I did this exercise about ten years ago as a guest on another blog which ceased because the principal took up a position which meant blogging was not appropriate to their employment. A few things have changed on the cricket scene since then – the arrival of Kane Williamson being one. So here is my team in batting order:
- Glenn Turner
- Stew Dempster
- Kane Williamson
- Martin Crowe
- Martin Donnelly
- John R Reid (Captain)
- BJ Watling
- Daniel Vettori
- Richard Hadlee
- Shane Bond
- Trent Bolt
Twelth man and substitute fielder John Beck – this team will play under old rules not ones that have a group of fringe players running onto the field at the end of each over as happens today. They will bowl their 90 overs in a day without weather interruptions and will score runs at a good clip.
I have only one really unlucky player – the great Bert Sutcliffe who I just could not fit into my batting order.
What changes would you make to my X1?
No Minister 
I might have replaced Watling with McCullum.
Fair comment Adolf – I was initially leaning towards Wadsworth whose career was cut short by cancer so McCullum probably came in 3rd for me.
I played against Wadsworth when I was ten. Kaikohe v Kawakawa
Interesting – I always thought he was from the Nelson area.
Jeremy Coney and Martin Snedden should be in there in my opinion with Ewen Chatfield at tail-ender 🙂
We are talking all time – none of those three would make a second X1 in my view – good solid performers though they were
Wow, high bar for inclusion. So no interest in putting Geoff “gin and tonic” Howarth on the list either? 🙂
Hard to see Geoff Howarth getting past Sutcliffe, Fleming, and Taylor in a batting line up but he was an excellent Captain and as I recall scored hundreds in consecutive tests around the time he took over as Captain.
PDM I might be mistaken but the memory is strong. Wrong one. It was Ted not Ken.
Jack Cowie instead of Boult. John F, not John R Reid. Ross Taylor instead of Donnelly. Crowe to captain. Also not convinced Smith wasn’t a better keeper than Watling, although you’d probably prefer Watling for his batting.
I actually have a version of this team on my Cricket 19 Playstation game. It’s quite something seeing them play together!
Cowie v Boult a close call but I went for Boult because of the variety he brings being a left armer.
There is a case for Taylor but everything I read and hear about Donnelly is he was one of the very best and probably not room for he and Taylor.
In my team 6 is an all rounder spot and J R Reid is the best in my time – J F Reid doesn’t fill that bill.
Agree Smith was a serious contender as wicketkeeper – we are well off there and Frank Mooney is probably another contender. I went for Watling but anyone of those would fill the role admirably – Smith for Watling would weaken the batting slightly as you say.
Reid was a strong captain who carried generally weak NZ teams in the late 50’s and early 60’s – I believe he would get more out of this team than Crowe.