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After having a list of my favourite cricketers published on The Roar, the logical follow-up is to focus on the Australians I have most enjoyed watching.
Click here to read my previous piece.
My top four all-time favourite Australian cricketers are as follows:
1. Allan Border
When Allan Border rose to prominence in the mid-1980’s as Australia’s Captain, he became an inspiration.
He was the epitome of the little Aussie battler with everything against him, which mirrored my life at the time with skyrocketing mortgage rates forcing my family to the wall.
I lived through his example, as he taught me to find a way, no matter the challenge. Through that strength, he instilled a steely determination inside one to rise.
Winning the 1987 World Cup was the first flicker of hope, with regaining the Ashes in 1989 adding to the revival.
The 1990’s saw Australia’s re-emergence, and eventually, Australia’s dominance, mainly propelled by Border.
2. Jason Gillespie
I often think Gillespie got caught up in the wash between the genius of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and the hype of Brett Lee.
Consequently, he never got the plaudits he deserved.
Gillespie was an exceptionally skilled fast bowler who I would happily rate in the top ten pacemen I have seen.
I sat in awe of him in India in 2004, as he resembled an irresistible, relentless force. He frightened batsmen with his fire and intimidated them with the eclectic threats in his bowling arsenal.
His bowling smarts were a standout.
Away from his bowling, one was always amazed by how genuinely honest and fair dinkum he was.
Whether it be batting, fielding or working on his game, he was rabid in doing his best for the baggy green.
Such genuine pride and passion made him a great player and now those traits help players buy into his teachings as a lauded coach.
3. Damien Martyn
The innate charm of Martyn was that he was so very human.
Troubled, flawed, reluctant, victimised and in a broad sense, a prisoner to his genius.
Martyn was akin to a bird with the brightest colours always seeking freedom but frustrated, tormented and caged by the demands of international cricket.
His genius was sublime, with few having similar batting talent. He could dominate any attack in any conditions and when he put on a show it was a form of surgical dissection.
Martyn had pure style that left you wide-eyed and drooling, begging for more.
His legacy left us in the sense of wonder, with him resembling an epic thriller, leaving all on edge, only not to be fully told.
4. Jeff Thomson
The maniacal express quick that loved seeing “blood on the pitch”.
The irony of Thomson was we all loved this, but the other side of the coin was the thrill of witnessing batsmen take him on. Watching them hook 160km/h rockets hurled between their eyes, and without helmets, was mindblowing.
He was the quintessential win-win scenario.
Either witness him make batsmen hop and be in cold sweats out of fear of decapitation, or be in awe of the brave, and possibly reckless, batsmen who eyeballed him and took him on.
Who are your favourites, Roarers?
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