Thanks Monk. Here is my short description as requested;
'THE MEAN MUTHERS'
1.Bob Simpson (6)
2.Roy Fredericks
3.Clyde Walcott
4.Greg Chappell (7)
5.Steve Waugh (5) (vice captain)
6.Clive Lloyd
7.John Waite (keeper)
8.Richie Benaud (4) (captain)
9.Wasim Akram (3)
10.Curtly Ambrose (1)
11.Glen McGrath (2)
12.Eddie Barlow
1.Bob Simpson (Batting Average: 46.81, Bowling Strike Rate: 96.9)
Reliable and orthodox opening batsman capable of batting through an innings. Possibly the best slip fieldsman of all time. Was an allrounder who bowled leg spin and googlies before he began to focus on his batting. Useful spinning partner to Richie Benaud on a wearing pitch.
2.Roy Fredericks (Batting Average: 42.49)
The original Brian Lara but with a technique good enough to be an opener. Possibly the best exponent of the hook-shot in modern cricket as his masterpiece against Lillee and Thommo at Perth in 1975 suggests. His 169 runs came off only 145 balls. Knick-named “Kid Cement” by his team mates for good reason – he feared no fast bowler. Partly included in this team because I would like to see him open against Larwood and Lindwall.
3.Clyde Walcott (Batting Average: 56.58)
Batted 23 times at No.3 and averaged 51.86. The best of the ‘3 Ws’ at first drop, power-packed, and the 1950s answer to Vivian Richards. Does what a No.3 should do – dictate terms to the bowlers and set the tempo of the innings.
4.Greg Chappell (Batting Average: 53.86, Bowling Strike Rate: 113.3)
Australia’s premier batsman of the 1970s. Arguably the best player of fast bowling in the world during that decade. Averaged 117.00 against the West Indian quartet in 1975-76. A classic No.4 and the pivotal batsman of the team.
5.Steve Waugh (Batting Average: 51.06, Bowling Strike Rate: 84.8)
Puritanical batsman and the backbone of the middle-order. Sits comfortably between the stroke makers but also capable of counter-attacking when necessary. Wonderful gully fieldsman. Useful and competent medium pacer.
6.Clive Lloyd (Batting Average: 46.67)
A highly flexible batsman capable of punishing the bowling or batting with the tail. Clever against the spinners with a top score of 242 against Bedi , Chandra, and Prassana, but also able to average 46.9 runs against Lillee and Thommo in 1975-76.
7.John Waite (Caught: 124, Stumped: 24, Batting Average: 30.44)
Held all the South African wicket-keeping records before Mark Boucher came along. Good enough with the bat to score centuries against Tyson and Bedser, then Davidson and Meckiff. Stubborn and pugnacious.
8.Richie Benaud (Bowling Strike Rate: 77.0, Batting Average: 24.45)
One of the best classical leg-spinners in history, and possibly the best captain in history. Scored 3 centuries with the bat too.
9.Wasim Akram (Bowling Strike Rate: 54.6, Batting Average: 22.64)
Possibly the greatest left-handed fast bowler of all-time. Bowls everything bar the kitchen sink. Highest Test score of 257 runs.
10.Curtly Ambrose (Bowling Strike Rate: 54.5)
Definitely one of the top three West Indian fast bowlers of all-time and helped keep the West Indies ‘great’ for longer than they should have been. A mean and nasty miser with the ball who is the spear-head of the attack.
11.Glen McGrath (Bowling Strike Rate: 51.9)
Assessed by some experts to be the greatest quick bowler of all-time. Absolutely relentless.
12.Eddie Barlow (Batting Average: 45.74, Bowling Strike Rate: 75.5)
Gives the team added balance and motivation. Very good medium pacer and 5th bowler, superb slip fielder, and would rather die than give his wicket away. A classic case where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.
SUMMARY
This is a merciless team without a breaking point. It is superbly led by Benaud (c) and Waugh (vc), and expertly advised by Lloyd and Chappell. If the teams IQ could be measured then it would be a genius.
There is more than ample batting depth and 4 front-line bowlers who are capable of devastating any batting order. The fast bowlers strike often, but are also complete misers. They will be just as difficult to score off as they are to defend against. The part-time bowlers Waugh and Simpson are also capable of taking wickets. Chappell is very accurate.
Importantly, the bowlers will be backed up by some superb fieldsmen. Indeed it could be argued that there has never been a greater cordon than Waite, Simpson, Chappell, Waugh, Fredericks, and Benaud. They are really that good.
In short, if a Test Match happens to be bitter, bloody, and on a knife edge, then this team will be in its absolute element.