The greatest ever Australian Test XI

1. Justin Langer 2. Matthew Hayden 3. Don Bradman 4. Ricky Ponting 5. Steve Waugh (c) 6. Keith Miller 7. Adam Gilchrist (vc) 8. Shane Warne 9. Ray Lindwall 10. Dennis Lillee 11. Glenn McGrath 12. Mike Hussey Some may disagree with the amount of relatively modern players I've put in my team but I don't think the crop of players between 1995 - 2007 can be equaled as a unit. Players like Bradman, Miller, Ponting, Lillee, Warne & McGrath pick themselves. I've gone with Langer and Hayden as openers purely for their record as a pair, and Gilchrist for his all round ability as a batsman and keeper. Steve Waugh as captain because he always got the best out of his team, just imagine what he could get out of this squad? Ray Lindwall gets the nod as comfortably the third greatest seamer behind McGrath and Lillee. And finally, I know this will create arguements but I just can't see the greatest Australian side having any credibility without Mr. Cricket. Opinions please

MY Australian XI Sid Barnes Matthew Hayden Sir Donald Bradman (c) Ricky Ponting Greg Chappell Keith Miller Adam Gilchrist (wk) Shane Warne Ray Lindwall Dennis Lillie Glenn Mcgrath 12th Man: Allan Border I dont see how it can get any better than that.

Hello eveyone, After much study this is my best Australian Test XI: Arthur Morris - Opener Matthew Hayden - Opener Don Bradman - Batsman Ricky Ponting - Batsman Allan Border - Batsman Steve Waugh - Batsman/ Medium Pace Adam Gilichrist - Wicketkeeper Shane Warne - Leg- Spin Ray Lindwall - Fast Dennis Lillee - Fast Glenn McGrath - Fast Medium 12th Man: Keith Miller Substitude Feildsmen: Mark Waugh Emergencies: Ian Healy, Greg Chappell, Jeff Thompson, Bill O'Rielly Team Captain: Steve Waugh Team Vice-Captain: Allan Border Team Coach: Ian Chappell Team Mentor: Richie Benaud

Love the discussion gentlemen, put my own together just the other day: Ponsford (vc) Hayden Bradman (c) Ponting Chappell G Waugh S Miller Gilchrist Warne Lillee McGrath Liked the thinking about having Miller at 6 and bringing in O'Reilly for 2 spinners, but ultimately couldn't leave Stevie out of 6, and think that Warne can do the job on his own [proven through his career]. Also thought about Lindwall for Lillee, but Lillee has better strike rate [52 v 59.8]

sheek, Ha ! I see your humble submission and raise you a typically arrogant pom assertion: any country's best-ever XI would have trouble beating any WI team of the early 80s anywhere over a 3- or 5-match series. Gilchrist is an interesting point - but with Miller at probably 6 or 7, he wouldn't come in until 6 wickets are down, in which case your top batsmen have already failed so you'd better get out there and get the oppo out - which means a keeper capable of taking every half-chance; don't forget that there are going to be fewer chances given by an all-time England XI than a 2006 England XI.

Rowdy, You make some interesting points. Jason did say that his best XI was chosen with playing England in mind. I thought that strange as I would pick my XI to play any opposition in any conditions. The very best can succeed anywhere more often than not. It's true that Australia has produced many great batsman. Statistically for example, Bradman is equal to Border & s.Waugh combined! Consequently, you argur that you don't necessarily need a batting keeper. Again, this is true, except for one minor point. If Australia's best XI is going to play the best ever XI from the other countries in some mythical series, then you want to maximise its power to the max. Gilichrist might have 6 other keepers superior to him in pure keeping skills, but none of them possess his explosive batting. I humbly submit the Aussie XI I chose, can meet & beat the best XI from any other country in any conditions, whether best of one, 3, 5 or whatever.

I woudn't pick Hayden or Gilchrist if they were playing in England. Actually, I wouldn't pick them. Any of Morris, Hassett, Woodfull, Ponsford and Taylor above Hayden. Tallon or Grout ahead of Gilchrist - with that many high-quality batsmen in the team you can afford to play your out-and-ouit best keeper, even if he bats at 11.

Cougar - there's an interesting section in John Benaud's book on the selector's thinking when they dropped Jones, who had a test average in the 40s and was a popular favourite at least in part based on his one day efforts. I haven't read it in a while so the exact details are hazy, but he pointed out that Jones had played 3 significant innings in a fairly long period up to that point, and each one of them had been in a "dead" situation. If you took them out, suddenly his test average in the period looked just that - average.

Further to the Dean Jones argument: I was once told that Deano's Test record looks very average when you break down first innings runs (crucial) to second innings runs (important but often under less pressure). Apparently he scored far more runs in the second dig when the heat was turned down a bit (all the same, Test match runs are Test match runs). I'd like to get hold of the stats... I've also got a feeling I've read that Ricky Ponting's first innings average is excellent, which further enhances his reputation.

Sheek Your first XI of Trumper, Hayden, Bradman, Ponting, Chappell, Miller, Gilchrist, Lindwall, Warne, Lillee, O’Reilly. Hard to argue with maybe Boarder for Pointing.

Mick, I appreciate the thinking outside the square. Greg Chappell used to hold the record for most runs in a test (380) - 247no & 133 vs NZ 1974. Hayden equalled it with one innings of 380. Chappell score about 4 double centuries & was regarded (briefly) as the best batsman in the world in the mid-70s. He had Graeme Pollock & Viv Richards for opposition. I don't think Jones was ever considered the best batsman in the world, & he only hit the one double century, although it was pretty special. Doug Walters & Mark Waugh also had the 'X factor', especially Walters, but neither produced those kind of innings consistently. You can add Stan McCabe to that list. If I may so, when selecting the "best ever", you have to remove emotion, & also favourites. I would love to have Ian Chappell at #3 in my alltime team, & as captain. But there's the small problem of Bradman to overcome, plus perhaps a dozen or so other batsmen with a better batting average than Chappelli. Having said all that, I will always have Dennis Lillee ahead of Glenn McGrath. Statistically, Mcgrath shaeds Lillee, but gee, Lillee mentally & emotionally messed with batsmen's heads. I think McGrath just 'bored' them out with his immaculate line & length. BTW, Jason had Richie Benaud as his 12th man. Great man that Richie is, others like Warne, O'Reilly, Grimmett, Mailey & Trumble were superior spinners. As an all-rounder, Benaud is shaded by his great mate Davidson, & others like Miller, Noble, Armstrong & Jack Gregory. Realistically, I wouldn't have Benaud any higher than 3rd XI at absolute best. I say this without taking anything away from his great stature. Just goes to show how many great cricketers Australia has produced.

Sheek, I put in Dean Jones because he contained for want of a better phrase 'The X factor' His double tonne in India meant he could deliver one of those innings like our fabulous Gilly did at the WACA for the last Ashes. We have a strong enough lineup in the first XI, why not throw in someone who, on his day, tick the scoreboard over faster than an airport timetable? Something different anyway...

Sorry guys, About the multiple entries. I thought previous entries hadn't connected. Really sorry for the overkill. JohnB, Agree the Aussie teams get harder to pick the further in you go. 1st XI is fairly easy, & 2nd XI reasonably so, but it gets much tougher after that. With the 1st XI, most people have to decide between either 5 batsmen-5 bowlers-1 keeper/batsman or 6 batsmen-4 bowlers-1 keeper/batsman.

Sheek, saw your earlier post with the 5 teams after my previous one. Picking one of these teams sets you up for an argument - 5 really is ambitious!

Sheek, with O'Reilly in, very hard to argue. Chappell mostly batted at 4 so maybe put him there (if he's in the side instead of Harvey) with Ponting at 5, so that only one is out of their normal spot. Does Harvey get an extra fraction of a percentage point in the voting because he's left-handed? You can quibble about the openers but any choice from the 4 in your 1st and 2nd teams would be supportable. Like your 2nd XI also (particularly the recognition of Macartney and Davidson). I think incidentally that that is a much harder team to choose because there are a lot more contenders for some of the spots - as a non-exhaustive list openers Lawry, Simpson, Barnes, Bardsley; top/middle order McCabe, O'Neill, Walters, Boon ;all-rounder Noble, Giffen, Jack Gregory, Richie Benaud; keeper Oldfield, Tallon, Grout; spinner Trumble, Benaud (again), Mailey; pace bowlers Jeff Thomson, McDonald, McKenzie, Reid (it's a dream team after all - no-one's injury prone in dreams).

Sorry.....Bill O'Reilly in for McGrath. Team should read: Trumper, Hayden, Bradman, Ponting, Chappell, Miller, Gilchrist, Lindwall, Warne, Lillee, O'Reilly. My 2nd XI: Bill Ponsford Arthur Morris Charlie Macartney Neil Harvey Allan Border(c) Steve Waugh(vc) Ian Healy(k) Alan Davidson Clarrie Grimmett Fred Spofforth Glenn McGrath

For me the critical selection is Keith Miller. He can occupy both the #6 batting position & 3rd paceman. This also allows you to select a 2nd specialist spinner. My first XI: Victor Trumper Matt Hayden Don Bradman(c) Ricky Ponting Greg Chappell Keith Miller(vc) Adam Gilchrist(k) Ray Lindwall Shane Warne Dennis Lillee Glenn McGrath

Maybe swap Ponting for Chappell or Border? - not much else I'd change, although I'm not aware of Ponsfords record compared to more contemporary players. What about the worst Aussie team of all time?

Jason, Even with the help of stats, this always causes arguments. For me the critical selection is always Keith Miller. He satisfies the dual role of #6 bat & 3rd paceman. And with Bradman at #3 (worth Border & S.Waugh put together) & Gilchrist at #7, it's easy to pick Miller to give you 5 frontline bowlers (3 pace, 2 spin). My first XI: Victor Trumper Matt Hayden Don Bradman(c) Ricky Ponting Greg Chappell Keith Miller(vc) Adam Gilchrist(k) Ray Lindwall Shane Warne Dennis Lillee Bill O'Reilly My 2nd XI: Bill Ponsford Arthur Morris Charlie Macartney Neil Harvey Allan Border(c) Steve Waugh(vc) Ian Healy(k) Alan Davidson Clarrie Grimmett Fred Spofforth Glenn McGrath My 3rd XI: Bob Simpson Bill Lawry Clem Hill Stan McCabe Doug Walters Warwick Armstrong(vc) Don Tallon(K) Richie Benaud(c) Hugh Trumble Charles Turner Jeff Thomson My 4th XI: Justin Langer Bill Woodfull Ian Chappell(c) Lindsay Hassett Dean Jones Jack Gregory Monty Noble(vc) Jack Blackham(k) Tibby Cotter Craig mcDermott Arthur Mailey My 5th XI: Herbie Collins Mark Taylor David Boon Mark Waugh Warren Bardsley George Giffen Rod Marsh(k) Merv Hughes Graham McKenzie Ashley Mallett Bruce Reid Hope I didn't miss anybody - Whew..........!

Mick, Try again when you've stopped smoking dope &/or drinking! Greg Chappell - batting average of 53.86 from 87 tests. Dean Jones - batting average 46.55 from 52 tests. Both played in similar eras. Not even close enough for a decent discussion point.