Cricket stats puzzle

What is the precise statistical basis for the selection of the following 'fantasy' XI (featuring 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers)?

Stewart
Atherton
Vaughan
Butcher
Hussain
Gooch
DeFreitas
Gough
Fraser
Caddick
Malcolm

These would be the six other players in the same squad (3 more batsmen, and 3 more bowlers, picked on the same basis):

Thorpe
Ramprakash
Pietersen
Headley
Tufnell
and Hoggard or Harmison

Originally posted by FMF
What is the precise statistical basis for the selection of the following 'fantasy' XI (featuring 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers)?

Stewart
Atherton
Vaughan
Butcher
Hussain
Gooch
DeFreitas
Gough
Fraser
Caddick
Malcolm

These would be the six other players in the same squad (3 more batsmen, and 3 more bowlers, picked on the same basis):

Thorpe
Ramprakash
Pietersen
Headley
Tufnell
and Hoggard or Harmison

Total stab in the dark. As they are all players from the last 20 years or so, are these the top English run scorers and wicket takers in tests against South Africa?

Or, alternatively, the top individual score / most wickets taken in a test match against South Africa. I recall Devon Malcolm taking a bucketful against them once.

Or best test averages against South Africa?

Originally posted by Rank outsider
Total stab in the dark. As they are all players from the last 20 years or so, are these the top English run scorers and wicket takers in tests against South Africa?

Or, alternatively, the top individual score / most wickets taken in a test match against South Africa. I recall Devon Malcolm taking a bucketful against them once.

Or best test averages against South Africa?

No. This puzzle does not involve South Africa.

Originally posted by FMF
No. This puzzle does nojt involve South Africa.

I thought I was being so clever.

Anything to do with alphabetical order?

Originally posted by Rank outsider
I thought I was being so clever.

Anything to do with alphabetical order?

No. You were on the right lines before.

Originally posted by FMF
No. You were on the right lines before.

Is it about performances against a specific country?

Originally posted by Rank outsider
Is it about performances against a specific country?

Yes.

Bangladesh?

Originally posted by Rank outsider
Bangladesh?

Neither Ramprakash nor Headley [for instance] played any Tests against Bangladesh.

Originally posted by FMF
Neither Ramprakash nor Headley [for instance] played any Tests against Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka?

Originally posted by Rank outsider
Sri Lanka?

Dean Headley never played a Test against them.

Ramprakash only scored 95 against them in 2 games.

Is it bad performance related rather than good?

Australia?

Originally posted by Rank outsider
Is it bad performance related rather than good?

Australia?

England unable to win AWAY in Australia 1988-2007, most prolific run scorers and most prolific wicket takers.

Originally posted by FMF
What is the precise statistical basis for the selection of the following 'fantasy' XI (featuring 6 batsmen and 5 bowlers)?

Stewart
Atherton
Vaughan
Butcher
Hussain
Gooch
DeFreitas
Gough
Fraser
Caddick
Malcolm

These would be the six other players in the same squad (3 more batsmen, and 3 more bowlers, picked on the same basis):

Thorpe
Ramprakash
Pietersen
Headley
Tufnell
and Hoggard or Harmison

those must be the best cricketeers of all time.

maybe they lift their pinky the highest during the tea intervals or wear the most crisply starched knickers?

Originally posted by Red Night
those must be the best cricketeers of all time.

maybe they lift their pinky the highest during the tea intervals or wear the most crisply starched knickers?

No, these are the guys who were never quite the best, but still had more ball skills than any baseball player in existence.