tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957117710153695243.post2761816434766192832..comments2024-03-16T21:27:16.600+13:00Comments on CricketGeek: Test team of the year 2012Mykuhlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16821799061116228138noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957117710153695243.post-19608680102260505792013-01-02T16:11:47.872+13:002013-01-02T16:11:47.872+13:00Fair enough on Deonarine, but I still think Ajmal ...Fair enough on Deonarine, but I still think Ajmal warrants the place because he took 39 wickets in 12 innings to Deonarine's 15 in 10. Plus Deonarine wasn't tested away.<br /><br />As for Best, point most certainly taken. And admittedly he does have that heroic 95 from no.11 to his name! Apologies for the AB mistake on my part, can't believe he can be that good away against England & Australia with the gloves on. He accumulated moderate runs and really let rip with that 169 at the end, although that came on a day when he had to do no glovework.<br /><br />I still have to disagree on Amla's exclusion just because of his pivotal role in what were the two most important series of the year, away from home. Samuels or Chanderpaul flip a coin I think, Chanderpaul does have quite a lot of not-out inflation going on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957117710153695243.post-14026541371414350252013-01-02T15:20:26.657+13:002013-01-02T15:20:26.657+13:00You make some good points, but I'll respond to...You make some good points, but I'll respond to a couple of them.<br /><br />Firstly Deonarine actually had a much better year than you think. Here's the list of batsmen he dismissed:<br />Clarke (twice)<br />Cowan (twice)<br />Willimason (twice)<br />Ponting<br />Wade<br />Guptill<br />McCullum<br />Wattling<br />van Wyk<br />Harris<br /><br />You'll notice that all of them are specialist batsmen or wicket keepers except Ryan Harris. I'm not sure that they can be called cheap wickets.<br /><br />In general wicket-keepers dominate spin bowlers, so for a spinner to get out a keeper almost every time he bowled to one says something.<br /><br />I don't disagree that Ajmal is a better bowler. (For that matter I think Herath, Swann, Ojha, Patel, Petersen, Panesar, Ashwin, Rehman etc. are all better bowlers than Deonarine), but this is not a list of the best players, but the players who played the best.<br /><br />Next, Tino Best did take a bunch of wickets against Bangladesh. But Bangladeshi pitches offer nothing for quick bowlers. Over the last 3 years, all other quick bowlers combined have averaged over 30 when playing against Bangladesh in Bangladesh. Best averaged 14. It's hard not to acknowledge that.<br /><br />Also, when looking at a keeper, I only looked at matches where AB had the gloves. <br /><br />Chanderpaul has averaged 86 against Australia and 78 against England. Samuels averaged 97 against England and didn't play against Australia. I don't think that they can be accused of not performing against the quality attacks.Mykuhlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16821799061116228138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957117710153695243.post-64547912399022225862013-01-02T14:57:11.360+13:002013-01-02T14:57:11.360+13:00Roach, Hilfenhaus or (my pick) Siddle should be in...Roach, Hilfenhaus or (my pick) Siddle should be in there ahead of Best really. Siddle really was the Australian attack's leader this year so he should slot in, & you can make a case for one of the other two ahead of Southee. Herath would be the second choice for spinner after Ajmal.<br /><br />Hussey, Samuels & Ross Taylor would be my shouts for the middle order after Amla, Chanders & Clarke of course. Kallis & Philander would both be all rounders really to be honest. Openers pick themselves.<br /><br />Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB & Philander all merit a spot, no wonder South Africa became no.1. Steyn & Morkel contributed when they were most needed with timely contributions from Du Plessis & Duminy too. <br /><br />Steyn & Anderson only had moderate averages but when they contributed they contributed to wins & as you said are probably the best fast & swing bowlers respectively.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6957117710153695243.post-26513385174312691762013-01-02T14:37:24.435+13:002013-01-02T14:37:24.435+13:00While going on averages is one thing, it's qui...While going on averages is one thing, it's quite misleading because it doesn't take into account sheer number of runs/wickets taken as well as strike rates & quality of opposition. Not to mention inflated batting averages due to not outs. Deonarine over Ajmal for example is absurd considering the number of wickets Ajmal took & the number of matches he won.<br /><br />Philander & Southee were very good this year, not too sure about Tino Best though considering all those Bangladeshi wickets he picked up. As for keeper, weren't a large portion of AB's runs scored without the gloves? Didn't realise Ramdin had such a high average but again, it may be misleading. The sensible pick would be Prior but I'd go with AB too, just 'cos of his pure ability. Gotta have some flair ;)<br /><br />Clarke obviously deserves to be in the side through sheer weight of runs (away average barely counts considering how few matches he played away) & would be my captain too. Again Samuels & Chanderpaul have been fantastic but Kallis & Amla have scored away against better opposition (though Kallis is already in the team obviously, so I'd take Amla over Samuels because of the Bangladesh factor again). <br /><br />Cook & Smith no arguments there at least haha, cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com