Australia's Greatest ODI Team

[Blue Boy]

This is my side in batting order

M.Waugh
D.Boon
R.Ponting vc
D.Jones
A.Border c
M.Bevan
A.Symonds
A.Gilchrist
S.Warne
C.Mcdermott
G.Mcgrath

12th man S.Waugh
13th D.Lillee

A couple of explanations for all

Booney gets to open for me as he still has the same average as Gilly in an era that was pretty tough to make runs - The Boonster is also still our 8th highest run scorer in ODI'S. I also still think Gilly could bat any where as well.

The numbers really stack up for Bevan to be in the side.

Couldnt split Jones and Ponting for number 3 - it came down to Jones had batted @ 4 when Booney was @ 3.

Border as captian as he did it tough for a long time in our toughest ODI era - our 6th all time greatest ODI run scorer - Pretty much set the standard for all future captains and won a pretty tough World Cup.

Mcdermott gets the nod for me as his average is only 2 worse than Mcgrath who could possibly go down as the worlds best ever fast bowler on his numbers. Lillee altough had averaged 2 better than Mcgrath and is unlucky - Just hadnt played enough ODI'S.

Symonds in front of S.Waugh as my allrounder as well - Roy is batting 5 over S.Waughs average and is only striking at one less as a bowler.

Warney as the spinner as no one is even near him.

[leftrightout]

Surely Michael Bevan will get in, if only for that night in Sydney.

IMO M Bevan is Australia's greatest ever ODI player. The number of times he single handedly won a game was outstanding.

That night in Sydney is still my fondest memeroy of ODI cricket. I'll never forget it after we were dead and buried, only to have Bevan save the day as he did on so many other occasions.

With an average of 54, he's clearly the standout player, and I'd pick him first every time.

There were many downsides to Bevan as well. No doubting he did some wonderful things for Australia in ODI's but it wasn't always the case.

Agree with you Rod, he did do some good things but always felt he tried to look after his average...was great a picking up his 2s and 3s but rarely destroyed an attack...I think i would pick 6 - 8 batsmen before he got a gig...his inability too deal witha short ball was pretty bad...

If he picked up 2 a ball and never destroyed an attack we could make 600 off our 50 (if the other bat sman did the same thing!!!). Also short balls were no balls on ODI's which equalled a run. Maybe the reason he never play many tests was the short ball

[Adelaide Hawk]

"Bevan as the greatest one-day player ever" is another example of the rubbish people talk. Bevan was a middle order batsman, playing in a good team, who came in later in the innings and just happened to be there at the end a number of times. Because he probably hit the winning runs more often than most, people started to get this idea he was some sort of invincible match winner ... which he wasn't. He was technically flawed as a batsman, and that is why he didn't enjoy success where it matters most ... the Test arena.

[mal]

AH Bevan was a good one day cricketer, but definitely not the best.
He struggled when bowlers were allowed to bowl bouncers and his strike
rate dipped a bit.
Had a good temperament and lots of not outs in o/d cricket.
Agree with you to be called the best is an absurd statement.

In test cricket when the opposition employed slips and gullys and bowled
at his rib cage he was less successful.

[-]

Agree with you Rod, he did do some good things but always felt he tried to look after his average...was great a picking up his 2s and 3s but rarely destroyed an attack...I think i would pick 6 - 8 batsmen before he got a gig...his inability too deal witha short ball was pretty bad...

That inability is probably what stopped him from having a longer Test career than what he did.

In ODI's, especially when Bevan was batting later in the innings, you rarely see a short ball bowled because bowlers at the death are scared of dropping one short as there is a fair chance it will either get belted, or be called an overhead wide. Not to mention they can only bowl one an over. This weakness was never exposed and expoilted to the extent that it was when Bevan played Test and Pura Cup cricket.

In contrast, Bevan was an excellent player (maybe even the best?) of all the balls and tricks that specialist last 10 over bowlers employ. Not only could he keep the dangerous ones out and punish the loose ones, he could thread those good balls for 2's & 3's through tight fields constantly.

Do you realise Bevan has a better sheild record than the other 2 unlucky players of the generation lehmann and elliott.

[-]

He was good, not doubting that at all, but he often played out the overs out with 1 and 2's rather than having a real go at them, not willing to throw his wicket away ala gilchrist, symonds etc...

True scoob, but acting in the vein of Gilchrist and Symonds could be just as bad as playing for your average (which I agree Bevan did appear to do sometimes) as throwing the willow at a few then getting caught in the deep isn't always the smart option. That is why Gilchrist opens and Symonds bats at 5, around the same as Bevan, but have you ever seen Symonds save a match like Bevan?

He saved Australia getting knocked out of a world cup with a 140 odd, theres no excuse for not having a go in the final over or two like bevan did regularly...

Scoob thats incorrect. That Symonds 140 was our 1st match of that world cup and we were not eliminated if we lost.

[-]

My amended team after further reflection.

You simply cant leave out Ponting Bevan jones gilly or greg chappell this leaves two batting spots and the 5th bowler to fill.

I choose steve waugh and Andrew Symonds.

Gilchrist
Greg Chappell
Ponting
Jones
Steve Waugh
Bevan
Symonds
Lee
Warne
Lillee
McGrath


People will say Chappell never opened how can you leave out Mark Waugh?

Mark Waugh wasnt an opener till he was given the chance. Most batsman who are selected for Australia bat in a differnt spot for their state than when they come into the aussie side. So the same theory applies here going into the "super team".

[Magpiespower]

Do you realise Bevan has a better sheild record than the other 2 unlucky players of the generation lehmann and elliott.

Michael Bevan, ROFLMAO!

Both embarrassing and amusing to watch him backed away from the short ball time and time again.

Joker should be ashamed for all the tests he stole from Boof.

[Rik E Boy]

1. Gilchrist
2. M Waugh
3. Ponting
4. G. Chappell
5. Border
6. S. Waugh
7. Symonds
8. Warne
9. McDermott
10. Lillee
11. McGrath

12th D. Jones

Close thread. Rodney has nailed this one. Good to see that not too many posters on this site has swallowed the 'Bevan myth'. The run rate died in the arse every time without fail whenever Bevo came to the wicket. Yeah, he did win us that game against the Windies but all time best ODI XI? Nope. Perhaps SPOD could have got the edge over Symonds but good work here by the rooster.

regards,

REB

[rod_rooster]

1. Gilchrist
2. M Waugh
3. Ponting
4. G. Chappell
5. Border
6. S. Waugh
7. Symonds
8. Warne
9. McDermott
10. Lillee
11. McGrath

12th D. Jones

Close thread. Rodney has nailed this one. Good to see that not too many posters on this site has swallowed the 'Bevan myth'. The run rate died in the arse every time without fail whenever Bevo came to the wicket. Yeah, he did win us that game against the Windies but all time best ODI XI? Nope. Perhaps SPOD could have got the edge over Symonds but good work here by the rooster.

regards,

REB

Thanks REB. Symonds only just got in over O'Donnell. Very tough call but Roy's fielding was the clincher for me.

[Rik E Boy]

Ah but SPOD was the better bowler..very close IMO. I guess I remember SPOD coming in and saving us again and again as we didn't have the strong unit we have know back in his day.

regards,

REB

[rod_rooster]

Ah but SPOD was the better bowler..very close IMO. I guess I remember SPOD coming in and saving us again and again as we didn't have the strong unit we have know back in his day.

regards,

REB

Yeah, very much line ball. You could argue a case for both. O'Donnell the better bowler yes but there is more than enough bowling in the side i named.

[-]

1. Gilchrist
2. M Waugh
3. Ponting
4. G. Chappell
5. Border
6. S. Waugh
7. Symonds
8. Warne
9. McDermott
10. Lillee
11. McGrath

12th D. Jones

Close thread. Rodney has nailed this one. Good to see that not too many posters on this site has swallowed the 'Bevan myth'. The run rate died in the arse every time without fail whenever Bevo came to the wicket. Yeah, he did win us that game against the Windies but all time best ODI XI? Nope. Perhaps SPOD could have got the edge over Symonds but good work here by the rooster.

regards,






REB

Thanks REB. Symonds only just got in over O'Donnell. Very tough call but Roy's fielding was the clincher for me.

rod,

agree piss bevan off.

another new2 team.

gilly
m waugh
pont
g chap
jones
s waugh
symonds
lee
warne
lillee
mcgrath

12th border

[mal]

Micheal Beavn blamed injuries on his retirement, or
did he read this thread

[SOTTERS]

G.Marsh
A.Gilchrist
R.Ponting
G.Chappell
M.Waugh
M.Bevan
A.Symonds
S.Warne
B.Lee
C.McDermott
G.McGrath

[Rik E Boy]

G.Marsh
A.Gilchrist
R.Ponting
G.Chappell
M.Waugh
M.Bevan
A.Symonds
S.Warne
B.Lee
C.McDermott
G.McGrath

MISSING. If found please inform Mr Sotters.

regards,

REB

[dinglinga]

even though its early into husseys career .... how close would he make the best ever....

[-]

bevan was given the one day player of the generation wasnt he?

no doubt he is going to get picked

[scoob]

bevan was given the one day player of the generation wasnt he?

no doubt he is going to get picked

Interesting to hear pontings comments after the last game, saying husey has stepped in to the bevan finishing role and doing as well as bevan probably ever did.... hussey > bevan because he is able to do all that bevan did plus he has the ability to smash big runs, something bevan rarely did. IMHO

[blink]

even though its early into husseys career .... how close would he make the best ever....

I would say he is very close dinga, and if he keeps playing the way he is he might become our best ever.