This week I begin a series of posts devoted to the "Best ... XI" of Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. Each time I will select the best combination of 11 players (plus a 12th man) from what I have seen, read and been told about the players from the relevant country. At the end I will nominate the best XI of world cricket.
This week I start with New Zealand and boy what a challenge it is - probably the nation I'm most knowledgeable about - with great players from Dempster and J.R. Reid to Sutcliffe and Donnelly then the professional era of Turner and Hadlee and now Fleming and Vettori. I have tried to narrow it down by thinking of combinations and the realities of Test Cricket - the goal being to win test matches on any surface.
The Team
- G. Turner
- J. Wright
- M. Crowe
- S. Fleming (c)
- J. Ryder
- C. Cairns
- B. McCullum (wk)
- Sir. R. Hadlee
- D. Vettori
- L. Cairns
- S. Bond
- M. Greatbatch
- Being a traditionalist of sorts I wanted a right-hand-left-hand combination to open the batting which meant the likes of Richardson and Sutcliffe suffered. The Wright and Turner are also noted as doing well against the best fast bowlers of their times (West Indies) particularly Turner who scored FOUR double hundreds in ONE tour of the Caribbean.
- To counter balance the noted-defensive style of said openers, Crowe and Fleming are the other top-order batsmen. Crowe, as our best technical batsman is the No.3 as he would have the best ability to change his game from defence to attack as the situation may demand. Fleming is captain and his best batting was achieved at 4, he is my favourite Black Cap batsman as a elegant driver and puller.
- My No. 5 selection will cause the most controversy I'm sure as Jessie Ryder has only played a handful of test matches. I believe he will finish (off-field behaviour aside) as one of our best batsmen, his hundreds against India impressed me with his range of shots and the right temperament informing his shot selection.
- C. Cairns and Hadlee have been our best allrounders, both aggressive batsmen (right and left-hander too) and bowlers with different skills on offer.
- I think any side that wishes to win test matches must have a spinner and Vettori has been our best, he has a great spinner's brain and his style is developed to contain on green pitches.
- L. Cairns provides variation in the bowling attack with his famous in-swing that allowed him to take TWO 7-fors against England
- Bond provides pure pace and more swing and his combination with Hadlee would match the best in the history of the game.
- I have included Greatbach as the 12th Man in recognition of his 146* at Perth in 1990 - one of the great NZ innings
The cricket scholars among you may note that none of the players above played before the 1970s. The difficulty of comparing players across eras is well noted and indeed I could have provided another XI with players from 1930-1975. In the end I decided to keep it to the professional players which also coincides with the beginning of New Zealand's competency in the sport. Also the footage and other media available on these players is superior to the older players (unfortunately as Donnelly and Sutcliffe were apparently a joy to watch).
Well, there is my best NZ XI and I invite comment and criticism on this favourite of cricketing exercises
Join me next Thursday for another XI
No comments:
Post a Comment