Murray: Lara in list of ‘elite’ omissions

much ado about nothing !

All these Lists are subjective and should be used as Toilet paper !  :

I see WG Grace as an inclusion on the basis of his stature in the history of the game.  he was instrumental in its development.

that is also one factor on which selection is based.  Graces' record as a player is not vapour by the way. neither was Hobbs'.  but as great batsman compared to the greats we know ::confused::

NAH!  Hobbs is strictly second tier.

I diasgree with Deryck.  a worlds greatest ever is not so hard to select.  it selects itself in some instances...most instances ::confused::

Lara and Tendulkar pik themselves for example.  if we pik Grace on the above basis so too Tendy as a seminal figure in Indian cricket, Sobers in West Indies cricket. when we add the stats of the first  2 the case is sealed.

but Lara was also the very greatest batsman the game has produced..with Tendulkar just second.

{thats 3}

where it gets difficult in the batting is what to do with such as Kanhai for he was also an outsized figure in the west indian game..  in the West Indian social life...out-sized..and surely the most brilliantly creative batsman who ever lived! ::confused:: 

Lara was also brilliantly creative but I give pride of place to Kanhai.

the fast bowling will be difficult I admit..the spin Warne due to suspicion about Murali's action.  I am sure that is what influenced the pik-ers of this world 11 in that department.

the spin would be reduced to only those 2  Warne and Murali so another position all but fills itself... {4}

Marshall sort of separates himself in the pace so he is in. { 5 }

but we have Wasim Akram, Lillee, NcGrath, Imran, Holding, Ambrose, Walsh... Donald who grows in my estimation every day... Truman..even Garner, John Snow... and I am sure there a few others I have missed.

my 3 at this point would be Marshall, Akram and Lillee { 7 }

and about the keeper....there is a big group that would be rated but I would deal only with the modern keepers..those over the last 60 years or so..but keepers like Gilchrist, Hendricks, Dujon, Knott..stand out.  maybe Boucher the south african.

as for Bradman as a batsman... I have long held that hero to one with feet of clay.  Bradman for me is like Winston Churchill in politics or Einstein in science..total frauds, fake heros built up to focus the masses and distract them from the truth in the life around them.

nuff said.  I suppose Bradman is to be included on the 'stories' about him and his phenomenal average, until these are put in proper perspective and finally debunked. 

{so thats 8 }

and of course Sobers {9}

{and if they insist on Richards... thats 10 with Kanhai lurking...11 }

its not rocket science Deryck..we can get close in unanimity

Excellent analysis !

those are the reasons I dont get too uptight when these so called Lists appear ..