ALL-TIME AUSTRALIA TEST ELEVEN

ALL-TIME AUSTRALIA TEST ELEVEN

1. Victor Trumper

2. Matthew Hayden 

3. Don Bradman (captain)

4. Steve Smith 

5. Allan Border (vice-captain)

6. Adam Gilchrist (wicket keeper)

7. Alan Davidson

8. Ray Lindwall

9. Shane Warne

10. Bill O'Reilly

11. Dennis Lillee

12th man : Richie Benaud

WHY THIS SELECTION ?

1. Victor Trumper is one of Australia's greatest stylists in batsmanship with a high backlift, scintillating stroke-play and a cricketer with the flavour of the vintage era. An automatic choice keeping history in mind, although, Charles Bannerman, Bill Ponsford and Archie Jackson ran him close for the opening slot.

2. In 'Bradman's Best' Sir Don had selected Arthur Morris to accompany Bill Ponsford. Here, keeping in mind the classical historical evolution of the game, as it is an all-time eleven, Trumper has been given precedence over Ponsford as also otherwise on grounds of better batsmanship from the stylistic perspective. Hayden was till Sir Don's death an abysmal failure in Test cricket in his first stint till 1999 and it was only after the demise of the greatest Australian in 1999 that he came devastatingly good in the tour of India and then never looked back. His Test career record eventually was far better than Arthur Morris and like Morris he was left-handed as well. Equally adept in playing pace on fast tracks and spin in the spinning Indian conditions, Hayden was the perfect partner for the delectable Trumper, although, my personal favourite in Archie Jackson had to be given up purely to keep the right-hand--left-hand combination of the opening pair, so very disconcerting to opposition bowlers. Jackson's was a phenomenal unfructified potential on account of his early death after playing a few Test matches in which he exhilarated crowds with his delightful batsmanship.

3. Well, Bradman, the greatest batsman of all time, was automatic choice. Being nearly twice as good as any other batsman in history and averaging over 100 throughout his career before a last innings duck brought it down tantalizingly close to the hundred mark at 99.94 runs per completed innings, Bradman, who was voted by an international press selection as the greatest athlete of all time in all sporting disciplines, a unique athletic phenomenon that is repeated once out of every million international athletes -- this, following probability calculations -- was just there in his characteristic no. 3 spot to clobber opposition bowling and pulverise his side to prospective victory.

4. Now comes the most contentious position where multiple contenders were beaten  to it by Steve Smith on grounds of the most superlative performance by any Australian batsman since Bradman. His Test career record and second-best all-time Test batting average in the world proves the point. Simply forced his way to the no. 4 position ahead of Ponting, Greg Chappell, Charlie Macartney, Neil Harvey, Norman O'Neill,  Stan McCabe and the like. Steve Smith's ease at the crease, his footwork, anticipation, positioning before strokeplay and plentiful availability of time in doing so has led to his fabulous success and facilitated his access into the team.

Written by Sugata Bose

Comments : 

Sugata Bose @Shirshendu Dey : Wait for my rationale of selection to be complete. Meanwhile, keep suggesting. Amendments may be made to the selection as yet. The list is not final as yet in any way and never will be as imaginary matches will be played between the teams and newer faces brought in to replace failed early choices.

Sugata Bose @Shirshendu Dey : Yes, Morris was Bradman's choice but I have given my rationale for Trumper. Read the essay once more. For left-handed opener I have explained why Hayden has been my choice.

Sugata Bose @Sumit Mukerji : Davidson to lend left-hand variety to the once attack. Border was a better bat than Miller and including him would mean inclusion of a fourth fast bowler with Thomson included, that is, a la West Indies team of the late 70s and the 80s. Border was also more than a handy left arm spinner who could be used to break rolling partnerships and his gutsy, dour batting in tight situations provides the team with the necessary reliability in untoward circumstances from the cricketing perspective. Thomson, yes. On a fast Perth track or Sabina Park, Kingston, the pace attack must include Thomson. Also, Jack Gregory was in contention for Davidson's spot but the left arm factor ruled in the latter's favour.

Sugata Bose @