In less than 24 hours the cricket World Cup starts in India.  We are very fortunate to have signed up Lizzy Ammond, one of the games foremost experts on the small ball game to blog for us during the tournament. Her opening post for us is just a mere loosener outside off stump.

“Prompted by the Barcelona v Arsenal match on Wednesday evening, I recall having a conversation with a few people about Lionel Messi and whether we were witnessing one of the all time greatest footballers.   I was having the conversation with some slightly grumpy old men but the resounding response was “no you can’t put him in the same bracket as Pele, Maradona, Moore, Beckenbauer, Zidane etc.”   Arguments such as La Liga isn’t a strong league, can he do it on a cold night in Stoke (!).   Surely this Barcelona team contains 1 or 2 players who will go down in history?

It got me thinking – do we ever think we are currently watching one of the Greats or do we only really put them in the “Great” category once they’ve been retired for a little while?  Is there an element of rose tinted glasses here.  An unwillingness to accept that the players we are currently watching might just be better?

In the current international cricket arena – are we seeing any potential “Greats” – anyone who would get into the best all time XI?   Alongside Len Hutton, Don Bradman (spit), Viv Richards, etc?

I think we are actually quite spoilt and have been in very recent times with witnessing some players who without much argument would get into the all time XI but with the possible exceptions of Tendulkar and Warne do we really recognise it whilst they’re actually playing?

Who (other than Tendulkar) in the forthcoming World Cup could you make a case for being in an all time XI?  Ponting?  Kallis? anyone else?

I’m just chucking this out there ……………….”