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  1. #1
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Name your best side ever?

    With the ashes being played at the moment and the dismal results during the first 4 tests, I have been thinking about who I wish we had back and to get back to normal business and that is kicking the Poms bums.

    Then I thought about the best Australian side ever being past and present players and most certainly not one of our lot playing in this series could get into the best side ever. Thinking further I don't think any of the present England players could make a best England side ever either.

    Anyway I will name my best Aussie side and invite you Poms, Welsh, South Africans and others to nominate their best sides and if you have a spare moment.

    My best ever Australian side past and present players is and in batting order:

    1. Victor Trumper
    2. Mathew Hayden
    3. Sir Donald Bradman (Captain)
    4. Ricky Ponting or Steve Waugh
    5. Greg Chappel in spite of his underarm decision.
    6. Keith Miller
    7. Adam Gilchrist
    8. Shane Warne
    9. Bob Massie
    10. Dennis Lillie
    11. Glenn McGrath
    12th man. Paul Sheehan as he was the best fieldsman Australia ever had.

    Maybe a few can offer their best collective nation side ever and here's mine.

    1. Gorden Greenage
    2. Sunil Gavaskar
    3. Don Bradman (Captain)
    4. Sashin Tendulka
    5. Sir Garfield Sobers
    6. Graeme Pollock
    7. Ian Botham
    8. Adam Gilchrist.
    9. Shane Warne
    10. Michael Holding
    11. Glenn McGrath
    12th man. Derek Randall as he was probably the best fieldsman ever.

    Over to you cricket buffs here.

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    The Ghost Of The Moog's Avatar
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    1) Geoffrey Boycott
    2) Jack Hobbs
    3) WG Grace
    4) Denis Compton
    5) Wally Hammond
    6) Ian Botham
    7) Alan Knott
    8) Brian Statham
    9) Fred Trueman
    10) Bob Willis
    11) Derek Underwood

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    The Ghost Of The Moog's Avatar
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    International team (from 70s vintage) - not using any of LTs.

    1) Barry Richards
    2) Glenn Turner
    3) Viv Richards
    4) Clive LLoyd
    5) Imran Khan
    6) Richard Hadlee
    7) Kapil Dev
    8) Mike Proctor
    9) Farokh Engineer
    10) Bishen Bedi
    11) Jeff Thomson

  4. #4
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    ^ A nice team there Moog and I should have selected Viv Richards in my international side but who could I drop?

    The West Indies have has some awesome players over the years and their best ever side could probably beat the best international side easily.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat
    The Ghost Of The Moog's Avatar
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    I was lucky enough to see King Viv live many times in his 'pomp' from 1976-1980.

    And I realized that - it doesn't get any better than that. Cricket since has not been of a similar standard !

    Memorably, he was once allowed to continue batting in a friendly after being caught for a duck (In a WG Grace moment)

    Drinking in a bar in Bangladesh several decades later with Gordon Greenidge, when I said where I came from, his response was 'Oh, Viv Richards-country!'

    I have a story about me being in a shower with a nude Viv Richards in 1977 that I will reserve for a Teakdoor pissup

  6. #6
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    Smug Farang Bore's Avatar
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    Mines from the back on a bad hair day

    Yours LT?






  7. #7
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    1. Gorden Greenage
    2. Sunil Gavaskar
    3. Don Bradman (Captain)
    4. Sashin Tendulka
    5. Sir Garfield Sobers
    6. Graeme Pollock
    7. Ian Botham
    8. Adam Gilchrist.
    9. Shane Warne
    10. Michael Holding
    11. Glenn McGrath
    12th man. Derek Randall as he was probably the best fieldsman ever.
    Can't argue with that apart from Richards for Tendulkar .... Richards was that good, I also saw a lot of him live as being in Glamorgan we played Somerset home and away each year.

    Never has a man's walk to the crease been worth the price of admission.... his shoulders were huge and he had a swagger like no other........

    Worst moment in cricket for me was sitting on the hill as the great man walked to the crease to the chant of "Nigger" from a section of fucking idiots.

    Greatest moment was watching IVAR bat for the West Indies against Glamorgan in Swansea. He came to the wicket and looked well out of sorts, after 17 minutes he finally got his first runs off an outside edge. He clearly thought "Fuck this, hit out or get out"..... he reached his 100 in 63 minutes.



    Watch the film Fire in Babylon about the west Indies side of the 70's and 80's great stuff.

    I still think the Australian side of the late nineties / 2000's was the greatest team ever, but no one got the hairs on the back of your nect going like the West Indies.

    Chasing 300 in a day at Lords to win by 9 wickets (Greenidge 200)....
    Michael Holdings over to Boycott at Sabina Park....
    Richards' 54 (?) ball hundred in St John's
    Richards batting in 1976, nearly 1000 runs in a 5 test series.....
    Holdings 16 wickets at the Oval in 1976....
    Collis King's whirlwind 86 in the 1979 World Cup Final.....
    Kallicharran taking on Lillie in the 1975 World Cup Semi Final.....
    Desmond Haynes' 184 at Lords....
    Andy Roberts' bouncer......

    Wonderful wonderful memories......

    England Greatest 11.....

    I found this difficult. The truth is many of our greatest individual players, if you listen to those that know, played before I was born. England's successes have generally been built on the sum of all parts and many players just don't shine in the way the list above does.....

    1 Cook
    2 Gooch
    3 Hammond
    4 Gower
    5 KP
    6 Botham
    7 Knott
    8 Bedser (A)
    9 Trueman
    10 Underwood
    11 Willis
    Last edited by Bobcock; 23-08-2013 at 02:46 PM.

  8. #8
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    Wally Dorian Raffles's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy View Post

    1. Gorden Greenage
    2. Sunil Gavaskar
    3. Don Bradman (Captain)
    4. Sashin Tendulka
    5. Sir Garfield Sobers
    6. Graeme Pollock
    7. Ian Botham
    8. Adam Gilchrist.
    9. Shane Warne
    10. Michael Holding
    11. Glenn McGrath
    12th man. Derek Randall as he was probably the best fieldsman ever.
    Pretty hard to argue with that team.

    No doubt Botham was very good, but only early in his career- in the last half of his career he was pretty average due to being fat. Jaques Kallis or Imran Khan could be other options instead of him.
    Last edited by Wally Dorian Raffles; 23-08-2013 at 10:56 PM.

  9. #9
    R.I.P.
    Wally Dorian Raffles's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock View Post
    .
    Can't argue with that apart from Richards for Tendulkar .... Richards was that good, I also saw a lot of him live as being in Glamorgan we played Somerset home and away each year.
    I only ever saw Viv on TV as a kid, but remember him being a destructive match winner.

    Agree you would have to find a place for him in an all time 11, but dropping Tendulkar is a tough call.

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    True but sides are about balance...... A small run gatherer..... Has to be Bradman......

    Richards brings better balance to the team combined with outrageous power......

    I agree Botham had some not so great moments but unlike the others his was a larger than life character with an almost unrivaled will to win......

    Kallis is a great player but there's something uninspiring about him.....

  11. #11
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles
    No doubt Botham was very good, but only early in his career- in the last half of his career he was pretty average due to being fat. Jaques Kallis or Imran Khan could be other options instead of him.
    You can add Sir Richard Hadlee into any best ever side at the expense of any player and not weaken the side.

  12. #12
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    Kallis is a great player but there's something uninspiring about him.....
    The Aussie bowlers had the wood on him for years particularly McGrath but yes certainly up their with the great all-rounders.

  13. #13
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    Wally Dorian Raffles's Avatar
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    Kallis is underrated in my opinion.

    In time , he will be regarded as an all time alrounder.

  14. #14
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    This side would be unbelievable and even against a gathering of all the best other international cricketers would be virtually unbeatable on any wicket.

    1. Gordon Greenage
    2. Desmond Haynes.
    3. Brian Lara
    4. Sir Viv Richards
    5. Sir Garfield Sobers
    6. Clive Lloyd
    7.Jeff Dujon
    8. Colin Croft
    9.Malcolm Marshall
    10 Michael Holding
    11. Lance Gibbs.


  15. #15
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    I'd have Ambrose, Garner or Roberts ahead of Croft.

    and Gibbs would be 12th Man on some wickets.

    In their prime they were a magnificent team.... have you seen Fire In Babylon?

  16. #16
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    I'd have Ambrose, Garner or Roberts ahead of Croft.
    Croft was a great bowler on any wicket and a fantastic batsman. Anyway with Marshall and Holding in your side Croft would not have to do much bowling.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    and Gibbs would be 12th Man on some wickets.
    I cannot think of a better spinner although Lloyd and Richards were not bad bowlers.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock
    have you seen Fire In Babylon?
    No, I have not and I will have to take the time to watch it. The West Indian side around the 70's and 80's were a pleasure to watch either batting, bowling or fielding.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    Croft was a great bowler on any wicket and a fantastic batsman.
    Fantastic batsman???..... He only scored 158 runs in test cricket...... Only took 120+ wickets

    Roberts was a pretty good batsman couple of 50's in Tests and over 200 wickets.

    Ambrose though took over 400 test wickets and on his day is certainly in the debate for best West Indies quick bowler ever. (For me he is second to Holding)

    Garner brough something different, that incredible height and accuracy...... He would certainly be in my best One Day side if I gave a hoot.

    For me Croft was always the lesser of the big quartet and well behind Ambrose and even Courtney Walsh.

    Croft ended up as a pilot and then a commentator....

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    Gibbs is definately the premier West Indian spinner ever, without going back to people I could bever have seen like Ramadhin and Valentine.

    But on a wicket that doesn't take spin the best WI 11 of all time would be this:

    1. Gordon Greenage
    2. Desmond Haynes.
    3. Sir Viv Richards
    4. Brian Lara
    5. Sir Garfield Sobers
    6. Clive Lloyd
    7. Jeff Dujon
    8. Malcolm Marshall
    9. Anderson Roberts
    10. Curtley Ambrose
    11. Michael Holding

    12th Man: Lance Gibbs

    I'd have Richards at 3 (where he batted in his prime) rather than Lara although that can be interchangable depending on the match situation......

  19. #19
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    Little Chuchok's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock View Post
    Gibbs is definately the premier West Indian spinner ever, without going back to people I could bever have seen like Ramadhin and Valentine.

    But on a wicket that doesn't take spin the best WI 11 of all time would be this:

    1. Gordon Greenage
    2. Desmond Haynes.
    3. Sir Viv Richards
    4. Brian Lara
    5. Sir Garfield Sobers
    6. Clive Lloyd
    7. Jeff Dujon
    8. Malcolm Marshall
    9. Anderson Roberts
    10. Curtley Ambrose
    11. Michael Holding

    12th Man: Lance Gibbs

    I'd have Richards at 3 (where he batted in his prime) rather than Lara although that can be interchangable depending on the match situation......
    how can you leave out Garner?

  20. #20
    5 4 Knoll
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    Smile Let's Knott forget the Maiden over

    Elle Mcphersn has good sides too


  21. #21
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Little Chuchok View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Bobcock View Post
    Gibbs is definately the premier West Indian spinner ever, without going back to people I could bever have seen like Ramadhin and Valentine.

    But on a wicket that doesn't take spin the best WI 11 of all time would be this:

    1. Gordon Greenage
    2. Desmond Haynes.
    3. Sir Viv Richards
    4. Brian Lara
    5. Sir Garfield Sobers
    6. Clive Lloyd
    7. Jeff Dujon
    8. Malcolm Marshall
    9. Anderson Roberts
    10. Curtley Ambrose
    11. Michael Holding

    12th Man: Lance Gibbs

    I'd have Richards at 3 (where he batted in his prime) rather than Lara although that can be interchangable depending on the match situation......
    how can you leave out Garner?
    With great difficulty, but Ambrose had the same great height combined with express pace, but Garner was fantastic that cannot be denied.

  22. #22
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    Little Chuchok's Avatar
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    Garner had a better average than all of them,,,ithink?

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat Bobcock's Avatar
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    Wouldn't be suprised if he did....I'll have a look in a minute, I know Ambrose was less than 21

  24. #24
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    You could name a second West Indian side that could beat the first team on it's day.

    Bowlers who Bob and Chucok mentioned above including players like Rohan Kanhai, Farrok Engineer, Frank Worrell, Larry Gomes, Alvin Kalicharran, Frank Walcott, Eventon Weekes, George Headly, Wesley Hall and Conrad Hunte just to name a few.

    Far and away the most entertaining cricketers to watch.
    Last edited by Loy Toy; 27-08-2013 at 05:28 PM.

  25. #25
    In Uranus
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    I have no clue what you wankers are on about. I was going to say bacon. Anyway carry on and enjoy the thread about what ever sport this is...

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