Posted by   on (July 9, 2010, 20:55 GMT)

Jeff Dujon, hands down, would be my choice for the 'keeper's spot. Neither Walcott nor Hedricks kept long enough to warrant selection. Derryck Murray was solid,level-headed, but not spectacular. One not mentioned here is probably our technically purest 'keeper ever, David Murray. Naturally talented, but came along at the wrong time.Could bat a bit too;did so at # 3 for Bim on more than one occasion. Great playerof AND 'keeper to spin.Our incumbent Ramdin has a very long way to go before being considered one of our greats.My ideal XI: Hunte, Greenidge,Richards,Sobers,Lara, Weekes, Worrell (capt.), Dujon, Marshall, Ambrose & Gibbs. Worrell is perhaps the greatest ever captain in ANY sport. His exploits are in a word:legendary.Stylish batsman too. The incomparable Sobers is an automatic pick in any WI or World XI. Marshall is certainly either the greatest pacer who ever graced a cricket field, or is in the top 3 for sure. Richards simple broke bowlers' hearts. The rest select themselves.

Someone said that a team with openers av.40+,and other batsmen av.50+,we dont need Walcott to keep to bolster the batting,absolutely correct!Walcott,Weekes and Headley all av.55+,and MUST be included in the middle order,---for the remaining position Richards and Lara would have to fight for that spot!NOTE! Walcott was put forward for two positions---Middle order batsman,and wicketkeeper.I would,however, go for Walcott as keeper. Lara has to be included based on averages alone, ahead of Richards,however,I would rather watch the brute force of Richards ahead of the self centred Lara any day!My team so far ,based on the positions put forward by the panel and based on averages alone ,would be .Hunte,Greenidge,Weekes,Lara.Headley.Sobers,Walcott,however, I would rather watch Fredericks,Greenidge,Weekes,Richards,Lara,Sobers and Walcott any day.

How did Ridley Jacobs not make the list ?

Dear Slaton, Being biased is one thing but being irratrional is another. How can you even compare Weeks with Lara? Lara is probaly the first pick on the side after Sobers. Also, your side has 4 middle order batsmen with Sobers coming at # 7? You may as well pick only batsmen....they'll probaly make 1000 runs in every innings and not lose a game.

I'm Biased as I wouldn't even select this team without Worrell as captain.That being so and selecting a team around him most of the choices made so far wouldn't be made by me.

That being so my choices are

Hunte and Worrell to open

Headley, Richards, Lara and Weekes in the middle - an extra bat because we have the extra allrounder in Worrell and well Richards can always throw his hand over plus I couldn't separate Lara and Weekes - Mr. Big Runs against Mr. Consistency

Sobers

Murray because we need someone who can actually read spin

Marshall, Roberts- the two most complete fast bowlers we have ever had

Gibbs- The best off spinner in the world during his era and certainly our best spinner ever.

@Waspsting!You claimed to have never seen Walcott,yet you say he wasnt a top class keeper(a keeper who rarely misses a chance),otherwise he wouldnt have given up the gloves!Walcott didnt give up the gloves based on those.He gave up the gloves because as a big man,6ft,2",the constant bending down and getting up was beginning to take a toll on his massive frame,and because he could have easily made the team as a batsman,he decided to hang up the gloves to concentrate on his batting,and rightly so,because his av.jump from 49 as a keeper,to 56 as a batsman!How many chances did Walcott and Dujon missed(just curious).It is also POSSIBLE that Dujon could have dropped Bradman on 20 before he goes on to make 220!There could also have been days when Dujon could have made 150,and Walcott a duck.Your logic is flawed too!As I said before,if Walcott doesnt make the team as the keeper,he has to make it as a batsman .

Walcott kept wicket for the West Indies from Jan 1948 to Nov 1951. During 15 test matches he took 27 catches and made 11 stumpings while keeping to Ramadhin and Valentine. His batting average for the period was 40.36 with a highest score of 168 against England at Lords. He was not dropped as wicket keeper because of spilling catches but because of a bad back caused by a spinal injury. Jeff Dujon took 267 catches and made 5 stumpings in 81 matches. His batting average was 31.94. Therefore, Dujon may have an advantage keeping to the fast bowlers, but Walcott would be superior standing up to a spinner, and has a superior batting average. This is what you call a win-win situation. Both Walcott and Dujon would be excellent choices. However, as a spectator I'd love to watch Walcott bat.

This is my team: Greenidge, Haynes, Headley, Lara, Richards, Sobers, Walcott, Marshall, Holding, Roberts & Gibbs. No all-time XI from any other country can beat this team.

@metman - loved your response! - and appreciate its tone the the scathing one often adopted in such debates. I never saw Walcott - but heres my philosophy.

Pick the best batsman among TOP CLASS KEEPERS. don't sacrifice keeping abilities for batting abilities. as far as i know, walcott wasn't a top class keeper (which I'd define as a guy who rarely misses a chance) - if he were, he wouldn't have given up the gloves. Andy Flower, Kanhai, Dravid and even Sangakarra all fit into the same category.

thats just my opinion. There'll be days when keeper Walcott will thump 150 where Dujon wouldn't have, but there will also be days when he'll drop Bradman on 20 before the Don goes on to 220 where Dujon wouldn't have.

But personally, I'd pick Dujon over a batsman-keeper like Walcott.

Greenidge and Haynes are a legendary opening pair but for an all time Windies squad one or both may need to go so that Headley, Lara, Richards, Weekes and Walcott can be accomodated. And of course Gary Sobers. I cannot see how any of the these six can be left out while Greenidge and Haynes take up two positions. Else sacrifice Dujon for Walcott.