Greatest Test XI with mediocre stats

[Snatch]

Guidelines:

1. Minimum 20 tests played & debuted after 1970
2. Batting average- below 40
3. Pace bowling average - over 30
4. Spin bowling average - over 32
5. Allrounders batting average -under 30, bowling average over 34
6. Wicket keeper average - under 30

What's the strongest side you can come up with?

 

[Junaids]

What a brilliant thread!

1. Mike Brearley (captain) - 39 Tests, 1442 runs @ 22.88
2. Martin Guptill - 47 Tests, 2586 runs @ 29.38
3. Mohammad Hafeez - outside Asia 17 Tests, 643 runs @ 20.09
4. Mohammad Ashraful - 61 Tests, 2737 runs @ 24.00
5. Mark Ramprakash - 52 Tests, 2350 runs @ 27.32
6. Lance Klusener - 49 Tests, batting average 32.86, bowling average 37.91
7. Wasim Bari (wk) - 81 Tests, batting average 15.88
8. Mohammad Sami - 36 Tests, bowling average 52.74
9. John Emburey (spinner) - 64 Tests, bowling average 38.40
10. Paul Jarvis (fast bowler) - 9 Tests, bowling average 45.95
11. Sohail Khan (fast bowler) - 8 Tests, bowling average 41.41

Only the 1970 cutoff robbed us of Peter Van Der Merwe - South African skipper of the 1960's who batted at 8 and did not bowl!

 

[Snatch]

Mine

Michael Atherton
Tom Latham
Ijaz Ahmed
Nasser Hussain*
Nathan Astle
Rashid Latif +
Andrew Hall
Tim Southee
Danish Kaneria
Javagal Srinath
Steve Harmison

I was going to pick Vettori before realizing he doesn't meet the all-rounder criteria.

 

[Snatch]

What a brilliant thread!

1. Mike Brearley (captain) - 39 Tests, 1442 runs @ 22.88
2. Martin Guptill - 47 Tests, 2586 runs @ 29.38
3. Mohammad Hafeez - outside Asia 17 Tests, 643 runs @ 20.09
4. Mohammad Ashraful - 61 Tests, 2737 runs @ 24.00
5. Mark Ramprakash - 52 Tests, 2350 runs @ 27.32
6. Lance Klusener - 49 Tests, batting average 32.86, bowling average 37.91
7. Wasim Bari (wk) - 81 Tests, batting average 15.88
8. Mohammad Sami - 36 Tests, bowling average 52.74
9. John Emburey (spinner) - 64 Tests, bowling average 38.40
10. Paul Jarvis (fast bowler) - 9 Tests, bowling average 45.95
11. Sohail Khan (fast bowler) - 8 Tests, bowling average 41.41

Only the 1970 cutoff robbed us of Peter Van Der Merwe - South African skipper of the 1960's who batted at 8 and did not bowl!

Yeah, I made it tough & you appear to have missed the minimum 20 tests qualification, which rules out Jarvis & Sohail.

I should have also said, a player averaging more than averaging more than 25 with the bat & taken more than 20 wickets should count as an allrounder.

 

[Junaids]

Yeah, I made it tough & you appear to have missed the minimum 20 tests qualification, which rules out Jarvis & Sohail.

I should have also said, a player averaging more than averaging more than 25 with the bat & taken more than 20 wickets should count as an allrounder.

I saw it, I just thought that Jarvis and Sohail are so spectacularly bad that they deserved to be included!

 

[Snatch]

I saw it, I just thought that Jarvis and Sohail are so spectacularly bad that they deserved to be included!

Haha fair enough, but this is supposed to be the very best of the mediocre Test players 19:

 

[Snatch]

Mine

Michael Atherton
Tom Latham
Ijaz Ahmed
Nasser Hussain*
Nathan Astle
Rashid Latif +
Andrew Hall
Tim Southee
Danish Kaneria
Javagal Srinath
Steve Harmison

How do we think the current Pakistan Test team would fear against this XI in a series played in England currently?

 

[Junaids]

Asif Mujtaba: 25 tests, 928 runs @ 24.42

My favourite, however, is the former England captain Lord Hawke

5 Tests:
Batting: 55 runs @ 7.85
Did Not Bowl

 

[Ami]

Hahaha...i love this one.

Never mind the averages lets just concentrate on Pak cricket first of the recent past...

Imran Farhat
Imran Nazir
Yasir Hameed
Hasan Raza
Faisal Iqbal
Shoaib Malik
Kamran Akmal
Rana Naved
Mohammad Sami
Zulfiqar Babar
Shabbir Ahmed

 

[Aman]

Mine

Michael Atherton
Tom Latham
Ijaz Ahmed
Nasser Hussain*
Nathan Astle
Rashid Latif +
Andrew Hall
Tim Southee
Danish Kaneria
Javagal Srinath
Steve Harmison

I was going to pick Vettori before realizing he doesn't meet the all-rounder criteria.

Most of the players you've mentioned aren't mediocre...

 

[Haroon786]

Tom Latham is far from mediocre and neither is Atherton.

Poor team to be the 'greatest mediocre team'.

 

[Snatch]

Most of the players you've mentioned aren't mediocre...

You're missing the point.

I use the word mediocre based on the statistic guidelines, not the players.


Maybe the mediocre is overly tough.

 

[Sidilicious]

Mine

I was going to pick Vettori before realizing he doesn't meet the all-rounder criteria.

Michael Atherton - NOT Mediocre
Tom Latham - Did you see him bat in India? How is he mediocre?
Ijaz Ahmed - I dont consider him mediocre. But a Pakistani would be able to judge him better.
Nasser Hussain* - Not mediocre. Excellent captain.
Nathan Astle - How is this guy mediocre?
Rashid Latif + - One of the better keepers in the 90s
Andrew Hall - The only one so far I agree with.
Tim Southee - Has been pretty good. Defintiely not mediocre.
Danish Kaneria - 250 Test wickets and Kamran Akmal says hi!
Javagal Srinath - Not Mediocre for India. Not an ATG, but definitely not mediocre.
Steve Harmison - Do you remember him for a period of 2003-2006? Was one of the top bowlers in the world.

 

[Sidilicious]

From an Indian perspective, this is mediocre

SS Das
S Ramesh
W Jaffer
Rohit Sharma
S Manjeraker
Shivlal Yadav
P Patel
A Agarkar
RK Chauhan
SLV Raju
BKV Prasad

 

[King Kong]

Mine

Michael Atherton
Tom Latham
Ijaz Ahmed
Nasser Hussain*
Nathan Astle
Rashid Latif +
Andrew Hall
Tim Southee
Danish Kaneria
Javagal Srinath
Steve Harmison

I was going to pick Vettori before realizing he doesn't meet the all-rounder criteria.

Some very good players there. Definitely not mediocre. This team could give tough fight to most of the teams now.

 

[Abdullah719]

Guys, the mediocre part is in reference to the stats - the point is still to pick the strongest team at the end of the day.

Interesting thread OP!

 

[Snatch]

Yeah, more proof people don't really read.

I use the term "Mediocre" for their records, because for a top batsman averaging less than 40 isn't very good, a top pace bowler, averaging above 30 isn't very good, averaging over 33 for a spinner, under 30 batting & over 35 bowling for an allrounder etc isn;t very good. They aren't terrible either which is why I used 'mediocre'.

Doesn't mean the players are mediocre.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Michael Atherton
Mudassar Nazar
Graeme Hick
Michael Bevan
Arjuna Ranatunga (C)
Abdul Razzaq/Carl Hooper(depending on the pitch, Abdul Razzaq outside subcontinent Hooper in subcontinent and WI)
Moin Khan (wk)
Zaheer Khan
Sarfraz Nawaz
Michael Kasprowicz
Abdul Qadir(averages a fraction over 32 ie 32.80 if not then Kaneria)

12th man: Marvan Atapattu
Mathew Hoggard and Chris Martin on the bench if the coach goes for rotation policy

 

[Snatch]

Michael Atherton
Mudassar Nazar
Graeme Hick
Michael Bevan
Arjuna Ranatunga (C)
Abdul Razzaq/Carl Hooper(depending on the pitch, Abdul Razzaq outside subcontinent Hooper in subcontinent and WI)
Moin Khan (wk)
Zaheer Khan
Sarfraz Nawaz
Michael Kasprowicz
Abdul Qadir(averages a fraction over 32 ie 32.80 if not then Kaneria)

12th man: Marvan Atapattu
Mathew Hoggard and Chris Martin on the bench if the coach goes for rotation policy

Zaheer Khan & Kasprowicz (who I considered) & Abdul Qadir are excellent picks (even if you cheated on Qadir haha). Mudassar Nazar wouldn't make the criteria either because he was an allrounder.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Poor OP.

Half of the people completely missed the point of this thread.

Maybe ask the mods to change the headline. Or write a clarification and ask mods to add it as bold in the first post.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Zaheer Khan & Kasprowicz (who I considered) & Abdul Qadir are excellent picks (even if you cheated on Qadir haha). Mudassar Nazar wouldn't make the criteria either because he was an allrounder.

oh then replace mudassar nazar with marvan atapattu or majid khan

 

[Snatch]

Poor OP.

Half of the people completely missed the point of this thread.

Maybe ask the mods to change the headline. Or write a clarification and ask mods to add it as bold in the first post.

Haha, it's not the end of the world mate. I'm sure we'll all survive.

 

[Snatch]

Hahaha...i love this one.

Never mind the averages lets just concentrate on Pak cricket first of the recent past...

Imran Farhat
Imran Nazir
Yasir Hameed
Hasan Raza
Faisal Iqbal
Shoaib Malik
Kamran Akmal
Rana Naved
Mohammad Sami
Zulfiqar Babar
Shabbir Ahmed

Handy side. Used to enjoy watching Hameed.

 

[Snatch]

Cool someone has changed the title.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Afridi should make it, 36.5 bat avg and 35 bowl avg is pretty mediocre.

 

[Hitman]

Afridi should make it, 36.5 bat avg and 35 bowl avg is pretty mediocre.

Him being included in any team would be a bloody blatant insult to that team.

 

[Snatch]

Him being included in any team would be a bloody blatant insult to that team.

Haha true, although his numbers are too good as an allrounder using this criteria. An all-rounder can't average over 30 batting.

 

[Mamoon]

3 man pace attack should be Amir, Wahab and Rahat.

 

[Abdullah719]

Michael Atherton
Majid Khan
Alec Stewart
Carl Hooper
Wasim Raja
Azhar Mahmood
Daniel Vettori
Rashid Latif (wk)
Brett Lee
Sarfraz Nawaz
Steve Harmison

 

[Adijazz1706]

Him being included in any team would be a bloody blatant insult to that team.

Why? People are including the likes of Sami and Hasan Raza.

 

[_Salman_]

Jayasuriya narrowly misses out.

 

[jeetu]

Batsman
=======
Mike Atherton - 37.69 , 100's - 16
Marvan Atapattu - 39.92 , 100's - 16
Ijaz Ahmed - 37.67 , 100's - 12
Naseer Hussain - 36.05 , 100's - 14
Allan Lamb - 36.05 , 100 - 14

Wk - Ian Healy - bat avg 27.39
AR - Paul Strang bat avg 27.06 , bowl avg - 36.02

Bowlers
=======
Brett Lee
Harbhajan Singh
Lasith Malinga
Zaheer Khan

 

[MMHS]

Guidelines:

1. Minimum 20 tests played & debuted after 1970
2. Batting average- below 40
3. Pace bowling average - over 30
4. Spin bowling average - over 32
5. Allrounders batting average -under 30, bowling average over 34
6. Wicket keeper average - under 30

What's the strongest side you can come up with?

I'll make a 12 member team, with 6 batsmen, a WK & 5 bowlers/all-rounders. My team -

1. Mike Athers
2. Marvan Atapattu
3. Kim Hughes
4. Allen Lamb
5. Alec Stewart (as Specialist Bat & back-up WK)
6. Carl Hooper
7. Abdul Razzak
8. Brett Lee
9. Wasim Bari+
10. Abdul Qadir
11. Steve Finn
------------------
12. HarBhajji

I didn't pick Dan Vat, because he averages exactly 30 with bat. Among 5 pacers closely matches, I picked Finn on potential over Zak, Srinath, Harmisson & Hoggarad. In future, if Finn comes down 30, I'll pick Zak, as he was lefti. Bhajji misses out in playing XI, because Hooper is there. On Spin friendly wickets, he'll replace Finn is playing XI - on batting belters, he'll replace Atapatu (Stewart to open with Athers). Among WKs, I could have picked Kirmani as well, but Bari was more complete WK as, he kept well against fast, swing & spin bowling efficiently. Absolutely no issues if anyone picks Kirmani as WK. Picked Razzak over Shastri as the team is already spin heavy, I need at least 3 pacers.

My Captain will be the man left his job with tears, as he felt he was hurting his team by holding on to an automatic spot as Captain - one of my favorites - Kim Hughes. Athers will be his deputy.

To make the complete squad, I'll add Gary Gomez, Zak, Shastri & Harmisson to make it 16 men squad.

Statistically, this is a poor lot, but I can tell, this team will smash many great teams on their day. I have picked mostly mavericks - players with outstanding talent & skills, but for some issues (might be personal as well, or for a slow start in career), never fulfilled their potential.

 

[MMHS]

I'll make a 12 member team, with 6 batsmen, a WK & 5 bowlers/all-rounders. My team -

1. Mike Athers
2. Marvan Atapattu
3. Kim Hughes
4. Allen Lamb
5. Alec Stewart (as Specialist Bat & back-up WK)
6. Carl Hooper
7. Abdul Razzak
8. Brett Lee
9. Wasim Bari+
10. Abdul Qadir
11. Steve Finn
------------------
12. HarBhajji

I didn't pick Dan Vat, because he averages exactly 30 with bat. Among 5 pacers closely matches, I picked Finn on potential over Zak, Srinath, Harmisson & Hoggarad. In future, if Finn comes down 30, I'll pick Zak, as he was lefti. Bhajji misses out in playing XI, because Hooper is there. On Spin friendly wickets, he'll replace Finn is playing XI - on batting belters, he'll replace Atapatu (Stewart to open with Athers). Among WKs, I could have picked Kirmani as well, but Bari was more complete WK as, he kept well against fast, swing & spin bowling efficiently. Absolutely no issues if anyone picks Kirmani as WK. Picked Razzak over Shastri as the team is already spin heavy, I need at least 3 pacers.

My Captain will be the man left his job with tears, as he felt he was hurting his team by holding on to an automatic spot as Captain - one of my favorites - Kim Hughes. Athers will be his deputy.

To make the complete squad, I'll add Gary Gomez, Zak, Shastri & Harmisson to make it 16 men squad.

Statistically, this is a poor lot, but I can tell, this team will smash many great teams on their day. I have picked mostly mavericks - players with outstanding talent & skills, but for some issues (might be personal as well, or for a slow start in career), never fulfilled their potential.

I stand corrected - just 1 change I didn't notice first. This team is full of right-handers, I'll replace Atapatu with Amir Sohail. Could have gone with Wright as well, but Athers & Wright might have made it like CChurch PAK's 2nd innings!!!!!!!

 

[the_best]

I am going with team of mavericks who could on their day win the match on his own but most day they would self destruct. I try to be representative from all the test playng country. But South African missing out even fo contenders
Top Order
1. J Reid
2. S Afridi
3. K Hughes
Jayasuria, Slatter is marginally have better average than the criteria. If someone find loop Afidi as opener then Atapattu could come; But he is not a match winner
Middle Order
4. G Hick
5. C Hooper
6. M Ashraful
R Sarwan avaerage is only higher by 0.01. If allowed he could replace Hick. On his day C Hooper and Ashraful could make world class attack as mediocar and most days they made mediocare attack as world class. Future contender could be sameul and U Akmal. The way things are moving who knows R Sharma could qualify
All Rounders
There are not so many choices. Depending upon pitch condition any of P Strang; A Razzaq and Ajit Agarkar
W/K
Though Bari is almost a universal choice he was a very reliable w/k. Hence my choice is K Akmal On his day Kamran is the best W/K in the world and for the rest see Sydney; I do not care his batting stat for this exercise
Pace Bowlers
The worst player for one of the ATG B Lee followed by Harmison and Finn. Sarfaraz Newaz and Z Khan may be contender
11. S Finn

 

[MMHS]

I'll make a 12 member team, with 6 batsmen, a WK & 5 bowlers/all-rounders. My team -

1. Mike Athers
2. Marvan Atapattu
3. Kim Hughes
4. Allen Lamb
5. Alec Stewart (as Specialist Bat & back-up WK)
6. Carl Hooper
7. Abdul Razzak
8. Brett Lee
9. Wasim Bari+
10. Abdul Qadir
11. Steve Finn
------------------
12. HarBhajji

I didn't pick Dan Vat, because he averages exactly 30 with bat. Among 5 pacers closely matches, I picked Finn on potential over Zak, Srinath, Harmisson & Hoggarad. In future, if Finn comes down 30, I'll pick Zak, as he was lefti. Bhajji misses out in playing XI, because Hooper is there. On Spin friendly wickets, he'll replace Finn is playing XI - on batting belters, he'll replace Atapatu (Stewart to open with Athers). Among WKs, I could have picked Kirmani as well, but Bari was more complete WK as, he kept well against fast, swing & spin bowling efficiently. Absolutely no issues if anyone picks Kirmani as WK. Picked Razzak over Shastri as the team is already spin heavy, I need at least 3 pacers.

My Captain will be the man left his job with tears, as he felt he was hurting his team by holding on to an automatic spot as Captain - one of my favorites - Kim Hughes. Athers will be his deputy.

To make the complete squad, I'll add Gary Gomez, Zak, Shastri & Harmisson to make it 16 men squad.

Statistically, this is a poor lot, but I can tell, this team will smash many great teams on their day. I have picked mostly mavericks - players with outstanding talent & skills, but for some issues (might be personal as well, or for a slow start in career), never fulfilled their potential.

Need to change again as I am going through stats more -

WK - Hilley; just noticed he was Under 30 average batsman. However, I think, in this list WK's batting average should be Under 25, if not 20. Average of 30 is too high for WK, particularly, 15-20 years back, even 20 average was acceptable for WK.

Problem for such list is players are qualifying in different classification - for example, I would have loved to take Mushtaq Mohammed - he averages just under 40 with bat, but just under 30 as a Leggis as well.

 

[umerz]

A lot of keepers especially prior Gilchrist era average under 30

 

[yasir_shah_fan]

Hahaha...i love this one.

Never mind the averages lets just concentrate on Pak cricket first of the recent past...

Imran Farhat
Imran Nazir
Yasir Hameed
Hasan Raza
Faisal Iqbal
Shoaib Malik
Kamran Akmal
Rana Naved
Mohammad Sami
Zulfiqar Babar
Shabbir Ahmed

Had an excellent average