Sachin wins, no wildcards
Ricky Ponting (1974-)
11,928 runs in 144 Tests for Australia; 344 ODIs
Occasionally compared to the winner of the last battle
Tasmania's greatest cricketer
Captained Australia for the last six years, with remarkably consistent batting returns
Michael Slater (1970-)
5,312 runs in 74 Tests for Australia; 42 ODIs
A Test specialist opener with a penchant for reaching 90
Played in the 16-match win sequence from 1999 to 2001
Lindsay Hassett (1913-1993)
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3,073 runs in 43 Tests for Australia; 16,890 runs in 216 first-class matches
Born in 1913, served in the AIF during his potentially finest years of Test cricket
Only four Test losses in 24 Tests as captain...
...but one of those lost the Ashes for the first time in 19 years
Andre Nel (1977-)
123 wickets in 36 Tests for South Africa; 79 ODIs
An aggressive, controversial bowler
Claims an oxygen-starved man named Gunther takes over during matches