Playing selector: Lets pick the best test XI of different eras

aussie tragic said:

During 1920-39, Frank Woolley played 42 tests and only took 44 wkts @ 43 so I didn't include him as an allrounder.

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Ah fair enough, I was thinking of his career average. Didn't realise that his bowling declined to that extent after the war.

Maybe we don't need to put a statistical limitation on these things? Obviously note their stats when they are up for nomination, but perhaps a mininum average is unnecessary? It's not always all about the stats, and if a bloke has ordinary averages then people will see that in the nomination and just not vote for him. Stats or not, if we have to have an all rounder I'd always pick FE Woolley over a Robins or a Nichols, despite what the averages might say.

Just my two cents though. Whatever the final outcome I'll be voting with bells on.

Four is enough if the quality is there... Gregory for the win!

Wicketkeepers for 1920-39 XI will be as follows:

Bert Oldfield (Aus), George Duckworth (Eng), Les Ames (Eng), Jock Cameron (SA)

[Another one that hardly needs a poll]

aussie tragic said:

[Another one that hardly needs a poll]

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You think? I assume you're taking Ames as a shoo-in there, but I reckon it's tight between Ames, Oldfield and Cameron for that one. Ames clearly the best bat of the three, but there's enough statistical and/or anecdotal evidence to suggest that as glovemen the other two are at least his equal.

I might be tempted to go for Cameron TBH. But I'll probably still vote for Ames.

Okay, final nominees for the 1920-39 XI:

Pace Bowlers (average < 32.00)

Gubby Allen (Eng), Bill Bowes (Eng), Learie Constantine (WI), Jack Gregory (Aus), Herman Griffith (WI), Ken Farnes (Eng), George Geary (Eng), Harold Larwood (Eng), Eddie McCormick (Aus), Maurice Tate (Eng), Bill Voce (Eng)

Spinners (average < 35.00)

Tich Freeman (Eng), Clarrie Grimmett (Aus), Bert Ironmonger (Aus), Arthur Mailey (Aus), Quintin McMillan (SA), Bill O'Reilly (Aus), Ian Peebles (Eng), Hedley Verity (Eng), Cyril Vincent (SA), Jack White (Eng)

Any chance of putting Amar Singh in the poll?

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/26228.html

He played every test for India and I am not saying he will win it, because even I won't vote for him but I think he deserves to be mentioned. One of maybe four Indian pace bowlers I am not ashamed of.

Plus he's a fellow Gujarati.

silentstriker said:

Any chance of putting Amar Singh in the poll?

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/26228.html

He played every test for India and I am not saying he will win it, because even I won't vote for him but I think he deserves to be mentioned. One of maybe four Indian pace bowlers I am not ashamed of.

Plus he's a fellow Gujarati.

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Since Len Hutton said there is no greater bowler, I'm happy to add him as a "wildcard"

As the 1920-39 team is coming to a close, there's just the captain poll to go. Currently, this will be between Bradman and Hammond as the only two selected players that have won a test as captain of thier country during the period.

The 1920-39 World Test XI so far:

1. Jack Hobbs (56.63)
2. Herb Sutcliffe (60.73)
3. Don Bradman (97.94)
4. Wally Hammond (61.45) and (Bowl: 37.77)
5. George Headley (66.75)
6. Stan McCabe (48.21)
7. Les Ames (43.40)
8. Harold Larwood (19.40) and (Bowl: 28.35)
9. Bill Voce or Hedley Verity -------------------- Poll still running http://forum.cricketweb.net/showthread.php?t=21933
10. Clarrie Grimmett -------------------------------- Poll still running
11. Bill O'Reilly (12.81) and (Bowl: 23.68)

You would think Bradman in a canter, do we really need a poll for this?

archie mac said:

You would think Bradman in a canter, do we really need a poll for this?

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I agree that a Poll is unnecessary, however not so sure that Bradman will win in a canter....so let's do it here.


Please select the captain for the 1920-39 World Test XI:

Don Bradman: 9 tests, 4 Wins (44%), 3 Losses (33%), 2 Draws (22%)
Wally Hammond: 12 Tests, 3 Wins (25%), 1 Loss (8%), 8 Draws (67%)

Hammond

Because he only lost 1 of 12 tests, whereas Bradman lost 3 of 9 whilst he had a core of "greats" in Bradman, McCabe, Oldfield and O'Reilly in the side....

Hammond, Bradman wasn't nearly as good a captain.

Hammond for me too, not sure how great bradman was as captain, by all accounts was often biased against certain individuals.

grecian said:

Hammond for me too, not sure how great bradman was as captain, by all accounts was often biased against certain individuals.

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Yeah, on religious basis I think.

Sure, Hammond.

When it comes to pure captaincy Hammond.

Hammond

Bradman for me, they clashed in 1938 when Bradman had a poor unbalanced attack and in 1946/47 when Bradman won easily.

O'Reilly was his number one bowler and was no fan of Bradman, he never mentions that he thought Bradman favoured non Catholics. I think the Don was all about winning.

Those captained by Hammond were unimpressed especially on the 1946/47 tour, most rating him the worst Test captain they played under.