by The Professor » Sat Apr 18, 2020 5:07 pm
Took me A LOT longer than I thought but here we go:
TEST TEAM
Mohammad Shahzad - (Afghanistan, Band-e-Amir Dragons, Boost Defenders, Chittagong Vikings, Habib Bank Limited, Kabul Eagles, Paktia Panthers, Peshawar Zalmi, Rangpur Rangers, Rangpur Riders, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Speen Ghar Tigers)
Sachin Tendulkar (India, Mumbai, Mumbai Indians, Yorkshire, Asia XI)
3. Viv Richards (West Indies, Central Islands, Glamorgan, Leeward Islands, Queensland, Somerset)
4. Hashim Amla (South Africa, Barbados Tridents, Cape Cobras, Derbyshire, Dolphins, Essex, Khulna Tigers, Kings XI Punjab, Kwa Zulu Natal Inland, South Africa XI, Trinbago Knight Riders, Word XI)
5. Habibul Bashar (Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh, Dhaka Warriors, Khulna Division)
6. Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka, Auckland, Kent, Nondescripts)
7. Imran Khan (Pakistan, Dawood Club, Lahore, New South Wales, Oxford University, Pakistan International Airlines, Sussex, Worcestershire)
8. Richard Hadlee (New Zealand, Canterbury, MCC, New Zealand XI, Nottinghamshire, Tasmania.)
9. Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Matebaland.)
10. Phil Tuffnell (England, Middlesex)
11. Shane Warner (Australia, Hampshire, ICC XI, Melbourne Stars, Rajasthan Royals. Rest of the World XI, Victoria.)
Was very surprised about the amount of very talented players I had to make big choices about and the clubs that precluded me from selecting them.
The nearly men
Without a doubt my biggest issue came from the first name on my list. I knew I wanted Sachin come hell or high water. However my mettle was really tested when it came to his involvement with an Asia Xi. This ruled out one of my all time favourite players in the form of Muttiah Muralitharan as well as Kumar Sangakarra, Tamim Iqbal, Masharafe Mortaza and Abdur Razzak. Sanga, Iqbal and Razzak were big losses when I was looking for an opening batsman and a final bowler. Shaun Pollock was also ruled out by Sachin thanks to his time with Mumbai Indians.
After Sachin had been put down the next man on my list was Viv Richards - this caused me some problems further down the line. His time at Glamorgan meant that Dale Steyn and Jaques Kallis were not eligible whilst, slightly more gallingly, Botham was out of the picture due to his spell at Queensland.
My selection of an Australian Hampshire alumni also put the spanner in the works of some high-profile Englishmen. Shane Warne was a must – but his inclusion ruled out Gower’s position at the top of the order and Kevin Pietersen’s inclusion in the middle order. Such was my desperation for bowlers I also toyed with Alan Mullaly at one point – a lucky miss possibly.
Richard Hadlee's time at Nottinghamshire precluded me form picking Swann whilst his foray with the MCC stopped me from selecting Cook and Andy Flower. Cook was a big loss but needed a world class all-rounder to stop the middle order from looking weak.
Unsurprisingly Hahim Amla's plethora of clubs held me back quite a bit. Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out due to their time at Barbados tridents whilst my ongoing search for a Zimbabwean player was extended thanks to Tatenda Taibu's spell at the Cape Cobras.
Worcestershire also proved a sticking point after Imran Khan’s selection. Alan Donald and Heath Streak were both nearly men but were pipped to the post by the great Pakistan bowler.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."