Symonds vs. Maxwell: who makes an Australia ODI all-time XI?

[Tejretics]

As the question says: who’d you pick if you could only have one?

 

[Starfighter]

Is this an opportune moment to discuss Symonds' quality as a fifth bowler?

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Symonds can do everything Maxwell can do but more consistently. So I'd pick Roy

 

[capt_Luffy]

Have both in my Australia XI, but to choose Symmonds easily.

 

[Silver Silva]

Symonds can do everything Maxwell can do but more consistently. So I'd pick Roy

Symonds could never have played the innings Maxi did vs Afghanistan

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Symonds could never have played the innings Maxi did vs Afghanistan

Yeah that's the greatest innings I've seen but one innings does not make you a better player , having an unbeaten double hundred to your name but only averaging 33 kind of proves my point about Maxwell.

 

[Srinath P]

How about both?

Gilchrist, Warner, Ponting, Jones, Bevan, Symonds, Maxwell seems like an amazing top 7.

Mike Hussey is quite a miss but his WC record is quite duh.

If we have to compare individually, Symonds is a far superior batter.

 

[Tejretics]

How about both?

Gilchrist, Warner, Ponting, Jones, Bevan, Symonds, Maxwell seems like an amazing top 7.

Mike Hussey is quite a miss but his WC record is quite duh.

If we have to compare individually, Symonds is a far superior batter.

I feel pretty reluctant excluding Watson, even if he didn’t play in the middle order as often.

 

[Srinath P]

I feel pretty reluctant excluding Watson, even if he didn’t play in the middle order as often.

Whom would you remove though? I rate Watson very highly (top 5 ODI ARs ever), but I don't see a spot for him in this team. His best position is either opening or No. 5, and he doesn't fit in either of those spots in here.

 

[Tejretics]

Whom would you remove though? I rate Watson very highly (top 5 ODI ARs ever), but I don't see a spot for him in this team. His best position is either opening or No. 5, and he doesn't fit in either of those spots in here.

I’d personally take Watson over Maxwell or Symonds, hence the question in the above poll.

 

[Tejretics]

Yeah that's the greatest innings I've seen but one innings does not make you a better player , having an unbeaten double hundred to your name but only averaging 33 kind of proves my point about Maxwell.

I don’t think Maxwell is a better player than Symonds, but it’s possible that – in a team that is otherwise going to have incredibly consistent people, like Ponting, Bevan, Jones/Hussey, and such – it’s useful to have someone who’s inconsistent but can totally change the game on a good day.

 

[Burgey]

How about both?

But the thread is predicated on only being able to pick one.

It's Symonds btw.

 

[DrWolverine]

Symonds - 161 inn. 32 NO. Avg of 39. 30 50s. 6 tons
Maxwell - 134 inn. 17 NO. Avg of 33. 23 50s. 4 tons

Symonds - 158 inn. 133 wkts. Avg of 37. 2 4-Fers
Maxwell - 116 inn. 75 wkts. Avg of 47. 4 4-Fers

 

[MasterBlaster24]

Symonds

 

[reyrey]

Whom would you remove though? I rate Watson very highly (top 5 ODI ARs ever), but I don't see a spot for him in this team. His best position is either opening or No. 5, and he doesn't fit in either of those spots in here.

Watson for Warner maybe. They average roughly the same opening.

 

[Rob Wesley]

Hayden, Mark Waugh also in contention for opening spot alongwith Watson. Watson strengthens the bowling when compared with Maxwell or Symonds though and can be played at 6 or 7.

Greg Chappell would have been a solid #4 too. Don’t forget Michael Clarke is a World Cup winning captain too and a solid middle order batsman. Damien Martyn all class!
All these names very much in contention.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Hayden, Mark Waugh also in contention for opening spot alongwith Watson. Watson strengthens the bowling when compared with Maxwell or Symonds though and can be played at 6 or 7.

Greg Chappell would have been a solid #4 too. Don’t forget Michael Clarke is a World Cup winning captain too and a solid middle order batsman. Damien Martyn all class!
All these names very much in contention.

Don't think Clarke and Martyn have a viable case really

 

[Jumno]

Symonds. I remember his dynamic rescue innings against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the 2003 world cup.

Great fielder and a useful bowling option.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Symonds. He was brilliant.

As good as Maxwell is I wouldn't pick him in the current NZ ODI team ahead of Phillips and Bracewell.

 

[Randomfan]

It will be Symonds.