2005: the greatest hits (Peter Roebuck)

2005: the greatest hits
December 24, 2005

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/...5032184471.html

In picking this year's best World XI, Peter Roebuck pulls a few surprises from his Christmas stocking.

Accordingly, it behoves your author to issue a health warning of the sort nowadays pinned on packets of cigarettes. Readers of Indian descent, convinced that only a complete nincompoop could consider omitting Sachin Tendulkar from any side had better skip the rest of this humble offering. Alas, the master of Mumbai has hardly held a bat all year and not even his mother could advocate his inclusion.

Actually, Indian supporters of any sort had better take a plate of almonds immersed in milk, a concoction that apparently induces peace of mind. None of their heroes has secured a place in the side. In recognition of progress made in 2005, Irfan Pathan has been chosen as 12th man. Not another Indian soul has been summoned. Consideration was given to inviting Sourav Ganguly to serve as fitness guru but the moment passed.

Nor will the numerous devotees of Brett Lee appreciate the ensuing debate. Had the past two months alone been taken into account, the Wollongong Whizzer might well have made the cut. However, it is not enough to bloom for a few weeks. If Lee sustains his current form he'll lead the attack next time around. Nor has Adam Gilchrist been nominated. His greatness as a gloved all-rounder is not in doubt but his form has been as patchy as a derelict's trousers.

Our first task is to choose a pair to open the innings. Although Virender Sehwag played one brilliant innings in 2005 his work has not been sufficiently compelling to command a place. Andrew Strauss averages 37. Justin Langer has not turned enough starts into centuries. Three candidates remain. Marcus Trescothick has scored 1323 runs in 2005 at an average of 55 and with a strike rate of 63. He must play.

Either Graeme Smith or Matthew Hayden will accompany him. Both have scored heavily. Hayden has struck 1178 runs at 49. The South African's figures are not quite as impressive. On the other hand, he has captained the side, caught everything and is weighed down by failure for the World XI. I'm going for Hayden because he has scored so many centuries. Apparently, the selectors wanted to drop him for the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. Ricky Ponting intervened to save him. Apart from an aberration in Perth, Hayden has been batting powerfully.

Ponting bats at first wicket down. Last winter, the Tasmanian played one of the game's greatest match-saving innings. It is a further mark of his stature that two of his dismissals, in Birmingham and Nottingham, counted among the turning points of the Ashes series.

Brian Lara bats at four. As everyone knows he has been in terrible form. Indeed, he has been playing so badly that some thought the game was up. Yet Lara has scored 1110 Test runs at an average of 65. A great player's bad patch is a lesser man's golden run.

Inzamam-ul-Haq potters out at third-wicket down. Along the way, sleepy old Inzy has managed to obtain 1000 Test notches at an average of 83. Admittedly he looked like a horse in need of several runs in his brief appearances for the World XI. On the other hand, he led his side to victory over England and seemed to be batting with a barn door. His popularity down under tells a tale about both parties.

Jacques Kallis occupies the all-rounder position. A polished craftsman, he has followed in Steve Waugh's footsteps by eradicating error from his game. Alone among the selected batsmen he scores his runs at under 50 per 100 balls but his consistency and concentration are crucial. He is also a superb poacher at slip and can bowl probing swingers whatever the state of the ball.

Andrew Flintoff emerges at seven. Even in this company he'd be worth his place without his batting. Arguably, he is the finest fast bowler on the planet. Certainly he counts among the most accurate. He hits the pitch hard, has plenty of stamina and can make left-handers wriggle like treasurers in search of the truth. Few cricketers have been as generous with their talents. He has taken 68 wickets at 24 apiece.

Now comes a contentious selection. Tatenda Taibu will guard the stumps. Taibu has tried to hold together not just a young team but an entire cricket community. For his pains he has been threatened by loathsome opportunists with their fingers in the pie. Taibu has scored runs at second drop, taken 17 chances, led with unfailing enthusiasm and conducted himself with dignity.

Although he is about as gracious as a prematurely awoken koala, Shane Warne is our spinner. He has taken a stack of wickets and has also contributed important runs. However, our media officer will not allow him to say anything. Several fine wrist spinners must give way to Warne. Cricket is lucky with its current crop of tweakers.

Two positions remain for the fast bowlers. Alas, they are not as thick on the ground as freeloading former politicians. Steve Harmison averages 34. Simon Jones is in dry dock. Shoaib Akhtar has been brilliant for a month. Shane Bond and Rana Naved have not played enough. Despite his setbacks, Glenn McGrath has the best figures. Somewhere along the way he has taken 58 wickets at an average of 21.

Makhaya Ntini shares the new ball. He can be expensive but he took 13 wickets in the Test match in Trinidad and has snared 44 wickets at a respectable average. In any case, his colleagues can tie up an end. Ntini has a knack of taking wickets.

Not a bad side. Not a bad year. England, Pakistan and India have rallied. South Africa's fortunes will be closely followed. Pathan and Dwayne Bravo have been the young players of the year, Warne has been the outstanding bowler and Flintoff has been the most impressive figure.

PETER ROEBUCK'S 2005 TEST TEAM - CALENDAR YEAR 2005 STATS

M Inn NO Runs HS 100 Av Ov M R W Av Best 5i 10m

Matthew Hayden (Aus) 14 27 3 1178 138 4 49.08 - - - - - - - -

Marcus Trescothick (Eng) 13 24 - 1323 194 4 55.13 5.0 1 11 0 - - - -

Ricky Ponting (Aus)142651416 207567.43--------

Brian Lara (WI/WXI) 9 17 - 1110 226 5 65.29 - - - - - - - -

Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak/WXI) 8 15 3 1000 184 4 83.33 - - - - - - - -

Jacques Kallis (SAf/WXI) 10 16 4 979 149 4 81.58 217.5 58 660 17 38.82 4-13 - -

Andrew Flintoff (Eng/WXI) 14 24 1 709 102 1 30.83 532.2 89 1660 68 24.41 5-78 1 -

Tatenda Taibu* (Zim) 8 16 2 607 153 1 43.36

Shane Warne (Aus) 14 20 1 407 90 - 21.42 673.4 127 1978 90 21.98 6-46 6 2

Makhaya Ntini (SAf) 9 9 1 85 26 - 10.63 347.4 73 1081 44 24.57 7-37 3 1

Glenn McGrath (Aus) 12 14 5 72 20* - 8.00 482.0 136 1251 58 21.57 6-115 3 -

Irfan Pathan (Ind) 8 12 1 350 93 - 31.82 246.1 49 829 34 24.38 7-59 3 1

*Taibu took 17 catches.

Quite reasonable ,but I can t think of Taibu in this lineup ,,,

Had shoaib played a few more games ,the nhe would have been there for sure

I think Akmal deserved a place behind the stumps. He's had a good year.

Without a doubt Kamran Akmal. I think Taibu was picked for reasons other than cricket, not to deny he is a terrific player.

Agree, Taibu should not be there. The debate who should be up is in the air, because Sangakarra did not do all that badly. However, I think I would opt with Akmal with already so much batting talent.

Pathan as 12th man? I rather go for someone like Jones, Harmison who are better fielders and along with Shoaib better bowlers.

Ntini? He has not played strong opposition to worthy a spot.

Good picks overall but i'd take Dravid over Kallis

kallis was chosen as the allrounder, dravid is not an all rounder

dravi has to fight with lara and inzy ... and in 2005 ...he wasnt even close to them

I'd take Afridi as the all-rounder, with that batting line-up we can easily afford him and in 2005 he averaged 42 with the bat and 29 with the ball taking important wickets at a fast bowlers strike rate.

Kallis on the other hand averages over 100 with the ball (zim and BD excluded) and 87 with the bat.

He is just a very good batsman who turns his arm over and not an all-rounder in tests!!

Below are both players test figures for 2005 excluding Zim and BD...

Batting
12 inns -- 510 runs @ 42.50 avg -- 1x 100 -- 3x 50 ----> Afridi
12 inns -- 784 runs @ 87.11 avg -- 4x 100 -- 2x 50 ----> Kallis

Bowling
6 Ms -- 18 wkts @ 29.33 avg -- 55.4 SR -- 3.2 Eco -- 3.0 WPM ---> Afridi
7 Ms -- 5 wkts @ 103.20 avg - 189.6 SR -- 3.3 Eco -- 0.7 WPM --> Kallis

...the case can be made for Kallis's inclusion as a batsman but even Sami leaves him in the shade as a bowler!!

now we werent talking about Afridi .. he belongs there regardless

Also Kallis bowled 158 overs for 5 wickets whilst Afridi bowled 166.2 overs which means for an extra 8.2 overs and one less match Afridi took an extra 13 wickets!!

after i saw flintoff there. i thought he was the all-rounder but after reading it more closely he's strangely chosen kallis. Might as well have Sachin or Sehwag who are both better bowlers than kallis!

While I generally agree with the selections, Roebuck must have been smoking something absolutely potent to choose Hayden over Sehwag and consider Smith over Sehwag. Sehwag and Trescothick have unequivocally been the best openers in 2005.

the bowling lineup seems a little weak

(Averages for 2005)
Matthew Hayden (Aus) (average: 49)

Marcus Trescothick (Eng) (55)

Ricky Ponting (Aus) (67)

Brian Lara (WI/WXI) (65)

Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak/WXI) (83)

Jacques Kallis (SAf/WXI) (bat: 81, ball: 39)

Andrew Flintoff (Eng/WXI) (bat: 31, ball: 24)

Tatenda Taibu* (Zim) (bat: 43, catches: 17)

Shane Warne (Aus) (bat: 21, ball: 22)

Makhaya Ntini (SAf) (ball: 24.5)

Glenn McGrath (Aus) (ball 21.5)

12th man: Irfan Pathan (Ind)(bat: 32, ball: 24)

Discuss.

It is based on stats which for some players in that lineup are misleading.

been posted before