Your Best 11...

[woodublieve12]

Just thought i'd start a topic, if you could pick your 11 from anyone who has played for Australia over the years or the one you have watched growing up.... This is for test cricket by the way.

this my 20 (i cant keep it at 11) man squad since ive been watching cricket (im 29), obviously were on tour ... as you can see im a batter so i went for depth in my batting order.

1. M.Taylor
2. M. Hayden
3. R.Ponting
4. M.Waugh
5. S.Waugh (c)
6. A.Border (vc)
7. A.Gilchrist (wk)
8. S.Warne
9. J.Gillespie
10. Craig McDermott
11. G.McGrath

12. J.Langer
13. D.Boon
14. S. Macgill - probably the unluckiest spin bowler in the world... couldn't stand the bloke, but cant deny talent..
15. M.Slater
16. M.Hussey
17. Merv.Hughes
18. D.Lehman
19. B.Lee
20. T.May

[Media Park]

I'm only 24, so the list doesn't go back very far. A squad of 18.

1. Matthew Hayden- Highest individual score for an Australian batsman, a fifty-plus average and showed earlier in his career that he can physically dominate, and later on that he can accumulate. One half of the most dominant Aussie opening bat combo ever.
2. Justin Langer- The forgotten man with a 45 run average, will never forget him wanting to bat in the second dig of his 100th test.
3. Ricky Ponting- Although he should retire at the completion of the current Test, he is the best batman Australia has had since Greg Chappell.
4. Damien Martyn- Still my favorite Australian cricketer. 13 Test centuries, and simply the most beautiful batsman to watch when he's up and about.
5. Steve Waugh- The captain, Hard nosed back to the wall batsman, produced some of the most memorable innings of my life, can bowl if required.
6. Shane Watson- With the greatest opening bat combo of my life, as well as the four best bowlers, today's iron man wouldn't have to do much.
7. Adam Gilchrist- The man who changed crickets perception of the wicket keeper.
8. Shane Warne- Australia's greatest ever spin bowler.
9. Jason Gillespie- 270 Test wickets, as a partnership bowler with McGrath.
10. Stuart Clark- 24 Tests, 94 wickets, if he'd started younger (Test debut at 31), he would have been a bona fide superstar.
11. Glenn McGrath- The greatest opening bowler I have seen in Australian colours.

Back up opener: Simon Katich
Back up batsmen: Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke
Back up wicket keeper: Ian Healy
Back up pacemen: Brett Lee, Andy Bichel
Back up spinner: Stuart MacGill

[Hondo]

I'll could go back to 1980 but I'll do one from 1985-now to draw a line in the sand from when we got to the lowest ebb in my time:

Hayden
Langer
Boon
Ponting
Border
S Waugh
Gilchrist
Warne
McDermott
Gillespie
McGrath

[Moe]

If we are talking FAVOURITE players, then:

1. Hayden
2. Slater
3. Jones
4. M.Waugh
5. A.Border (c)
6. D.Lehmann
7. A.Gilchrist
8. I. Healy (wk)
9. S.Warne
10. J. Gillespie
11. T.Alderman

12. G.McGrath
13. B.Holland
14. P.Reiffel
15. D.Boon
16. R.Ponting

This is my touring squad, to be coached by Rod Marsh & D.K. Lillee.
I would be team scorer, and events coordinator.
I would probably room with Boony.

Unlucky to miss out: Peter Taylor, Mick Malone, Max Walker, Jeff Thompson, Rod McCurdy, Lenny Pascoe & Greg Ritchie.

[valleys07]

1. M. Hayden
2. J. Langer (can't go past these two to open, formed a great australian opening partnership)
3. R. Ponting- 2nd best batsman behind bradman that australia has produced IMO
4. M. Waugh- Made the game look easy sometimes.
5. S. Waugh- What a player, what a captain...
6. A. Border- Never saw much of the man in his playing days, but his reputation in world cricket warrants inclusion.
7. A. Gilchrist- Doubt we will see a player change the game the way he did for a while....
8. S. Warne- Dont need to say anything, my fav player growing up, 708 wickets says enough.
9. J. Gillespie- Gotta have a south aussie in there, big heart!
10. C. McDermott- Loved his aggression.
11. G. McGrath- His achievements coming from barely bowling as a 16y.o is really quite extraodinary.

[wristwatcher]

1. M.Hayden - best opening bat i have seen play for Australia
2. D.Boon - solid, dependable and the best bat pad fielder in the world ever, suprised he didnt walk in with the bowler
3. R.Ponting - only a few years ago he averaged nearly 60, i miss that Ricky
4. G.Chappell - the master bat.Test av-53.87 which included the worst trot ever in 81,good medium pacer and brilliant hands.
5. A.Border (C) - took us from worst to best. Gutsy,determined and handy left arm spinner. 11 wickets in a test v W.I
6. S.Waugh - Tugga was tough and pre back trouble was a genuine all rounder.
7. A.Gilchrist - best wicket keeper bastsmen the world has seen. Able to swing a test in a session
8. S.Warne - i choose to remember him as he was and not as a plastic, wrinkleless metro-sexual
9. J.Gillespie - great bowler and arguably the most efeective night watchmen of them all..201 not out
10. D.Lillee - World series cricket comprimises his stats but still had 355 at about 23 and was a God in his day
11. G.Mcgrath - he made being uncool cool. the most reliable seamer of all time.
12th Man - A.Symonds - picked for fielding abilities and dressing room personality.

I started watching cricket in the late 70,s and i am certain this is the best 11 i have seen and is the 11 i would pick if my life depended on it.

[wristwatcher]

Just thought i'd start a topic, if you could pick your 11 from anyone who has played for Australia over the years or the one you have watched growing up.... This is for test cricket by the way.

this my 20 (i cant keep it at 11) man squad since ive been watching cricket (im 29), obviously were on tour ... as you can see im a batter so i went for depth in my batting order.

1. M.Taylor
2. M. Hayden
3. R.Ponting
4. M.Waugh
5. S.Waugh (c)
6. A.Border (vc)
7. A.Gilchrist (wk)
8. S.Warne
9. J.Gillespie
10. Craig McDermott
11. G.McGrath

12. J.Langer
13. D.Boon
14. S. Macgill - probably the unluckiest spin bowler in the world... couldn't stand the bloke, but cant deny talent..
15. M.Slater
16. M.Hussey
17. Merv.Hughes
18. D.Lehman
19. B.Lee
20. T.May

hey its your list but TIm May He must be a mate of yours

[Jim05]

1. M Hayden
2. M Taylor
3. G Chappell
4. R Ponting
5. A Border
6. S Waugh
7. A Gilchrist
8. S Warne
9. DK Lillee
10. J Thompson
11. G Mc Grath

[woodublieve12]

Just thought i'd start a topic, if you could pick your 11 from anyone who has played for Australia over the years or the one you have watched growing up.... This is for test cricket by the way.

this my 20 (i cant keep it at 11) man squad since ive been watching cricket (im 29), obviously were on tour ... as you can see im a batter so i went for depth in my batting order.

1. M.Taylor
2. M. Hayden
3. R.Ponting
4. M.Waugh
5. S.Waugh (c)
6. A.Border (vc)
7. A.Gilchrist (wk)
8. S.Warne
9. J.Gillespie
10. Craig McDermott
11. G.McGrath

12. J.Langer
13. D.Boon
14. S. Macgill - probably the unluckiest spin bowler in the world... couldn't stand the bloke, but cant deny talent..
15. M.Slater
16. M.Hussey
17. Merv.Hughes
18. D.Lehman
19. B.Lee
20. T.May

hey its your list but TIm May He must be a mate of yours

haha!!! definitely not a mate...

[Rik E Boy]

Since 1975

1. M Hayden: Selects himself - Haydos just imposes himself in the minds of opening bowlers who were trying to do the reverse.
2. J Langer: At one stage I believe he was the best bat in the world. Well ahead of Tubby and Boonie for the openers gig.
3. R Ponting: Probably still the second best bat we've ever had but if he's still getting selected then he'll be back behind Greg.
4. G Chappell: Simply brilliant during an age of West Indian giants and good English teams as well.
5. A Border: More guts than I have ever seen in any Cricketer. Australian Cricket owes him so much. Stood up to the Windies in 1984. Enough said!
6. S Waugh: Waugh learnt from the master and I admire the way he always sought (and attained) improvement. A giant in Australian Cricket.
7. A Gilchrist: A batting freak who could demolish the attack and was handy with the gloves too. Australia's best ever allrounder.
8. S Warne (c): Simply the best spinner I have ever seen.
9. D Lillee: The best fast bowler I have ever seen. Nothing can compare to the mighty DK with the roar of a packed MCG behind him.
10. J Thomson: With Lillee, Warnie and McGrath in the line up you could just turn Thommo loose on the poor batsmen. Anyone who can bowl at 166 is a potent weapon.
11. G McGrath: Competitive, Consistent and Brilliant. We knew we had a gun in Glen and we are now lost without him and Warnie.
12th M Waugh: Poetry in motion is M Waugh. Not the guy I'd pick to bat for my life but certainly a guy I'd pay to watch bat..and did!

These players are selected at their peak, not Chappel during that run of outs or Thomson after his shoulder injury or the Punter we have now. There is brilliance and grit in equal measure. I made Warne captain as I believe he is one of the premier minds in Cricket and the best captain we never had. I think he would have been a brilliant captain. Players unlucky to miss out are M Waugh, I Chappell, J Gillespie and R Marsh.

If you reckon that's hard try doing a World XI..here's mine

1. G Greenidge
2. D Haynes
3. V Richards
4. S Tendulkar
5. B Lara
6. I Botham
7. R Hadlee
8. A Knott
9. W Akram
10. M Marshall
11. C Ambrose
12th I Khan

Cripes there's some absolute guns missing out in J Garner, M Holding, A Roberts, C Lloyd, A Donald, D Gower, R Dravid, K Dev, S Jayasuria, A De Silva, M Crowe and many more. I wonder who would make the safooty World XI of all time if we voted on it. I reckon some of the older guys I have in there would miss out due to the average age of our posters...which would be younger than me.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

I'll could go back to 1980 but I'll do one from 1985-now to draw a line in the sand from when we got to the lowest ebb in my time:

Hayden
Langer
Boon
Ponting
Border
S Waugh
Gilchrist
Warne
McDermott
Gillespie
McGrath

If you are going back to 1980 then it is DK, Chappell in and out goes Boon and McDermott. I have Thomson ahead of Gillespie but that one is not quite so clear cut.

regards,

REB

[wristwatcher]

Since 1975

1. M Hayden: Selects himself - Haydos just imposes himself in the minds of opening bowlers who were trying to do the reverse.
2. J Langer: At one stage I believe he was the best bat in the world. Well ahead of Tubby and Boonie for the openers gig.
3. R Ponting: Probably still the second best bat we've ever had but if he's still getting selected then he'll be back behind Greg.
4. G Chappell: Simply brilliant during an age of West Indian giants and good English teams as well.
5. A Border: More guts than I have ever seen in any Cricketer. Australian Cricket owes him so much. Stood up to the Windies in 1984. Enough said!
6. S Waugh: Waugh learnt from the master and I admire the way he always sought (and attained) improvement. A giant in Australian Cricket.
7. A Gilchrist: A batting freak who could demolish the attack and was handy with the gloves too. Australia's best ever allrounder.
8. S Warne (c): Simply the best spinner I have ever seen.
9. D Lillee: The best fast bowler I have ever seen. Nothing can compare to the mighty DK with the roar of a packed MCG behind him.
10. J Thomson: With Lillee, Warnie and McGrath in the line up you could just turn Thommo loose on the poor batsmen. Anyone who can bowl at 166 is a potent weapon.
11. G McGrath: Competitive, Consistent and Brilliant. We knew we had a gun in Glen and we are now lost without him and Warnie.
12th M Waugh: Poetry in motion is M Waugh. Not the guy I'd pick to bat for my life but certainly a guy I'd pay to watch bat..and did!

These players are selected at their peak, not Chappel during that run of outs or Thomson after his shoulder injury or the Punter we have now. There is brilliance and grit in equal measure. I made Warne captain as I believe he is one of the premier minds in Cricket and the best captain we never had. I think he would have been a brilliant captain. Players unlucky to miss out are M Waugh, I Chappell, J Gillespie and R Marsh.

If you reckon that's hard try doing a World XI..here's mine

1. G Greenidge
2. D Haynes
3. V Richards
4. S Tendulkar
5. B Lara
6. I Botham
7. R Hadlee
8. A Knott
9. W Akram
10. M Marshall
11. C Ambrose
12th I Khan

Cripes there's some absolute guns missing out in J Garner, M Holding, A Roberts, C Lloyd, A Donald, D Gower, R Dravid, K Dev, S Jayasuria, A De Silva, M Crowe and many more. I wonder who would make the safooty World XI of all time if we voted on it. I reckon some of the older guys I have in there would miss out due to the average age of our posters...which would be younger than me.

regards,

REB

I had no idea you were a West Indian REB.

[Jim05]

With Thommo, DK, and Mc Grath in the same side Warnie would never had got a bowl

[valleys07]

World XI (since i first started following cricket in about 92')

1. M. Hayden
2. J. Langer
3. B. Lara
4. S. Tendulkar
5. V. Laxman
6. J. Kallis
7. A. Gilchrist
8. W. Akram
9. S. Warne
10. C. Ambrose
11. G. McGrath

In my era, it has been hard to bypass australians as we have been so dominant.

[Rik E Boy]

I had no idea you were a West Indian REB.

wristy -

The West Indies teams from 1976 through to about 1993 were on a par with the great Australian teams of the nineties to noughties. Lets see you pick a side from one country in your cricket watching experience to beat this one

1. G Greenidge
2. D Haynes
3. V Richards
4. B Lara
5. C Lloyd
6. R Richardson
7. J Dujon
8. M Marshall
9. C Ambrose
10. J Garner
11. M Holding
12th A Roberts

Cripes Courtney Walsh can't even get a gig here. If you can post a side from any other country that can beat that I'd be surpised (very surprised as they can't actually play each other LOL). Now remember, my West Indians came from a 'world' list so you can't get out of it by picking the Aussie greats. We'll let our fellow posters decide which side would win. Just like the real thing these blokes could not be beaten.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

World XI (since i first started following cricket in about 92')

1. M. Hayden
2. J. Langer
3. B. Lara
4. S. Tendulkar
5. V. Laxman
6. J. Kallis
7. A. Gilchrist
8. W. Akram
9. S. Warne
10. C. Ambrose
11. G. McGrath

In my era, it has been hard to bypass australians as we have been so dominant.

When I meant World XI I meant 'non Australian'...to do a true World XI since 1975...

1. M Hayden
2. D Haynes
3. V Richards
4. S Tendulkar
5. R Ponting
6. B Lara
7. A Gilchrist
8. M Marshall
9. S Warne (C)
10. D Lillee
11. G McGrath
12th G Chappell

regards,

REB

[wristwatcher]

1. M.Hayden - best opening bat i have seen play for Australia
2. D.Boon - solid, dependable and the best bat pad fielder in the world ever, suprised he didnt walk in with the bowler
3. R.Ponting - only a few years ago he averaged nearly 60, i miss that Ricky
4. G.Chappell - the master bat.Test av-53.87 which included the worst trot ever in 81,good medium pacer and brilliant hands.
5. A.Border (C) - took us from worst to best. Gutsy,determined and handy left arm spinner. 11 wickets in a test v W.I
6. S.Waugh - Tugga was tough and pre back trouble was a genuine all rounder.
7. A.Gilchrist - best wicket keeper bastsmen the world has seen. Able to swing a test in a session
8. S.Warne - i choose to remember him as he was and not as a plastic, wrinkleless metro-sexual
9. J.Gillespie - great bowler and arguably the most efeective night watchmen of them all..201 not out
10. D.Lillee - World series cricket comprimises his stats but still had 355 at about 23 and was a God in his day
11. G.Mcgrath - he made being uncool cool. the most reliable seamer of all time.
12th Man - A.Symonds - picked for fielding abilities and dressing room personality.

I started watching cricket in the late 70,s and i am certain this is the best 11 i have seen and is the 11 i would pick if my life depended on it.

There is my team to beat it REB

[Rik E Boy]

With Thommo, DK, and Mc Grath in the same side Warnie would never had got a bowl

Test matches have two innings Jimbo.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

1. M.Hayden - best opening bat i have seen play for Australia
2. D.Boon - solid, dependable and the best bat pad fielder in the world ever, suprised he didnt walk in with the bowler
3. R.Ponting - only a few years ago he averaged nearly 60, i miss that Ricky
4. G.Chappell - the master bat.Test av-53.87 which included the worst trot ever in 81,good medium pacer and brilliant hands.
5. A.Border (C) - took us from worst to best. Gutsy,determined and handy left arm spinner. 11 wickets in a test v W.I
6. S.Waugh - Tugga was tough and pre back trouble was a genuine all rounder.
7. A.Gilchrist - best wicket keeper bastsmen the world has seen. Able to swing a test in a session
8. S.Warne - i choose to remember him as he was and not as a plastic, wrinkleless metro-sexual
9. J.Gillespie - great bowler and arguably the most efeective night watchmen of them all..201 not out
10. D.Lillee - World series cricket comprimises his stats but still had 355 at about 23 and was a God in his day
11. G.Mcgrath - he made being uncool cool. the most reliable seamer of all time.
12th Man - A.Symonds - picked for fielding abilities and dressing room personality.

I started watching cricket in the late 70,s and i am certain this is the best 11 i have seen and is the 11 i would pick if my life depended on it.

There is my team to beat it REB

Comprehension not a strong point I see....



regards,

REB

[wristwatcher]

Well you picked a WI team i picked the Australian one. There is no way i could pick another countries best 11 accurately over the last 30plus years.