Let us be honest here! The arguments will continue forever. Everyone will always have an opinion, others will even have several opinions, none coinciding with the other, as to whom should comprise the West Indies All-Time XI. Even though the West Indies cricket team has been active only since 1928, so many good, especially excellent, cricketers have been produced, that it is an absolutely shame that many cannot even be considered at all. However, the overall exercise is great fun! We have all noted the cricket Web site Cricinfo's West Indies All-Time XI. I doubt that anyone, including each judge on that panel, even agreed with himself, much less to agree with one another, as to the personnel to be included thus. Cricinfo's WI All-Time XI reads: Gordon Greenidge (Barbados), Conrad Hunte (Barbados), George Headley (Jamaica), Vivian Richards (Leeward Islands), Brian Lara (Trinidad & Tobago), Garfield Sobers (Barbados), Malcolm Marshall (Barbados), Jackie Hendricks (Jamaica), Michael Holding (Jamaica), Curtley Ambrose (Leeward Islands) and Lancelot Gibbs (Guyana). That is a very good, perhaps even great, combination.
Selecting simply the best players
That some of those selected–Greenidge, Richards, Marshall, Holding and Gibbs–are my own contemporaries is a massive honour. To have seen others play in my lifetime–Hunte, Sobers, Hendricks, Lara and Ambrose–compounds the pleasures and fortune. Finally, to have been included in the overall considerations to be one of the CI's West Indies All-Time XI is the practical icing on my tremendous West Indian cricket cake. However, there are a few, for me, that have been incorrectly included. I also know that my alternate selections could create further headaches, or heated arguments, or even, perhaps, personal abuse. But, I am entitled to my opinions too, am I not? Also, I do not care a damn about what is called a "balanced" cricket team. All I care about, in my WI A-T XI, is that they win always, at home and abroad–win, baby, win!
I have no problem with Gordon Greenidge as one opener. 108 Tests; 7558 runs; avg. 44.72; 128 ODI's; 5134 runs; avg. 45.03, are totally acceptable. Simply, no opening batsman, not even Geoff Boycott, in my life-time, otherwise even, has been as dominant! Conrad Hunte was a cousin of my father; hence one of my middle names. While accepted, serious considerations also go to Desmond Haynes and Roy Fredericks. Hunte played 44 Tests; 3245 runs; average 45.06. Fredericks played 59 Tests; 4334 runs; average 42.49. Haynes played 116 Tests; 7487 runs; average 42.29. For me, Hunte wins, only just, because of his dominance of his time, and his steadfastness of presence. No one in West Indies cricket history may have had more opening partners than Conrad Hunte.
The heart of any team's batting line-up
The CI WI A-T XI has a middle order to die, or perhaps, to live, for–George "Massa" Headley, Vivian "Smoking Joe" Richards, Brian "The Prince" Lara and Garfield "The Greatest" Sobers. None could be replaced or repositioned. However, with Clyde Walcott and Everton Weekes to consider, at least one must be selected for Crofty's WI A-T team. Imagine that Weekes cannot get into a WI A-T XI? Sacrilege! Yet, unfortunately, my greatest batting hero, and namesake too, also could not get into my team; quite painful!
For the record, Everton Weekes played 48 Tests; 4455 runs; average 58.61. Only Headley has a better WI average...period; 60.83. Clyde Walcott played 44 Tests; 3798 runs; average 56.68. Walcott also took 53 catches and 11 stumpings as wicket-keeper. That second quality–wicket-keeper–puts Walcott in my WI A-T team. Hendricks is out. Walcott's presence also extends my middle-order to astronomical run-getting standards!
Who was the WI's best keeper & bowler?
Jackie Hendricks may have been the best West Indian wicket-keeper ever; even that is debatable; with Jeff Dujon, Deryck, and David Murray in that consideration too, but Hendrick's lack of acceptable batting; 20 Tests, average 18.62; and my eventual WI A-T XI team's composition, does not warrant his presence. He's gone! Two of the fast bowlers selected select themselves, based on their cricketing stature–Malcolm Marshall and Curtley Ambrose. Marshall took 376 wickets from 81 Tests; average 20.94 runs per wicket. He also played 136 ODI's, 157 wickets, average 26.96, economy rate–runs per over–of 3.53. Ambrose had 405 wickets from 98 Tests; average 20.99.
He also played 176 ODI's, 225 wickets, at 24.12 runs per wicket, and an economy rate of 3.48. Both have been, simply, incredible performers. Before I could accept Michael "Whispering Death" Holding as the third fast bowler, I must think, then even think some more. He has been smooth and productive, but too many are simply too mesmerised by just appearance. I prefer to consider raw cricket input only. His 60 Tests; 249 wickets; average 23.68, and 102 ODI's, 142 wickets; average 21.36, economy rate of 3.32, do speak great volumes, but he will struggle to make my team.
Your choice–Garner or Marshall?
Anyway, as I have said often, and will say again, perhaps to remind, or irritate, I believe that the best fast bowler that I have ever played with, or against, is Joel "Big Bird" Garner. Marshall makes the overall team for longevity and incredible production. Garner makes my team based on dynamism, doggedness and sheer determination. The other consideration would be to ask if I really need a full-fledged spinner at all. Remember, I do not care about team balance, especially for the bowling attack. I care about a bowling attack that could give me, absolutely, an invincible winning edge. Therefore, for me, Lance Gibbs is gone too. I know that he had 79 Tests; 307 wickets; average 29.09. However, if I need a spinner, maybe once in 100 Test matches, based on my WI A-T team, I will use Sobers and Richards. I am going for outright pace here! Also, remember that Sobers could have bowled as quickly as anyone on his day too. What a player - five cricketers in one–orthodox leg-spinner, un-orthodox leg-spinner, fast-medium bowler, marvellous catcher and superlative batsman; a human miracle.
With him in any 11-man team, that team would comprise of 15 players! So, having made spaces for four fast bowlers in my WI A-T team, I have three to consider for the two places still available, to go with Marshall and Ambrose. Those to be considered are Holding, Garner and the venerable Wesley "Pace Like Fire" Hall. Wes Hall was the greatest forerunner of those of us to follow as perhaps great West Indies fast bowlers. His special effects, energy, and presence in 48 Tests; 192 wickets; average 26.38, make him a colossus of his time, and, in my mind, a colossus of all time. Joel Garner was bigger than his 6' 9" and 115 kilogrammes. One had to be in the same team with him to recognise and appreciate that. His 58 Tests; 259 wickets; unbelievable average 20.97, and 98 ODI's, 146 wickets, even more unbelievable average 18.84 and that incredible economy rate, 3.09, put him straight into my West Indies All-Time XI.
Croft's WI ALl time Xi
Gordon Greenidge, Conrad Hunte, George Headley, Vivian Richards, Brian Lara, Garfield Sobers, Clyde Walcott, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Wesley Hall, Joel Garner.
