cricket with balls

Imagine I’m the selector of the best team ever for Australia.

Done?

Good, here is my team.

My criteria is based on many different factors. Whether I’d like to have a beer with them, how attacking they were as a cricketer, whether I liked them, what sort of team men they were and my mood on the day of writing this.

1. Trumper – just beats Hayden for mine, because as aggressive as Hayden is, Trumper made hundreds before lunch and is involved in the best cricket photo of all time.

2. Ponsford – was the perfect opening batsmen, who didn’t just blunt the new ball, but often blunted the second new ball as well. Its an honour to sit in his stand at the Mcg. Oh and he may be from the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

3.Ponting – Professional cricketer he may be, he is also a good drinker and a working class boy who owns greyhounds. Plus would be a champion in any era, can score runs on any surface and uses attack as a defence.

4. Harvey – Every team needs an expert in spin bowling and a classy number 4. There was no one classier or better against spin than Neil Harvey. Forget about him becoming an old codger, remember him when he was king, and also born in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

5. Border – Every team needs a tough son of a b1tch. So why not get one who carried Australia on his back for most of his career. The perfect vice captain and middle order batsmen.

6. Miller – Probably the first player I picked. My favourite cricketer of all time. I stood outside his funeral service, I didn’t know if I should go in, not sure if I was worthy. Played cricket and lived life they way it should be done. Best allrounder in Australia by a long distance.

7. Gilchrist – There have been state keepers with better glove work than Gilchrist. But he regularly wins cricket matches in a session, and that to me sets him apart from any other keeper and most other batsmen of our time.

8. Benaud – Picked as a captain if nothing else. But as a number 8 batsmen and fifth bowler he more than deserves his selection here. Only man in the world I would like to have a glass of red with.

9. O’Reilly – Was all but unplayable. Bowled Leg spin like he was a fast bowler. Was a brutal man who spoke his extremely intelligent mind quite often. Was never dominated by any batsman. That’s why he is in my team. Great nickname as well.

10 Lillee – Probably as close to their perfect fast bowler as you can get. Fast, accurate, smart, swing, seam, brutality and awareness. Need I say more?

11. McGrath – In a team of attacking bowlers I was tempted to choose Lindwall or Spofforth to support Lillee, but I just couldn’t go past the metronome. I like the fact he wasn’t a child prodigy that he believed in himself when others didn’t, and that he changed the way Bowlers went about their business.

Feel free to get angry and tell me i am wrong in the comments.

Hope i didn’t miss anyone.