1. Jayasuriya] The best two batsman at finding the boundary from ball one and getting big scores, not just quick 30s or 40s. 2. Sehwag] Sehwag has a strike rate second to none - 104.33. Only Gayle is worthy of consideration among the rest. 3. Richards] Simply the classiest players for no. 3 and 4 - both capable of scoring big and fast against any opposition on any surface 4. Tendulkar] 5. Kallis I'd want six bowlers for variation so he is the first all rounder in the team, although he's worth a place just as a batsman 6. Gilchrist Needs no explanation, although how can you leave Sangakkara or McCullum out? 7. Botham There are many all rounders who offer plenty, but Beefy hits the ball as hard as any and his bowling is as good as any - a wicket taker, who was economical and could get into the heads of the opposition 8. Wasim Akram First choice pick as a fast bowler with his ability to bowl devastating left arm yorkers, bouncers and slower balls - not to mention his ability to smack the ball miles when he batted. 9. Marshall Pace, swing, bouncers - incredible variations and unplayable on a skiddy surface. A wicket taker with an economy rate of 3.5. Beat that. No mug with the bat either. 10. Garner Great death bowler. Great opening bowler. Used to return Test like figures in ODIs. With a staggering economy rate of 3.09, impossible to leave out. 11. Muralitharan Token spinner. I could have had Warne, but Murali's record is just too good.
Hard to argue with many of these - I guess Murali or Warne is a bit of a toss up- Warne better batsman and fielder? Kallis at 5 - maybe I might go for Lara
Warne possibly, but I doubt he'd bat in that side and I think Murali was a better ODI bowler. More control when the ball isn't turning and he's not threatening to take wickets. As a batsman, Lara would get the nod, but you'd want a 6th bowler. Even a team this good could come unstuck without one. Jayasuriya could be that 6th bowler I suppose, especially on a slower track - and Richards, Tendulkar and Sehwag can all turn their arm over, but Kallis is a front line batsman, bowler and slip fielder.
Like your line up Luke, but I would have AB de Villiers in for Gilchrist as a Wicketkeeping Batsman, Warney in for Murali because of his batting (and he is a genius of course!) and Amla's record as as opening bat cannot be ignored, so I would replace Jayasuriya with him.
Thanks for the reply Saints_Alive Yeah, de Villiers in current form should be the first name on the team sheet! Amla possibly over 50 overs, but with the batting to follow, you'd give Jayasuriya licence to hit every ball- and he's certainly a more destructive batsman over a shorter period.
