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With the first test of the summer against South Africa in Perth on the horizon, I thought it would be a good time to select the greatest Australian Test team of all time.
This team would be picked as if they were going to play against England at either Lord’s or the MCG.
The team is:
1. Bill Ponsford (VIC)
2. Bill Lawry (VIC)
3. Sir Donald Bradman (NSW/SA-capt)
4. Allan Border (NSW/QLD)
5. Greg Chappell (SA/QLD)
6. Richie Benaud (NSW-vice capt)
7. Adam Gilchrist (NSW/WA-wk)
8. Shane Warne (VIC)
9. Ray Lindwall (NSW/QLD)
10. Dennis Lillee (WA)
11. Glenn McGrath (NSW)
12th: Bob Simpson (NSW)
This is a team that could cause England some problems, especially in the batting department, with the all-Victorian pair of Bill Lawry and Bill Ponsford to open the innings. Add the batting power of players such as Bradman, Border, Chappell, Benaud and Gilchrist, and a big total looks likely.
Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath would share the new ball, with Ray Lindwall coming on at first change.
The spin options would be Shane Warne and Benaud.
I’ve also picked an Australia ‘A’ team as a reserve to the number one lineup.
The team is:
1. Justin Langer
2. Arthur Morris
3. Ian Chappell (c)
4. Kim Hughes
5. Stan McCabe
6. Steve Waugh
7. Rodney Marsh (wk)
8. Bill O’Reilly
9. Brett Lee
10. Jeff Thomson
11. Max Walker
12th man: Lindsay Hassett
The Australia ‘A’ team could keep the number one team on its toes, especially if the Sir Donald Bradman-led side suffers a bad loss in a Test match, and need to win to keep a series alive.
Justin Langer could replace one of the two openers, Ian Chappell is a very good first-drop captain, and then you got two opening bowlers who could cause nightmares for the opposite batsmen and can deliver a ball in excess of 150kmph: Jeff Thomson (the 1974-75 version) and Brett Lee.
So if you were a national selector going to select two teams – an all-time Australian Test XI and a ‘reserve’ lineup – who’d make the respective teams?
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