The Arm Ball
New Member
Your favourite XI - not including your country of choice
I'm sure this is a thread that has been done to death, but I'm new here. My only rule on your favourite XI is that it needs to be diverse in country, and cannot include your own country, as in the country that you follow. This isn't necessarily the best 11 players in the world, but your favourite eleven players to watch.
1 - Andrew Strauss (England): A genuine thinker of the game, and I love watching blokes do so well despite not having the big game of their counterparts.
2 - Chris Gayle (West Indies): Its hard not to love him. He's big, he's got awesome hair, and he hits the ball a genuine mile. I love how he makes cricket look so easy sometimes, and my love has grown with how he has answered critics in the latest series.
3 - Jacques Kallis (South Africa): The second best all-rounder of all time in my opinion, with daylight separating both Sobers and he, and then he and third. He really does not get the recognition he deserves
4 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies): I would love to read up on stats for most not outs from a number 4 batsman, or most times coming in with their side in trouble - in fact that may be my next blog. He guards his wicket with his life, he makes batting look very hard with his stance, but everything he does works.
5 - Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) - wk: A genuine class cricketer, and in my opinion an even better wicketkeeper-batsman than Gilchrist...when he keeps.
6 - Ross Taylor (New Zealand) - I'm not really sure why I love him as a cricketer, but I think he will end up being New Zealand's best batsman since Fleming. He definitely has his work cut out for him being a part of that god-awful batting line up.
7 - Tatenda Taibu (Zimbabwe) - He's been through a hell of a lot, and he still comes back and performs for his country. Has done plenty of questionable things, but you have to feel for him. Far from international standard, in my opinion, but he has got plenty of ticker.
8 - Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) (captain) - Just about the complete cricketer. I cannot remember him ever letting his team down, ever. What a performer.
9 - Stuart Broad (England) - For some reason I feel he has the perfect blend of good bloke and total prick. Him and Anderson together will make a very good team. I mainly just want to hear the Barmy Army chant "HE'S BIG, HE'S BAD, HE'S BETTER THAN HIS DAD, HE'S STUART BROAD! STUART BROAD!"
10 - Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) - Always puts in, and always looks like he is having fun. Clearly loves the game, and has fought plenty of adversity to get to where he is.
11 - Chris Martin (New Zealand) - Mainly for batting. I love the way he goes about it with the ball as well. Not even close to the top ten bowlers in the world, but makes the most of what he has, and puts in 100%.
I'm sure this is a thread that has been done to death, but I'm new here. My only rule on your favourite XI is that it needs to be diverse in country, and cannot include your own country, as in the country that you follow. This isn't necessarily the best 11 players in the world, but your favourite eleven players to watch.
1 - Andrew Strauss (England): A genuine thinker of the game, and I love watching blokes do so well despite not having the big game of their counterparts.
2 - Chris Gayle (West Indies): Its hard not to love him. He's big, he's got awesome hair, and he hits the ball a genuine mile. I love how he makes cricket look so easy sometimes, and my love has grown with how he has answered critics in the latest series.
3 - Jacques Kallis (South Africa): The second best all-rounder of all time in my opinion, with daylight separating both Sobers and he, and then he and third. He really does not get the recognition he deserves
4 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies): I would love to read up on stats for most not outs from a number 4 batsman, or most times coming in with their side in trouble - in fact that may be my next blog. He guards his wicket with his life, he makes batting look very hard with his stance, but everything he does works.
5 - Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) - wk: A genuine class cricketer, and in my opinion an even better wicketkeeper-batsman than Gilchrist...when he keeps.
6 - Ross Taylor (New Zealand) - I'm not really sure why I love him as a cricketer, but I think he will end up being New Zealand's best batsman since Fleming. He definitely has his work cut out for him being a part of that god-awful batting line up.
7 - Tatenda Taibu (Zimbabwe) - He's been through a hell of a lot, and he still comes back and performs for his country. Has done plenty of questionable things, but you have to feel for him. Far from international standard, in my opinion, but he has got plenty of ticker.
8 - Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) (captain) - Just about the complete cricketer. I cannot remember him ever letting his team down, ever. What a performer.
9 - Stuart Broad (England) - For some reason I feel he has the perfect blend of good bloke and total prick. Him and Anderson together will make a very good team. I mainly just want to hear the Barmy Army chant "HE'S BIG, HE'S BAD, HE'S BETTER THAN HIS DAD, HE'S STUART BROAD! STUART BROAD!"
10 - Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) - Always puts in, and always looks like he is having fun. Clearly loves the game, and has fought plenty of adversity to get to where he is.
11 - Chris Martin (New Zealand) - Mainly for batting. I love the way he goes about it with the ball as well. Not even close to the top ten bowlers in the world, but makes the most of what he has, and puts in 100%.
Seriously, a very, very good bowler.