TOPIC:

Chatting over a few beers last night me & a few mates were trying to come up with the best ever W.A Test XI side in batting order.

My side is-

J.Langer
S.Katich
K.Hughes
D.Martyn
M.Hussey
A.Gilchrist (C)
R.Marsh w/k (VC)
G.McKenzie
D.Lillee
T.Alderman
B.Reid

Unlucky players to miss out- G.Marsh, Wood, Yardley, Shepherd.

I included Gilly as he played 99.9% of his career here in the West & still lives here and on the reverse side didnt include McGill for the same reasons.

Interested to see what other posters opinions are or any changes?

can you include Tony Lock BH?.....he played test cricket....just not for Australia?
and how about Mick Malone?......good ole Mick had a cracking test career....definitely short but sweet to say the least!!....pretty spot on their mate.....

Mathews forget his first name BJ, Ken Macleay, Jo Angel jeez we weren't short in ten bowling department add Dunny Clark as well.

Pretty much spot on BH.
Marsh G, Wood and Yardley would be stiff not getting a game.
I would include Yardley in the 12 for spin options. He was a superb fieldsman and handy bat as well.
That team would perform well against any opponents.
You may have to leave Katich out as he played most of his Tests as a NSW. Same goes for Bob Simpson, Terry Jenner, Stuart McGill, Ashley Mallett. Perhaps Mitchell Johnson qualifies for consideration tho.
Considering that WA have only had Test players since 1956 it would be fair to say NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia would pick pretty strong sides as well.

anchorman wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: Chatting over a few beers last night me & a few mates were trying to come up with the best ever W.A Test XI side in batting order.

My side is-

J.Langer
S.Katich
K.Hughes
D.Martyn
M.Hussey
A.Gilchrist (C)
R.Marsh w/k (VC)
G.McKenzie
D.Lillee
T.Alderman
B.Reid

Unlucky players to miss out- G.Marsh, Wood, Yardley, Shepherd.

I included Gilly as he played 99.9% of his career here in the West & still lives here and on the reverse side didnt include McGill for the same reasons.

Interested to see what other posters opinions are or any changes?

I would have Shepherd for Katich, Marsh as captain ahead of Gilly.No spinner!!!Have to play Yardley I would say.Not sure who goes out but have to have a spinner.
but looking at that we have had some very very good players.Maybe Ross Edwards would be unlucky as well.

Interesting you choosing Shepherd ahead of Katich anchor???
There respective Test records would suggest Kat was well ahead of Shep but I must admit to not having seen him play as he had long retired before I was born.
I also dont think Shepherd opened the batting either.

For the record there respective Test records with the bat were-

S.Katich- 56-Tests, 4188-Runs, Ave-45.03, (100's)-10, (50's)-25, Highest Score-157

B.Shepherd- 9-Tests, 502-Runs, Ave-41.83, (100's)-0, (50's)-5, Highest Score-96

*Katich- also took 21 wickets at an ave of a tick over 30 with the ball!

My team would be:

J Langer
G Marsh
G Wood
K Hughes (C)
M Hussey
D Martyn
A Gilschrist (VC)
B Yardley
G McKenzie
D Lillee
B Reid

T Alderman 12th

Katich unlucky but played for NSW during mist of test career, which is why couldn't look at McGill, Jenner, Mallett etc.

R Marsh stiff but need on;y one keeper and Gilchrist is the best.

Ian Chappell rated Bruce Laird as the opener he would have every time.
Combine his Test and WSC records against the best bowlers in the world every match and you can see why.
The forerunner to Massie, Malone, Clarke, Gannon, etc was Ian Brayshaw plus he could bat. The bloke the Don as a selector said would never play test cricket after he took his 10 wickets!!
If its a true selection that would play anybody in any country you need an all rounder and a spinner.
Therefore:
J Langer
Bruce Laird
K Hughes (C)
M Hussey
D Martyn
A Gilschrist (VC)
Ian Brayshaw
B Yardley
G McKenzie
D Lillee
B Reid

there is no way katich is getting a gig before Wood, Laird or Marsh.

1. Marsh, G
2. Wood, G
3. Langer, J
4. Inverarity,J
5. Hughes,K
6. Moody,T
7. Gilchrist,A
8. Yardley,B
9. McKenzie,G
10.Lillee,D
11.Alderman,T
Shepherd, B(12th)