When I first wrote this article, I acutally left out Brian Lara in preference for Frank Worrel. However, just a few days later, he scored a magnificent 400 n o vs. England in Antigua. The Prince of Port of Spain left me no choice but to include him. Howe can you argue with over 9000 Test runs, a triple, quadruple and quintiple centurion. By Veersen Bhoolai Picking an all time WI team was an excruciating experience. I decided to go with 16, as a proper team would have reserves. You don't realize how difficult it is, until you see the quantity of quality that can't make the first team. Thus, I decided to come up with a First and Second team. When picking a normal Test team, most fans can agree on the first eleven or twelve players; it is the last three or four that we argue about. If so, can you imagine selecting the best WI players in history? Such was the depth, that I believe all the second team players could have made the First team. My openers are Gordon Grennidge and Roy Fredericks. I was certainly tempted to put Desmond Haynes along with Grennidge. These two provided Test cricket with the greatest opening pair in history. Both Freddo and Haynes were suspect against spin. With application they both improved. However, Fredericks has the superior figures vs. the spinners. He being a left hander also gives the partnership an added dimension. Massa George Headly comes in at number three. Arguably the greatest number three the WI has ever produced. This was the man they called Atlas, because of the manner in which he carried the WI batting on his shoulders. When Headly made his debut in the first series to be played in the WI vs. England 1930, he scored four centuries in his first four Test. His career average of 60.83 in 22 Tests is indicative of his contribution during his career. Vivian Richards would come in at four. Is the Master Blaster's inclusion really a surprise to anyone. Brian Lara would be my nuber five. Perhaps the greates batsman ever, his presence led to the exclusion of the immortal Sir. Frank Worrel. Sir Gary Sobers would be my number six. The greatest all-rounder the game has ever known, he was my easiest selection. A man of Sobers' excellence would be no liability to the batting and as a spinner or medium pacer, he was more than competent. It should be noted that when Sobers retired from Test cricket in 1973, he had scored 8032 runs (57.78), 26 centuries and had taken 235 wickets (34.03). This is no small feat, back in those days the 300 barrier (for wickets) was a big deal. He would be my Captain. The wicket keeping position was certainly a competitive one. Jeff Dujon and Dereyk Murray were the leading candidates. In the end I decided to go for Dujon. Lithe behind the wicket and a front line batsman, you could do a lot worse. Dujon was one of the finest WI batsmen ever produced in the last quarter century. His grace at the wicket was unparalleled by his team mates . He could have done a lot better than his 81 115 11 3322 139 31.94 5 16, had he not had to consistently come in at number seven. In selecting the bowling line-up I went for three pacers and a spinner. Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Andy Roberts, supplemented by the off-spin of Lance Gibbs. Quite frankly, Charlie Griffith, Wes Hall, Malcolm Marshall Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose could just as easily made this team. Colin Croft and Ian Bishop would have also merited a lot of consideration, were it not for injuries which hampered very promising careers. |
Garner may not have been as fierce as some other WI pace men, but his speed, experience and natural Yorker enables him to supplement the attack well. The only other spinner who could have competed with Gibbs was Sonny Ramadhin. However, Gibbs as the most successful WI spinner in history got the nod. It would not be surprising however, if Sonny were to be selected in the starting line up. A mystery bowler, Ramadhin was extremely overbowled in the 50s, to compensate for a weak WI attack. On the 1956 tour of England, Colin Cowdrey and Peter May adopted excessive use of the pads just to handle Ramadhin. This later led to the LBW law being amended. Now for the reserves; five reserves would include two batsmen, one being an opener. There would also be two bowlers and a wicketkeeper. My reserve opener would be Desmond Haynes, the other batsman being Frank Worrel. The bowlers would be Sonny Ramadhin and Charlie Griffith. The wicket keeping position would go to Dereyk Murray. WI SECOND TEAM The reserves on the first team would be eligible for the second team. The opening pair would be Desmond Haynes and Conrad Hunte. Number three would be Rohan Khanhai. My middle order would consist of Clyde Walcott, Frank Worrel (Captain) and Everton Weekes. Dereck Murray would be the wicketkeeper. The bowling attack would consist of three fast bowlers and one spinner. Charlie Griffith, Malcolm Marshall, Wes Hall and Sonny Ramadhin would be my options. My reserves would be Lawrence Rowe and Seymour Nurse. David Murray as Keeper. Curtley Ambrose and Alf Valentine, the bowlers. Rowe was perhaps the greatest batsman we have ever produced. Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Geoff Boycott have openly hailed him as the best WI batsman they ever saw and that includes Viv Richards. His penchant for injuries hampered a promising career. However, if one were to include him in a WI First Eleven, you would hear no argument from me. The man was class personified. Both Rowe and Nurse could also fill in as openers if necessary, with Rowe being slightly better in that position. Sadly no room could be found for such talents as Alvin Kallicharan, Richie Richardson, Clifford Roach or Jeffery Stollmyer. |
An All time WI 11 |
No room for the three Ws |
Sir Gary Sobers would captain the WI 11 |
Massa George Headley, arguably the WI's greatest number three |
Mystery Man Sonny Ramadhin. A great in any era. |
WI Second Team |
Scroll down to see the see the Second Team list |
Lawrence Rowe, perhaps the best WI batsman ever |
Malcolm Marshall |
Desmond Haynes |
Since January 2001 |
