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Battle of the Australians

SJS

SJS

Hall of Fame Member
Goughy said:
Would Hayden make an All-time Aus XI? Probably
Would Grimmett make an All-time Aus XI? No

Hayden

Hayden may possibly have been the best Aussie batsman over the Australian long term domination of World cricket. Thats nothing to be sneezed at.
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Thats a strange argument.

Firstly Grimmett did make many people's all time World XI (not just Australian XI) till Warne happened. Even today there are those who rate him a better leg spinner but thats not all.

Secondly In a country which has produced in Warne, Grimmett and Orielly three of the greatest bowlers (any type) of all time in the world (not just Australia) AND when all three happen to be basically leg spinners, is it a surprise that one or two of them will be left out from an XI. If Australia had the world's ten greatest wicket keppers (and they have a pretty impressive list) nine would be out though they would be legends in their own right.

Ponting, for example, would never make anyone's all time Australian XI's one-drop batsman with the Don firmly esconsed there. Is that an argument against Ponting or even when comparing Ponting to lets say, another bowler ?

Hunte (or Haynes) might make most people's all time West Indies XI but when selecting the fats bowlers you will have to leave our from this list (Ambrose, Walsh, Holding, Marshall, Roberts, Croft, Hall, Garner) Is this an argument in favour of Hunte or against Roberts whom some may leave out. Or the West Indies middle order with Weekes, Worrell, Walcott, Kanhai, Headley, Lara, Richard etc.

One can say one feels that Hayden is a better player than Grimmett and its fine since its an opinion but to say he is a better player BECAUSE he may find a place in a side in which Grimmett wont is strange for they are required for different role.

Grimmett would find himself in EVERY England side (not probably) while Hayden wont with Hobbs, Hutton and Sutcliffe to contend with.
 
Goughy

Goughy

Hall of Fame Member
SJS said:
Thats a strange argument.One can say one feels that Hayden is a better player than Grimmett and its fine since its an opinion but to say he is a better player BECAUSE he may find a place in a side in which Grimmett wont is strange for they are required for different role.

Grimmett would find himself in EVERY England side (not probably) while Hayden wont with Hobbs, Hutton and Sutcliffe to contend with.
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Not really, it is the battle of the Australians and has to be viewed in that context. I have Grimmett as 3rd on the Aussie leg spin list, behind Warne and Tiger.

Within the context of an Australian battle, I find it difficult to include a player that would be third string over someone that makes an alltime XI.

If Grimmett was English he would do well in the 'Battle of the Englishmen', however that is not the debate here.
 
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Matt79

Matt79

Hall of Fame Member
McCabe, but feel bad for Hassett. not only did he have to bat with Bradman, he had to follow in his large footsteps as captain, which he did admirably given he didn't have Bradman in the team. But McCabe is one of the all-time greats with the bat - Hassett's excellent captaincy not quite enough to get him over the line (and he still had Harvey, Miller, and Lindwall!).
 
PhoenixFire

PhoenixFire

International Coach
Stan McCabe. The most underated player of all time. Bradman famously said about him "Stan, if I could play an innings like that, I would be a very proud man indeed.
 
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