An Eleven for the Decade Leading Up to The Great War
For the opening slots, two names are self recommending and principally unrivaled -
Sir Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Coming down to the middle order,
names like Herbie Taylor and FS Jackson aren't considered because they hardly played in these years, and it wouldn't represent the spirit in which this side is being drafted. Although it must be said, Herbie Taylor was magnificent against Barnes & Co. in 1912.
So there are two batsmen who pretty much select themselves for number 3 and 4:
Sir Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Warren Bardsley
Picking the number 5 is a tough act. There are principally three major candidates - Archie MacLaren, Frank Woolley, and Warwick Armstrong. Consider that I only have to consider pure batting skills here. MacLaren was a giant of the English batting, and merits a place in the side for that alone. Warwick Armstrong, the larger than life, in more ways than one, influence on Aussie cricket is another strong candidate. Woolley's elegance is well documented and well loved. It's a difficult choice, and in the end, my choice depended a bit on the FC record as well.
Sir Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Warren Bardsley
Frank Woolley
Next comes perhaps the most interesting bit of the XI. There are many all rounders here to choose from, but Charlie Macartney will not be one of them, since he was a shadow of the player he would go on to become in the post-war era.
There are two positions to be filled here, from the five of - Warwick Armstrong, Aubrey Faulkner, Wilfred Rhodes, Monty Noble, and Gilbert Jessop. It would take a bold man to make outright declarations on anyone's clear superiority here, and I am not going to endeavor to do any such thing. Both Armstrong and Noble are giants of the game, with Noble being perhaps the finest all rounder to ever come out of Australia, next maybe to Keith Miller only. Jessop was a fast scoring man, and as such can play a specialist role down the order. Faulkner and Rhodes are legendary in their own rights, having demonstrated awe-inspiring performances with both the bat and the ball. In the end, I went for a batting all-rounder at 6, and a bowling all-rounder at 7.
Sir Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Warren Bardsley
Frank Woolley
Aubrey Faulkner
Wilfred Rhodes
At number eight comes the wicket-keeper, and one name came up on its own.
Sir Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Warren Bardsley
Frank Woolley
Aubrey Faulkner
Wilfred Rhodes
Bert Strudwick
Next we pick the two bowling legends of the times for number 10 and number 11. Note here than Hugh Trumble is not considered here for the same reason as Taylor and Jackson above.
Sir Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Warren Bardsley
Frank Woolley
Aubrey Faulkner
Wilfred Rhodes
Bert Strudwick
...................................
Sydney Barnes
Colin Blythe
Finally, we move to the one remaining spot at number 9.
There are two candidates for this spot - Monty Noble (again) and Albert "Tibby" Cotter. For some people, Noble would be an automatic choice, and it makes sense. He was a very good bowler, and he could more than hold a bat. However, what this bowling unit lacks is a proper fast bowler. And Tibby Cotter provides that bit of variety. He had a very handy record too, especially in the wickets per game department. It's again a tough choice. In the end, I went for the man who I thought would best complement the remainder of the side.
Sir Jack Hobbs
Victor Trumper
Clem Hill
Warren Bardsley
Frank Woolley
Aubrey Faulkner
Wilfred Rhodes
Bert Strudwick
Tibby Cotter
Sydney Barnes
Colin Blythe
So, this is my eleven for the decade leading up to The Great War, with great apologies to Monty Noble and Warwick Armstrong and Archie MacLaren