Draft #3 - Tests (post-1970 players)

[Bhaijaan]

On a Given day

All of my bowlers are way more consistent than Archer, who has a test average of 27 despite only bowling in fast-bowlers playgrounds. This average will likely go down but he is no where near any of my bowlers
Garner is the goat 3rd seamer, Reid is in the Bond/Bishop category of bowlers who got their careers shortened and would have been ATG's. Croft is way more frightening than Archer, no debate there. For De Villiers see his spell vs Aus at the SCG in 1994. Run through a quality line up to win the test.

That's why i said on a given day bro. I respect longevity more than any guy in the room.


But i am just laying it down as it is. You have good bowlers. Some of them were actually great bowlers too.

But that being said, apart from Bhaijaan XI, the following teams (in no particular order) all have a better bowling unit right now than yours imo :-

FDP
Thunderbolt
Andy
Maddgenius
AB fan
Mohsin

 

[Bhaijaan]

Read again bro, I am not denying any of your bowlers is not great. It's you who is putting down a bright young talent.

Jofra Archer has had a good start to the career. He is gifted. Right now he has the reputation behind him of a tearaway quick.

Cut him slack and let him grow You are finishing his career already based on assumptions

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Kya kardiya bhaijaan my friend [MENTION=134789]maddgenius[/MENTION] was banking on jofra

 

[Bhaijaan]

Kya kardiya bhaijaan my friend [MENTION=134789]maddgenius[/MENTION] was banking on jofra

The hints were clear from beginning

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Alright my next pick is a fast bowler who truly traumatized the touring English side and put fear into their hearts and was also responsible for the retirement of some of the other picks here

Mitchell Johnson fear the Mo

 

[anikrc1]

[MENTION=151679]Forward Defensive Push[/MENTION] bhai aur ek pick.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

[MENTION=65183]freelance_cricketer[/MENTION] your turn brotha

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

[MENTION=151679]Forward Defensive Push[/MENTION] bhai aur ek pick.

Just done

 

[anikrc1]

Just done

thanks bro.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Kuldeep Yadav

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

My XI so far -

1. Saeed Anwar
2. Shane Watson
3.
4. Mike Hussey
5. Babar Azam
6. Ben Stokes
7. Kusal Perera
8. Mitchell Johnson
9. Shane Warne
10. Kagiso Rabada
11.

I still have 139 tests remaining

 

[anikrc1]

Kuldeep Yadav

Great pick on potential. He should turn to be a better test bowler than loi bowler based on his style.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Great pick on potential. He should turn to be a better test bowler than loi bowler based on his style.

The guy is a match winner.

Bit of a mental midget but he's young and has mostly played tension filled LOI cricket.

In test cricket, both him and Rashid will grow when they learn to bowl long spells with scoreboard pressure behind them to let them bowl slower through the air with more flight and turn.

Besides, finger spinners travel quite poor. Chinamen bowlers are best bet when it comes to travelling too.

In just 6 test matches, this was a steal.

 

[anikrc1]

The guy is a match winner.I

Bit of a mental midget but he's young and has mostly played tension filled LOI cricket.

In test cricket, both him and Rashid will grow when they learn to bowl long spells with scoreboard pressure behind them to let them bowl slower through the air with more flight and turn.

Besides, finger spinners travel quite poor. Chinamen bowlers are best bet when it comes to travelling too.

In just 6 test matches, this was a steal.

I don't think Rashid is ever going to be a test class spinner . He hardly flights the ball. and with his action and usual bowling speed it's going to be damn hard to do so. Kuldeep though is a different story.

 

[Bhaijaan]

I don't think Rashid is ever going to be a test class spinner . He hardly flights the ball. and with his action and usual bowling speed it's going to be damn hard to do so. Kuldeep though is a different story.

Kind of agree with you there but Rashid played India in bis first test which dented his credentials. I think he will still run through a few teams out there who will never pick his googlies.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

The guy is a match winner.

Bit of a mental midget but he's young and has mostly played tension filled LOI cricket.

In test cricket, both him and Rashid will grow when they learn to bowl long spells with scoreboard pressure behind them to let them bowl slower through the air with more flight and turn.

Besides, finger spinners travel quite poor. Chinamen bowlers are best bet when it comes to travelling too.

In just 6 test matches, this was a steal.

I like your picks bhaijaan.. packing legends with promising talents..

 

[Bhaijaan]

*** Important Update ***

Bhaijaan XI are naming young Prthivi Shaw as their wicket keeper till further notice. Shaw has kept for his regional teams and for Delhi Daredevils in IPL and initial report received from consultant coach Mark Boucher deems him fit and qualified to keep in tests.

 

[Bhaijaan]

I like your picks bhaijaan.. packing legends with promising talents..

Cheers bro.

A wild approach to the draft picks but probably a smart one in hindsight.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

*** Important Update ***

Bhaijaan XI are naming young Prthivi Shaw as their wicket keeper till further notice. Shaw has kept for his regional teams and for Delhi Daredevils in IPL and initial report received from consultant coach Mark Boucher deems him fit and qualified to keep in tests.

A very late realization ) ) )

 

[Bhaijaan]

Bhaijaan XI

1. Prithvi Shaw (wk)
2. Marnus Labuschagne
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Brian Lara
6.
7.
8. Jofra Archer
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Shoaib Akhtar
11. Curtly Ambrose

 

[Bhaijaan]

A very late realization ) ) )

A surprising twist ) )

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Cheers bro.

A wild approach to the draft picks but probably a smart one in hindsight.

Nah could sense that from the start.. however, please note that stats weigh more than promise

 

[Ab Fan]

Bhaijaan XI

1. Prithvi Shaw (wk)
2. Marnus Labuschagne
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Brian Lara
6.
7.
8. Jofra Archer
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Shoaib Akhtar
11. Curtly Ambrose

Bowling attack looks like ODI one

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Bowling attack looks like ODI one

Good team to secure draws

 

[Bhaijaan]

Nah could sense that from the start.. however, please note that stats weigh more than promise

Status of a player matters most.

Some player are just superstars, some are just support crew and good players without any stature.

Its like when you have an exhibition match of superstars, 4-5 are prominent talkers in the press conferences, 3-4 are quiet freaks, and then there are like 10 blokes who are neither superstars, neither prominent talkers, nor freaks, they are just there with average-good stats making up the numbers

At Bhaijaan XI, we only bring in superstars, match winners, icons of the game.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Bowling attack looks like ODI one

Yes, we plan to finish our opponents in 50 overs every time

 

[therealAB]

Read again bro, I am not denying any of your bowlers is not great. It's you who is putting down a bright young talent.

Jofra Archer has had a good start to the career. He is gifted. Right now he has the reputation behind him of a tearaway quick.

Cut him slack and let him grow You are finishing his career already based on assumptions

I am being realistic. Jofra is not yet mentally strong enough. He might become so, but we judge players on how they have performed for drafts, not on potential

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Status of a player matters most.

Some player are just superstars, some are just support crew and good players without any stature.

Its like when you have an exhibition match of superstars, 4-5 are prominent talkers in the press conferences, 3-4 are quiet freaks, and then there are like 10 blokes who are neither superstars, neither prominent talkers, nor freaks, they are just there with average-good stats making up the numbers

At Bhaijaan XI, we only bring in superstars, match winners, icons of the game.

Ahem, can't find many of them there

 

[Bhaijaan]

Ahem, can't find many of them there

Ok who is not a match winner in that unit bro?

 

[therealAB]

That's why i said on a given day bro. I respect longevity more than any guy in the room.


But i am just laying it down as it is. You have good bowlers. Some of them were actually great bowlers too.

But that being said, apart from Bhaijaan XI, the following teams (in no particular order) all have a better bowling unit right now than yours imo :-

FDP
Thunderbolt
Andy
Maddgenius
AB fan
Mohsin

Don’t agree with that. Feel like you are underrating De Villiers, Reid and Croft. If instead I had Shoaib, Cummins and Rabada would you consider that better, as my fast bowlers are as good as any bar Bishop who have had shortened careers. Def better than the 3 in mentioned

 

[Bhaijaan]

I am being realistic. Jofra is not yet mentally strong enough. He might become so, but we judge players on how they have performed for drafts, not on potential

Jofra has performed well already. He had a good Ashes and a good world cup.

He's being rated for his promises only not on potential.

Of course sample size isn't big enough right now but I will take good performance over small sample size over an average player in 50+tests

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Ok who is not a match winner in that unit bro?

Let's finish with the draft brother.. we will have lots of time to dissect and discuss.. where is [MENTION=151892]Thunderbolt14[/MENTION] for the next pick?

 

[Bhaijaan]

Let's finish with the draft brother.. we will have lots of time to dissect and discuss.. where is [MENTION=151892]Thunderbolt14[/MENTION] for the next pick?

Cool.

We look forward to bowling to Shane Watson though

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Cool.

We look forward to bowling to Shane Watson though

Haha.. if we neutralize Ambrose, we can make your other bowlers cry though

 

[Thunderbolt14]

drum roll...

Thunderstorm XI presents to you Vinod Kambli

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Thunderstorm XI

1. Mayank Agarwal
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Vinod Kambli
4. Mohammad Yousuf
5.
6.
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Mohammad Asif
10. Shane Bond
11. Glenn McGrath

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

drum roll...

Thunderstorm XI presents to you Vinod Kambli

So mch promise in the 90s just like bhaijaan's XI in 2020..

 

[Thunderbolt14]

So mch promise in the 90s just like bhaijaan's XI in 2020..

very excited about your squad too brother

 

[Bhaijaan]

drum roll...

Thunderstorm XI presents to you Vinod Kambli

He was in contention to get into Bhaijaan XI Well done. Great pick actually.

Kambli ate spinners for breakfast.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Haha.. if we neutralize Ambrose, we can make your other bowlers cry though

Hahaha dangerous player if he survives the new ball actually

No doubt Watti was a fighter if not the most competent batsman technically

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Thunderstorm XI

1. Mayank Agarwal
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Vinod Kambli
4. Mohammad Yousuf
5.
6.
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Mohammad Asif
10. Shane Bond
11. Glenn McGrath

You need one more bowler in there. So do i.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Ambrose?

 

[therealAB]

Ok who is not a match winner in that unit bro?

To be fair your team has more ATG's than anyone else. Also a few spuds though. It would be interesting to see in an actual match how that fared vs a more consistent team with lots of very good players but few true greats

 

[andy0204]

Participants please write your players name in spreadsheet,it's on the first page.

 

[therealAB]

My Team:
1. David Steele
2.
3. Steve Smith
4. Greg Chappell
5. Jacques Kallis
6.
7.
8. De Villiers
9. Croft
10. Garner
11. Reid

Great batting lineup and a bowling lineup full on underrated greats, looking to bring in some quality role players

 

[Bhaijaan]

Ambrose?

No player makes me more sad than Kambli. If he fulfilled his potential we literally had Tendulkar and Lara 2.0 in one team

 

[Bhaijaan]

To be fair your team has more ATG's than anyone else. Also a few spuds though. It would be interesting to see in an actual match how that fared vs a more consistent team with lots of very good players but few true greats

Thanks bro. Honestly however i always look to pick guys that i have faith in and are my personal favorites. At least for all players 1990s onwards, I have seen them with my eyes so i always trust my verdict on them before worrying about their records as such.

Your team as always, perfectly balanced in all facets of the game

 

[Thunderbolt14]

No player makes me more sad than Kambli. If he fulfilled his potential we literally had Tendulkar and Lara 2.0 in one team

Sad honestly that he was kept out. Dropped while he still averaged 50+ in tests

So many subcontinent underachievers players who could have been the best in the world if they fulfilled their potential. Same for Shoaib, Asif.

It just wasn’t meant to be.

 

[therealAB]

No player makes me more sad than Kambli. If he fulfilled his potential we literally had Tendulkar and Lara 2.0 in one team

Yep. Very said he wasn't as driven but had huge talent in both forms of the game

 

[therealAB]

Thanks bro. Honestly however i always look to pick guys that i have faith in and are my personal favorites. At least for all players 1990s onwards, I have seen them with my eyes so i always trust my verdict on them before worrying about their records as such.

Your team as always, perfectly balanced in all facets of the game

Thanks.

Feel like I have gone overbaord on the batting a bit, having an Ambrose/Marshall/McGrath etc would be nice

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Yep. Very said he wasn't as driven but had huge talent in both forms of the game

Definitely has personal issues but there are also rumors of caste issues. He was sometimes played out of position otherwise he averages 65 in tests. So crazy to drop anyone after such a brief run like that.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Sad honestly that he was kept out. Dropped while he still averaged 50+ in tests

So many subcontinent underachievers players who could have been the best in the world if they fulfilled their potential. Same for Shoaib, Asif.

It just wasn’t meant to be.

Yeah dropped for a test batting average of 54!!! How unreal.

Don't think Shoaib under delivered as a performer. He averages 24-25 having bowled predominantly on some pathetic Pakistani pitches that made star batsmen out of some okayish players.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Definitely has personal issues but there are also rumors of caste issues. He was sometimes played out of position otherwise he averages 65 in tests. So crazy to drop anyone after such a brief run like that.

Just double checked. Averaged 67.4 at number 3. They shifted him down to number 6 for his last 4 innings and he started averaging 18. Then he was unceremoniously dropped and never recalled again.

Could have been the next Lara

 

[anikrc1]

Definitely has personal issues but there are also rumors of caste issues. He was sometimes played out of position otherwise he averages 65 in tests. So crazy to drop anyone after such a brief run like that.

Walsh worked him out real good in India.

 

[anikrc1]

Just double checked. Averaged 67.4 at number 3. They shifted him down to number 6 for his last 4 innings and he started averaging 18. Then he was unceremoniously dropped and never recalled again.

Could have been the next Lara

That average was build on bashing the newzealand and zimbabwe attacks of early 90's in india.

 

[Bhaijaan]

There's a video of Kambli smashing Shane Warne all around the ground. The sheer class and dominance in those shots though.

Warne cooed quote a bit from Indians

Right from Shastry, Tendulkar, Kambli, Azhaurddin, Sidhu, Laxman everyone gave it to him I think no country has smashed an ATG bowler this bad.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

That average was build on bashing the newzealand and zimbabwe attacks of early 90's in india.

Don’t forget the double century against england

 

[anikrc1]

[MENTION=151648]therealAB[/MENTION] your pick.

 

[Bhaijaan]

That average was build on bashing the newzealand and zimbabwe attacks of early 90's in india.

England!!

 

[anikrc1]

England!!

yeah, sorry. England zimbabwe and sri lanka. Also he averaged less than 10 in the second innings. A great destroyer of spin no doubt, but the reputation of his talent gets seriously overblown.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

yeah, sorry. England zimbabwe and sri lanka. Also he averaged less than 10 in the second innings. A great destroyer of spin no doubt, but the reputation of his talent gets seriously overblown.

Averages 65.5 against Sri Lanka. And smashed Ambrose around in 96 WC. Smashed warne around. At a certain point you’re going to run out of teams to put in front of him.

 

[anikrc1]

Averages 65.5 against Sri Lanka. And smashed Ambrose around in 96 WC. Smashed warne around. At a certain point you’re going to run out of teams to put in front of him.

He scored 33 of 48 balls, wouldn't call it smashing anyone. You can check his test career innings by innings, you will see how much he struggled against walsh, that too in india.

 

[therealAB]

Sangakarra

Have Sanga, Smith, Chappell, Kallis at 3-6

 

[anikrc1]

[MENTION=149506]andy0204[/MENTION]

 

[anikrc1]

Sangakarra

Have Sanga, Smith, Chappell, Kallis at 3-6

best middle order among all the teams, are you going to make sanga keeper ?

 

[therealAB]

best middle order among all the teams, are you going to make sanga keeper ?

Probably, I feel that many of the better keepers have been picked

 

[anikrc1]

Probably, I feel that many of the better keepers have been picked

Then you should send sanga down the order.

 

[therealAB]

Then you should send sanga down the order.

Maybe, but i feel that he has the best record at no3 of the player I have picked. Chappell is a natural no5, great against spin and aggresive. Kallis will have a bowling workload as I don't have a specialist spinner and the best batsman, Smith, gets to pick where he bats

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

best middle order among all the teams, are you going to make sanga keeper ?

Ponting, Lara, Sachin hello???

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

My Team:
1. David Steele
2.
3. Steve Smith
4. Greg Chappell
5. Jacques Kallis
6.
7.
8. De Villiers
9. Croft
10. Garner
11. Reid

Great batting lineup and a bowling lineup full on underrated greats, looking to bring in some quality role players

Bowling looks a little thin.. good batsmen though.. test class all around

 

[andy0204]

I pick Michael Slater.

 

[andy0204]

My squad
1) Michael Slater
2)
3) Dean Jones
4) Martin Crowe
5) Daryll Cullinan
6) Tony Greig
7)
8) Malcolm Marshall
9) Graeme Swann
10) Michael Holding
11) Dale Steyn

 

[anikrc1]

Ponting, Lara, Sachin hello???

Sachin=Smith
Lara=Chappell
Sanga<ponting
who will face off with Kallis ? the difference will be larger than the one between sanga and ponting.

 

[andy0204]

75 tests remaining with 2 players.

 

[anikrc1]

I pick Michael Slater.

Very good aggressive opener.

 

[andy0204]

Very good aggressive opener.

Before Sehwag he used to smash from ball one.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Sachin=Smith
Lara=Chappell
Sanga<ponting
who will face off with Kallis ? the difference will be larger than the one between sanga and ponting.

Sachin........ = Smith?

Bro sab khairiat? Those two don’t belong in the same sentence

 

[Bhaijaan]

best middle order among all the teams, are you going to make sanga keeper ?

Ponting, Lara, Sachin hello???

Sachin=Smith
Lara=Chappell
Sanga<ponting
who will face off with Kallis ? the difference will be larger than the one between sanga and ponting.

If you say so...

 

[Bhaijaan]

Sachin........ = Smith?

Bro sab khairiat? Those two don’t belong in the same sentence

Imaginations can be wild

 

[anikrc1]

Sachin........ = Smith?

Bro sab khairiat? Those two don’t belong in the same sentence

Ok let me explain in more detail. Say sachin and Lara is 95 in 100 as batsman and Ponting is 92. I can argue that smith is better than sachin , but let's say i concede that. Even then chappel and smith will be 92 as batsman and kallis and sangakra 88. Labuscagne will be something like 70. Now add up.