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All time Australia XIs - a discussion

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
Assuming Boon not opening and so for Watson as an all-rounder.

Morris
Ponsford
Woodfull
Barnes
Langer
Taylor
Slater
Jackson
Bardsley
Khwaja
Warner
Collins
Wessels (should he be even included??)
Redpath
Brown
Fingleton
Stackpole
Katich
McDonald
Rogers
Darling
Bannerman
Marsh
Jacques
McCosker
Hughes
Wood
Laird

Sure forgetting a few, but these for now. Probably Khwaja should be higher.
Why shouldn't Wessels be included? He did better for Australia (averaged 43 from 24 tests and did superbly against the Windies) than for SA (averaged 38 from 16 tests).
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
Why shouldn't Wessels be included? He did better for Australia (averaged 43 from 24 tests and did superbly against the Windies) than for SA (averaged 38 from 16 tests).
I mean, I would rather not have any player repeating for two countries. So given Wessels played for Australia just because SA was banned and switched to SA the moment he can, I would rather have him for Saffa
 

Coronis

International Coach
As an overall batsman, yes.
So its convenient to ignore his mediocre opening and pick him as an opener, yet not convenient to ignore Khawaja’s mediocre middle order batting and pick him as an opener. Makes sense. I like your consistency.
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
So its convenient to ignore his mediocre opening and pick him as an opener, yet not convenient to ignore Khawaja’s mediocre middle order batting and pick him as an opener. Makes sense. I like your consistency.
Thanks.
 

kyear2

International Coach
So its convenient to ignore his mediocre opening and pick him as an opener, yet not convenient to ignore Khawaja’s mediocre middle order batting and pick him as an opener. Makes sense. I like your consistency.
Ummmmm
 

CricAddict

Cricketer Of The Year
1. Pat Cummins has got promoted from Australia N to Australia A in 6 years. How good is that? Was he under-rated earlier or over-rated now? Or rightly rated based on his achievements in the 6 years?
2. Allan Border had lost the captaincy earlier to Don Bradman and wins it now over S Waugh
3. First team is more of specialist cricketers while the second team bats deep with quite a few all-rounders and part-timers. In a match between the two, will the first team smash them or will be made to work hard for the win?

That's three for the discussion group.

Australia XI:Australia A
1. RB Simpson ⬆1. VT Trumper⬇
2. ML Hayden2. WM Lawry⬆
3. DG Bradman *3. RT Ponting
4. SPD Smith⬆4. RN Harvey
5. GS Chappell5. AR Border * ⬇
6. KR Miller6. SR Waugh
7. AC Gilchrist +7. IA Healy +
8. SK Warne8. AK Davidson
9. WJ Reilly⬆9. RR Lindwall⬇
10. DK Lillee10. PJ Cummins ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆
11. GD McGrath11. CV Grimmett ⬆
 

CricAddict

Cricketer Of The Year
The pacers are one team down (expected given Cummins) while all the 3 middle order greats retain their positions.

Australia XI:Australia AAustralia B
1. RB Simpson ⬆1. VT Trumper⬇
2. ML Hayden2. WM Lawry⬆
3. DG Bradman *3. RT Ponting3. C Hill
4. SPD Smith⬆4. RN Harvey4. SJ McCabe
5. GS Chappell5. AR Border * ⬇5. MJ Clarke
6. KR Miller6. SR Waugh
7. AC Gilchrist +7. IA Healy +
8. SK Warne8. AK Davidson
9. WJ Reilly⬆9. RR Lindwall⬇9. JN Gillespie ⬇
10. DK Lillee10. PJ Cummins ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆
11. GD McGrath11. CV Grimmett ⬆11. FR Spofforth ⬇
 

Coronis

International Coach
I love Ponsford but specifically using him as an example - Khawaja already has more innings opening than Ponsford does in his entire career - in a harder batting era… etc.
 

CricAddict

Cricketer Of The Year
Australia XI:Australia AAustralia B
1. RB Simpson ⬆1. VT Trumper⬇1. AR Morris ⬇
2. ML Hayden2. WM Lawry⬆2. WH Ponsford
3. DG Bradman *3. RT Ponting3. C Hill
4. SPD Smith⬆4. RN Harvey4. SJ McCabe
5. GS Chappell5. AR Border * ⬇5. MJ Clarke
6. KR Miller6. SR Waugh
7. AC Gilchrist +7. IA Healy +7. RW Marsh +
8. SK Warne8. AK Davidson
9. WJ Reilly⬆9. RR Lindwall⬇9. JN Gillespie ⬇
10. DK Lillee10. PJ Cummins ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆
11. GD McGrath11. CV Grimmett ⬆11. FR Spofforth ⬇
 

Anthony Clayden

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
I mean, I would rather not have any player repeating for two countries. So given Wessels played for Australia just because SA was banned and switched to SA the moment he can, I would rather have him for Saffa
So is Grimmet really a Kiwi?? Had no option to play for NZ
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
So is Grimmet really a Kiwi?? Had no option to play for NZ
Yeah, Grum had close to no chance to play for NZ, as did Ranji for India. And well, there are many more Saffas who switched nationalities during the Apartheid era and never represented SA, like Greig and Lamb. I think Wessels is different only because he actually played for two countries and if I had to choose, it looks like the latter came much more natural to him.
 

Coronis

International Coach
So is Grimmet really a Kiwi?? Had no option to play for NZ
Tbh it would’ve been hilarious if after Bradman had him dropped for the Ashes Grimmett came back and destroyed Australia with a New Zealand side - though they actually never played tests against Australia until after the war.
 

the big bambino

International Captain
Tbh it would’ve been hilarious if after Bradman had him dropped for the Ashes Grimmett came back and destroyed Australia with a New Zealand side - though they actually never played tests against Australia until after the war.
This could've theoretically happened in 39/40 when Grimmett's form was very good. Australia were due to play NZ but of course the war. Even if it went ahead Grimmett would've played for Australia. But if he was able to elect to play for the Kiwis they would've fielded Cowie, Pritchard and Grimmett against us and that would've been pretty interesting.
 

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