1', just an X1 of players I enjoyed watching. I have tried to formulate a team to an extent. I have not included those I saw only at the very end (Sobers etc).

Warner
Sehwag
Lara
Viv
Border
Imran Khan
Adam Gilchrist (w)
Akram
Warne
Holding
Lillee

Remarkable similarity bro - I'll change just few

Anwar & Gineedge as opener
Marshall for Holding
Border, not sure but I'll change him with someone I haven't seen live. And, I'll swap Lara with Viv between 3 & 4.

By the way, you wrote that you have watched cricket from 60s - how come Sir Gary doesn't make that XI. I haven't seen him, but he replaces AB in that list.

 

[www787]

This is not a 'best X1', just an X1 of players I enjoyed watching. I have tried to formulate a team to an extent. I have not included those I saw only at the very end (Sobers etc).

Warner
Sehwag
Lara
Viv
Border
Imran Khan
Adam Gilchrist (w)
Akram
Warne
Holding
Lillee

first, glad to see people from all range of age are on PP, makes it much more special.

if it is a test team, i'd replace Sehwag with S. Gavaskar.
and if it is an ODI team, i'd replace Border with Tendulkar as opener and Lara 2nd down.

 

[bujhee kom]

Remarkable similarity bro - I'll change just few

Anwar & Gineedge as opener
Marshall for Holding
Border, not sure but I'll change him with someone I haven't seen live. And, I'll swap Lara with Viv between 3 & 4.

By the way, you wrote that you have watched cricket from 60s - how come Sir Gary doesn't make that XI. I haven't seen him, but he replaces AB in that list.

I just saw the end of Sobers' career. So I thought it unjust to include him.

 

[bujhee kom]

first, glad to see people from all range of age are on PP, makes it much more special.

if it is a test team, i'd replace Sehwag with S. Gavaskar.
and if it is an ODI team, i'd replace Border with Tendulkar as opener and Lara 2nd down.

It's not a 'best X1' - merely my x1 of players I enjoyed watching.

 

[Square Drive]

No Sachin?

 

[bujhee kom]

No Sachin?

Never found him an exciting cricketer. Brilliant - yes but not captivating.

 

[Subhan999]

My personal favourite to watch of all time

Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting
Viv
Sangakkara
Kallis
Imran
Wasim
Warne
McGrath
Murali

 

[Bilal7]

No Sachin?

Dull as a brick. Nothing that made him stand out. No poetry, no destruction; just boring, orthodox batting.

 

[khurram39]

My personal favourite to watch of all time

Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting
Viv
Sangakkara
Kallis
Imran
Wasim
Warne
McGrath
Murali

good team just want to include waqar younis replacing mcgrath.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Dull as a brick. Nothing that made him stand out. No poetry, no destruction; just boring, orthodox batting.

Says someone who hasn't watched 90s cricket.

As for the OP it's his choice. His opinion, it's nice to see people from all ages sharing their thoughts on here.

 

[bujhee kom]

Says someone who hasn't watched 90s cricket.

As for the OP it's his choice. His opinion, it's nice to see people from all ages sharing their thoughts on here.

I saw all of the 1990s (and 80s, 70s) and SRT was brilliant but not exciting to watch the way the others were. AB is listed for his sheer guts.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

I saw all of the 1990s (and 80s, 70s) and SRT was brilliant but not exciting to watch the way the others were. AB is listed for his sheer guts.

That was referred to the other poster.

And I am sorry I beg to differ with you. SRT of 90s was a fearless batsman, he smashed bowlers from the get go, not the Sanath kind but he was aggressive. He smashed bowlers of top class. He used to get India off to a flier.

It was post 2000 that he became more subdued due to age, injuries and introduction of Sehwag. He was mature enough to modify his game to prolong his career.

 

[Mamoon]

Dull as a brick. Nothing that made him stand out. No poetry, no destruction; just boring, orthodox batting.

It is funny because you have perfectly described Amla.

 

[Finisher]

Very good Lineup.
The only change I would make would be, Warner out for Hayden.

 

[bujhee kom]

Again to reiterate that this was not a 'Best X1' - just an x1 of players I enjoyed watching.

 

[in_cutter]

Again to reiterate that this was not a 'Best X1' - just an x1 of players I enjoyed watching.

Any room for Waqar Younis?

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

I just saw the end of Sobers' career. So I thought it unjust to include him.

Did you follow Australia's tour of Pakistan when they came to Dacca,East Pakistan in the 1960s?

I am assuming that you must have witnessed Pakistan's matches in East Pakistan those days

 

[Pakalulu]

Awesome X1

 

[bujhee kom]

Did you follow Australia's tour of Pakistan when they came to Dacca,East Pakistan in the 1960s?

I am assuming that you must have witnessed Pakistan's matches in East Pakistan those days

I was born a 'Pakistani'. Then particular events happened. I have vague memories of cricket in the early 60s and firm memories from the late 60s onwards.

 

[Tusker]

It's not a 'best X1' - merely my x1 of players I enjoyed watching.

I could name so many batsmen who would be more enjoyable to watch than Allan Border. Strange choice. But unlike most old era fans atleast you are not hung up about convention when you pick Sehwag and Warner which is very refreshing.

 

[WengerOut]

How is Border exciting !! Just asking

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

I was born a 'Pakistani'. Then particular events happened. I have vague memories of cricket in the early 60s and firm memories from the late 60s onwards.

Very heartening to read.

How popular was PCT in East Pakistan back in the days? It must have been difficult for you to support a PCT led by Legend Inthkhab lol...

 

[MMHS]

How is Border exciting !! Just asking

He was the best fighter against tide, not exciting but extremely stubborn, unique of his kind. It's not about skills only - he went to PAK in 1879 summer (OCT, hell like hot), was struggling with heat & humidity - still batted for 16 hours to post 153 & 150* to save a Test, with upset stomach, temperature, dehydration and vomiting. Then he took a young AUS side to WI, and 4 pacers threw everything at him, suspecting that he'll crack down - batted for 12 hours for 98* and a hundred (not sure) at T&T, remained NO both innings, after being hit almost every inch of his chest, elbow, thigh.

AB was a different beast, stats won't tell that. Interestingly, he has a Test 10for at SCG. Not sparkling, but respected every where - he'll make my AT AUS Test XI.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Loved watching the Aussie team of the 90s (pre-GOAT era):

1. Michael Slater
2. Mark Taylor
3. David Boon
4. Mark Waugh
5. Steve Waugh
6. Michael Bevan
7. Ian Healy
8. Shane Warne
9. Craig McDermott
10. Damien Fleming
11. Glenn McGrath

 

[WengerOut]

He was the best fighter against tide, not exciting but extremely stubborn, unique of his kind. It's not about skills only - he went to PAK in 1879 summer (OCT, hell like hot), was struggling with heat & humidity - still batted for 16 hours to post 153 & 150* to save a Test, with upset stomach, temperature, dehydration and vomiting. Then he took a young AUS side to WI, and 4 pacers threw everything at him, suspecting that he'll crack down - batted for 12 hours for 98* and a hundred (not sure) at T&T, remained NO both innings, after being hit almost every inch of his chest, elbow, thigh.

AB was a different beast, stats won't tell that. Interestingly, he has a Test 10for at SCG. Not sparkling, but respected every where - he'll make my AT AUS Test XI.

Not questioning his ability. But this thread was about exciting players.

 

[Oligochaetes]

My Fav Test XI I liked watching

Sehwag
Hayden
Lara
Tendulkar
ABDV
Gilchrist
Akram
Warne
McGrath
Shoaib
Steyn

Battling line up is a little short...oops. What can I say, I like watching world class bowling more than batting.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

My Fav Test XI I liked watching

Sehwag
Hayden
Lara
Tendulkar
ABDV
Gilchrist
Akram
Warne
McGrath
Shoaib
Steyn

Battling line up is a little short...oops. What can I say, I like watching world class bowling more than batting.

(Sehwag and Shoaib aside) A very solid XI. Especially that bowling is killer.

 

[Anik Sharma]

My Fav Test XI I liked watching

Belim
Anwar
Ashraful
Martyn
ABDV
Shakib
Pilot (wk)
Warne
McGrath
Waqar
Steyn

 

[Shafi]

Generally old people hang out with their friends. So they will first select their 3-4 friends then others.
Misbah, Rifat and Zulfi should be automatic choice.

 

[wrongun]

Not questioning his ability. But this thread was about exciting players.

I guess with AB it wasn't necessarily his dazzling stroke play, but the force of personality on show. It was always AB against the world, showing courage as the world burned around him. The drama came from the idea of one mans lone defiance against forces which crushed every other lesser player.

You are right that his batting was mostly nudges, nurdles, checked punches through cover & an efficient pull shot- his cut was fierce though. But many people from that era (me included, watching from late 80s on) remember the thrill of wondering if AB could possibly it all again. Many dramatic & memorable innings rather than elegant shots. It was the total context which was gripping.

 

[wrongun]

My list would be

Jayasuriya
Slater
Viv
Lara
S Waugh
Imran Khan
Adam Gilchrist (w)
Flintoff
Johnson
Warne
Ambrose

 

[bujhee kom]

Not questioning his ability. But this thread was about exciting players.

No, this thread is about players I enjoyed watching.
I enjoyed watching Atherton for the same reason as AB - trench warfare type approach to batting.

 

[bujhee kom]

My list would be

Jayasuriya
Slater
Viv
Lara
S Waugh
Imran Khan
Adam Gilchrist (w)
Flintoff
Johnson
Warne
Ambrose

Ambrose was very close to making my side. He's in my 'Best X1' but just missed the faves X1 for Lillee.

 

[wrongun]

Ambrose was very close to making my side. He's in my 'Best X1' but just missed the faves X1 for Lillee.

I decided to keep my list to players active during my cricket viewing, which started in about '88, So whilst I've seen plenty of video of Lillee, I never had that experience of watching him play really. Legend, but 5 years before y time he retired. Curtly on the other hand was what fascinated me to actually sit down & watch a match- he was like an alien from another planet compared to our bowlers.

 

[Rightarmfast]

That was referred to the other poster.

And I am sorry I beg to differ with you. SRT of 90s was a fearless batsman, he smashed bowlers from the get go, not the Sanath kind but he was aggressive. He smashed bowlers of top class. He used to get India off to a flier.

It was post 2000 that he became more subdued due to age, injuries and introduction of Sehwag. He was mature enough to modify his game to prolong his career.

Its just his thoughts. Most Pakistanis wouldnt like Sachin because he was just too good. Not just any batsman would own Qadir in his own country and play out wasim and Imran. if that's not exciting, then I wonder what is!
But I respect his choice because it human tendency to hate your rival/ enemy, especially the ones you can't defeat.

 

[bujhee kom]

Its just his thoughts. Most Pakistanis wouldnt like Sachin because he was just too good. Not just any batsman would own Qadir in his own country and play out wasim and Imran. if that's not exciting, then I wonder what is!
But I respect his choice because it human tendency to hate your rival/ enemy, especially the ones you can't defeat.

You are aware that I am Bangladeshi, right? ) Always trying to find a reason if SRT isn't picked. This is my fave x1 not a best X1 and the man was not captivating.