Greatest ODI XI of all-time

[Red Devil]

And you can't compare batting SRs across eras, so have to go with batting average there.

Viv and Clive managed pretty healthy SR's in the old days, but Bevan and Kallis have much lower SR's despite playing in much more recent times - so I think it's a pretty big factor. SR is a big factor in having Sehwag in the side.

Bevan's greatness was that he played to the situation. He could go at a run a ball and more, and when the top order failed he would consolidate. He bought the team home a lot with out resorting to big hitting. He almost always read the situation to perfection. One of the reasons Australia were so successful.

yeah, I know - and it worked really well at that time because Aus had hitters around earlier and the asking rates were not that high. I still question how he would find today's game when you need 120 in 10 overs at the death rather than 70. We shall never know

[Arthur Crabtree]

Fair enough Red/Yuppie. Bevan's average does mark him out in his time though, and if I'm going on gut feeling, he'd be in.

Going on my stats as outlined above this is the side (no all rounder).

Hussey/Amla/Kohli/ABDV/Dhoni/Bevan/Lee/A.Mendis/Saqlain/Morkel/Bond.

So that didn't work. Trott would have made it if he opened.

I guess you take great performances on memorable days into account. Surprised SRT didn't figure.

[yuppie]

And you can't compare batting SRs across eras, so have to go with batting average there.

Viv and Clive managed pretty healthy SR's in the old days, but Bevan and Kallis have much lower SR's despite playing in much more recent times - so I think it's a pretty big factor. SR is a big factor in having Sehwag in the side.

Bevan's greatness was that he played to the situation. He could go at a run a ball and more, and when the top order failed he would consolidate. He bought the team home a lot with out resorting to big hitting. He almost always read the situation to perfection. One of the reasons Australia were so successful.

yeah, I know - and it worked really well at that time because Aus had hitters around earlier and the asking rates were not that high. I still question how he would find today's game when you need 120 in 10 overs at the death rather than 70. We shall never know

Bevan, come out of retirement to answer this question

[Arthur Crabtree]

And Big Bird.

It'd be fun if the 1980s WI could board a machine and play in the WC.

[rich1uk]

And Big Bird.

It'd be fun if the 1980s WI could board a machine and play in the WC.

would be fun for us

not sure it would be as much fun for their opponents

[Arthur Crabtree]

Freddie was England's best ever ODI player. Not saying much, but he should be way ahead of Botham.

[bigfluffylemon]

Freddie was England's best ever ODI player. Not saying much, but he should be way ahead of Botham.

Statistically Freddie was the best but I have a hard time remembering an outstanding performance. And his antics at the 2007 WC will tarnish him as an ODI player in my eyes.

FWIW my XI would be:

Amla
SRT
Ponting
VIv
Bevan
Dhoni
Imran
Akram
Warne
Garner
McGrath

Hardest picks were for second opener (Amla or Jaya - not Sehwag. Always felt he was overrated, especially in ODIs), 5th batsman (Bevan, AbDV or Lara?), WK (Gilly is very hard to leave out) and spinner (Warne or Murali). Amla's statistical achievements are just too great to ignore.

Second XI:

Jaya
Sehwag
Lara
Kallis
AbDV
Sanga (cheating slightly, if he's definitely verboten as a specialist batsman then Lloyd)
Gilly
Lee
Waqar
Donald
Murali

It just goes to show how tight it is that the second XI could definitely beat the first XI. What a game that would be!

[meninblue]

If the list does not has Virat then it becomes pointless to me. They have not listed one of the best ODI batsman and asked me to pick best ODI team .
And they have Shane Warne who was fined by CA probably for helping the bookies with information. Even Wasim Akram's and Waqars name was featured in Qayyum report. Why they list such players in team who have all had bad cricketing past. Too many bugs in that list.

[Gingerfinch]

My XI not based on that list, and including retired players only.

Tendulkar
Gilchrist
Ponting
Viv
Lara
Bevan
Imran
Akram
Garner
Murali
Saqlain

[Gingerfinch]

Looking again at my team, I'd leave out Saqlian, and pick Waqar, as I have Bevan, Tendulkar, and Viv as back up bowlers.

[sussexpob]

Steve Waugh scored 3 hundreds in his ODI career, and must have played near 350-400 matches.....

Virat Kolhi doesn't make the list.... he averages nearly 20 runs more, has 18 more 100's, SR is about 16 runs per 100 better, and has nearly scored as many runs as Steve despite playing less than half the matches.....

Steve Waugh was probably the worst batter in the 1999 World Cup winning team.... in a best of all list, his name being mentioned is a mockery

His brother along with Anwar's absence is also a mockery for openers

[Gingerfinch]

Steve Waugh scored 3 hundreds in his ODI career, and must have played near 350-400 matches.....

Virat Kolhi doesn't make the list.... he averages nearly 20 runs more, has 18 more 100's, SR is about 16 runs per 100 better, and has nearly scored as many runs as Steve despite playing less than half the matches.....

Steve Waugh was probably the worst batter in the 1999 World Cup winning team.... in a best of all list, his name being mentioned is a mockery

His brother would be a better choice, than Steve himself.

[sussexpob]

Steve Waugh scored 3 hundreds in his ODI career, and must have played near 350-400 matches.....

Virat Kolhi doesn't make the list.... he averages nearly 20 runs more, has 18 more 100's, SR is about 16 runs per 100 better, and has nearly scored as many runs as Steve despite playing less than half the matches.....

Steve Waugh was probably the worst batter in the 1999 World Cup winning team.... in a best of all list, his name being mentioned is a mockery

His brother would be a better choice, than Steve himself.

I just edited that as you posted.

[Gingerfinch]

Steve Waugh scored 3 hundreds in his ODI career, and must have played near 350-400 matches.....

Virat Kolhi doesn't make the list.... he averages nearly 20 runs more, has 18 more 100's, SR is about 16 runs per 100 better, and has nearly scored as many runs as Steve despite playing less than half the matches.....

Steve Waugh was probably the worst batter in the 1999 World Cup winning team.... in a best of all list, his name being mentioned is a mockery

His brother would be a better choice, than Steve himself.

I just edited that as you posted.

My initial post was 'His brother would be a better choice' but that looked like being a better choice than Kohli.

[shankycricket]

Not one Australian. Even though they have won the world cup 4 times, finalist 2 more times? Most successful nation at the 50 over game. 4 South africans and no world cup wins, though that might change this year?

Must just produce the greatest teams ever, but no good individual players......

Gilly would be my wk pick after Dhoni and ABD - he'd also be the next opener after Sachin, Sehwag and Amla. Lillee and McGrath were both close contenders with Donald for the last fast bowling slot

my second XI would be (bending rules since Kohli is not in BBC list): Gilly, Jayasuriya, Kohli, Ponting, Sanga, Lloyd, Imran, Kapil Dev, Lillee, McGrath, Saqlain

4 aussies in my top 22 players - but I'd agree with the point about strong teams - the aussie line-ups in that era just didn't have a weak link whereas SA did even though they had some great players (Donald, Klusener, Pollock - but their batting was not that great at that time and no decent spinner)

Why would you pick Sehwag over Kohli and Punter in your first XI?