What will be your joint India-South Africa all time Test XI?

[Ab Fan]

If asked to make an all time XI of India-SA combined, what will be your pick?

I will go with: -

Barry
Gavaskar
Dravid
Tendulkar
G Pollock
Kallis
Kapil(C)
Boucher(wkt)
Kumble
Steyn
Donald

Discuss!

 

[Srtfan]

Gavaskar
Smith(c)
Dravid
Sachin
Kallis
G pollock
Dhoni (wk)
Kumble
S Pollock
Doland
Styen

 

[Sidilicious]

This is not based on just India SA matches. Otherwise players before 1992 wouldn't have counted. Also taking into account only Tests cricket, not FC

S Gavaskar
G Smith (c)
R Dravid
S Tendulkar
J Kallis
M Boucher (wk)
S Pollock
R Ashwin
A Kumble
D Steyn
A Donald

 

[Rightarmfast]

This is not based on just India SA matches. Otherwise players before 1992 wouldn't have counted. Also taking into account only Tests cricket, not FC

S Gavaskar
G Smith (c)
R Dravid
S Tendulkar
J Kallis
M Boucher (wk)
S Pollock
R Ashwin
A Kumble
D Steyn
A Donald

If you replace Shaun Pollock or Kallis with Zaheer Khan, then you have a complete bowling attack. Right now, there are only right armers.

 

[Rightarmfast]

Gavaskar
Smith
Kohli
Sachin
Kallis
Boucher
Kumble
Kuldeep ( I know its early days, but still )
Zaheer
Steyn
Donald

12th - J Srinath
13th- Dravid
14th Pollock

 

[MP2011]

If asked to make an all time XI of India-SA combined, what will be your pick?

I will go with: -

Barry
Gavaskar
Dravid
Tendulkar
G Pollock
Kallis
Kapil(C)
Boucher(wkt)
Kumble
Steyn
Donald

Discuss!

I'll have Subhash Gupte/Bedi or Chandra in place of Kumble. Also i'd rather not go with folklore and will have Graeme Smith opening in place of Barry Richards.

 

[Ab Fan]

Post 92, a XI would be like: -

Smith(c)
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Kallis
AB
Boucher(wkt)
Pollock
Kumble
Steyn
Donald

 

[Ab Fan]

This is not based on just India SA matches. Otherwise players before 1992 wouldn't have counted. Also taking into account only Tests cricket, not FC

S Gavaskar
G Smith (c)
R Dravid
S Tendulkar
J Kallis
M Boucher (wk)
S Pollock
R Ashwin
A Kumble
D Steyn
A Donald

The tail is so big. A 30 averaging batsmen begins from 6.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Sunil Gavaskar (IND)
Graeme Smith (C) (SA)
Barry Richards (SA)
Graeme Pollock (SA)
Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
Jaq Kallis (SA)
Mark Boucher (W) (SA)
Shaun Pollock (SA)
Dale Steyn (SA)
Bishan Bedi (IND)
Allan Donald (SA)

 

[Bhaijaan]

Bhaijaan’s ATG India-Southern Afrikaan combined Test XI

Gavaskar
Richards
Pollock
Tendulkar
Kallis
Kapil
Proctor
Boucher
Donald
Bedi
Chandrashekhar

 

[Sidilicious]

The tail is so big. A 30 averaging batsmen begins from 6.

Yes, thats true. I was tempted to play Big Mac instead of Ashwin.

But, in Asia I think the above team is fine.

Abroad, I would swap Ashwin with Amla.

 

[Ab Fan]

Sunil Gavaskar (IND)
Graeme Smith (C) (SA)
Barry Richards (SA)
Graeme Pollock (SA)
Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
Jaq Kallis (SA)
Mark Boucher (W) (SA)
Shaun Pollock (SA)
Dale Steyn (SA)
Bishan Bedi (IND)
Allan Donald (SA)

Excellent list. Some legendary players out there. The top 6 batting and a bowling lineup of Steyn, Donald, Pollock, Bedi, Kallis. Tendu can do a bit of spin as well. A high quality wicket-keeper as well.

 

[Ab Fan]

Bhaijaan’s ATG India-Southern Afrikaan combined Test XI

Gavaskar
Richards
Pollock
Tendulkar
Kallis
Kapil
Proctor
Boucher
Donald
Bedi
Chandrashekhar

Good list. Get in Steyn in place of one spinner. Proctor was a great fast bowler as well and could bat as well.

 

[Ab Fan]

Yes, thats true. I was tempted to play Big Mac instead of Ashwin.

But, in Asia I think the above team is fine.

Abroad, I would swap Ashwin with Amla.

Many might not know but Dudley Nourse was a really great middle order batsmen and he can definitely get in place of Ashwin or even Mike Proctor can get instead of Ashwin but since you are not considering FC,then Nourse certainly has strong case. Even the likes of Amarnath, AB or VVS as well. Amla is a top order suited batsmen not middle order.

 

[Sidilicious]

Many might not know but Dudley Nourse was a really great middle order batsmen and he can definitely get in place of Ashwin or even Mike Proctor can get instead of Ashwin but since you are not considering FC,then Nourse certainly has strong case. Even the likes of Amarnath, AB or VVS as well. Amla is a top order suited batsmen not middle order.

Well, Nourse did play 27 tests (check cricinfo) and has a smashing average. But I am generally reluctant to select players before the 70s era unless they are Bradman, Miller, Sobers etc.

As for Procter, if he had even played 20-30 odd tests with his first class batting and bowling average, I would have had him in my XI.

Because I am creating an all condition team, I went with 3 seamers + 2 spinners + 1 Batting AR.

Growing up, I was a huge for an Big Mac. I was trying to fit him in there. So my team would be.

S Gavaskar
G Smith (c)
R Dravid
S Tendulkar
J Kallis
B McMillan
M Boucher (wk)
S Pollock/R Ashwin
A Kumble
D Steyn
A Donald

Big Mac strengthens my batting, but weakens the bowling slightly.

 

[Sidilicious]

If you replace Shaun Pollock or Kallis with Zaheer Khan, then you have a complete bowling attack. Right now, there are only right armers.

Fair point. But I need Kallis as a batsman. As for Pollock, there is a significant difference between Zak and Pollock that even the variety of a leftie, does not make up for the loss of a great seamer in Pollock.

Unlike say, Ambrose and Wasim Akram, where the difference is not so huge, that if you went for Wasim for variety (even though Ambrose is slightly better) you would not lose anything significant. But here the difference is too big.

 

[Ab Fan]

Well, Nourse did play 27 tests (check cricinfo) and has a smashing average. But I am generally reluctant to select players before the 70s era unless they are Bradman, Miller, Sobers etc.

As for Procter, if he had even played 20-30 odd tests with his first class batting and bowling average, I would have had him in my XI.

Because I am creating an all condition team, I went with 3 seamers + 2 spinners + 1 Batting AR.

Growing up, I was a huge for an Big Mac. I was trying to fit him in there. So my team would be.

S Gavaskar
G Smith (c)
R Dravid
S Tendulkar
J Kallis
B McMillan
M Boucher (wk)
S Pollock/R Ashwin
A Kumble
D Steyn
A Donald

Big Mac strengthens my batting, but weakens the bowling slightly.

Good list. Outside Asia, Pollock is an obvious choice over Ashwin and while he was great in Asia as well, it is just that you would look to have two spinners there. So, Ashwin can come in.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Among the players I watched:

Tests: Graeme Smith (c), Gavaskar, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kallis, AB (wk), Kapil, Kumble, Donald, Steyn, Pollock
12th man- Jonty

ODIs: Rohit, Tendulkar, Kallis, Kohli, AB, Yuvraj, Dhoni (captain & wk), Kapil, Klusener, Pollock, Donald
12th man- Jonty

 

[MP2011]

I know its still earlyish days but Virat poses a serious challenge for a spot in that joint SA-India test middle order. He has at least far rounded record in all conditions than say Dravid.