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I saw an intriguing article yesterday – “Imagine Aussie cricket without NSW.”
It certainly caught my attention and had me thinking, what if we selected an ‘all-time best NSW XI’ and ‘all-time best Rest of Australia XI?’
How would they compare?
Selection would be made along ‘state of origin’ lines whereby a player made his first-class debut.
In an overwhelming number of cases, players debuted for the state they were born and raised in.
Well, I’ve had a crack at it and would be interested in the thoughts of other Roarers.
All-time NSW XI:
Victor Trumper
Arthur Morris
Don Bradman (also SA-c)
Stan McCabe
Allan Border (also Queensland)
Steve Waugh
Adam Gilchrist (also WA-wk)
Alan Davidson
Ray Lindwall (also Queensland)
Bill O’Reilly
Glenn McGrath
Such is the extraordinary depth and quality of this team, then consider this second XI: Bob Simpson (also WA), Bill Brown (also Queensland), Charlie Macartney, Michael Clarke, Doug Walters, Monty Noble, Richie Benaud, Bert Oldfield (wk), Jeff Thomson (alsoQ ueensland), Charles Turner, Fred Spofforth (also Vic).
All-time Rest Of Australia XI:
Bill Ponsford (Vic)
Matt Hayden (Queensland)
Ricky Ponting (Tas-c)
Neil Harvey (Vic/NSW)
Greg Chappell (SA/Queensland)
Keith Miller (Vic/NSW)
Mitchell Johnson (Queensland/WA)
Shane Warne (Vic)
Jack Blackham (Vic-wk)
Clarrie Grimmett (Vic/SA)
Dennis Lillee (WA/Tas)
A ROA second XI isn’t too bad either: Bill. Lawry (Vic),Bill Woodfull (Vic), Ian Chappell (SA), Bob Cowper (Vic/WA), Mike Hussey (WA), Jack Ryder (Vic), Don Tallon (Queensland-wk), Jason Gillespie (SA), Hugh Trumble (Vic), Craig McDermott (Queensland), Bruce Reid (WA).
It’s possible I might have missed the odd player here or there in which case I apologise
The author of the article I read went on to say the current Australian team contains six regular selections: Michael Clarke, Steve Smith, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Nathan Lyon (although Watson and Lyon began their careers elsewhere).
While Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Moises Henriques await in the wings.
Furthermore, 11 of 28 contracted CA players are from NSW.
Finally, since the Sheffield Shield was first competed for in 1892/93, NSW has won 46 titles; Victoria 28; Western Australia 15; South Australia 13; Queensland seven and Tasmania three.
Like it or not, I imagine Australian cricket would be very poor without the contribution of NSW.
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