Australia's Dream Team selected
Inside Cricket have gathered a crack squad of elite selectors (eg - over-opinionated ex-greats and commentators) to choose the best Australian Test XI from 1995 to 2005. There's some peculiar choices although who can argue with the opinions of Dennis Lillee, Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell? I can, that's who!
Firstly, Mark Taylor as opener. Acknowledged, he was a great captain. Building on the foundation laid by Allan Border, he led Australia into our current golden age. Perhaps I was too young to remember him at the peak of his powers but all I remember was a paunchy out-of-sorts opener who only kept his spot in the side because he was captaining a winning team. It shouldn't be too hard to scratch around for a better opener... Justin Langer, Michael Slater - hell, I'd even take Mike Hussey!
Now I have a soft spot for Boonie but I agree with selecting Ricky Ponting over David Boon - with Warnie and Tubby, one more beer gut in the side would be too many for a supposed elite sporting team.
My second problem is the selection of Jason Gillespie. Maybe I'm suffering from Ashes hangover but his inability to take wickets in England played a large part in us losing that series - our worst loss in 20 years. I'd choose Brett Lee over Gillespie - Lee may be a bit of a wildcard but at the peak of his powers, I believe he surpasses Jason Gillespie at his best.
And lastly, the worst selection decision since Shoaib Akhtar was selected for the World XI, they selected Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist in the same team. Firstly, that's an insult to Gilchrist's glovework (how weird would it be seeing him field at deep fine leg?) and secondly, it's a decision that's completely out of touch with reality (hence the 'Dream' in Dream Team, I guess). This is a country that selected Wayne Phillips as wicketkeeper - a guy who could barely get a glove on the ball when standing at the stumps. Now Gilchrist is prone to the odd mistake but that's hardly worth sacrificing a quality top order batsman for Heals. Although maybe they selected him for his sledging abilities in which case, fair call.
This is the kind of topic that everyone has an opinion about so anyone else got any thoughts on who should and shouldn't be in Australia's best side over the past 10 years?
| Posted by JC on Wed 30 Nov |  16 comments |
Hey John,
By any chance are you cancerian (like me) you seem to have strong likes and dislikes :-)
I always rated Taylor better captain than AB & SW and SW as one of the grittiest player ever to grace the game . AB was senior so things were easy for him Taylor was Shrewd, , he worked on the bettering the side,had to handle talents and egos of players who were his contemporaries and get the team together rather then drop the ball by infights, ( healy had described the ashes tour when Tubby was having lean patch and dressing room situation when he had to handle likes of Waugh Bros ,Warne and Healy ) ,AB just sowed the seed , Taylor nurtured it , and Taylor was more gracious of the three. If Taylor had a one big lean patch ,where he kept his place due to his leadership position ,same was true about last three years in Alan Border’s career , he just was given life-line to complete his 10,000 runs ( the favor he coolly forgot when it was Waugh’s turn. AB gave an impression of being vindictive as selector when it came to SW)
Like your dislike for Gillespie , I too felt it was preference for Gillespie that gave a raw deal to Damien Fleming ( whom I rate better) and Kasparowicz ( he too is case of mistreatment) Only when premium bowlers avoided traveling to India ( to deal the treacherous condition) do the selectors think of Kasper
What about Reiffel , he was again the case of perfect team man but always got treated as secondary citizen I feel
Rgds,
Mm parab
Posted by Unsui on 2005-12-01 19:50:36
By any chance are you cancerian (like me) you seem to have strong likes and dislikes :-)
I always rated Taylor better captain than AB & SW and SW as one of the grittiest player ever to grace the game . AB was senior so things were easy for him Taylor was Shrewd, , he worked on the bettering the side,had to handle talents and egos of players who were his contemporaries and get the team together rather then drop the ball by infights, ( healy had described the ashes tour when Tubby was having lean patch and dressing room situation when he had to handle likes of Waugh Bros ,Warne and Healy ) ,AB just sowed the seed , Taylor nurtured it , and Taylor was more gracious of the three. If Taylor had a one big lean patch ,where he kept his place due to his leadership position ,same was true about last three years in Alan Border’s career , he just was given life-line to complete his 10,000 runs ( the favor he coolly forgot when it was Waugh’s turn. AB gave an impression of being vindictive as selector when it came to SW)
Like your dislike for Gillespie , I too felt it was preference for Gillespie that gave a raw deal to Damien Fleming ( whom I rate better) and Kasparowicz ( he too is case of mistreatment) Only when premium bowlers avoided traveling to India ( to deal the treacherous condition) do the selectors think of Kasper
What about Reiffel , he was again the case of perfect team man but always got treated as secondary citizen I feel
Rgds,
Mm parab
Posted by Unsui on 2005-12-01 19:50:36
I'm Aquarian - dunno what my personality type is meant to be (don't hold much stock in astrology - the midwife had more gravitational influence on me than the alignment of the planets at the time of my birth so it all sounds like a bit of a crock). I run hot and cold with Australian cricketers - like any fickle sports fan, I love 'em when they're going well, blast 'em when they fail. I liked the cut of Michael Clarke's gyb in India but was all too happy to see him go after he let us down in England, New Zealand, against the West Indies - well, everyone over the last 12 months.
Posted by JC on 2005-12-01 20:23:44
Posted by JC on 2005-12-01 20:23:44
Well as much as I don't buy the sun-moon sign stuff,never the less it acts as good excuse to justify your behavior ;-).
If You have seen,I have my fav in Taylor as Best Captain and I can go at length to justify why he is better ,same goes for everyone.
BTW in the umpiring episode, I told about Sheperd Blocking Reiffels throw in AUS-SA match in WC'99 do you remember the incident.. the Old man got hit on his Butt by the throw (served him right !!) :D have gr8 weekend
Rgds, mm parab at gmail
Posted by Unsui on 2005-12-02 01:40:26
If You have seen,I have my fav in Taylor as Best Captain and I can go at length to justify why he is better ,same goes for everyone.
BTW in the umpiring episode, I told about Sheperd Blocking Reiffels throw in AUS-SA match in WC'99 do you remember the incident.. the Old man got hit on his Butt by the throw (served him right !!) :D have gr8 weekend
Rgds, mm parab at gmail
Posted by Unsui on 2005-12-02 01:40:26
What a terrific subject. I'd actually find a spot for both Boonie and Ponting, unfortunately at the expense of Mark Waugh. Now,as brilliant as Mark Waugh was from time to time, he was prone to the occasional rush of blood. Boonie, on the other hand, was tough, uncompromising. Not as good a fielder as Mark but not too shabby there at short leg!!
Love to have found a spot for Marto (under-rated and unlucky).
Gilchrist AND Healy is a joke and I have my reservations about McDermott. Was Merv Hughes around?If so I'd probably opt for him as he had a ton and a half of ticker!
Posted by Dan Darwin on 2005-12-02 15:18:59
Love to have found a spot for Marto (under-rated and unlucky).
Gilchrist AND Healy is a joke and I have my reservations about McDermott. Was Merv Hughes around?If so I'd probably opt for him as he had a ton and a half of ticker!
Posted by Dan Darwin on 2005-12-02 15:18:59
BRING BACK THE CLARKE!!!
MICHAEL CLARKE (AKA) THE BEST YET!!!
Posted by Emma, 13 on 2005-12-17 19:31:23
MICHAEL CLARKE (AKA) THE BEST YET!!!
Posted by Emma, 13 on 2005-12-17 19:31:23
Hey anyone also doing the Sun's Dream Team Cricket World Cup competiton join my mini league. Name = Wonderboy Cup, Password= manutd7. Thanks, any prizes will be shared equally throughout the competitors of the league
Posted by Stefan Borge on 2007-03-11 12:16:35
Posted by Stefan Borge on 2007-03-11 12:16:35
Looking forward to the new cricket season. I think Matthew hayden will score the most runs over the summer
Posted by Mathew on 2007-09-10 14:19:26
Posted by Mathew on 2007-09-10 14:19:26
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