Pick three best ever Australian teams

[courtjester]

Pick three best ever Australian teams

Imagine you are a selector at the local club, but you can pick any cricketers from Australia's history. Who would be in your 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI, and why?

1st XI

Matthew Hayden
Bill Ponsford
Don Bradman
Greg Chappell
Ricky Ponting
Allan Border
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Alan Davidson
Dennis Lillee
Glenn McGrath

2nd XI

Bill Lawry
Arthur Morris
Ian Chappell
Neil Harvey
Steve Waugh
Doug Walters
Ian Healy
Keith Miller
Ray Lindwall
Fred Spofforth
Bill O'Reilly


3rd XI

Victor Trumper
Bob Simpson
David Boon
Sid Barnes
Stan McCabe
Mike Hussey
Rod Marsh
Jason Gillespie
Bill Johnstone
Clarrie Grimmett
Charlie Turner

I'm sure I've missed guys (hard to squeeze Benaud in with the other three leggies). What do you reckon?

 

[brickwaller99]

Re: Pick three best ever Australian teams

1st XI

Sid Barnes < averaged 63
Bill Ponsford
Don Bradman (c)
Greg Chappell
Keith Miller < definition of allrounder
Allan Border
Don Tallon
Clarrie Grimmett
Alan Davidson
Dennis Lillee
Ray Lindwall


2nd XI

Bill Lawry
Arthur Morris
Ian Chappell
Neil Harvey
Steve Waugh
Doug Walters
Ian Healy
Richie Benaud (c)
Glenn McGrath
Fred Spofforth
Bill O'Reilly

2 Medium Pacers to offset 2 spinners
3rd XI

Victor Trumper
Matthew Hayden
Ricky Ponting
Lindsay Hasset (c)
Mark Waugh
Michael Hussey
Rod Marsh
Jason Gillespie
Bill Johnstone
Shane Warne
Charlie Turner

12th Men (based on 12th man ability not playing ability)
Bill Tallon (funniest cricketer ever), Brad Hogg, Andrew Symonds

 

[macca]

Re: Pick three best ever Australian teams

1st XI

Sid Barnes < averaged 63
Bill Ponsford
Don Bradman (c)
Greg Chappell
Keith Miller < definition of allrounder
Allan Border
Don Tallon
Clarrie Grimmett
Alan Davidson
Dennis Lillee
Ray Lindwall


2nd XI

Bill Lawry
Arthur Morris
Ian Chappell
Neil Harvey
Steve Waugh
Doug Walters
Ian Healy
Richie Benaud (c)
Glenn McGrath
Fred Spofforth
Bill O'Reilly

2 Medium Pacers to offset 2 spinners
3rd XI

Victor Trumper
Matthew Hayden
Ricky Ponting
Lindsay Hasset (c)
Mark Waugh
Michael Hussey
Rod Marsh
Jason Gillespie
Bill Johnstone
Shane Warne
Charlie Turner

12th Men (based on 12th man ability not playing ability)
Bill Tallon (funniest cricketer ever), Brad Hogg, Andrew Symonds

Good on ya brickwaller for picking Grimmett in the Ist 11. eddiesmith had him in his all time team a while back too. That might have been because Warne was already picked or because Grimmett married a Victorian.

 

[brickwaller99]

Re: Pick three best ever Australian teams

Clarrie Grimmett never bowled a wide in first class cricket, despite his action.
Warne just abused his victims till they were sick of him if he couldn't get them out and sometimes even if he could. Not the greatest spinner ever. Most persistent sledger.

Ray Lindwall was rated as the greatest bowler he's ever seen by Alan McGilvray who should know. Although that was before McGrath I doubt if he rated him better than Lillee McGrath stood a chance. Lindwall apparently was in poor form at the end of his career. His worst average for a series is 27 and a bit, an average most bowlers only dream of and took 14 wickets in a 5 test series. Leading wicket taker last ashes series took 18.

Ponting deserves a spot in 1st XI but is a specialist No.3 which is rather solidly filled.