ICC Dream Test Team: A mockery of selection or a fan-driven fun?

ICC News: ICC dream Test team includes ‘just’ four Indians and as many Australians

To celebrate the 2000th Test match, to be played between England and India on July 21 at Lords, cricket enthusiasts from all over the world were asked to select the greatest Test Eleven of all times on the ICC’s official website. The ICC had short-listed 60 players for the fans to choose from. The method was criticized as there was no provision to account for variables like population, spamming, and bias etc.

As majority of the votes, expectedly, came from India, there was always a possibility that Indian players would dominate the list. Although almost all the players short-listed could easily find their place into any all-time Eleven, selecting four Indians clearly shows what the majority of Indian voters think.

The 60 players were divided into five categories; the fans were asked to select two opening batsmen, three middle-order batsmen, an all-rounder, a wicketkeeper, three fast bowlers and one spinner.

The Openers:-

Short-listed - Geoffrey Boycott, Herbert Sutcliffe, Len Hutton, Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Jack Hobbs, Hanif Mohammad, Victor Trumper

Selected - Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag

Explosive entertainer Virender Sehwag and ‘Little Master’ Sunil Gavaskar were nominated through the fan’s poll. Although few can doubt Gavaskar, presence of Sehwag raises serious eyebrows. Sehwag is a master-blaster and a match-winner, but he is in no way better than Herbert Sutcliffe, Gordon Greenidge, Jack Hobbs or Len Hutton. Or is he?

On a sheer entertainment value he is up there with the best, but Greenidge’s all-round ability against fast bowlers and spinners alike gives him a comfortable edge. Run machines like Hobbs and Hutton had scored their runs in a different era on mostly uncovered pitches, but Indian fans obviously have not seen them. Hanif Mohammad and Geoffrey Boycott look boring to death in front of Sehwag, but on batting skills for a Test match you can bet your life on them.

The man who bravely stood firm against the ‘Fearsome Four’ of the mighty West Indies, Gavaskar, has been duly obliged by his appreciative countrymen.

My Choices - Sunil Gavaskar, Herbert Sutcliffe

Middle-order Batsmen:-

Short-listed – Don Bradman, Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Greg Chappell, George Headley, Brian Lara, Graeme Pollock, Javed Miandad, Ricky Ponting, Wally Hammond

Selected - Sir Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara

We had many greats of every era to choose from. But the fans selected Tendulkar, Brian Lara and the Don. It clearly shows people went for charisma rather than mettle.

There is no argument as far as the Don is concerned. Regarding Tendulkar, although many pundits and greats of the past would push the case for Richards, Pollock and Hammond ahead of him, I personally can not think beyond him. The man whose career has lasted one-third of a life time, the icon and inspiration for a billion and a half on earth, and the ultimate record-setter forces an automatic place in any all-time eleven.

Selection of Brian Lara, the ‘Prince’ ahead of Viv Richards the ‘King’ is mind-boggling. Richards blasted when no one dared, he killed the bowlers no matter what the situation was, and he was never intimidated by any thing or any one on a cricket field. The first real master-blaster fits nicely and seriously in the dream team.

Wally Hammond averaged a healthy 58 in Tests and outscored Bradman on many occasions only to find his name absent from the dream team. Ricky Ponting who took Australia to new heights does not find any favor. Perhaps he may find a place in an all-time Australian eleven if he manages to beat Greg Chappell. The tall, graceful yet destructive ‘Little Dog’ Graeme Pollock averaged more than any one in the shortlist except Bradman yet he misses out.

The Black Bradman, George Headley needs a special mention but perhaps his career was too short to merit a selection ahead of those who were selected. Javed Miandad, the street fighter may have won Pakistan many a match single-handedly, but in the world of statistics and charisma he falls behind. Only a purist would dare to select him ahead of more illustrious names.

My Choices - Don Bradman, Tendulkar, Viv Richards


All-rounders:-

Short-listed - Gary Sobers, Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Aubrey Faulkner, Keith Miller, Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev, Wilfred Rhodes, Frank Worrell, Jacques Kallis

Selected - Kapil Dev

Only few people doubt about the greatest all-rounder the world of cricket has seen. Sir Garfield Sobers was a man who took the world by storm after breaking Len Hutton’s record score of 364. He never looked back as his destructive batting as well as his effective fast-medium bowling made him the uncontested ruler of the cricket pitch. Ask any cricket pundit, the second man he will select in a world eleven, after Bradman, will be Gary Sobers. Kapil ahead of him is a joke.

Imran Khan, as they say the name in itself is enough. The Pathan of Pakistan, the captain maverick and the first true cricket celebrity at par with film stars and princes, lifted a struggling Pakistani team from rubbles and took it to the summit of cricket. He challenged the mighty West Indies, and conquered England and India at home leading his team by example. In the last 10 years of his career, at the helm, he averaged more than 50 with the bat and less than 21 with the ball; a feat great Sobers would struggle to match. Kapil ahead of him? You must be kidding.

Ian Botham made England a fighting unit with his explosive batting and incisive bowling. Richard Hadlee made New Zealand believe that they can beat the best. With all due respect to his greatness and impact on Indian cricket, Kapil Dev, who was worst of the four all-rounders around, must be thankful to his patriotic fans for being selected.

Frank Worrell, Jacques Kallis and Keith Miller are good enough to feel missed out. If one is inclined to sheer stats and batting prowess, Kallis may get selected. On the other hand Imran would be the choice if you need a perfect balance in the team. But my choice is Sobers, as being a left hander in the team he adds an extra dimension apart from his match-winning ability.

My choice - Gary Sobers

Wicket Keeper:-

Short-listed - Wasim Bari, Jeff Dujon, Mark Boucher, Rod Marsh, Godfrey Evans, Clyde Walcott, Andy Flower, Adam Gilchrist, Allen Knott, Les Ames

Selected - Adam Gilchrist

My choice - Adam Gilchrist

Although Mark Boucher, Jeff Dujon, Alan Knott and Rod Marsh had their moments, but the man who revolutionized the role of keepers in Tests stands alone, probably uncontested.

Fast Bowlers:-

Short-listed - Glenn McGrath, Fred Trueman, Curtley Ambrose, Sydney Barnes, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Malcolm Marshall, Wasim Akram

Selected - Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose

The bowlers of the recent past probably make the cut as they had batting friendly tracks to bowl on. In this regard McGrath, the two Ws, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock (All three bafflingly not short-listed) and Ambrose made remarkable impact.

Malcolm Marshall’s ability to destroy batting line-ups on even the dead pitches of subcontinent makes him an undoubted choice for those who have seen him instilling fear of life in batsmen. Although Glenn McGrath made life difficult for batsmen by his nagging line and length, Ambrose went a mile further by doing the same but intimidating the batsmen as well.

Dennis Lillee was deadly, Holding was classical and Sydney Barnes’ stats were amazing but they fail to make the cut as the competition is tight and tough. Wasim Akram’s ability to make the batsman dance around in the crease with both new and old ball duly crowned him the title of ‘King of swing’.

My Choices - Malcolm Marshall, curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akram

Spinners:-

Short-listed - Derek Underwood, Shane Warne, Bishen Bedi, Richie Benaud, Lance Gibbs, Clarrie Grimmett, Jim Laker, Anil Kumble, Muttiah Muralidaran, Bill O'Reilly

Selected - Shane Warne

The choice ultimately comes down to Shane Warne and Muralidaran. One took the art of leg spin to new heights and got included in Wisden’s top five cricketers of all-time; the other broke all the records which came along the way, ending his career as the highest Test wicket-taker.

Muralidaran’s case is similar to Tendulkar’s as both are sitting comfortably at the top in their respective departments. As we have only one choice, Warne edges ahead because of his impact on the game, his aggressive approach and mastery on the beautiful art of leg spin.

My choice - Shane Warne


ICC Greatest Test Team: Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar, Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Kapil Dev, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath

My Team: Sunil Gavaskar, Herbert Sutcliffe, Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Gary Sobers, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akram