SF 1: Samie vs Cocks and Bollocks NicolasVenue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, IndiaAlong with the MCG, the Eden Gardens remains cricket's answer to the Coliseum. It first hosted a Test back in the days of India's cricketing infancy, with Douglas Jardine's team easing to victory inside four days in 1934. Since then, it has become something of a place of pilgrimage for most international cricketers, a chance to strut their stuff in front of the most passionate and vocal crowd in the game. At times though, the fervour has spilled into excess, with riots disrupting matches against the West Indies (1966-67) and Australia (1969-70), and a shameful exhibition of boorishness causing the World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka (1996) to be called off with the visitors on the threshold of victory.
There have been other, better, times too when the verve and energy of the crowd has made it a twelfth man of sorts and stirred India's finest to great feats, none more so than that hallowed day in March 2001 when VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid set the stage for the greatest come-from-behind victory of modern times, against an Australian team poised for an unprecedented 17th straight Test win. Despite packing in 90,000 on red-letter days, it hasn't been a lucky charm for India until recently, when the spin wiles of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble inspired famous victories against Australia and Pakistan.Samie
Saeed Anwar
Hanif Mohammad
Virat Kohli
Greg Chappell (C)
Ramnaresh Sarwan
VVS Laxman
Jeffrey Dujon (WK)
Malcolm Marshall
Dennis Lillee
Shoaib Akhtar
Saqlain Mushtaq
Saeed AnwarMatches- 55
Runs scored- 4,052
Batting average- 45.53
100s/50s - 11/25
Top score -188*
Saeed Anwar is an opening batsman and occasional slow left arm orthodox bowler,.He played 55 Test matches, scoring 4052 runs with eleven centuries, average 45.52. An opening batsman capable of annihilating any bowling attack on his day, Anwar was an attacking batsman in ODI matches and once settled in Test matches, scored quickly and all over the field. His success came from good timing. Anwar became famous for his trademark flick. He was able to lift a ball that had pitched outside off stump for six over midwicket. Anwar's timing and ability to score quick runs made him a crowd favourite.
Hanif MohammadMatches- 55
Runs scored- 3,915
Batting average- 43.98
100s/50s - 12/15
Top score - 337
Hanif Mohammad and averaged 43.98 scoring twelve centuries. At his peak, he was considered one of the best batsmen in the world despite playing at a time when Pakistan played very little Test cricket; In his obituary by ESPNcricinfo, he was honoured as the original Little Master. He was the first Pakistani to score a triple hundred in a test match.
Virat KohliMatches- 50
Runs scored- 3,891
Batting average- 48.03
100s/50s - 14/13
Top score - 211
Kohli is a naturally aggressive batsman with strong technical skills.[ He usually bats in the middle-order, but, on many occasions, has opened the innings as well. He is known for his wide range of shots, ability to pace an innings and batting under pressure. Kohli is often compared to Tendulkar, due to their similar styles of batting, and is referred to as Tendulkar's "successor". Many former cricketers expect Kohli to break Tendulkar's batting records.
Greg Chappell (C)Matches- 87
Runs scored- 7110
Batting average- 53.86
100s/50s - 24/31
Top score - 247*
Wickets- 47
Bowling average -40.70
Best bowling -5/61
The second of three brothers to play Test cricket, Chappell was the pre-eminent Australian batsman of his time who allied elegant stroke making to fierce concentration. An exceptional all round player who bowled medium pace and, at his retirement, held the world record for the most catches in Test cricket.
Ramnaresh SarwanMatches- 87
Runs scored- 5,842
Batting average- 40.01
100s/50s - 15/31
Top score - 291
Wickets- 23
Bowling average - 50.46
Best bowling - 4/37
A nimble, Chaplinesque right-hander, Ramnaresh Sarwan was brought up in the South American rainforest around the Essequibo River. His footwork, which seemed to require no early trigger movements, was strikingly confident and precise.
V. V. S. LaxmanMatches- 134
Runs scored- 8,781
Batting average- 45.98
100s/50s - 17/56
Top score - 281
Laxman bats right-handed and occasionally bowls off-spin. He is noted for his superb timing and the ability to hit against the spin, reminiscent of his role model Mohammed Azharuddin. Laxman is particularly noted for the skilful use of his supple wrists, which allow him to flick the ball to various places, but usually through the leg side. This also helps in his catching, and he typically fields in the slips or in a bat pad position.VVS Laxman is one of the batsman in the "Great Indian Batting Quartet". VVS Laxman's knock of 281 against Australia in Eden Gardens in 2001 has been rated as the greatest Test performance of the last 50 years.
Jeffrey Dujon (WK)Matches- 81
Runs scored- 3,322
Batting average- 31.95
100s/50s - 5/16
Top score - 139
Catches/stumpings 267/5
He was the wicketkeeper for the West Indian cricket team of the 1980s, an athletic presence behind the stumps as well as a competent lower-order batsman. Dujon made his first-class debut in 1974, going on to play 200 first-class matches for Jamaica and the West Indies in a career that lasted nineteen years. He scored nearly 10,000 runs at an average approaching 40 runs per innings, an impressive statistic when compared to other specialist wicket-keepers over time, as well as completing 447 catches and 22 stumpings.
Dujon was one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1989.
Malcolm Marshall100s/50s- 0/10
Top score -92
Matches- 81
Wickets- 376
Bowling average- 20.94
5 wickets in innings - 22
10 wickets in match - 5
Best bowling- 7/22
Malcolm Marshall is regarded as one of the finest and fastest pacemen ever to have played Test cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.94 is the best of anyone who has taken 200 or more wickets.[5He achieved his bowling success despite being, by the standards of other fast bowlers, a short man – he stood at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m), while most of the great quicks have been well above 6 feet (1.8 m) and many great West Indian fast bowlers. He generated fearsome pace from his bowling action, with a dangerous bouncer. Marshall was also a very dangerous lower middle-order batsman with ten Test fifties and seven first-class centuries.
Dennis LilleeMatches- 70
Wickets- 355
Bowling average- 23.92
5 wickets in innings - 23
10 wickets in match - 7
Best bowling- 7/83
Dennis Keith Lillee is rated as the "outstanding fast bowler of his generation". Lillee was known for his fiery temperament, 'never-say-die' attitude and popularity with the fans.Lillee was an extremely quick bowler, but a number of stress fractures in his back almost ended his career. Taking on a strict fitness regime, he fought his way back to full fitness, eventually returning to international cricket. By the time of his retirement from international cricket in 1984 he had become the then world record holder for most Test wickets (355), and had firmly established himself as one of the most recognisable and renowned Australian sportsmen of all time.
Shoaib AkhtarMatches- 46
Wickets- 178
Bowling average- 25.59
5 wickets in innings - 12
10 wickets in match - 2
Best bowling- 6/11
Shoaib Akhtar is known as the fastest bowler ever in the history of cricket and has bowled the fastest delivery officially recorded at a top speed of 161.3km/h (101mph). Akhtar was nicknamed the "Rawalpindi Express", as a tribute to his hometown and fast bowling. His effective use of slower deliveries proved to be unplayable by batsmen.
Saqlain MushtaqMatches- 49
Wickets- 208
Bowling average- 28.83
5 wickets in innings - 13
10 wickets in match - 3
Best bowling- 8/64
Saqlain Mushtaq is best known for pioneering the "doosra", a leg break delivery bowled with an off break action. A right-arm off break bowler. Saqlain is credited with the invention of the "doosra", an off-spinner's delivery which is bowled with an action very similar to that of an off-break.However, it spins in the opposite direction (i.e. from the leg side to the off side), easily confusing batsmen, making it a very effective weapon.
VS
Cock and Bollocks Nicolas
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF 2: Klippity Klopp vs Kovai RedVenue: Sydney Cricket Ground, NSW, AustraliaSituated in Moore Park in the city's east, the Sydney Cricket Ground is one of the world's most famous cricketing venues. For a stadium in a major centre, it has a relatively limited capacity (a little over 40,000) but this has the direct benefit of ensuring that spectators are close to the action from virtually any point in the ground. In its earlier incarnations, the pitches were favourable for batting, and many mammoth scores were produced. The highest of these (in an individual sense) was compiled in the 1929-30 season, when Sir Donald Bradman made his celebrated personal best of 452* for New South Wales in a match against Queensland. From the early 1970s though, the square's character has undergone a number of revisions. Principally, it has come to be seen as a spinner's paradise - never more clearly than in memorable Australian Test wins over West Indies in 1984-85 (when Bob Holland and Murray Bennett piloted the home team to a crushing success) and in 1988-89 (when the left arm orthodox spin of Allan Border claimed an unlikely 11 scalps). Of course, this is not to say that the limelight has been stolen purely by slow bowlers; West Indian Brian Lara's masterful 277 in 1992-93 and paceman Fanie De Villiers' match haul of 10 for 123 at the forefront of South Africa's amazing five run win in 1993-94 underlining the point. Klippity Klopp
VS
Kovai Red
My team has arguably the most depth in batting as well as bowling and with good variety as well. My top-5 batsmen all have averages over 57 bar one who is just 0.06 behind the mark. Arguably my top-2 are the best opening batsmen/partners of all time. And the fact that they both played together is another big plus for my team. Hobbs and Sutcliffe amassed 3249 runs in only 38 innings at a whopping average of 87.81. People may argue that they didn't played much outside of England and Australia, but the fact remains that they have excelled in their positions at the best challenges of that time, not to mention both have toured South Africa, India and Ceylon(now SL) and played well there too. Though the tour to sub continent is not classified as first class by Wisden(controversial or not), fact remains that they have fared better in sub continent conditions too.
At no3 comes one of the prolific run scorers Sir Everton Weekes who still holds the record for most consecutive centuries in test cricket. He would've had 6 on the trot, if not for a controversial run out when he was on 90. He has scored runs everywhere he went and him being at no.3, we can be very assured that top order of my batting is a notch above every team out there. After that comes the elegant Sangakkara who will keep the wickets and lead the team.
Then comes the current Australian captain Steven Smith. With an average of over 57 and a great appetite for runs, he makes into my team as no5. After him comes in Ravi Shastri at no6, who averages a modest 35.79 and have took 151 wickets at 40.96 which is not bad for my 6th choice bowler and a lower middle order batsman. He is a stonewaller if needed be and can be a good partner when the batsman at the other end keeps piling on the runs.
After that comes in my strike bowler, one of the greatest of all time Sir Richard Hadlee - the crown jewel of my team, who will open the bowling. Adept at batting with an average of 27.16, he can also pile on the runs when the team needs it. And then comes Alan Davidson, one of the greatest left arm seamers who will partner Hadlee in the opening spell. With a miserly economy rate under 2 and average below 21, he can be a nightmare to any batsman out there. As a hard hitter in the lower middle, he has also scored more than 1000 runs at an average of 24.59 which is not bad for no.8 in this team.
And then there is the rising star Starc who with his bouncers and swing, can terrorise batsmen of any calibre. He is not a mug with bat either with an average of 22.45, a much better option at no.9 among all the teams in here. On the spin department, the greatest off spinner India has ever produced adds the spin flavor to the side. With Doosra being his main weapon, he can really be the match winner in the turning tracks against any batting attack in the world. A fact that he has taken more than 400 wickets stands as a proof to his outstanding talent. Not only that, he has scored more than 2000 runs at 18.22 with 2 centuries and 9 fifties which makes him an excellent tail ender. And finally comes the ever reliable and relentless Mkhaya Ntini who has taken close to 400 wickets.
The balance this side has is the best in this league. With over 43000 runs and 1715 wickets in just 787 matches, this team has both runs and wickets spread all over the team. It doesn't end there, this team also possess great variety with 2 right arm seamers, 2 left arm seamers, an off spinner as well as a slow left arm which in some ways can be seen as leg spin to the right handers. And a part timer in the name of Smith is also there who can do a bit of leg spin if this team ever needs to use 7th bowler. With 1715 wickets, 21 10-wicket hauls and 102 5-wicket hauls, all my 6 bowlers are wicket takers. On the batting front, out of the 11, 6 right and 5 left hand batsmen makes my team more tricky for the opposition in field than any of them could hope to do to others. With 43023 runs, 114 centuries and 186 fifties in just 787 appearances, this team can score runs at will. Stats are so spread that no one in my team will be under pressure. To put it in simple words, this team is the battering ram of this league.
Poll