All time ODI sheep draft QF1: Himannv vs 12Oz

[Skills]

Team Himannv

01. Sanath Jayasuriya /o
02. Quinton de Kock /+
03. Brian Lara /
04. Aravinda de Silva /o
05. David Miller /
06. Mike Hussey /
07. Glen Maxwell /o
08. Ravi Ashwin o/
09. Jaspirit Bumrah o
10. Shoaib Akhtar o
11. Glenn McGrath o

Team 12Oz

1- Matthew Hayden AUS
2- Shikhar Dhawan IND
3- Ricky Ponting AUS Cpt
4- Martin Crowe NZ
5- Shakib Al Hasan BAN
6- Jos Butler ENG Wk
7- Chris Woakes ENG
8- Daniel Vettori NZ
9- Chaminda Vaas SL
10- Nathan Bracken AUS
11- Joel Garner WI

 

[Skills]

Team Himannv

01. Sanath Jayasuriya /o
02. Quinton de Kock /+
03. Brian Lara /
04. Aravinda de Silva /o
05. David Miller /
06. Mike Hussey /
07. Glen Maxwell /o
08. Ravi Ashwin o/
09. Jaspirit Bumrah o
10. Shoaib Akhtar o
11. Glenn McGrath o

Things to note about the batting:

• On his day, it wouldn't matter who the bowler is - Sanath will take him apart.
• QdK is the more solid and consistent opener of the two but he's a good attacker in his own right.
• Lara is one of my favourites and one of the best batsmen of the 90s and of all time as well.
• Aravinda is a top ODI middle order bat and I think at his peak he was one of the best in the world.
• Miller is a good hitter and he's nicely set to come in and score quick.
• I'm a big fan of Hussey in this format and he's a fantastic hitter who can just bang from the get go.
• Maxwell is another who is in this lineup because he's a quick scorer. Both him and Hussey will come in earlier if the situation requires it.
• Ashwin can bat well enough and has scored vital runs in limited over formats.

Batsman in focus: Brian Lara

Flamboyant, fearless, entertaining, and scoring runs for fun at 35:


------

Bowling lineup:

01. Glenn McGrath: Opening bowler
02. Shoaib Akhtar: Opening bowler:
03. Jaspirit Bumrah: First change
04. Ravi Ashwin: Primary spinner
05. Sanath Jayasuriya: Secondary spinner
06. Glen Maxwell: Backup spinner
07. Aravinda de Silva: Backup spinner

Things to note about the bowlers:

• McGrath and Akhtar take the new ball to provide consistent brilliance on one end and fiery pace on the other.
• McGrath acts as the main strike bowler throughout the innings.
• Akhtar uses his pace to get wickets early and bowls a bit of reverse swing in the death.
• Bumrah is first change and specialist death bowler.
• Ashwin is the main spinner and his job is to restrict and make it difficult to score runs in the middle overs
• Jayasuriya keeps it flat and restricts scoring.
• Maxwell supports the other spinners in the middle overs and helps keep things tight.
• Aravinda is an underrated bowler in my view and has a lovely action - he'll help in the middle overs.

Bowler in focus: Glenn McGrath

GOAT doing GOAT things:

 

[Skills]

Team 12Oz

1- Matthew Hayden AUS - L - 6133, 43.81, 78.96
2- Shikhar Dhawan IND - L - 6105, 45.55, 93.79
3- Ricky Ponting AUS - R, Cpt - 13704, 164, 42.03, 80.39
4- Martin Crowe NZ - R - 4704, 107, 38.56, 72.63
5- Shakib Al Hasan BAN - L, L Off - 6600, 37.93, 82.13 - 277, 29.44, 39.72
6- Jos Butler ENG - R, Wk - 3872, 38.72, 118.66
7- Chris Woakes ENG - R, R fast - 1315, 25.78, 90.88 - 155, 29.46, 32.36
8- Daniel Vettori NZ - L, L Off - 2253, 17.33, 82.98, 305, 31.74, 46.00
9- Chaminda Vaas SL - L, L Fast - 2025, 13.68, 72.42 - 400, 27.53, 39.40
10- Nathan Bracken AUS - L fast - 174, 24.36, 33
11- Joel Garner WI - R fast - 146, 18.85, 36.51

12 - Trent Boult NZ - L fast - 169, 25.21, 30.28


Matthew Hayden - L
Runs - 6133
Avg. - 43.81
SR - 78.96

Shikhar Dhawan - L
Runs - 6105
Avg. - 45.55
SR - 93.79

Ricky Ponting - R, Cpt
Runs - 13704
Avg. - 42.03
SR - 80.39

Martin Crowe - R
Runs - 4704
Avg. - 38.56
SR - 72.63

Shakib Al Hasan - L, L Off
Runs - 6600
Avg. - 37.93
SR - 82.13
Wickets - 277
Avg. - 29.44
SR - 39.72

Jos Butler - R, Wk
Runs - 3872
Avg. - 38.72
SR - 118.66

Chris Woakes - R, R Fast
Runs - 1315
Avg. - 25.78
SR - 90.88
Wickets - 155
Avg. - 29.46
SR - 32.36

Brad Hogg AUS - L, L Leg
Runs - 790
Avg. - 20.25
SR- 78.60
Wickets - 156
Avg. - 26.84
SR - 35.60

Chaminda Vaas - L, L Fast
Runs - 2025
Avg. - 13.68
SR - 72.42
Wickets - 400
Avg. - 27.53
SR - 39.40

Nathan Bracken - L, L Fast
Wickets - 174
Avg. - 24.36
SR - 33

Joel Garner - R, R Fast
Wickets - 146
Avg. - 18.85
SR - 36.51


Trent Boult - R, L Fast
Wickets - 169
Avg. - 25.21
SR - 30.28

I have a nasty decision to make with my three quality quick lefties. Vaas is in purely as the best batsman of the three and Bracken is in ahead of Trent based on better big match performances, such as the 2006 Champions Trophy where he at times opened the bowling ahead of the illustrious Pidge. On a green top Vettori sits out, all three of these quicks are in alongside Big Bird and Woakes and heaven help the batsmen taking guard against them.

On the batting; Himannv has fantastic batting depth down to 7 and bats down to 8 but for me I have the stronger 1-6 and bat down to 9, meaning the likes of Shakib and Buttler have a better chance to unleash alongside the likes of Woakes, Vettori and Vaas while Miller may find himself opposite Bumrah and Ahktar quicker than he'd like.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

For Miller, read Maxwell ^. Also @Skills it's Vettori at 8 rather than Hogg, apologies.

As said in my write up I prefer my 1-6 and I have the better selection of quick bowlers. The spinners are close and I'd give it to Himannv as he has four of them, but I like Shakib and Vettori just fine for 20 overs of superb control.

 

[Himannv]

As said in my write up I prefer my 1-6 and I have the better selection of quick bowlers.

Personally I prefer my top 7 to yours man for man. I think the trio of Miller, Hussey, Maxwell in particular will put any team to the sword later in the innings and will be hard to match in terms of firepower.

On the pace attack, I disagree in terms of quality. I think only Garner gets into my team.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Personally I prefer my top 7 to yours man for man. I think the trio of Miller, Hussey, Maxwell in particular will put any team to the sword later in the innings and will be hard to match in terms of firepower.

On the pace attack, I disagree in terms of quality. I think only Garner gets into my team.

But you only have three quicks, on a green top I can bowl 50 overs of quality pace.

Your lower middle is better than mine with the addition of Miller, but for me Butler is the best finisher in this game; Miller has no experience finishing at the top level and Maxwell for me hits out too often when the game is there for him to take. On paper the LMO battle is a no-brainer, there's no point denying it, but in practice it's closer than it looks.

As for the top I have Hayden and Ponting as absolute GOATs in their positions, Dhawan who's numbers could be said to flatter him but he's a proven quality ICC tournament player, Crowe who for me is a GOAT with peerless technique, Shakib who stands up to stronger nations almost every time he takes guard and does so with aplomb and Butler who as I said I prefer to both Miller and Maxwell.

 

[Himannv]

But you only have three quicks, on a green top I can bowl 50 overs of quality pace.

Your lower middle is better than mine with the addition of Miller, but for me Butler is the best finisher in this game; Miller has no experience finishing at the top level and Maxwell for me hits out too often when the game is there for him to take. On paper the LMO battle is a no-brainer, there's no point denying it, but in practice it's closer than it looks.

As for the top I have Hayden and Ponting as absolute GOATs in their positions, Dhawan who's numbers could be said to flatter him but he's a proven quality ICC tournament player, Crowe who for me is a GOAT with peerless technique, Shakib who stands up to stronger nations almost every time he takes guard and does so with aplomb and Butler who as I said I prefer to both Miller and Maxwell.

You need a balance of spinners and quicks in any ODI game or your pacers will be wasted in the middle overs. In terms of quality pacers I think my trio is better and any of the bowlers you have bar Garner.

Miller is in at 5 so that there's time for my best finisher - Hussey - to come in when it counts. I do love Buttler and I'm a big fan, but I think Hussey is arguably an even better finisher. That guy is just gun in that role and will just hit it clean from the get go.

As openers I'd take Sanath and QdK ahead of Hayden and Dharwan. On his day, no one will take an attack apart better than Sanath and QdK is consistent and attacking in equal measure. Lara vs Ponting is more or less equal and I'd take de Silva ahead of Crowe personally. On the whole I think my batting is better in comparison.

 

[Himannv]

Was just watching this before the game:


Keep an eye on that scoreline - he's scoring at a rate that can match what you'd see in a modern T20 and he's doing it back in 1996!

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

You need a balance of spinners and quicks in any ODI game or your pacers will be wasted in the middle overs. In terms of quality pacers I think my trio is better and any of the bowlers you have bar Garner.

Miller is in at 5 so that there's time for my best finisher - Hussey - to come in when it counts. I do love Buttler and I'm a big fan, but I think Hussey is arguably an even better finisher. That guy is just gun in that role and will just hit it clean from the get go.

As openers I'd take Sanath and QdK ahead of Hayden and Dharwan. On his day, no one will take an attack apart better than Sanath and QdK is consistent and attacking in equal measure. Lara vs Ponting is more or less equal and I'd take de Silva ahead of Crowe personally. On the whole I think my batting is better in comparison.

Yeah I should have said the option to bowl 50 overs of pace. As it is mine is a better unit of fast bowlers; Pidge is a GOAT, Shoaib is great and Bumrah is a modern great but Garner is also a GOAT quick, Vaas and Bracken are great, and I would say criminally underrated, ODI bowlers and Woakes is a superb modern swing bowler proven at the highest level.

Sanath is a beast who's average doesn't do him justice, no complaints there, but Matthew Hayden has the numbers, passes the eye test and has won the lot, by absolutely no accident. Dhawan is not Rohit but he's a big game player who has proven his critics wrong time and again with superb attacking opening. Ponting gets the nod over Lara for me as a batsman, captain and crucially a multiple ICC winner. I think both our number fours are among their nations' greatest ever ODI batsmen; Aravinda has 1996 going for him but Crowe's leadership from the front in 1992 is legendary and his technique stood up time and again against all kinds of quality bowling in all conditions. I'm taking my 1-4 every time and twice on Sunday, then I have the best finisher in this game (though I admit Hussey is awesome, obviously), Shakib who stands tall at ICC level against far more exalted nations, Woakes who is a genuine ODI all-rounder and no hint of a bunny until number 10.

On the other hand you have Miller and Maxwell who I honestly think flatter to deceive too often, though of course their numbers deserve respect, and three number 11s. I prefer both my bowlers and by batsmen as units, though I'm sure personal preference and of course stinking bias are involved on that score

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Was just watching this before the game:


Keep an eye on that scoreline - he's scoring at a rate that can match what you'd see in a modern T20 and he's doing it back in 1996!

He's a beaut beyond doubt. I have to say though he'll have more of a task getting on top of my unit than that Wasim-less Pakistan attack!

 

[Mani]

Aravinda and Crowe more are less equal in my eyes, though Shoaib was good against most countries but Aussie had fair amount of success against him ,Hayden was particularly good against him, also he give away too many loose deliveries.Ravi vs Vettori, latter one was much better spinner in ODI than former.Over all I like both the teams and it’s a close contest, Himanav’s LMO and his over all bowling unit looks much better than Oz’ so gone with Himanav.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Aravinda and Crowe more are less equal in my eyes, though Shoaib was good against most countries but Aussie had fair amount of success against him ,Hayden was particularly good against him, also he give away too many loose deliveries.Ravi vs Vettori, latter one was much better spinner in ODI than former.Over all I like both the teams and it’s a close contest, Himanav’s LMO and his over all bowling unit looks much better than Oz’ so gone with Himanav.

Butler is the best finisher in this game though I'd be foolish not to admit Himannv has the better LMO. I just don't see eye to eye with you and Himannv on the bowling units; with three quicks if one has an off day, let's say Shoaib is a little loose, he's left without proper coverage. A three-pronged bowling attack without so much as a medium pace option looks risky to me and I'd be confident of doing a number on that team on a decent bowling wicket given the options I have.

 

[The Cat]

Aravinda and Crowe more are less equal in my eyes, though Shoaib was good against most countries but Aussie had fair amount of success against him ,Hayden was particularly good against him, also he give away too many loose deliveries.Ravi vs Vettori, latter one was much better spinner in ODI than former.Over all I like both the teams and it’s a close contest, Himanav’s LMO and his over all bowling unit looks much better than Oz’ so gone with Himanav.

Similar here - maybe two players just about swung it for me but it's close.

 

[harshad]

Hasnt Shakib had his most successful run while playing at No.3

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Hasnt Shakib had his most successful run while playing at No.3

Indeed, he averages 50+ in that position and has played most of his later innings there. However we have to accept that is for Bangladesh, who don't have Punter and Crowe to come in before him. He'll be just fine at 5 for me, with carte blanche to start hitting as soon as he can.

 

[V.O.]

I took forever to decide and it's a lot closer than the current voting might suggest, but I think Himannv edges it with a scarier looking (though not necessarily deeper) bowling attack after Garner and McGrath cancel each other out, and the rock solid LMO.

I think I'd probably have taken Boult over Bracken as well for the wicket-taking threat, but that's a conundrum whichever way you go.

 

[Mani]

Butler is the best finisher in this game though I'd be foolish not to admit Himannv has the better LMO. I just don't see eye to eye with you and Himannv on the bowling units; with three quicks if one has an off day, let's say Shoaib is a little loose, he's left without proper coverage. A three-pronged bowling attack without so much as a medium pace option looks risky to me and I'd be confident of doing a number on that team on a decent bowling wicket given the options I have.

Hussey I should say, sheer number of game winning knock is much higher.Butler on his day is fun to watch but he lacks consistency.
I'm not sure how Himanav would use his bowlers here, but coming into end overs its not going to be easy task to score against Shoiab or Bumrah.
Also I"v to agree with you on his 5th or 6th options,Jaya is a decent bowler and that's it, as I said before its close one.HIs LMO against your attack vs your LMO against his in the end overs.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

I took forever to decide and it's a lot closer than the current voting might suggest, but I think Himannv edges it with a scarier looking (though not necessarily deeper) bowling attack after Garner and McGrath cancel each other out, and the rock solid LMO.

I think I'd probably have taken Boult over Bracken as well for the wicket-taking threat, but that's a conundrum whichever way you go.

Let's be honest the last reenforcement round didn't go well for me and I was unable to make significant additions, and have ended up swapping nationalities for fairly similar players. If we'd played this fixture in Rd1 I'd have been confident but while I got marginally stronger bowling Himannv has done great work on his upper and lower middle order. Them's the breaks in sheep drafts, no complaints from me on that.

Hussey I should say, sheer number of game winning knock is much higher.Butler on his day is fun to watch but he lacks consistency.
I'm not sure how Himanav would use his bowlers here, but coming into end overs its not going to be easy task to score against Shoiab or Bumrah.
Also I"v to agree with you on his 5th or 6th options,Jaya is a decent bowler and that's it, as I said before its close one.HIs LMO against your attack vs your LMO against his in the end overs.

Fair comment, Hussey is fantastic and it's probably recency and national biases coming to the fore in me backing Butler so readily over him.

I think only three quick bowlers in an ODI team can be a serious problem. In this case I don't see Ahktar and Bumrah as anything like a huge advantage over Bracken, Vaas and Woakes, particularly as the spinners Himannv has given at least 20 overs to are by no means stellar. For me on a green top Boult is in instead of Vettori and it's the option of 40+ overs of world class ODI fast bowling. On a moderate pitch broadly speaking I've got options to blend my 40 overs of quick and 20 overs of top class spin how I see fit. I accept Himannv's point that you don't necessarily want all your quicks bowling their allotted overs in the middle but I totally reject the suggestion that I'm facing the stronger bowling unit when he'll be asking three quicks to bowl ten overs or else turning to part-time spinners.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

It looks like I should concede the match. Well-drafted @Himannv, best of luck in the next round.

 

[Himannv]

Thanks mate.

 

[Himannv]

Just got a bit of time. Well played @12OunceEpilogue - I like your team and I guess it's all minor preferences that will decide votes. What are your thoughts on improvement points in the next round?

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Just got a bit of time. Well played @12OunceEpilogue - I like your team and I guess it's all minor preferences that will decide votes. What are your thoughts on improvement points in the next round?

I'd be after a fourth quick bowler for one of Miller or Maxwell. Trouble is your batting is great so it would be a shame to weaken it; someone like Klusener would be perfect but even someone like Woakes (who is now available )could be a difference-maker in that team, which is already very good.

Best of luck next time.