I thought that selecting South Africa’s Post WW II Test XI was difficult until I started my research on Australia’s post-WW II Test XI.
The talent, the performances, the stats, the class of the Australian Test greats from 1947 until now!
Simply stupendous, an embarrassment of riches!
Ali Baba and forty thieves would gladly exchange their gold and diamonds for the Aussie icons of the last 66 years. If cricket was played in their era, that is.
Let’s have a peek at the panorama of greatness.
Opening batsmen
Arthur Morris, Sidney Barnes, Colin McDonald, Bob Simpson, Bill Lawry, Keith Stackpole, David Boon, Mark Taylor, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Michael Slater.
No.3
Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting.
Middle order batsmen
Lindsay Hassett, Neil Harvey, Norm O’Neill, Ken Mackay, Doug Walters, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Ian Redpath, Allan Border, Kim Hughes, Rick McCosker, Dean Jones, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, [Ponting], Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke.
All-rounders
Keith Miller, Richie Benaud, Alan Davidson, Greg Matthews.
Wicket-keepers
Don Tallon, Wally Grout, Brian Taber, Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin.
Fast to fast-medium bowlers
Ray Lindwall, Bill Johnston, [Miller, Davidson], Graham McKenzie, Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Lennie Pascoe, Merv Hughes, Max Walker, Craig McDermott, Geoff Lawson, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson.
Spinners
[Benaud], Ian Johnson, Ashley Mallett, Johnny Gleeson, [Greg Matthews], Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill.
Do you see my conundrum? How to select 11 from a field of 60?
So I have taken an easy way out. No, I am not selecting a Best XI and a Second XI.
It will be the Best XI from 1947 to 1980 and the Best XI from 1980 to 2013.
There will be overlaps in late 1970s and early 1980s.
It is a personal choice without going in statistics and Roarers are requested to roast me for my choices or exclusions.
Why no stats? Bradman, Hassett, Morris et al played before 1947 as well.
Also Ian Chappell, Border among others played before and after 1980s.
So there is a touch of grey among those who represented Australia in late 1970s and in early 1980. It should provide a platform for a healthy debate among Roarers.
Here is my Best 1947 to 1980 XI in batting order
Arthur Morris, Bob Simpson, Don Bradman (vice-captain), Lindsay Hassett, Neil Harvey, Keith Miller, Richie Benaud (captain), Alan Davidson, Rodney Marsh (wk), Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee.
Extras: Norm O’Neill, Doug Walters, Sidney Barnes, Bill Lawry.
Lillee and Lindwall will open the attack then Miller and Davidson will be used as first change. Skipper Benaud and Simpson will be the spinners.
Will The Don be happy to take orders from Richie?
Don Tallon or Wally Grout will keep wickets in case Miller beheads Marsh.
And below is my 1980 to 2013 XI in batting order
Matthew Hayden, David Boon, Ricky Ponting, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell (captain), Michael Clarke, Steve Waugh (vice-captain), Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Jeff Thomson and Glenn McGrath.
Extras: Dean Jones, Mark Taylor, Mark Waugh, Mike Hussey and Brett Lee.
‘Pup’ Clarke is the only one selected from the current side.
Thomson and McGrath will be the opening bowlers. Steve Waugh and Greg Chappell will take over for some reverse swing.
Then it will be all Warne, the leggie-maestro.
Warney bowling Bradman for 99 could be the headline of the summer!
I’ll put my money on the 1947-1980 XI. What do you say?
anfalicious
Guest
Worst would be interesting :) Should there be some minimum tests played rule? Say 5?
anfalicious
Guest
The Saffers have the whole Apartheid issue holding them back too. We'll never know how good Clive Rice and others would have been in their prime.
anfalicious
Guest
You've also got current form to draw from, rather than entire careers. On current form the Don wouldn't make the Diamond Creek under 12s.
anfalicious
Guest
Fair point, but which one of the five would you drop?
anfalicious
Guest
I thought the same, but we all know that Breice Rude would have been injured :P
anfalicious
Guest
I was thinking the same thing, thanks for doing the research for me :) Bradman, what a freak! My favourite Bradman stat is how many 6s he hit in test matches (6... you can't get caught if you hit it on the ground :) )
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
Could sid barnes be there in the eleven?anyway a great side..but there must be one more quickey in the modern team
Fafnir
Guest
Picking greatest ever teams is boring. Bradman, Warne, Border, McGrath etc pick themselves. Much more fun to pick the worst team. Michael Beer Phil Hughes against any spinner except Michael Beer Mitchell Johnson when the radar's switched off. Wade trying to catch anything smaller than a football. Shane LB Watson Shane Warne (just kidding, but he doesn't like being left off these lists).
Dennis Freedman
Roar Guru
Steve Waugh at number 7? Yeah...nah
Buk
Guest
Glad to see you are human Kershi. I just gave up trying to pick a side, too many players I never saw and have no family or friends that saw them. Makes for an interesting debate though. One thing that struck me was the very few modern-day world class all-rounders. Perhaps a problem with Australian cricket having a lot of depth and specialisation, and the separation now (and since about the start of 1980's ?) of two distinct teams - the test team, then the ODI team (for all those tri-series).
Showbags
Guest
Pretty spot on there. The only possible changes for me would be Bill Lawry or Justin Langer for Arthur Morris. Allan Border (just over Steve Waugh for mine) in for Keith Miller if the pitch is doing a bit and you wanted some extra batting cover, or Richie Benaud in for Miller if the pitch was turning. I had Lindwall over Davidson in my team yesterday but Davidson probably has the better record and provides a left arm option so is a good choice. Who would win in if all Greatest XI's played a round robin Test championship? I reckon it would finish: 8th-New Zealand 7th: Sri Lanka 6th: India 5th: Pakistan 4th: England 3rd: South Africa 2nd: West Indies 1st: Australia Australia for me has the best allround team. West Indies have a great pace attack but no great spin bowling depth. Same with South Africa and England. Australia also has a great wicketkeeper bat that is only really matched by Sri Lanka and Sangakarra. Australia's batting lineup without Bradman is still very good but is no better than any of the other top sides. Bradman just puts Australia to another level. He is like having two 50 averaging batsmen in 1 slot.
Lroy
Guest
Lillee was so intimidating it was like watching Mike Tyson.. Thomo scared everybody, including his own slip fielders..(no one knew where the ball was going to end up) .. and Warnie, we'll he's just the greatest bowler who ever lived. Those 3 were so good Ive run out of nice things to say about McGrath LOL
Lroy
Guest
Dennis Lillee, Thomo.. Warne.. McGrath.. Justin Langer, Boon (openers).. Chappelli No 3.. Greg Chappel 4, Steve Waugh 5, Allan Border 6, Rod Marsh the keeper. Love Gilchrist, but I grew up watching Rod Marsh.. he scored a ton in the centenary test I think on a dodgy MCG wicket against a mean and nasty English attack including Bob Willis and Lever....Lever nearly killed some bloke once and Willis smashed Graham Woods hand so bad in a tour match blood was dripping out of his glove as he retired hurt... so a ton against those 2 and the crafty Derek Underwood was no mean feat. I also have a strong preference for blokes who had to face the might of the West Indies and did ok. Viv Richards rated a 90 something from Allan Border as the best innings he ever saw over in the Carribean... Mark Taylor and Hayden never did anything against the Windies. Suprisingly, a little bloke called Bruce Laird had a decent record against them... I woud have picked him but Boonys record is just too good. I never saw any of the pre 1975 payers, but even at 40 Bradmans average looks great.... so someone would have to make way for him I guess ;-)
Guy
Guest
Interested to know what's the basis for making Miller VC? He was never deemed worthy of being made test captain. And his first class captaincy record is somewhat mixed, he is know for placing his fielders by tell them to just scatter.
Disco
Roar Guru
The Mark Waugh-love is baffling.
Nudge
Guest
What's incredible about your combined team Sheek is that in 67 years of test cricket nearly half your team (5) come from the same era.
JGK
Roar Guru
Surely Bruce Reid makes the 80s team?
Armchair expert
Guest
Yes Sheek, at least he admitted his mistake.
Armchair expert
Guest
I'm agreeing with the first 2 lines about Border, he admitted his mistake in regards to the 3rd line.
sheek
Roar Guru
World Traveller, Kersi first admitted his mistake of omitting Border at 8.15 pm this morning & you make your cheap shot at 2.57 pm in the afternoon. At least Kersi has the courage to write under his own name.