Which decade had the best world Test XI?

[Harsh Thakor]

Here I am trying to judge the decade which had the best World Test XI.I have analyzed my order after selecting the teams chronologically in respect of decade.


1970's

Barry Richards
Sunil Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
Gary Sobers
Mike Procter
Alan Knott
Dennis Lillee
Andy Roberts
Bishen Bedi



1980's

Gavaskar
Greenidge
Viv Richards
Alan Border
Javed Miandad
Ian Botham
Imran Khan
Richard Hadlee
Malcolm Marshall
Abdul Qadir
Wasim Bari



1990's

Saed Anwar
Mark Taylor
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Steve Waugh
Chris Cairns
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Ian Healy
Curtly Ambrose
Alan Donald


2000-10

Sehwag
Hayden
Ponting
Lara
Tendulkar
Kallis
Gilchrist
Warne
Steyn
Shoaib Akhtar
Mcgrath


2010-19
Graeme Smith
Alistair Cook
Sachin Tendulkar
Kalllis
Kumar Sangakaara
AB Devilliers
Ben Stokes
Mitchelle Johnson
Starc
Steyn
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Asif


My personal choice would be the 1980's XI by a whisker.It has a plethora of all rounders comprising the best of al time in Imran,Botham,Hadlee and Kapil.It also has the finest bowling attack with the likes of Marshall,Imran and Qadir Considerable batting depth and batsmen who can attack like Viv blended with batsmen who can bat for your life like Gavaskar,Border and Miandad.

Almost neck to neck vying for 2nd place are 1970's XI , 1990's XI and 2000-2010 XI.

1990's has more skill in pace and spin bowling and an attack with greater variety.What a star cast with the likes of Sachin ,Lara and Waugh backed by Wasim,Warne,Ambrose and Donald.

However 1970's has more reliable batsmen in Viv,Gavaskar and the Chappell brothers and better allrounders by a wide margin,containing 2 of the greatest of all time in Sobers and Procter.In Lillee and Roberts it has 2 super pace bowlers-close to the most complete ever.

2000-2010 has great stars with great batsmen and a great allrounder but does not have as potent a bowling attack as those of the other decades.Still in Kallis,Ponting, Gilchrist,Tendulkar and Mcgrath it has 5 cricketers who could combine to make a greatest team ever.

By a whisker I may back the 1990's for runner up spot with greater evolution and fitness in the game.

2010-19 to me has seen a decline in the standard of the game even if still some outstanding talent flowered.

 

[Mamoon]

The selections of Asif, Tendulkar and Kallis in the 2010-19 team suggests that you have not selected players on merit of performance.

 

[Manunited18]

The selections of Asif, Tendulkar and Kallis in the 2010-19 team suggests that you have not selected players on merit of performance.

True I'd put Anderson in, arguably the greatest cricketer in that decade alongside cook. Surely kohli shouldn't be considered.

 

[Mobashir]

The selections of Asif, Tendulkar and Kallis in the 2010-19 team suggests that you have not selected players on merit of performance.

Bizarre he didn't selected Tendulkar in 1980's team actually

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Arguably Kohli and Smith could well be in 2010-19.Like PPviewers to state which decade had the strongest team adding their choices .

 

[King Khan]

2010's team should be:

Cook
Warner
Kohli (c)
Smith
Devilliers
Root
Sangakara (wk)
Ashwin
Philander
Steyn
Cummins

 

[Robert]

Eighties, but drop Botham and bring in Garner.

 

[szrana]

Has to be the 80's.

 

[Manunited18]

Eighties, but drop Botham and bring in Garner.

Lol, bothams bowling in early 80's was as good as anything going, so I'd go horses for courses selection and select the 2 allrounder on whichever conditions they were playing in

 

[Ab Fan]

2010s are better than 80s.

Cook > Gavaskar
G Smith > Greenidge
Sangakkara < Viv
Smith > AB
Kohli > Miandad
Stokes < Botham
AB > Bari
Anderson < Imran
Ashwin < Hadlee
Steyn > Marshall
Lyon > Qadir

2010s:1980s = 7:4

 

[Dulex9]

1980s:

Gavaskar
Greenidge
Viv Richards
Maindad
Border
Imran Khan
Bari
Richard Hadlee
Qadir
Marshall
Holding

1990s:

Anwar
Healey
Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting
Steve Waugh
Wasim Akram
Warne
Murali
McGrath
Donald

2000s

Hayden
Sehwag
Ponting
Tendulkar
Dravid
Kallis
Gilhrist
Warne
Steyn
Murali
Anderson

2010s:

Warner
Sangakarra
ABDV
Smith
Kohli
Stokes
Ashwin
M Johnson
Steyn
Cummins
Lyon

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Please come here to participate [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=133315]Hitman[/MENTION]

 

[sindhiboy]

would replace yasir shah with ajmal for 2010s.

 

[Robert]

Lol, bothams bowling in early 80's was as good as anything going, so I'd go horses for courses selection and select the 2 allrounder on whichever conditions they were playing in

Not really, he was no longer an opening bowler by 1982. It’s the eighties side not the 1980-2 side.

 

[Robert]

2010s are better than 80s.

Cook > Gavaskar
G Smith > Greenidge
Sangakkara < Viv
Smith > AB
Kohli > Miandad
Stokes < Botham
AB > Bari
Anderson < Imran
Ashwin < Hadlee
Steyn > Marshall
Lyon > Qadir

2010s:1980s = 7:4

No way was Cook better than Gavaskar. He struggled against real pace. Gavaskar has a 200 against Marshall’s boys.

Uncomfortable with the idea that Steyn was somehow better than Marshall. The Bajan was unreal. Though Steyn is closest to him among modern bowlers.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

No way was Cook better than Gavaskar. He struggled against real pace. Gavaskar has a 200 against Marshall’s boys.

Uncomfortable with the idea that Steyn was somehow better than Marshall. The Bajan was unreal. Though Steyn is closest to him among modern bowlers.

Absolutely correct.Gavaskar was a class above cook considering has records against the best bowling.Steyn maybe on par statistically but to me was not in the Marshall class in terms of artistry,versatility or completeness.

Lyon not even in the Qadir class,in my view.

 

[Last Monetarist]

The XIs I'd choose by decade would be something like below, with the proviso that no player appears twice.

70s:
Boycott
B. Richards
G. Chappell
G. Pollock
Lloyd (c)
Greig
Procter
Knott
Lillee
Roberts
Underwood

80s:
Gavaskar
Greenidge
V. Richards
Miandad
Border
Imran (c)
Dujon
Hadlee
Qadir
Marshall
Holding

90s:
Saeed
Taylor (c)
Lara
Tendulkar
M. Waugh
S. Waugh
Healy
Wasim
Warne
Ambrose
Donald

2000s:
Hayden
Sehwag
Dravid
Ponting (c)
Kallis
Sangakkara
Gilchrist
Pollock
Gillespie
Muralitharan
McGrath

2010s
Cook
Warner
Amla
Kohli (c)
S. Smith
de Villiers
Stokes
Ashwin
Steyn
Morkel
Anderson

That 80s side is the strongest for mine.

 

[Heisenberg111]

The XIs I'd choose by decade would be something like below, with the proviso that no player appears twice.

70s:
Boycott
B. Richards
G. Chappell
G. Pollock
Lloyd (c)
Greig
Procter
Knott
Lillee
Roberts
Underwood

80s:
Gavaskar
Greenidge
V. Richards
Miandad
Border
Imran (c)
Dujon
Hadlee
Qadir
Marshall
Holding

90s:
Saeed
Taylor (c)
Lara
Tendulkar
M. Waugh
S. Waugh
Healy
Wasim
Warne
Ambrose
Donald

2000s:
Hayden
Sehwag
Dravid
Ponting (c)
Kallis
Sangakkara
Gilchrist
Pollock
Gillespie
Muralitharan
McGrath

2010s
Cook
Warner
Amla
Kohli (c)
S. Smith
de Villiers
Stokes
Ashwin
Steyn
Morkel
Anderson

That 80s side is the strongest for mine.

Great list.

 

[Ab Fan]

No way was Cook better than Gavaskar. He struggled against real pace. Gavaskar has a 200 against Marshall’s boys.

Uncomfortable with the idea that Steyn was somehow better than Marshall. The Bajan was unreal. Though Steyn is closest to him among modern bowlers.

Yes, Marshall is ahead. But Qadir averages 46 outside Asia. That is worse than Lyon.

 

[Robert]

Yes, Marshall is ahead. But Qadir averages 46 outside Asia. That is worse than Lyon.

Yeah, he could go for a lot of runs, old Abdul. But leggies usually do. Gatting said Abdul was the best spinner he faced after Warne - the Pakistani had more variations, though the Ausstralian was super accurate and if he bowled a bad one was usually on purpose to try to set the batsman up - bowl a couple of short ones, then the topspinner to trap the batter on the back foot and get the lbw.

So Lyon is accurate in support of his quick mates and tends to take most wickets early in a series - which is good because it seizes the advantage, not point bowling well in dead rubbers - while Abdul could go for a few but was more likely to run through a side.

 

[Ab Fan]

Yeah, he could go for a lot of runs, old Abdul. But leggies usually do. Gatting said Abdul was the best spinner he faced after Warne - the Pakistani had more variations, though the Ausstralian was super accurate and if he bowled a bad one was usually on purpose to try to set the batsman up - bowl a couple of short ones, then the topspinner to trap the batter on the back foot and get the lbw.

So Lyon is accurate in support of his quick mates and tends to take most wickets early in a series - which is good because it seizes the advantage, not point bowling well in dead rubbers - while Abdul could go for a few but was more likely to run through a side.

So, you mean Abdul was better because he had more variation, means higher 'skillset' and 'talent'?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

The XIs I'd choose by decade would be something like below, with the proviso that no player appears twice.

70s:
Boycott
B. Richards
G. Chappell
G. Pollock
Lloyd (c)
Greig
Procter
Knott
Lillee
Roberts
Underwood

80s:
Gavaskar
Greenidge
V. Richards
Miandad
Border
Imran (c)
Dujon
Hadlee
Qadir
Marshall
Holding

90s:
Saeed
Taylor (c)
Lara
Tendulkar
M. Waugh
S. Waugh
Healy
Wasim
Warne
Ambrose
Donald

2000s:
Hayden
Sehwag
Dravid
Ponting (c)
Kallis
Sangakkara
Gilchrist
Pollock
Gillespie
Muralitharan
McGrath

2010s
Cook
Warner
Amla
Kohli (c)
S. Smith
de Villiers
Stokes
Ashwin
Steyn
Morkel
Anderson

That 80s side is the strongest for mine.

Really great list.Very good evaluation.I feel Viv and Sunny also belong to 1970's.Who was 2nd best in your view?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

1980s:

Gavaskar
Greenidge
Viv Richards
Maindad
Border
Imran Khan
Bari
Richard Hadlee
Qadir
Marshall
Holding

1990s:

Anwar
Healey
Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting
Steve Waugh
Wasim Akram
Warne
Murali
McGrath
Donald

2000s

Hayden
Sehwag
Ponting
Tendulkar
Dravid
Kallis
Gilhrist
Warne
Steyn
Murali
Anderson

2010s:

Warner
Sangakarra
ABDV
Smith
Kohli
Stokes
Ashwin
M Johnson
Steyn
Cummins
Lyon

Which is the best team?

 

[Last Monetarist]

Really great list.Very good evaluation.I feel Viv and Sunny also belong to 1970's.Who was 2nd best in your view?

I felt it was more interesting if a player couldn't be picked twice, otherwise a lot of those selections would overlap. Gavaskar and Viv were at their peak in the early eighties, and not picking them in the earlier era allows me to select a few great South Africans.

The 90s team possesses at least 4 geniuses on paper (Lara, Tendulkar, Warne, Wasim) so I'd go with them as second best.

I think the 2010s team is the weakest arguably out of that lot, primarily because the bowling apart from Steyn isn't much cop.

 

[Mamoon]

I felt it was more interesting if a player couldn't be picked twice, otherwise a lot of those selections would overlap. Gavaskar and Viv were at their peak in the early eighties, and not picking them in the earlier era allows me to select a few great South Africans.

The 90s team possesses at least 4 geniuses on paper (Lara, Tendulkar, Warne, Wasim) so I'd go with them as second best.

I think the 2010s team is the weakest arguably out of that lot, primarily because the bowling apart from Steyn isn't much cop.

Well you didn’t do them any favors by picking Morkel, who would be lucky to get into the third XI of the 2010s team.

Broad, Boult, Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Philander Rabada, Shami, Johnson, Wagner and Harris are/were better Test pacers and they played plenty of cricket in 2010s.

Morkel was definitely not the best fast bowler in Test cricket in the last decade after Steyn and Anderson.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

2010s are better than 80s.

Cook > Gavaskar
G Smith > Greenidge
Sangakkara < Viv
Smith > AB
Kohli > Miandad
Stokes < Botham
AB > Bari
Anderson < Imran
Ashwin < Hadlee
Steyn > Marshall
Lyon > Qadir

2010s:1980s = 7:4

Steyn > Marshall ) it’s hilarious how much certain people overrate steyn.

 

[therealAB]

Here I am trying to judge the decade which had the best World Test XI.I have analyzed my order after selecting the teams chronologically in respect of decade.


1970's

Barry Richards
Sunil Gavaskar
Viv Richards
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
Gary Sobers
Mike Procter
Alan Knott
Dennis Lillee
Andy Roberts
Bishen Bedi



1980's

Gavaskar
Greenidge
Viv Richards
Alan Border
Javed Miandad
Ian Botham
Imran Khan
Richard Hadlee
Malcolm Marshall
Abdul Qadir
Wasim Bari



1990's

Saed Anwar
Mark Taylor
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Steve Waugh
Chris Cairns
Wasim Akram
Shane Warne
Ian Healy
Curtly Ambrose
Alan Donald


2000-10

Sehwag
Hayden
Ponting
Lara
Tendulkar
Kallis
Gilchrist
Warne
Steyn
Shoaib Akhtar
Mcgrath


2010-19
Graeme Smith
Alistair Cook
Sachin Tendulkar
Kalllis
Kumar Sangakaara
AB Devilliers
Ben Stokes
Mitchelle Johnson
Starc
Steyn
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Asif


My personal choice would be the 1980's XI by a whisker.It has a plethora of all rounders comprising the best of al time in Imran,Botham,Hadlee and Kapil.It also has the finest bowling attack with the likes of Marshall,Imran and Qadir Considerable batting depth and batsmen who can attack like Viv blended with batsmen who can bat for your life like Gavaskar,Border and Miandad.

Almost neck to neck vying for 2nd place are 1970's XI , 1990's XI and 2000-2010 XI.

1990's has more skill in pace and spin bowling and an attack with greater variety.What a star cast with the likes of Sachin ,Lara and Waugh backed by Wasim,Warne,Ambrose and Donald.

However 1970's has more reliable batsmen in Viv,Gavaskar and the Chappell brothers and better allrounders by a wide margin,containing 2 of the greatest of all time in Sobers and Procter.In Lillee and Roberts it has 2 super pace bowlers-close to the most complete ever.

2000-2010 has great stars with great batsmen and a great allrounder but does not have as potent a bowling attack as those of the other decades.Still in Kallis,Ponting, Gilchrist,Tendulkar and Mcgrath it has 5 cricketers who could combine to make a greatest team ever.

By a whisker I may back the 1990's for runner up spot with greater evolution and fitness in the game.

2010-19 to me has seen a decline in the standard of the game even if still some outstanding talent flowered.

Potentially the worst XI's I have ever seen

70's. Sobers average in this decade, as was I.Chappell's whole career. Tony Greig deserving, as well as Kallicharan, Mushtaq Mohammad possibly

My Team:

Gavaskar
Richards
Viv
Chappell
Kallicharan
Greig
Proctor
Knott
Lillee
Holding
Bedi

80's:

Botham was poor post 83ish, should be no where near this team
Qadir averaged 47 outside of Asia. Overrated

Martin Crowe very unlucky. Prefer more typical structure

My team:

Gavaskar
Greenidge
Viv
Border
Miandad
Crowe
Imran
Hadlee
Marshall
Bari
Garner

90's

Openers are fine, not my preference (kirsten), but much the muchness
3-4-5 are locks and as good as any, but De Silva for me is a better pick at no. 6

Rest is good, def your best team. Healy should bat above Wasim, Warne though

My team:

Kirsten
Anwar
Lara
Sachin
Waugh
De Silva
Healy
Wasim
Warne
Ambrose
Donald

00's:

One of your worst teams:
Dravid > Tendulkar within this decade, can't put players in because of exploits outside of the decade
Lack of fast bowlers in this decade means Warne and Murali should both be included, as they are brilliant and Kallis is a decent 3rd seamer
McGrath a fast bowling lock, and Pollock should get the other place
I also prefer Smith > Sehwag, but that is personal preference

My team:

Hayden
Smith
Ponting
Dravid
Lara
Kallis
Gilchrist
Pollock
Warne
Murali
McGrath

10's:
hahahahahaha.
Shocker.
To begin, Tendulkar, Smith, Kallis, Asif didn't play any tests. Asif is the biggest case of Pakistani bias i have ever seen. Very poor selections

Shah is crap, a complete liability outside of Asia. Herath, Lyon and Ashwin are significantly better
Starc is also not at the level necessary for ATG XI's, short peak but can be very poor.
Johnson also very inconsistent, better bowlers played in this decade.

But the biggest issue is that there are 12 players. Shocker

My team:

Cook
Warner
Williamson
Smith
Kohli
AbDv
Stokes
Philander
Steyn
Lyon
Anderson

 

[Junaids]

I’m going to bake a 1970’s team using as many all-rounders as possible!

1. Barry Richards
2. Gordon Greenidge
3. Viv Richards
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Mike Procter
6. Clive Rice
7. Ian Botham
8. Imran Khan
9. Richard Hadlee
10. Alan Knott
11. Erapalli Prasanna

5 fast bowling all-rounders
1 spinner

Alan Knott down at Number 10!

Three of the four greatest batsmen of all time in the Top Four!

And I haven’t even selected Dennis Lillee, Joel Garner or Vince Van Der Bijl.

I considered Kapil Dev, but my five all-rounders were clearly superior to him.

 

[MMHS]

Please come here to participate [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=133315]Hitman[/MENTION]

I'll make few changes in your squads, and adjust few picks based on their prime decade. And, as usual, I'll pick 12 men for a Test squad. And, I won't pick players in two decades. Also, for me, decade starts from the odd year - that's 1990s means 1st Jan 1990 to 31st Dec 1999. These are my teams

1970's
1. Barry Richards
2. Sunil Gavaskar
3. Viv Richards
4. Greg Chappell
5. *Clive Lloyd (Ian's best days were over by 1972, Greg took over from him)
6. Mike Procter
7. Ian Botham (Sir Gary retired in 1973, and apart from IND 1970-71, he wasn't Gary Sobers of old in 1970s. Sir Ian played around 35-40 Tests in 1970s, enough to be rated as ATG)
8. +Alan Knott
9. Dennis Lillee
10. Andy Roberts
11. Bishen Bedi
-------------------
12. Intekhab Alam


1980's
1. Gooch
2. Greenidge
3. Martin Crowe
4. Javed Miandad
5. Alan Border
6. +Jeff Doujon
7. *Imran Khan
8. Kapil Dev
9. Richard Hadlee
10. Malcolm Marshall
11. Abdul Qadir
----------------------------
12. Iqbal Qasim



1990's
1. Saed Anwar
2. Michel Atherton (It's my personal choice - I rate him, MUCH higher than his average of 38)
3. Brian Lara
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Steve Waugh
6. +Alec Stewart
7. Chris Cairns
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10. Curtly Ambrose
11. Alan Donald
-----------------------
12. Saqlaine Mushtaq (I didn't pick WY, because S Waugh can be used as seemer as well, need two spinners)

2000-10
1. Sehwag
2. Hayden
3. *Ponting
4. Sangakara
5. Inzamam
6. Kallis
7. +Gilchrist
8. S Pollock
9. Shoaib Akhtar
10. Muralitharan
11. Mcgrath
---------------------
12. Kumble


2010-19
1. *Graeme Smith
2. Alistair Cook
3. Hashim Amla
4. Virat Kohli
5. Steve Smith
6. +AB Devilliers
7. Ben Stokes
8. PJ Cummins
9. Dale Styen
10. Jimmy Anderson
11. Rangana Herath
-----------------------
12. Shakib


Tough call - my order will be

1. 1980
2. 1970
3. 1990
4. 2000
5. 2010

It's clearly evident that the quality of Test cricket reached it's peak in 1980s, flanked by 1970s & 1990s, then by 2000s

*For a note - my 12 for 1960s & 50s will be

1960s
1. *RB Simpson
2. W Lawry
3. Rohan Kanhai
4. G Pollock
5. Ken Barrington
6. Sir Gary
7. +DT Lindsey
8. FS Truman
9. LR Gibbs
10. DG Mackenzi
11. Wes Hall
------------------------
12. E Prassanna


1950s
1. Sir Len
2. *Sir Worell
3. RN Hervey
4. Sir Weekes
5. Sir Clyde Walcott
6. RK Miller
7. AK Davidson
8. +Godfrey Evans
9. *R Benaud
10. RR Lindwall
11. J Laker
----------------------
12. Fazal Mahmood

 

[Last Monetarist]

[/b]

Well you didn’t do them any favors by picking Morkel, who would be lucky to get into the third XI of the 2010s team.

Broad, Boult, Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Philander Rabada, Shami, Johnson, Wagner and Harris are/were better Test pacers and they played plenty of cricket in 2010s.

Morkel was definitely not the best fast bowler in Test cricket in the last decade after Steyn and Anderson.

Fair enough, mea culpa, drop Morkel and put in Cummins instead. I'd still rank that bowling attack as the weakest out of the lot.

 

[anikrc1]

I'll make few changes in your squads, and adjust few picks based on their prime decade. And, as usual, I'll pick 12 men for a Test squad. And, I won't pick players in two decades. Also, for me, decade starts from the odd year - that's 1990s means 1st Jan 1990 to 31st Dec 1999. These are my teams

1970's
1. Barry Richards
2. Sunil Gavaskar
3. Viv Richards
4. Greg Chappell
5. *Clive Lloyd (Ian's best days were over by 1972, Greg took over from him)
6. Mike Procter
7. Ian Botham (Sir Gary retired in 1973, and apart from IND 1970-71, he wasn't Gary Sobers of old in 1970s. Sir Ian played around 35-40 Tests in 1970s, enough to be rated as ATG)
8. +Alan Knott
9. Dennis Lillee
10. Andy Roberts
11. Bishen Bedi
-------------------
12. Intekhab Alam


1980's
1. Gooch
2. Greenidge
3. Martin Crowe
4. Javed Miandad
5. Alan Border
6. +Jeff Doujon
7. *Imran Khan
8. Kapil Dev
9. Richard Hadlee
10. Malcolm Marshall
11. Abdul Qadir
----------------------------
12. Iqbal Qasim



1990's
1. Saed Anwar
2. Michel Atherton (It's my personal choice - I rate him, MUCH higher than his average of 38)
3. Brian Lara
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Steve Waugh
6. +Alec Stewart
7. Chris Cairns
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10. Curtly Ambrose
11. Alan Donald
-----------------------
12. Saqlaine Mushtaq (I didn't pick WY, because S Waugh can be used as seemer as well, need two spinners)

2000-10
1. Sehwag
2. Hayden
3. *Ponting
4. Sangakara
5. Inzamam
6. Kallis
7. +Gilchrist
8. S Pollock
9. Shoaib Akhtar
10. Muralitharan
11. Mcgrath
---------------------
12. Kumble


2010-19
1. *Graeme Smith
2. Alistair Cook
3. Hashim Amla
4. Virat Kohli
5. Steve Smith
6. +AB Devilliers
7. Ben Stokes
8. PJ Cummins
9. Dale Styen
10. Jimmy Anderson
11. Rangana Herath
-----------------------
12. Shakib


Tough call - my order will be

1. 1980
2. 1970
3. 1990
4. 2000
5. 2010

It's clearly evident that the quality of Test cricket reached it's peak in 1980s, flanked by 1970s & 1990s, then by 2000s

*For a note - my 12 for 1960s & 50s will be

1960s
1. *RB Simpson
2. W Lawry
3. Rohan Kanhai
4. G Pollock
5. Ken Barrington
6. Sir Gary
7. +DT Lindsey
8. FS Truman
9. LR Gibbs
10. DG Mackenzi
11. Wes Hall
------------------------
12. E Prassanna


1950s
1. Sir Len
2. *Sir Worell
3. RN Hervey
4. Sir Weekes
5. Sir Clyde Walcott
6. RK Miller
7. AK Davidson
8. +Godfrey Evans
9. *R Benaud
10. RR Lindwall
11. J Laker
----------------------
12. Fazal Mahmood

Surely Dravid finds a place in 2000's team. Maybe opening with Hayden?

 

[MMHS]

Surely Dravid finds a place in 2000's team. Maybe opening with Hayden?

Or, may be at Inzi's place. Problem, he was great at 3, which is blocked by Ponting, while Inzi was outstanding at 5 for few years. Close call, I went for the better match winner (19 of Inzi's 25 hundreds are in wins, could have been 22 with Hobert Test & the drawn Test at Faisalabad against ENG.)

No, I won't drop Sehwag for sure - with 50/80 stats, he was a tremendous match winner, and probably the most destructive spin player.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Or, may be at Inzi's place. Problem, he was great at 3, which is blocked by Ponting, while Inzi was outstanding at 5 for few years. Close call, I went for the better match winner (19 of Inzi's 25 hundreds are in wins, could have been 22 with Hobert Test & the drawn Test at Faisalabad against ENG.)

No, I won't drop Sehwag for sure - with 50/80 stats, he was a tremendous match winner, and probably the most destructive spin player.

Inzy is touch and go,who was a genius and ultimate match-winner on his day.On par with VVS Laxman.Sehwag was a certainty who gave a new dimension to the game.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Potentially the worst XI's I have ever seen

70's. Sobers average in this decade, as was I.Chappell's whole career. Tony Greig deserving, as well as Kallicharan, Mushtaq Mohammad possibly

My Team:

Gavaskar
Richards
Viv
Chappell
Kallicharan
Greig
Proctor
Knott
Lillee
Holding
Bedi

80's:

Botham was poor post 83ish, should be no where near this team
Qadir averaged 47 outside of Asia. Overrated

Martin Crowe very unlucky. Prefer more typical structure

My team:

Gavaskar
Greenidge
Viv
Border
Miandad
Crowe
Imran
Hadlee
Marshall
Bari
Garner

90's

Openers are fine, not my preference (kirsten), but much the muchness
3-4-5 are locks and as good as any, but De Silva for me is a better pick at no. 6

Rest is good, def your best team. Healy should bat above Wasim, Warne though

My team:

Kirsten
Anwar
Lara
Sachin
Waugh
De Silva
Healy
Wasim
Warne
Ambrose
Donald

00's:

One of your worst teams:
Dravid > Tendulkar within this decade, can't put players in because of exploits outside of the decade
Lack of fast bowlers in this decade means Warne and Murali should both be included, as they are brilliant and Kallis is a decent 3rd seamer
McGrath a fast bowling lock, and Pollock should get the other place
I also prefer Smith > Sehwag, but that is personal preference

My team:

Hayden
Smith
Ponting
Dravid
Lara
Kallis
Gilchrist
Pollock
Warne
Murali
McGrath

10's:
hahahahahaha.
Shocker.
To begin, Tendulkar, Smith, Kallis, Asif didn't play any tests. Asif is the biggest case of Pakistani bias i have ever seen. Very poor selections

Shah is crap, a complete liability outside of Asia. Herath, Lyon and Ashwin are significantly better
Starc is also not at the level necessary for ATG XI's, short peak but can be very poor.
Johnson also very inconsistent, better bowlers played in this decade.

But the biggest issue is that there are 12 players. Shocker

My team:

Cook
Warner
Williamson
Smith
Kohli
AbDv
Stokes
Philander
Steyn
Lyon
Anderson

Great effort and lists.However why no Clive Lloyd in the 1970's who was an outstanding batsmen and skipper,ahead of Kalicharan?Why Holding instead of Andfy Roberts who was more verstaile and crafty,even if slower?Why no Abdul Qair in 1980's,who was a spinning genius and only 4 strike bowlers?How was Dravid greater than Tendulkar in 2000-10 even if he was better from 2003-06.Dravid better in crisis but Tendulkar more impactful.Anyway debatable.No way could Smith equal Sehwag in term sof impact,if you asess performances in term of strike rate and effct on game.Sehwag gave a nother dimension to batting even eclipisng Sahin in his own right in ability to amass mammoth scores at such a blistering scoring rate.

I would always prefer having 5 genuine strike bowlers in a team even including an allrounder.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I’m going to bake a 1970’s team using as many all-rounders as possible!

1. Barry Richards
2. Gordon Greenidge
3. Viv Richards
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Mike Procter
6. Clive Rice
7. Ian Botham
8. Imran Khan
9. Richard Hadlee
10. Alan Knott
11. Erapalli Prasanna

5 fast bowling all-rounders
1 spinner

Alan Knott down at Number 10!

Three of the four greatest batsmen of all time in the Top Four!

And I haven’t even selected Dennis Lillee, Joel Garner or Vince Van Der Bijl.

I considered Kapil Dev, but my five all-rounders were clearly superior to him.

Would it beat the 1980's or 1990's teams?Great list anyway.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I’m going to bake a 1970’s team using as many all-rounders as possible!

1. Barry Richards
2. Gordon Greenidge
3. Viv Richards
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Mike Procter
6. Clive Rice
7. Ian Botham
8. Imran Khan
9. Richard Hadlee
10. Alan Knott
11. Erapalli Prasanna

5 fast bowling all-rounders
1 spinner

Alan Knott down at Number 10!

Three of the four greatest batsmen of all time in the Top Four!

And I haven’t even selected Dennis Lillee, Joel Garner or Vince Van Der Bijl.

I considered Kapil Dev, but my five all-rounders were clearly superior to him.

Would it beat the 1980's or 1990's teams?Great list anyway.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I'll make few changes in your squads, and adjust few picks based on their prime decade. And, as usual, I'll pick 12 men for a Test squad. And, I won't pick players in two decades. Also, for me, decade starts from the odd year - that's 1990s means 1st Jan 1990 to 31st Dec 1999. These are my teams

1970's
1. Barry Richards
2. Sunil Gavaskar
3. Viv Richards
4. Greg Chappell
5. *Clive Lloyd (Ian's best days were over by 1972, Greg took over from him)
6. Mike Procter
7. Ian Botham (Sir Gary retired in 1973, and apart from IND 1970-71, he wasn't Gary Sobers of old in 1970s. Sir Ian played around 35-40 Tests in 1970s, enough to be rated as ATG)
8. +Alan Knott
9. Dennis Lillee
10. Andy Roberts
11. Bishen Bedi
-------------------
12. Intekhab Alam


1980's
1. Gooch
2. Greenidge
3. Martin Crowe
4. Javed Miandad
5. Alan Border
6. +Jeff Doujon
7. *Imran Khan
8. Kapil Dev
9. Richard Hadlee
10. Malcolm Marshall
11. Abdul Qadir
----------------------------
12. Iqbal Qasim



1990's
1. Saed Anwar
2. Michel Atherton (It's my personal choice - I rate him, MUCH higher than his average of 38)
3. Brian Lara
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Steve Waugh
6. +Alec Stewart
7. Chris Cairns
8. Wasim Akram
9. Shane Warne
10. Curtly Ambrose
11. Alan Donald
-----------------------
12. Saqlaine Mushtaq (I didn't pick WY, because S Waugh can be used as seemer as well, need two spinners)

2000-10
1. Sehwag
2. Hayden
3. *Ponting
4. Sangakara
5. Inzamam
6. Kallis
7. +Gilchrist
8. S Pollock
9. Shoaib Akhtar
10. Muralitharan
11. Mcgrath
---------------------
12. Kumble


2010-19
1. *Graeme Smith
2. Alistair Cook
3. Hashim Amla
4. Virat Kohli
5. Steve Smith
6. +AB Devilliers
7. Ben Stokes
8. PJ Cummins
9. Dale Styen
10. Jimmy Anderson
11. Rangana Herath
-----------------------
12. Shakib


Tough call - my order will be

1. 1980
2. 1970
3. 1990
4. 2000
5. 2010

It's clearly evident that the quality of Test cricket reached it's peak in 1980s, flanked by 1970s & 1990s, then by 2000s

*For a note - my 12 for 1960s & 50s will be

1960s
1. *RB Simpson
2. W Lawry
3. Rohan Kanhai
4. G Pollock
5. Ken Barrington
6. Sir Gary
7. +DT Lindsey
8. FS Truman
9. LR Gibbs
10. DG Mackenzi
11. Wes Hall
------------------------
12. E Prassanna


1950s
1. Sir Len
2. *Sir Worell
3. RN Hervey
4. Sir Weekes
5. Sir Clyde Walcott
6. RK Miller
7. AK Davidson
8. +Godfrey Evans
9. *R Benaud
10. RR Lindwall
11. J Laker
----------------------
12. Fazal Mahmood

Fantastic lists.Great work.Really support your inclusion of 5 strike bowlers in each team,wit pacemen being main match-winners.Agree with you on Sobers in 1970's,in its own right and appreciate inclusion of Botham in 1970's and Kapil Dev in 1980's.Why no Rahul Dravid in 2000 and Inzamam who was not as reliable or consistent,even if a great match-winner?Dravid was the master in a crisis.In 1970's Ian Chappell was still the best batsmen in a crisis and best skipper in the world.Remember Sobers placing him at the top of the tree.Also prefered Mark Waugh in 1990's instead of Alec Stewart who could be replaced by Ian Healy behind the wickets.Also David Gower in place of Martin Crowe,in 1980's.

Neverthless we agree greatly.

Why 1970's ahead of 1990's with the latter having such explosive talent in batting and bowling with the likes of Warne,Lara ,Sachin and Wasim?I agree with 1980's but 1990's was almost right up there.

 

[MMHS]

Fantastic lists.Great work.Really support your inclusion of 5 strike bowlers in each team,wit pacemen being main match-winners.Agree with you on Sobers in 1970's,in its own right and appreciate inclusion of Botham in 1970's and Kapil Dev in 1980's.Why no Rahul Dravid in 2000 and Inzamam who was not as reliable or consistent,even if a great match-winner?Dravid was the master in a crisis.In 1970's Ian Chappell was still the best batsmen in a crisis and best skipper in the world.Remember Sobers placing him at the top of the tree.Also prefered Mark Waugh in 1990's instead of Alec Stewart who could be replaced by Ian Healy behind the wickets.Also David Gower in place of Martin Crowe,in 1980's.

Neverthless we agree greatly.

Why 1970's ahead of 1990's with the latter having such explosive talent in batting and bowling with the likes of Warne,Lara ,Sachin and Wasim?I agree with 1980's but 1990's was almost right up there.

To me, 1970 was slightly ahead for the batting (world has seen only one Richards, they had two!!!!), Greg & Sunny. Then they had Botham at his peak .... and DK Lillee. As a Test team, I'll keep them slightly above, or say at per but first name to appear

 

[Robert]

So, you mean Abdul was better because he had more variation, means higher 'skillset' and 'talent'?

Didn’t say that.

I don’t like this word ‘talent’, I like words like ‘skills’ and ‘practice’.

I think I would prefer Abdul. More likely to win a match than Lyon.

 

[therealAB]

Great effort and lists.However why no Clive Lloyd in the 1970's who was an outstanding batsmen and skipper,ahead of Kalicharan?Why Holding instead of Andfy Roberts who was more verstaile and crafty,even if slower?Why no Abdul Qair in 1980's,who was a spinning genius and only 4 strike bowlers?How was Dravid greater than Tendulkar in 2000-10 even if he was better from 2003-06.Dravid better in crisis but Tendulkar more impactful.Anyway debatable.No way could Smith equal Sehwag in term sof impact,if you asess performances in term of strike rate and effct on game.Sehwag gave a nother dimension to batting even eclipisng Sahin in his own right in ability to amass mammoth scores at such a blistering scoring rate.

I would always prefer having 5 genuine strike bowlers in a team even including an allrounder.

Clive Lloyd should probably be in there, forgot about him.

Lillee was a very well rounded bowler, Proctor too, so someone with the shear speed and intimidation complements the bowling attack well

Qadir only averaged less than 34.8 in one country during the 80's. Averaged 61 in Aus, 41 in Eng, 61 in Ind, 52 in Nz, 35 in Sl and 38 in WI. Very poor record and should be nowhere near any Atg team. Border and Richards carry spin duty. 5 bowlers cannot be played without a good batting all rounder/ keeper batsmen.

Dravid averaged more during our sample size (55-53) and also played more defining innings. How was Tendulkar more impactful. Smith was better in a variety of conditions, and with Hayden being the other opener and opener who succeeds vs swing/seam is necessary.

What is your logic for having Sachin, Kallis over Smith, Kohli in 2010's team. Also, why is Asif/Starc/MJ in their