Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

[Caesar]

Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

A few months ago, we had an alltime Australian Test XI draft. 8 posters took turns at selecting great players from Australia's Test history, with a view to creating the best possible side. The result was 96 of the greatest Australians to play the game.

We had intentions at the time to vote on who had assembled the best team, after all was said and done. For some reason, this never happened. So without further ado... presenting the teams as selected by the posters, for your judgement.

Vote for the best, put the reasoning or your rankings below. If you're a drafter, vote for someone else's team. If you like, select your First XI from the players drafted. If you wish you'd participated, get involved with our next draft!

The teams:

hattrick:
Damien Martyn
Michael Clarke
David Boon
Donald Bradman (c)
Michael Hussey
Wally Grout+
George Giffen
Tim May
Ian Johnson
Jeff Thomson

Graham McKenzie (12th Man)

ants14:
Mark Taylor (c)
Bill Ponsford
Charles Macartney
Stan McCabe
Doug Walters
Jack Ryder
Brad Haddin+
Jack Gregory
Shane Warne
Jason Gillespie
Dennis Lillee

Chuck Fleetwood-Smith (12th Man)

Doccaau:
Matt Hayden
Bill Brown
Kim Hughes
Steve Waugh (c.)
David Hookes
Sam Loxton
Adam Gilchrist+
Damien Fleming
Geoff Lawson
Craig McDermott
Stuart Macgill

Mike Veletta (12th Man)

bundybullz08:
Justin Langer
Jack Fingleton
Allan Border (c)
Michael Slater
Mark Waugh
Norm O'Neill
Rod Marsh+
Terry Alderman
Ashley Mallett
Alan Davidson
Max Walker

Greg Blewett (12th Man)


Caesar:
Victor Trumper
Archie Jackson
Clem Hill
Neil Harvey
Warwick Armstrong (c)
Keith Miller
Hugh Trumble
Don Tallon+
Ray Lindwall
Bill Johnston
Charles Turner

Alan Kippax (12th Man)

el-capitano:
Bob Simpson
Arthur Morris
Lindsay Hassett
Warren Bardsley
Darren Lehmann
Monty Noble (c)
Ian Healy+
Richie Benaud
Brett Lee
Fred Spofforth
Bruce Reid

Greg Matthews (12th Man)

eddiesmith:
Bill Woodfull (c)
Ian Redpath
Ricky Ponting
Dean Jones
Bob Cowper
Herbie Collins
Paul Reiffel
Jack Blackham+
Merv Hughes
Glenn McGrath
Clarrie Grimmett

Simon Katich (12th Man)

A.B. de Villiers:
Bill Lawry
Graham Yallop
Ian Chappell (c)
Greg Chappell
Kepler Wessels
Keith Stackpole
Ken Mackay
Bert Oldfield+
Bill O'Reilly
Rodney Hogg
Tibby Cotter

Matthew Elliott (12th Man)

 

[el-capitano]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

Well obviously I would've picked my own team as the best , seeing I have a good mix of express bowlers, a leftie who hits the seam & swings the ball, a legendary leggie, the wicket keeper of the century, and a great mix of left & right handed batsmen, who sheer numbers of runs don't lie, however, in the spirit of the game, I'd have to go with yours Caesar.

Although I think you are a bit light on in the batting department, and have a few too many 'all-rounders' in the team at 5,6 & 7, the sheer fact that you could bowl out any team cheaply on any type of wicket with the variation in bowlers you have, makes me lean towards your team.

 

[Caesar]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

The lower middle order is definitely my team's weakness - I aimed for flexibility but reflecting on my draft now, to be honest I could do with another recognised batsman. Armstrong bats well enough to be considered almost a specialist, and Miller averaged decently with the willow, but after 6 there is a big drop-off.

The problem is who to drop. Trumble, Johnston or Turner would maybe get the chop for Kippax, depending on what style of bowling suited the pitch. I'm loathe to do it, but the number of quality bowlers I picked was probably slight overkill.

I liked your side as well - I couldn't pick between it and ants14. But I really hate Darren Lehmann so that might have biased me a bit.

 

[el-capitano]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

I think I was also biased towards your side, as about 4 of your picks were ones I wanted and every time you picked one before me, I swore!

Ants was the other one which I was leaning towards as well- Warne & Lillee- nuff said!

 

[eddiesmith]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

My team is by far the best, a decent batting lineup including a very strong top 4 including Australias highest run scorer in tests, Australias best ever gloveman and a great variety in the bowling including Australias best ever fast bowler and 2nd best spinner. Merv as the enforcer and Pistol to run in all day with his brilliant combination of pace and a great line

Any life in the pitch and McGrath would rip all your batting lineups to pieces

As for el caps side, Ponting and Deano are licking their lips at the prospect of facing Brett Lee

 

[Caesar]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

Voting for yourself is hardly... well, cricket.

 

[el-capitano]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

As for el caps side, Ponting and Deano are licking their lips at the prospect of facing Brett Lee

Licking the blood off them as Lee bends down to check if they are ok- didn't you mean, Eddie!

At his peak Lee was an imposing bowler, plus the fact he's managed to take 300 test wickets, and he's a decent bat, means he gets a spot in my team!

 

[eddiesmith]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

Voting for yourself is hardly... well, cricket.

Sorry, misread the opening post

Licking the blood off them as Lee bends down to check if they are ok- didn't you mean, Eddie!

At his peak Lee was an imposing bowler, plus the fact he's managed to take 300 test wickets, and he's a decent bat, means he gets a spot in my team!

He is probably worth a spot in this draft given the large amount of bowlers picked, doesnt mean good batsmen dont love to face him

 

[Boris]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

such a hard choice!

i ended up going with ants on this because of the gregory, warne, gillespie, lilee bowling line up, and a not too bad batting line up either.

would have liked bradman, hayden and noble in there.

 

[bren122]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

Caesar
Ants
El-cap

As well as being a strong team, Caesar has a side filled with batsmen described by their peers as a delight to watch- makes you wish dreams could come true. my only reservation is that Trumper and Jackson had a habit of scoring centuries and giving their wicket away, whilst Hill held the record for nervous 90's until S Waugh came along. the bowling is substantial enough to take advantage of the runs that this side would rack up.
Ants' bowling attack is really impressive whilst his batting line up is more than capable of scoring the runs to give the bowlers enough to bowl at.
El-cap has another impressive bowling line-up but the batting seems a little lacklustre- a lot of players noted for steady but not great peformances.

i was a bit surprised to see that nobody picked Bruce Yardley for a finger spinner's spot; Tim May is many things but i doubt there would be many who would rate him superior to Yardley. the same might be said of Mallett.

 

[ants14]

Re: Vote Here - Alltime Australian Test XI Draft

As this is the type of contest where you don't vote for yourself, the next best side IMO, other than mine would have to be Caesars.
Only due to the fact that he has a more level team with no real standouts, where as the other teams would be relying on the likes of one or two players to make all the runs or take all the wickets.
My vote makes it 3-3 between me and Caesar, so get voting PPL