An Associate Test XI?

Just read through a debate on associates in another forum. We are having a lot of Xis being debated over, why not have one on an associate test XI.

Here we go.

William Portterfield(Ire)
Paul Sterling(Ire)
Collins Obuya(Ken)
Nile O'brien-WK(Ire)
Alexei Kervezee(Neth)
Ryan Ten Doeschate(Neth)
Kevin O'brien(Ire)
Hamid Hasan(Afgh)
George Docrell(Ire)
Boid Rankin(Ire)
Pieter Seelaar(Neth)

Interesting topic. First thoughts on seeing your side:
1. Niall O'Brien doesn't keep wicket for Ireland, Gary Wilson does. I would have Wilson instead of Kervezee.
2. I wonder if Dockrell and Seelar in the same team is a bit too much (pretty similar bowlers), would maybe have that chubby Canadian leggie in instead, or didn't Afghanistan have a useful looking leggie in the T20 (the one who got Raina out if memory serves).
Otherwise the team looks pretty good IMO

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Interesting topic. First thoughts on seeing your side:
1. Niall O'Brien doesn't keep wicket for Ireland, Gary Wilson does. I would have Wilson instead of Kervezee.
2. I wonder if Dockrell and Seelar in the same team is a bit too much (pretty similar bowlers), would maybe have that chubby Canadian leggie in instead, or didn't Afghanistan have a useful looking leggie in the T20 (the one who got Raina out if memory serves).
Otherwise the team looks pretty good IMO

Gary Wilson doesn't always keep wicket for Ireland. when only both of them play he keeps. Otherwise its Niall who keeps. Kervezee does look promissing at the county level, and his serious county experience itself is an added advantage. so I'd rather have Niall keep with Alexei in the XI ahead of Wilson.

Seelaar and Docrell are different bowlers in their own ways. and they both are young and has taken out big players in the past.
If needed, Collins Obuya can slip in a few overs of Leggies, although his ones promissing bowling has fallen away of late. But a bit of variation would be good, and may be I'd get Balaji Rao in place of Seelaar, as I consider Dockrell as a fine player with great potential of real class.

dockrell will soon be plying his trade for england although it would be hard for him to break into the first choice XI.

im counting zimbabwe players in mine, because they dont play test cricket..

ireland play odi's they all do, but zim dont play tests and neither do the others so i am gonna include zim players

1)William Porterfield (C)
2)Paul Stirling
3)Ryan Ten Doeschate
4)Collins Oboya
5)Niall o'brien (WK)
6)Peter Borren
7)Jimmy Kamande
8)Bukhari
9)George Dockrell
10)Graeme Cremer
11)Boyd Rankin

cricketfan90

Zim are planning to get back to test cricket by the end of the year.
Don't think they are test class as yet, but the ways of the ICC.......

msp83 wrote:cricketfan90

Zim are planning to get back to test cricket by the end of the year.
Don't think they are test class as yet, but the ways of the ICC.......

yes but they are not playing tests at the moment!!!!!

msp83 wrote:cricketfan90

Zim are planning to get back to test cricket by the end of the year.
Don't think they are test class as yet, but the ways of the ICC.......

Zim voluntarily stopped playing Test Matches, they've been a Full ICC member since they gained Test status

Regardless of test status, Zimbabwe are of course a full member (which has perks like automatic WC qualification ) so surely don't qualify for an associate 11 (this is slightly tongue in cheek so please don't take offence)...

I thought O'Brien kept even if Wilson was also playing? Perhaps not anymore but I'm sure he did in the T20 WC in England (09? Strangely I have a better memory of more distant events). He is IMO a far superior keeper whatever the case.

I'm not sure Kevin O'Brien would make a test side (ODI certainly): dodgy technique and his bowling won't do much (any?) damage at that level. I'd be keen to get the extra batsman in, given that Ten D can bowl some decent seamers and Obuya and Stirling can chip in a bit. I rate Tom Cooper and Gary Wilson higher as batsmen than Kervezee but actually Jimmy Hansra (Canada) is probably better than either. Bagai also not bad, this is tough.

Long story short:
Porterfield (C) - genuine batsman
Stirling - more of a one-day player but still good enough to open in this side
Cooper - just over Wilson, tough choice
Obuya - anyone who can score quality runs against Aus has to have something
Ryan Ten D - possibly the greatest ever associate player
Hansra - very talented, plays spin well
N O'Brien (wkt) - bats 6 or 7 for Northants in the longer format with reasonable success; fine little player and one of the better keepers around
Hamid Hassan - really impressed by him at the T20
Balaji Rao - bowls some rubbish but also some unplayable balls
Rankin - not at his best recently, Bukhari is another option
Dockrell - class act, even India struggled against him

5 irish, 2 dutch, 2 canadians, 1 afghan and 1 kenyan. Prob about right.

The idea is good but they would get slapped by most nations.

Raymond wrote:The idea is good but they would get slapped by most nations.

They would probably be beaten by most TEST nations yes (although they would almost certainly beat Zimbabwe, probably Bangladesh, and given West Indies, maybe even Pakistan and New-Zealand a run for their money. They would however certainly beat almost all of the remaining 95 nations who currently play cricket...

Decent enough teams being suggested, but in terms of First Class cricket it shows how far the Associates are behind the Test Nations, when even an Associate Best X1 would be a mid-table team in the County Championship 2nd Div.

I do think there would be a few more Afghanistan players in the team, if people had seen more of them. I saw them against Scotland last year and they were the best Assoicate side I had seen by quite some distance.

Mike Selig wrote:

Raymond wrote:The idea is good but they would get slapped by most nations.

They would probably be beaten by most TEST nations yes (although they would almost certainly beat Zimbabwe, probably Bangladesh, and given West Indies, maybe even Pakistan and New-Zealand a run for their money. They would however certainly beat almost all of the remaining 95 nations who currently play cricket...

What does it matter them 95 teats don't play test cricket and they wouldn't stand a chance vs New Zealand or Pakistan, and West Indies if the board gets there act together.

WICB getting their act together? impossible!.

Surprised no one's suggested Ed Joyce for this team.

1) William Porterfield
2) Paul Stirling
3) Ed Joyce
4) Collins Obuya
5) Ryan TenDoeschate
6) Jimmy Hamsara
7) Niall O'Brien Wk
8) Hamid Hasan
9) Buhkarhi
10) George Dockrell
11) Boyd Rankin

Pretty decent team that bats quite deep. The bowling is the weakness IMO. Four main bowlers but you could take overs from Tendo, Obuya and Stirling but no real x-factor which is key.

Hoggy
Just couldn't remember Joice. Think he'll walk into such a XI. so in my XI, he comes in for the younger O'brien and bats 3.

and there is Hamish Marshall as well to be considered.

Tim Murtagh of Middlesex also recentely expressed an interest of playing for Ireland due to his grandparents

msp83 wrote:and there is Hamish Marshall as well to be considered.

No way Marshall doesn't count.

He played for the Black Caps so he should never to allowed to play for Ireland

Raymond wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:

Raymond wrote:The idea is good but they would get slapped by most nations.

They would probably be beaten by most TEST nations yes (although they would almost certainly beat Zimbabwe, probably Bangladesh, and given West Indies, maybe even Pakistan and New-Zealand a run for their money. They would however certainly beat almost all of the remaining 95 nations who currently play cricket...

What does it matter them 95 teats don't play test cricket and they wouldn't stand a chance vs New Zealand or Pakistan, and West Indies if the board gets there act together.

It matters because "them 95" play cricket. The world of cricket does not reduce to the test playing nations. And I disagree with your second sentence.

As a more general point, I think where associate nations struggle most is in the seam bowling department. If you think about it there are few associate players who can actually bowl as fast as 80mph and this appears to be a considerable handicap. Probably the main reason is the athletes (you need to be a natural athlete to bowl that fast) are no doubt taken up by other sports.

Ya I have to agree Mike. The situation for Ireland is besides Boyd Rankin who isnt particularily quick himself, our seam bowlers are gentle medium pacers who can bat a bit. They do an excellent job in containing sides but lack the x-factor to bowl sides out. Thats the reason i think why Ireland often run the test nations close but lose narrowly.

Hopefully though, with the introduction of full-time contracts for Irish players we'll see quicker bowlers. (That is if they're not nicked off us by the English )

rankin works up some decent pace

msp83 wrote:WICB getting their act together? impossible!.

True.

Mike Selig wrote:

Raymond wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:

Raymond wrote:The idea is good but they would get slapped by most nations.

They would probably be beaten by most TEST nations yes (although they would almost certainly beat Zimbabwe, probably Bangladesh, and given West Indies, maybe even Pakistan and New-Zealand a run for their money. They would however certainly beat almost all of the remaining 95 nations who currently play cricket...

What does it matter them 95 teats don't play test cricket and they wouldn't stand a chance vs New Zealand or Pakistan, and West Indies if the board gets there act together.

It matters because "them 95" play cricket. The world of cricket does not reduce to the test playing nations. And I disagree with your second sentence.

I doubt an associate XI would even win the county championship as many they are too many good (almost international standard) individual players in teams, e.g. Durham awesome batting and bowling would beat an associate XI 8/10 in a 5 day game. Somerset's batting, the bowlers would not stand a chance they would get taken to the cleaners. Nott's and Lanc's also have very good teams. International sides such as Pakistan, New Zealand and a full strength West Indies would beat the best County sides.

I am all for cricket been played more world wide, but at the moment (hopefully not in the future) it is a waste of time for test playing nations to play associate nations or an associate XI because of the difference in class.

Even Ryan Ten Doeschate wouldn't get into the England, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Australia test side's, it is a massive step up in class.

Ireland have proved that they are good enough to play in odi series vs the test playing nations. If an associate XI was made then I only see there level been good enough for ODI's

Find a spot for Mohammed Nabi from Afghanistan, useful bat useful ball.

na lol not in my side