Dickie Bird's Greatest all-time Test 11

[Foreigner]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cr...is-greatest-all-time-Test-XI-in-pictures.html

Enjoy...

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, these lists will always be subjective and you could probably raffle 20 players or more for the top 11 spots... Didn't find many spots for recent players did he, whether that is a reflection on perhaps the lack of overall class of teams these days, i seem to recall the 80s had many good competitive teams where as from the 90s onwards it seems only a couple of teams are near the top of the pecking order at any one time and a lot of making up the numbers by other teams...

He rated a couple of South Africans for what they could have done without apartheid but did they get close to putting the actual runs/wickets on the board?? Not sure about Greg Chappell or Alan Knot either... While maybe not the greatest at actually keeping wickets, if you wanted a devastating batsmen/wicket keeper you would be hard pressed to go past Gillie... Probably could have found room in there for Sachin Tendulkar myself as well for both the heights as well as the longevity of his accomplishments...

 

[stewiejp]

Bit of trivia for my 101st post - I saw Michael Parkinson do an interview and he and Dickie Bird played 1st Class County Cricket together for (I think it was) Yorkshire.
Didn't know that...

 

[tuapekastar]

Hmmm, these lists will always be subjective and you could probably raffle 20 players or more for the top 11 spots... Didn't find many spots for recent players did he, whether that is a reflection on perhaps the lack of overall class of teams these days, i seem to recall the 80s had many good competitive teams where as from the 90s onwards it seems only a couple of teams are near the top of the pecking order at any one time and a lot of making up the numbers by other teams...

He rated a couple of South Africans for what they could have done without apartheid but did they get close to putting the actual runs/wickets on the board?? Not sure about Greg Chappell or Alan Knot either... While maybe not the greatest at actually keeping wickets, if you wanted a devastating batsmen/wicket keeper you would be hard pressed to go past Gillie... Probably could have found room in there for Sachin Tendulkar myself as well for both the heights as well as the longevity of his accomplishments...

I imagine he may have had certain criteria for selection eligibility (I was going to suggest that he had umpired all the players, but I don't think that would have included Pollock). He stood from 1970 till 1996 (tests, 1973 thru 1996). Tendulkar was playing tests from 1989...not sure where he fits for Bird. That would rule out Gilchrist (though Knott was a better keeper and a handy bat). GS Chappell was elegance personified... a writer described him as elegant even when just leaning on his bat between balls.

You're certainly right about subjectivity...I recall a famous English cricket writer/commentator (but not his name ) who released his own 'best' list, and No 1 was Jack Hobbs (ENG) ahead of Don Bradman (AUS)! I understand Bradman was somewhat disliked by many players (I suspect I would not have had much time for him as a person), but he was clearly, on paper, miles ahead of any other batsman. I only have the vaguest memories of (Barry) Richards and Pollock batting but youtube is our friend here.

And as long as I'm waffling, Bradman did have a sense of humour. I'm told that at the end of the day at an Adelaide test against the Windies where Dean Jones had made a double ton, and Merv Hughes supported him well with 73 not out, Bradman was talking to the pair in the rooms, and congratulated Jones on a fabulous batting effort. He turned to Hughes, who was waiting for similar praise, but Bradman just shook his head and said "Funny game, cricket".