Favourites team

First topic message reminder :

Ok the rules are simple. Choose a team of your favourite cricketers, past and present. You can only have a maximum of 3 players from one particular nation. They don´t have to be the best players although often we are drawn to a player by their brilliance. But try to choose players who you have genuinely enjoyed watching over the years.

David Boon - Any guy that can knock back so many beers on a long-haul flight is a legend. But this guy was not your typical looking cricketer. Almost as wide as he was tall, with a moustache as big as a set of chopper handlebars, this guy knew how to score runs. Fielded often at silly mid-off because he would be otherwise swallowed up by the field further out. A real character.

Gordon Greenidge - A vital cog in the West Indies team. Such a composed player with a wide array of shots. His off-breaks could be useful on the low and slow pitches as well.

Virender Sehwag - Another opener that was able to lift his side by creating a reliable opening partnership. Capable of getting the side off to a flying start as well as a reliable start made him great to watch for me.

Martin Crowe - Not many NZ greats but this was a guy who looked comfortable batting and made it look simple. Such an elegant driver of the ball but capable of the big shots when needed.

Inzaman ul Haq - Not in the greatest physical shape but such a timer of the ball. Capable of devastating power hitting and preferred hitting boundaries because he didn´t have to run.

Adam Gilchrist - A wicketkeeper batsman or a batsman who could keep. It doesn´t matter. I just loved watching this guy bat.

Shahid Afridi - Give him the ball and he could do some damage with his spin. But give him the bat and he could win you the game all by himself. I always have a soft spot for the guys with a high strike rate as when they were on song you got a highlights package delivered to you whilst watching them live.

Viv Richards - He was the personification of cool. He was the Marvin Gaye of cricket. He just oozed class and he didn´t mind letting you know about it. No helmet for this guy. He was too cool for school for such naff things. My favourite player of all time.

Richard Hadlee - Paddles wasn´t exactly the best all-rounder because his batting was more a useful tail-ender who could get you a few more important runs unlike genuine all-rounders like Flintoff who opened the bowling and batted high up. But watching this guy bowl and that sily smooth action was a beautiful thing.

Wasim Akram Could´ve gone for the West Indies greats like Garner, Holding and later on Walsh and Ambrose. Watching them in the outfield was pure comedy as they let countless runs slip through their half-token efforts to field. It was like putting giraffes in the outfield. But get them bowling and the ball pitching on a good length but coming up at your throat with pace and they were a beauty. Could´ve gone for characters like Merv Hughes or Shane Warne that were cult figures. But as you can see I like my all-rounders. This guy could bowl at pretty much the same pace off a short run up as he could a long one.

Ewen Chatfield This guy had no natural talent. He worked hard for his money. He was a grafter. He put the ball on a spot because he couldn´t do anything special with it. He couldn´t bat and watching him bat was usually through my fingers. I didn´t want to look. But he was a firm favourite of mine simply because he was completely lacking in natural talent but he always gave his all and did his country proud.

So a team that would probably get hammered by a more even side but I´d certainly love to watch them. Sorry for the lack of representation from England or SA or Sri Lanka. Could easily make another with Murali, Flintoff, Jacques Kallis for instance. But only 11 players and I just loved watching the guys in my list.

Here´s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVL4210_FsY

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Here´s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVL4210_FsY

Thanks for the link.

Although it was from a no hope position, that innings was one of the most aggresive innings i have ever seen, and one i will always remember.

I was at the ground (Christchurch is my hometown) and it was a rollercoaster day. From a position of no hope, we firmly believed by the end of the day we thought we could´ve won. Then again, we did drink an awful lot. We played drinking games with every time he hit a boundary! One word: messy.

skyeman wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Here´s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVL4210_FsY

Thanks for the link.

Although it was from a no hope position, that innings was one of the most aggresive innings i have ever seen, and one i will always remember.

I was in the stands for Astle's 222. Early on in the day we started singing (Kiwis don't normally sing at sports events, but it was part of a mate's stag do) "100 more 4s to go" (in time to "10 green bottles"). When we got down below 50 the Barmy Army fans around us were looking a bit green, but to their credit they joined in. I played for the same club in Christchurch as Astle (East Christchurch-Shirley - note that the only times I ever made the senior team were when he was away on 1st class or international duty) and when bowling to him in the nets you spent a fair amount of time retrieving the ball.

Edit, just read Kia's post, which stand were you in mate?

No way Kiwi! I was in the east stand. Later that night I saw him at the casino with the other players and wags. Astle looked like in a gambling mode.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:No way Kiwi! I was in the east stand. Later that night I saw him at the casino with the other players and wags. Astle looked like in a gambling mode.

It was a workmate's stag do, and work had gotten some free tickets off a supplier so we were in the DB Draught (South) stand. We wound up having half a dozen barmy army members join the rest of the stag do. We didn't go anywhere nearly as refined as the Casino though

Well you were at the right end of the ground. I wouldn´t call the casino refined. I worked there so got tickets through that.

It´s been so long, I only recall the Hadlee Stand. Can´t remember what the other stands were. I remember boot parties at the Super Rugby were in the east stand too and they were good fun.

Mark Greatbatch was another Kiwi pinch hitter. Some of his opening in the 92 World Cup were awesome. Not surprising how many pinch hitters we have. We never have had many technically gifted batsman. Good entertainment though. I guess that´s why we always punch above our weight in the one day form but are so awful in the test matches.

skyeman wrote:Matthew Hayden
Sanath Jayasuriya
Richie Richardson
Kevin Pietersen
Viv Richards
Ian Botham
Adam Gilchrist
Andrew Flintoff
Shane Warne
Malcolm Marshall
Wasim Akram

I could make several lists of players i have enjoyed to watch since i started to do so in 1981.
But the above i would certainly pay to watch.

I guess after reading some of the posts, that most people like to watch the big hitting/impact players for their in a flash game changing ways.
My own list is full of them. Although equally as important, i would much rather watch a KP century than one from Trott.

Mike Selig wrote:

Alan Knott: Only seen highlights. If we have to restrict this to players we've seen live I'd have to do without a keeper. Maybe M Waugh could make a stab at it. Knott was worth the entry fee for his wicket-keeping. Not to mention his unconventional but effective batting. But really a genius with the gloves. His keeping to Underwood for both club and country is probably the best that's ever been. And people say Taylor was better! I'm only sorry I haven't seen much of Taylor.

Mike - Knott is a super choice. I saw him a lot and he was truly excellent. So tidy, so professional. The same could be said of Taylor but he lacked Knott's bubbly personality (which is probably relevant to a list of favourites) and wasn't nearly as talented nor as innovative with the bat. In my view, Knott would also have excelled in t20.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

Derek Underwood-Something about the way he bowled. He was like a cross between an accountant and an assassin. Businesslike, thourough, inconspicuous, deadly.

Hoggy - wonderful, even by your usual high standards.

Cook- I've just always liked him.
Sehwag- I enjoy watching him go after bowlers right from the start.
Sangakkara- Very stylish player to watch.
Umar Akmal-the green boots during one days, and the green lipstick-style stuff is part of the reason, he always seems to be enjoying cricket.
Kieron Pollard- His ability to change a game in an instant is exciting
Shakib-I remember first seeing him and I couldn't believe how they made someone so young their captain. I always want him to do well
Geraint Jones- I've been a fan since the 2005 Ashes. He seems like a nice chap as well.
Jimmy Anderson- swings the ball so well, especially in England, one of the most enjoyable swing bowlers to watch.
Malinga- Always has a smile on his face and is immensely talented.
Muralitharan- His skill and passion for the game were always good to watch.
Ajmal- Big fan of his variation.

I was tempted to put in Amir because his play in that series in England mesmerised me but the other stuff has tainted my enjoyment of his cricket.

Kia - my team of favourites.

I've gone for some big names from the past (I started following the game seriously in 1970) but also one or two who are much less known. I like talent, character, team play, determination, eccentricity, quirkyness, humour and the feeling of ''what if''. My team tries to capture all that and also give a rest to stars like Alan Knott and Viv Richards who are already at least double booked in other people's teams.

I've followed your rules for my XI - no more than 3 from any conuntry. They are not all test players but that wasn't a requirement. I've seen most at English grounds and all the rest on tv.

1. Barry Richards. South African and World great cheated out of a test career by the cruelty of apartheid.

2. Andy Moles - you probably know him, Kia, through his coaching work in New Zealand but he was a stalwart of the county game at Warks. Always liked his grub - in one game upon reaching his century a can of coke and a ham sandwich were brought out for him which he immediately consumed! However, there was a cricket brain on top of his large frame. I remember the ball flying to him at slip and starting to escape from his hands. Rather than snatch at it and probably spill the chance as most would have done, he instead scooped the ball high up in the air so it could easily be caught by a team mate. Typically calm and clever presence of mind from an under rated player.

3. Rohan Kanhai. The first World great number 3 that I ever saw.

4. Clive Lloyd. Remembered now - rightly and understandably - as the captain of the world's greatest ever team. However, before captaincy and knee trouble he was a dashing batsman and stunning cover fielder. Known then as Super Cat which is how I like to think of him rather than an elder statesman of the West Indies.

5. Graeme Pollock. Only saw him a little on tv but glimpsed enough to appreciate why so many rate rate him so very highly. Managed to play more test cricket than Richards but still lost out due to the apartheid ban.

6. Gary Sobers. No comment necessary.

7. Ken Wadsworth. A fine wicket keeper and selfless batsman for New Zealand in the early 1970s who tragically died from skin cancer at the age of just twenty-nine. It would be so good not to only witness him don the keeper's gloves once more but to give him the opportunity to do so.

8. Freddie Titmus. England slow bowler who played county cricket in five decades of the 20th century (the 1940s, '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s). His final game was absolutely bizarre. He had retired a year or two before and just popped into the Middlesex changing room to scrounge a cup of tea and wish his old colleagues well for a vital championship match. Brearley, the Middlesex skipper, saw him and with a flash of inspiration said, ''Fred, this wicket will suit you. Get changed, you're playing.'' He borrowed a pair of cricket whites and played taking a handful of wickets. Also overcame great physical handicap when losing several toes in an horrific boating accident on tour mid career. A top man.

9. Brett Lee. Already covered by Mad for Chelsea. He won't mind two games. Always played the game the right way - with steely determination but also a smile.

10. Andre Nel. A volatile character never more than a few minutes away from an explosion but that was part of the fun. To his credit, always gave everything and was the opposite of the 'money taking, can't really be bothered' perception of so many Kolpaks.

11. Tim Linley, as mentioned lunchtime. If efforts were wickets, the Viscount would get a fivefer every time - and almost did last season.

12th man: Malcolm Nash. The ying to Sobers' yang. Every crowd needs someone to have a bit of banter with and what greater favourite than poor old Malcolm!

Cracking article - stay with us!

Excellent call on Andre Nel. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Andre play. Bowled with real Purpose and aggression, but mostly in the right spirit. Getting in the batsmans face was part of his game and everyone accepted that.

Always had good interaction with the fans too, taking everything in good humour and really playing up to it.

Full value for money and a very decent bowler, too, on his day.

Nice list guilfordbat. Andy Moles didn´t last long in the job with NZ. We reached the finals of the Champions Trophy with him but didn´t win a single test. Not much of a surprise though! Like your explanations particularly Nel.

Cheers, Kia. Did you know of Wadsworth? Very sad.

Nel was always worth the admission money.

No didn´t know about Wadsworth. Know someone who died from melanoma though at a similar age so it is indeed a tragic story.

great article kia

stick around on the cricket section mate

I'm going to cheat a bit and "borrow" the rugby thread's idea of doing a favourite team from my country, and a favourite rest of the world side. And it's only people I've seen play, or Wadsworth would have made the NZ side.

My NZ team
Mark Richardson - the man had so many careers. Started out as a left arm spinner good enough to play u19 cricket for NZ, then after getting the "yips" reinvented himself as an attacking middle order batsman. Once he realised he wasn't going to get into the NZ middle order he cut out most of his strokes (only retaining "safe" ones) and became a doughty opener, just what NZ needed.

John Wright - long time dry-witted servant of the game in NZ, and Christmas in Rarotonga is one of my favourite cricket autobiographies

Andrew Jones - not pretty to watch, but very effective.

Martin Crowe - as a kiwi kid in the 80s you wanted a Duncan Fearnley bat because he used one. I was gutted when he switched to Gunn & Moore.

Nathan Astle - batted #9 in his 1st season of 50 over cricket for Canterbury (Stephen Fleming was #7 behind Chris Harris and Chris Cairns), like Jayasuriya flourished once promoted to open.

Chris Harris - carved out his own niche as a finisher in ODIs, and very effective ODI bowler and superb fielder. Such a shame he failed as a test batsman, at one stage he averaged 20 in tests and 50 in 1st class cricket.

Daniel Vettori - proof that you can wear glasses and be a great cricketer

Ian Smith - best keeper in the world in his prime, and in the early 90s no-one else was playing cut shots for 6 over backward point

Richard Hadlee (just so I can brag about facing him in a club match without being dismised ). His demolition job (33 wickets in 3 tests) in Australia marked the nadir of the Aussie game and paved the way for their great era.

Lance Cairns - nowhere near as good as his son, but from my home province of Marlborough. Getting to play on Nelson Square in Picton where he learnt the game (and used to hit sixes that landed over the road from the ground) was a highlight of my youth. Back in 1983 when he hit those 6 sixes at the MCG it was an impressive feat.

Geoff Allot - a career blighted by back trouble but he managed to finish equal top wicket taker at the 1999 world cup (with Shane Warne who played 1 more match), and holds the record for the longest duck (101 minutes to save a test).

Doh, no room for Shane Bond

ROW team to follow.

ROW;

Romesh Kaluwitharana
Gordon Greenidge
David Boon
Aravinda da Silva
Viv Richards
Jonti Rhodes
Brett Lee
Curtly Ambrose
Shane Warne
Allan Donald
Murali

England

Gooch - Dedicated and and played the best innings ever seen (by me) by an Englishman.

Atherton - He shall not pass and that includes you Donald.

Vaughan - Classy and won back the ashes.

Hick - A great talent but lacked mental strength, it seemed. Still, loved watching him bat.

Gower - Another classy but occasionaly lazy player. A well known pilot as well.

Stewart - Great team man and a very good player to watch.

Botham - Legend.

Flintoff - Exciting and on his day the best allrounder of his era.

Gough - Ran in with heart and like Flintoff was one of the lads.

Tufnell - Mr cool. Very good spinner and spliffer

Fraser - Always looked kankered but never stopped. A fine bowler.

That's a great team Stella and a great summing-up particularly of Atherton and Fraser. Big Gus always looked weary even before he'd bowled a ball!

My Aus side:

Slater - already covered.

Hayden - at his best he took the game away from you in an hour or two.

Ponting - another who's worth the admission fee for his fielding, probably the greatest sense of anticipation I've ever seen. His run-out of Prior in the endless x match series after the '09 ashes was a fantastic piece of skill, and one of only a handful of run-outs where I don't believe either batsmen had done anything wrong. Can field anywhere: infield, slips, silly-point, outfield, you name it he's done it. As for the batting, it's mostly been covered. One of the very few who managed to combine natural flair and determination. Highlights are undoubtedly his "back-foot" (in inverted commas as he never actually puts his weight on the back-foot) play and straight driving.

M. Waugh - as covered above.

S. McCabe - my concession to someone I never saw play, but boy would I have liked too. Anyone who gets the Don saying "I wish I could play like that" surely deserves a mention.

D. Martyn - as covered above.

I. Healy - yes I know, not Gilchrist! But you know Healy's keeping to Warne was special, very special. And his batting was entertaining as well.

S. Warne - no further comment required.

R. Benaud - I concede another player I never saw live. One of the game's great thinkers, he would captain my side (possibly in tandem with Warne), ensuring never a dull moment in the field. Also a true gentleman.

B. Lee - fiercely competitive with a smile.

M. Johnson - I know I've left out McGrath. But you know this is about players you want to watch, and McGrath, great bowler though he was, and terrific man though he is, wasn't always the most entertaining. Johnson on the other hand bowls fast if erratically, smacks the ball (but plays proper cricket shots) and is a great athlete in the field. What's not to like?

My favourites team.

I'll start off with Hayden and Sehwag as an opening pair, whether ODI or test, it these two get away you will find yourself facing an opening partnership of 250/0 at tea time.

Just to slow things down a little and get a calmness on the pitch I would have Ponting and Kallis be the backbone of my middle order. Ponting for the way he can dominate an attack and Kallis for his technique and focus. Both players can execute any shot well and with the two of them would would see record partnerships as regular as a trip to the fridge to get another cold one.

I would have Lara as my fifth batsman just for pure class.

Dravid, I have just always liked the man.

Gilchrest as my wicket keeper simply becuase he is a charachter and plays some exquisite shots.

My bowlers will be mainly South Africans with Muralitharan as my spinner. I loved watching him bowl, as it was slightly unorthodox.

Donald, well there is not much to say, someone mentioned earlier the match when he bowled at England in 1998, cant remember the name of the englishman now, ut I am sure you all know who I am talking about. It still sticks in my memory as the best piece of fast bowling I have ever seen.

Steyn, i have seen him take a team apart in but a few overs.

Fanie de villiers, who can forget him in Australia, was it 1994. We won by seven runs and it was all up to him. He even overshadowed Donald that day. Great personality.

Overall I have to say there is something about watching a classy batsman wield the willow. but it is much more entertaining to watch tailenders bat.

My favourite tail enders to watch was Gogga and Ntini.

Hard as any of these "All time teams" ... bit more freedom to choose as it relates to favourites but who to leave out? Ah well , here goes:

1 Marcus Trescothick - for similar reasons to many other posters , great to watch his whole-hearted assault on the bowling right from the off. Fine slipper too , and I'll need them with my bowlers...which also applies to
2 Mark Taylor - not a famous strokeplayer but an excellent accumulator and an absolute genius as Captain , the role he has in my team. Always likely to come up with something when things went quiet. (Only Brearly matches him and I am sure Mike would admit Taylor was much the better player, besides I have other Englishmen in my three)
3 Graeme Pollock - if you can use the word "tragedy" about something so non-essential as sport, the destruction of this man's Test career as a by-product of the (very necessary) battle against apartheid would be one that qualifies. Possibly the best batsman I ever saw...but we didn't have long enough to find out.
4 Zaheer Abbas - Pakistan has produced many graceful batsmen, but none more so than this tall bespectacled master.
5 Viv Richards - A contrast in styles here! But what a player to watch. Hope he'll forgive me for batting him down at 5
6 Ian Botham - There have been better all rounders according to figures. But did any of them change so many matches single-handed , and do it with such flair? OK maybe my English bias shows but I'd watch him over all the others (even Sobers , though I can hardly believe I said that)
7 Alan Knott - supreme keeper-batsman as opposed to batsman-keeper. And such a character. I have to have him in, and he'll enjoy keeping to :
8 Shane Warne - What is left to say about him? Arguably the best spinner ever , fantastic personality, never dull ...and Liz Hurley will come to watch as a bonus
9 Richard Hadlee - Greatest Kiwi cricketer ever? Surely close. I just loved watching what he could do with a cricket ball , the way he would work over a batsman. Sorry to Sir Ian , but he will be sharing the new ball with:
10 Dennis Lillee - McGrath may have surpassed his figures , but the sight of Lillee pounding in , monstering the hapless batsman, glaring at the unfortunate umpire who dared turn down an appeal or just walking back to his adoring fans at long leg smiling over the famous moustache...and the chant of Lillee - Lillee - shaking the MCG...unforgettable.
11. (Where else?) Bhagwat Chandrasekhar was perhaps the worst batsman ever to play Test cricket - he made 167 runs in all (God knows how!) to his 242 wickets - but a terrific bowler. A leggie , but the most unorthodox even of that strange breed: he bowled an astonishing mix of deliveries at near medium pace with his withered right arm, the result of childhood polio. One of the fabulous 4 with Bedi, Venkat and Prasanna , but he was always the one I most enjoyed watching.

This team will win a lot of matches I'm sure , but I'm even surer it will be entertaining...

Alfie - like your team a lot.

Whilst you've obviously gone for high quality (apart from Chandra's batting ), you've also chosen real characters of the game.

Would I be right in thinking that - like me - you started watching and following the game in the early '70s? Another player from that era who would belong well in your team is Mike Procter although I don't know where you would squeeze him in!

Would be good to see you even more on the cricket boards. Best, Guildford

No mentions of Merv Hughes yet? He would definitely make my favourites XI. A great character, an over-achiever given that he wasn't the most naturally athletic, his incredibly slow 'run' up, and that bit of spice for the opposition.

Not to mention the Aussie fans imitating his warm-ups. A real character. I went for Boon but Merv´s moustache was even bigger along with his heart.

There is a video on Youtube where Warney imitates Merv.

He does a pretty good job as well.

Alec Stewart
Chris Gayle
Sachin Tendulkar
Steve Waugh
Brian Lara
AB De Villiers
Andrew Flintoff
Shane Warne
Wasim Akraim
Glen Mcgrath
Malcom Marshall

good side tiger

It is indeed a good side.

One thing I find interesting is that there seem to be a lot of recurring players from the same countries. I can understand the appeal of WI players. The Calypso kings were rock stars of the game. But a lot have gone for players no stranger to controversy. Wasim Akram or a few Australian players. These are often larger than life characters. Such masters of the game that we´re willing to forgive their flaws. Not much room for the straight or honest guy or the toilers. Sure the odd one like Fraser or Chatfield but often the all-rounder with a special skill and a larger than life personality sticks in the mind.

Not many CricketBoks either. And yet it´d be very easy to pick an entire Bok team of favourites when pressed.

Thanks,

To be honest i was thinking of a few Boks, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollack, Alan Donald, but decided to put them in my second team.
Your point about toilers is an intresting one, Would Alec Stewert have been such a success without Atherton at the other end? In my opinion most of the flashier type players need a good toiler who was prepared to dig in, so they can play there shots, otherwise you nulify there natural game a bit, for every Kevin Pietersen you need a Paul Collingwood who will dig in, stick around and score a few runs, while not throwing there wicket away easily.

tigerrobins wrote:
.... In my opinion most of the flashier type players need a good toiler who was prepared to dig in, so they can play there shots, otherwise you nulify there natural game a bit, for every Kevin Pietersen you need a Paul Collingwood who will dig in, stick around and score a few runs, while not throwing there wicket away easily.

Tiger - agree in the strongest possible terms. A player I've mentioned quite a bit lately is Larry Gomes, largely and shamefully forgotten today. Don't know how far you go back, Tiger, but he was the straightman to the West Indian batting entertainers of the 1980s. He wasn't anywhere near as naturally talented or dashing as the likes of Greenidge, Haynes, Richards and Lloyd. However, on the few occasions that those superstars failed he could normally be relied upon to dig in and get his side out of trouble. Not ''a great'' but an immensely valuable player for a truly great team which was perhaps even more important.

I don't really remember him Guilford, but that is because we are brought up to remember the greats like Richards etc, but not why or who helped them become great.
The one i always liked was Neil Fairbrother, just came in, no matter what the situation and you new that it was going to be a b****** to get him out, before you new it he was in his 30's. I once saw an innings where he got over 100, while only hitting 3/4 fours, all the rest was 1's or 2's with the odd 3, he batted most of the afternoon.
Sometimes that type of innings is as enjoyable or intresting as a swashbuckling one.

It´s true we often think of the amazing innings. But there´s invariably a guy feeding the strike and invariably that guy does well too because the pressure is off. He just has to rotate the strike and that´s not as mentally challenging as making a play and going for boundaries or taking on an attack. Yet these accumulators are never really revered.

Mark Richardson was the slowest outfielder I have ever witnessed. Originally he was in the side for his bowling which was not much better than what I could conjure up. He was originally a tail-end batsman who reinvented himself and became an opener. His average is way better than some of his flashier team mates. In NZ we have the perennial problem of entertainment over substance. A big six, a couple of boundaries, my my it´s getting warm out here I need a beer and hole out to square leg or long on. Got your highlight footage, showed your bat for the sponsors and a quick kick at the ground to make it look as though your wicket meant anything and then off to count your money and have a few quiets with the lads.

My favourite NZ team, being a member of the ‘I grew up in the 80’s/90’s club’ would be:

1 Mark Richardson
2 John Wright

A snail’s pace start, but by god did they put a price on their wicket

3 Andrew Jones
4 Martin Crowe
5 Stephen Fleming

Streetfighting, then elegance

6 Chris Cairns
7 Brendan McCullum
8 Daniel Vettori

All good with the bat and two of NZ’s finest all rounders

9 Sir Richard Hadlee
10 Shane Bond
11 Chris Pringle

Pace, accuracy and a killer slower ball in that trio

And, a much-maligned XI:

1 Blair Hartland – the depths of despair everytime this bloke batted
2 Bryan Young – scored a double ton v sri lanka but not much else (doubles as WK – see 1990)
3 Peter Fulton – scored a triple ton in domestic palay but never stood up (didn’t need to stand up at his height really)
4 Roger Twose – actually liked Twosey who was once the best ODI batter in the world but never cut the Test Match mustard and need a 4 from somewhere
5 Ken Rutherford – a better racing pundit than NZ captain, though times were tough in the mid 90’s
6 Shane Thompson – won a game v Pakistan with a century, started as a medium pacer but then grew his hair and girth to become a w*nk offspinner (became a hell’s angels enthusiast I am told?)
7 Grant Bradburn -uggh
8 Dipak Patel – the artist of nude off spin
9 Dion Nash – could have been so much better if he didn’t fall away everytime he bowled
10 Richard Petrie – played better for Wellington than NZ, became a folk hero in the capital team of the 90’s (and rumour has it accountant for the mongrel mob?)
11 Robert Kennedy – dragged his toes all the way to the crease, beautiful

Favourite Rest of World XI

1 Navjot Sidhu – only in India can a cricketer get off a charge of murdering a taxi driver. Also accumulated heavily in the third man region
2 Romesh Kaluwitharana – saw him get converted from lower middle order to open the one day innings for SL in the world series down under. He just went after the bowlers
3 Richie Richardson – am juggling my middle order but he never wore a helmet to bat. Fearless and coolness personified
4 Ricky Ponting – awesome batsmen
5 Sachin Tendulkar – can’t believe he’s been around 20 years and still remember his double against Australia in Sydney 20 yrs ago
6 Viv Richards – the Master Blaster
7 Adam Gilchrist – simply an unbelievable batsmen and keeper
8 Ian Botham – opened the batting in 3rd ODI v NZ in 92, hit 70-odd….amazing bowler/batsmen
9 Shane Warne – as much as perople go on about the Gatting ball, I’ll never forget him bowling Basit Ali in 1995 through his legs on the last ball of the day
10 Curtley Ambrose – fearsomely fast and as cool as Richardson
11 Glen McGrath – the most accurate bowler since Hadlee

Haven't seen his name mentioned but Dwayne Leverock would be a shoe-in for me, his catch in the '07 WC is one of my favourite cricket moments, especially the slomo of the celebration.

Barry Richards - Every Sunday when I started watching cricket the Beeb would show a JPL match (40 overs). Richards was the superstar.

Graham Gooch - For one season i copied that exagerrated back lift.

Michael Vaughan - I could watch his cover drive all day.

Rahul Dravid - an all round good bloke.

Viv Richards - plonking his leg down outside off and lifting the ball over mid-wicket. Taking the urine out of Geoff Boycott and turning his cap round backwards to bowl.

Darren Lehman - A legend in Yorkshire.

Shahid Afridi - a poser supreme, but he is an entertainer - in the side as a bowler who can bat a bit.

Lance Cairns - first test cricketer I ever played against. He used to come to our school every year as part of an Old Boys all star team. He would scratch his arse, tell some jokes, have a sneaky fag and hit some sixes. He could bowl as well.

Jack Russell - the battered hat, the tins of baked beans, the silly tache and the paranoia

Joel Garner - the best fast bowler I ever saw.

Me - i want to play with these guys.

haha i think we all would want to be alongside them.