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Black Caps fast bowler Shane Bond - Source: Photosport
Cricinfo.com, considered to be the bible of online cricket
coverage, has spent several months deliberating over which 11 Kiwis
were the best-of-the-best to represent New Zealand.
A jury of 10 selectors were chosen by Cricinfo to sift through all
the great players from the Black Caps' past and present.
The 10 jurors were a spread of respected current journalists and
media commentators, former players and ex-New Zealand
selectors.
The jury:
Richard Boock, Don Cameron, Dylan Cleaver, Ross Dykes, David
Leggat, Jonathan Millmow, John Morrison, Don Neely, Joseph Romanos
and Bryan Waddle.
Each member cast his vote for who he believed was the best player
of all-time, from the two opening batsmen, through the middle
order, spinners, pace bowlers and a wicketkeeper.
Glenn Turner, Martin Crowe and Sir Richard Hadlee received perfect
votes from the selectors, getting the nod from all 10.
There was a fair amount of pondering to be done when it came to the
rest of the side through.
Bert Sutcliffe, John Reid and Daniel Vettori got nine votes each
and Ian Smith eight.
Cricinfo all-time New Zealand XI:
Glenn Turner, Stewie Dempster, Bert Sutcliffe, Martin Crowe, Martin
Donnelly, John R Reid, Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori, Ian
Smith, Shane Bond, Jack Cowie, 12th man: Chris Cairns.
Debate raged on the site over who should make the cut, with voting
also open for the people to make their choices.
Cricinfo readers' XI:
Glenn Turner, John Wright, Bert Sutcliffe, Martin Crowe,
Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Sir Richard Hadlee, Brendon
McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Jack Cowie.
Comparing the two selections, there were some notable
disagreements.
In the all-rounders' berth the judges were unmoved on Reid, while
the Readers overwhelming voted for Cairns.
"Unbelievable. No Chris Cairns? Selection has always been a
problem that has dogged down NZ cricket for decades, resulting in
mediocre teams. Now the so called "judges" at Cricinfo have
similarly made a buffoonish choice by excluding Cairns from an
all-time NZ XI." one reply read.
Many were outraged at some of the omissions particularly that of
recent retired captain Fleming and former opening batsman
Wright.
No one was ever going to be happy with the final XI, particularly
the all-rounders.
But the XI chosen is certainly worthy of being declared New
Zealand's all-time XI.
