Best AUS XI Of AllTime

[howzat]

Seen as though there is a thread for a Best World XI of all time and A Best World XI of only current players, I thought it would be only fair to have a Best Australian XI of all time thread

The only thing I don't like about these sorts of theoretical teams is that they are usually selected on averages or status. Often there are up to 6 or more captains selected in the 11 and the teams usually cover many different generations. Whether these players could have all worked together as a team is a different story. As cricket is a team game I have decided to base my selections on some of the great batting and bowling partnerships, which would add to the “team mentality”
There are still 4 captains in my side though... Please note I didn't include Bradman :shock:

1.Justin Langer
2.Matthew Hayden
3.Ricky Ponting
4.Ian Chappell
5.Steve Waugh(VC)
6.Allan Border (C)
7.Adam Gilchrist
8.Shane Warne
9.Glenn McGrath
10. Dennis Lillee
11. Jeff Thomson

 

[bombersfc]

Well, this is a nice challenge! No Bradman, thats just ludicrous! And Glenn McGrath at No. 9? The guy averaged 6! And seeing as I'm sick of the sight of most of the current or recent 'stars' in our 'all-conquering' team here is MY all time Aust XI:

1. Michael Slater
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Sir Donald Bradman
4. Greg Chappell (Ian was crap!)
5. Steve Waugh (Captain)
6. Keith Miller
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. DK Lillee
10. Terry Alderman (lol)
11. Glenn McGrath


12th Man- Ricky Ponting.

there ya go!

 

[hobo]

Interesting question , subjective and almost impoossible to answer........ for me (and most of us) I am not qualified to judge those who I never saw play, so here's my Australian 11 based on who I have seen play for myself.

1 Hayden
2 Taylor
3 Border
4 Ponting
5 S. Waugh
6 Walters
7 Gilchrist
8 Warne
9 Thomson
10 Lillee
11 McGrath

12th Man Alderman (if playing in England) Mallett (if playing on the sub continent) Slater or K Hughes if batting is out of form

 

[sonej38]

Very hard choice with the great cricketers Aust has had. Anyway, here's my choice for the Best Aust XI:

1. Bill Ponsford
2. Arthur Morris
3. Don Bradman
4. Neil Harvey
5. Steve Waugh
6. Keith Miller
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Ray Lindwall
10. Dennis Lillee
11. Jeff Thomson

12th man - Allan Border

 

[Matty76]

This isn't easy, is it? (bloody hard in fact!)

1. Arthur Morris
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Donald Bradman
4. Greg Chappell
5. Ricky Ponting
6. Keith Miller
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Ray Lindwall
10. Dennis Lillee
11. Glenn McGrath
12. Victor Trumper

 

[pacer67]

1. Bill Ponsford
2. V Trumper
3. Don Bradman
4. R Ponting
5. C McCartney
6. Keith Miller
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. C Grimmett
9. Ray Lindwall
10. Dennis Lillee
11. B.O'Reilly

 

[COMPO]

Beat these.
Victor Trumper Arthur Morris Don Bradman Greg Chappell Allan Border Keith Miller Adam Gilchrist Shane Warne Bill O'Reilly Dennis Lillee Glenn McGrath and Howzat as 12th man.

 

[Warney]

my pick:

1. Langer
2. Trumper
3. Bradman
4. Ponting
5. Border
6. Gilchrist
7. Warne
8. Lindwall
9. Thomson
10. Lillee
11. McGrath

12. S Waugh

 

[bombersfc]

Ponting ain't half the player Steve Waugh was. I can say that, being 28 and all.
well, in terms of captaincy, guts, commitment, passion and lack of needing to sell-out at evry available opportunity, Waugh kills him.

 

[Matty76]

Steve Waugh played for Steve Waugh.

 

[bjs127]

Steve Waugh played for Steve Waugh.

Couldn't agree more Matty.

Ponting has batted almost all of his career at 3 - Steve hid down the order!

Imagine what Ponting's average would be if he came in every innings when the ball was 50 overs old!!

 

[Warney]

it would be crazy, his average would be a lot higher than it currently is if he batted at 5. I think Number 3 suits Ricky though

 

[bombersfc]

You guys are lunatics! I'm talking about his character, or lack of it. Steve Waugh played for Australia actually, averaged over 50 without a hook shot, along with Border Started Aust's glory years, handy bowler actually...I remember him winning a number of ODIs with the ball at the death. Haven't seen Punter bowl lately. Gives the ball to the wrong person usually.

All my friends agree. Ponting= sensational batsman, fair captain.
Steve Waugh= great batsman, great captain.

 

[Warney]

Punter has never been a bowler so it is fair not to compare him in that respect. I think the last time Punter bowled was in the Ashes 05, 1-9 i think it was, pretty good for a guy who doesn't bowl much

EDIT: I have found the scorecard in the match he bowled in

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/216994.html

And he got Vaughan out! God he must be a pretty bad bowler!

---------- Post added 24-11-2009 at 07:17 AM ----------

and Ponting's got a better batting average batting higher

 

[bombersfc]

Okay he got one wicket. Steve Waugh took about 200 while scoring 10000 plus runs.
Lets agree to disagree?

C'mon Aussie C'mon!!

and if you read my post properly I admit that Ponting is a much better BATSMAN



ah, forget it

 

[bjs127]

Hey Bomber, no question S Waugh was the better captain - although fair to say he also had a fairly handy team at his disposal too!

I am not a SW hater at all - he does (and should) go down as one of Australia's all time great batsmen. I just think he took the selfish approach when Boon retired and Australia were really struggling for a #3.....he should have stepped up to the plate and taken ownership of the #3 spot, and for whatever reason he didn't.

However noone other than Bradman has a higher Test average for Australia than Punter. I think history will mark Ponting the better batsman - because he will score more runs than Steve Waugh, at a higher average, and having batted in the toughest position in the batting lineup there is, also with lesser players around him and therefore with more pressure. Ponting's average as captain is higher than before he was captain, which not many captains around the world (and in history) can lay claim to.

The debate of captaincy is a different argument altogether.....and Steve Waugh will win that argument every time!!

 

[Mamboblue72]

Steve Waugh played for Steve Waugh.

You obviously never saw him play! he played for all the good things the Baggy Green stands for! Quite simply the toughest fairest captain we ever had! And will be remembered long after he is gone!

 

[COMPO]

He certainly wore the baggy green with pride and instilled this pride in those who played under him. Pity he has now distanced himself from his fans.

 

[Matty76]

Sorry to SW fans that I offended. He used to be my favourite (have an aotgraphed card from 04/05 on my wall of his, and the News Ltd 1999 World Cup autographed photo).

A. The Anti-Ricky Ponting brigade REALLY get up my nose, so my post was tit-for-tat.
B. I think Steve played at least 2 seasons too long and left Ricky with and exhausted McGrath and Warne.

 

[Warney]

lol both guys are legends and let's keep it at that!!!!!!