TOPIC:

In the spirit of AR's excellent threads on WAFL/VFL best teams, this has just popped up on TheWest online, purporting to be the ultimate team to represent WA cricket.

I pretty much agree with it, but would be interested in the thoughts of OzF's cricket gurus.

Graeme Wood

Justin Langer

Shaun Marsh

Kim Hughes (c)

Damien Martyn

Mike Hussey

Adam Gilchrist

Mitchell Johnson

Bruce Yardley

Graham McKenzie

Dennis Lillee

thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/modern-day-...st-xi-ng-b881040363z

ps I suggest any comments not be tainted by any prejudices you may have against the author of TheWest article.

pss please don't pick 6 Midland Guildford players, as Keith Slater did for the Oz test team many years ago, in his column in the Sundry Times.

jackspratt wrote: In the spirit of AR's excellent threads on WAFL/VFL best teams, this has just popped up on TheWest online, purporting to be the ultimate team to represent WA cricket.

I pretty much agree with it, but would be interested in the thoughts of OzF's cricket gurus.

Graeme Wood

Justin Langer

Shaun Marsh

Kim Hughes (c)

Damien Martyn

Mike Hussey

Adam Gilchrist

Mitchell Johnson

Bruce Yardley

Graham McKenzie

Dennis Lillee

thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/modern-day-...st-xi-ng-b881040363z

ps I suggest any comments not be tainted by any prejudices you may have against the author of TheWest article.

pss please don't pick 6 Midland Guildford players, as Keith Slater did for the Oz test team many years ago, in his column in the Sundry Times.

JS if it can include internationals that have played for Western Australia then I would suggest that Tony Lock should be selected instead of Yardley.

A couple of observations: Kim Hughes as captain is a deserved choice although if Lock is eligible to be selected I wold choose Lock.

Having a quick look at balls bowled by McKenzie and Johnson are interesting 60 matches (17,681 balls bowled) and 73 matches (16,001) respectively. (Source wikipedia so subject to verification).

One other observation is relevant. The first class careers of the modern player is so much longer than in previous eras. For example, if Hussey had played in the 1960s/1970s it is highly doubtful that he would have ever played for Australia because he most likely would have retired at an earlier age than the age he was when he was first selected for Australia.

Wicket-keeper basman-Rod Marsh.Tim Zoehrer.
Allrounders-Ken Macleay.Brendon Julian
Batsman-Craig Sergent,Bruce Laird,Rob Langer,Ryan Campbell, Mike Valetta,
Bowlers-Terry Aldermann,Wayne Clarke,Peter Capes.Mick Malone
Spinners -Tony Loch+Mann.B Yardly was a lot better batsman.
Strong squad missed plenty also.

Thanks for the thread Jack.

Great posts all: I am with Swan 42, I would add Lock and make him captain; I would bat Greg Shipperd at three; I would also add Terry Alderman. Barry Shepherd would be my 12th man.

excluded: Yardley, Johnson and Marsh

JS have picked my side based on their Test Cricket record.
*didnt include Mitch Johnson as he played more for QLD than WA
In batting order-

1. Justin Langer- Tests-105, Runs-7696, Ave-45.27, 100s-23, 50s-30, HS-250
2. Simon Katich- Tests-56, Runs-4188, Ave-45.03, 100s-10, 50s-25, HS-157...Wkts-21, Ave-30.23, BB-6/65
3. Kim Hughes (C)- Tests-70, Runs-4415, Ave-37.41, 100s-9, 50s-22, HS-213
4. Damien Martyn- Tests-67, Runs-4406, Ave-46.37, 100s-13, 50s-23, HS-165...Wkts-2, Ave-84.00, BB-1/0
5. Mike Hussey- Tests-79, Runs-6235, Ave-51.52, 100s-19, 50s-29, HS-195...Wkts-7, Ave-43.71, BB-1/0
6. Adam Gilchrist- Tests-96, Runs-5570, Ave-47.60, 100s-17, 50s-26, HS-204*
7. Rod Marsh (WK)- Tests-96, Runs-3633, Ave-26.51, 100s-3, 50s-16, HS-132
8. Dennis Lillee- Tests-70, Runs-905, Ave-13.71, 100s-0, 50s-1, HS-73*...Wkts-355, Ave-23.92, BB-7/83
9. Graham McKenzie- Tests-60, Runs-945, Ave-12.27, 100s-0, 50s-2, HS-76...Wkts-246, Ave-29.78, BB-8/71
10. Terry Alderman- Tests-41, Runs-203, Ave-6.54, 100s-0, 50s-0, HS-26*...Wkts-170, Ave-27.15, BB-6/47
11. Bruce Reid- Tests-27, Runs-93, Ave-4.65, 100s-0, 50s-0, HS-13...Wkts-113, Ave-24.63, BB-7/51

You could also pick a side to include Moody and Simpson

Simpson
Langer
Katich -- thanks Bease I forgot him
Hughes
Martyn
Moody
Gilchrist
Tony Lock -- captain
Greame Mckenzie
Dennis Lilliee
Terry Alderman

In my humble opinion you can not exclude the two leading wicket takers in WACA history; in regards to Simpson, he is the best performed batsman.

In terms of qualification Simpson played 26 times for our state
Mitchell Johnson just 10 times.

Beasley Hutton wrote: JS have picked my side based on their Test Cricket record.
*didnt include Mitch Johnson as he played more for QLD than WA
In batting order-

1. Justin Langer- Tests-105, Runs-7696, Ave-45.27, 100s-23, 50s-30, HS-250
2. Simon Katich- Tests-56, Runs-4188, Ave-45.03, 100s-10, 50s-25, HS-157...Wkts-21, Ave-30.23, BB-6/65
3. Kim Hughes (C)- Tests-70, Runs-4415, Ave-37.41, 100s-9, 50s-22, HS-213
4. Damien Martyn- Tests-67, Runs-4406, Ave-46.37, 100s-13, 50s-23, HS-165...Wkts-2, Ave-84.00, BB-1/0
5. Mike Hussey- Tests-79, Runs-6235, Ave-51.52, 100s-19, 50s-29, HS-195...Wkts-7, Ave-43.71, BB-1/0
6. Adam Gilchrist- Tests-96, Runs-5570, Ave-47.60, 100s-17, 50s-26, HS-204*
7. Rod Marsh (WK)- Tests-96, Runs-3633, Ave-26.51, 100s-3, 50s-16, HS-132
8. Dennis Lillee- Tests-70, Runs-905, Ave-13.71, 100s-0, 50s-1, HS-73*...Wkts-355, Ave-23.92, BB-7/83
9. Graham McKenzie- Tests-60, Runs-945, Ave-12.27, 100s-0, 50s-2, HS-76...Wkts-246, Ave-29.78, BB-8/71
10. Terry Alderman- Tests-41, Runs-203, Ave-6.54, 100s-0, 50s-0, HS-26*...Wkts-170, Ave-27.15, BB-6/47
11. Bruce Reid- Tests-27, Runs-93, Ave-4.65, 100s-0, 50s-0, HS-13...Wkts-113, Ave-24.63, BB-7/51

BH as I indicated earlier it is difficult to equate the statistics of the modern era (say around 1990) and earlier times is that a lot of cricketers in earlier times retired much younger than they do now. For example, Garth McKenzie played his last test before he turned 30.

So in my opinion it is not comparing apples with apples.

one other point lads and lasses, be careful with stats. KJ Hughes averagged 42.00 WA in the Shield, where it counted, and only 37 in all first-class cricket. See the web site ' List of Wetern Australian First-Class Cricketers'.