TOPIC:

The BBC is currently running a competition on their web site to pick the best ever Ashes side. Here is mine with a few explanations.

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hutton -- I do not see how you can leave him out; it is bad enough leaving Boycott out
Bradman
Hammond
Miller
Knott
DK
Warne
Spofforth
Barns

Honourable mentions for the following

Grace
McCabe
Ponsford
Trumper
Rhodes
Barrington.
Mcgrath

For some reason, quite a few of the above were not listted on the site

M.Hayden
W.Ponsford
D.Bradman (C)
G.Chappell
R.Ponting
S.Waugh
A.Gilchrist
K.Miller
S.Warne
D.Lillee
G.McGrath
T.Alderman (12th man) tho to replace Miller if playing in England.

Far too many Poms in that side of yours AR, we have had the wood on them for most of the last 140 years for a good reason despite us having less than a third of their "available" population to choose from!

good post BH -- I have always believed that England has produced the better cricketers without necessarily winning the Ashes; Bradman and lilliee being the clear exceptions.

How can you pick Hayden? The man made one test hundred in England in his last test in a series that they lost. Border was a better player then Ponting and Waugh.

If i was picking aside full of locals it would be:

Trumper
Ponsford
Bradman
Mccabe
G Chappell
Miller
Gilchrist
Warne
Lilliee
Lindwall
Spofforth
12 man Garth Mckenzie.

AR I had to toss a coin over the S.Waugh & Border Selection at 6 it was that close and it fell the way of Tugga which was extremely unlucky for AB who I loved as a kid.
Ponting had AB covered AR he was all class and that pull shot of his was something to behold it sounded like a cannon being fired.
As for Hayden I know he tended to struggle in English conditions as did a lot of our greats over time like Walters but he more than made up for it back on home soil where he absolutely obliterated the English bowling at times by coming at them completely throwing them off their length. It also helped that I saw his whole career but the likes of Trumper, McCabe, Morris, Simpson, Lawry, Slater, Taylor, Langer and even Warner were all in the discussion for that other opening position.

Steves twin tons on a Headingley minefield in 97 I think it was were the stuff of legend

Hard to pick players you have never seen.Bradman is in any side.So apologies to all the Champions of the past.
1.Lawrie
2.Boycott
3.Bradman (c)
4.G.Chapple
5.Sir Ian Botham
6.Allan Border (Vc)
7.Allan Knott
8.Lillie
9.Warne
10.Anderson
11.Larwood
12th man Gilchrist..
Could this team beat the Clive LLoyd sides from 1978-85..Not on the Waca or Gabba,

BH: really good analyis there as always. Nasser Hussain would certajnly agree with every word you said about the big Queensland opener. In fairness to Hayen too, he also batted well in India which was to his credit.

gtr: good team. It is very hard to pick. Lawry is very under-ratted even by cricket historians; as for Morriss, Bradman would always pick him come what may. The 84-5, WI as you say would be close to the best team ever to take the field.

Anch: Beautifully done --I forgot about him. The story I read about the '234' innings was that he wantted to be rememberred by equally the great littl man. Whatever his motive, there is doubt he would hve piddlled Bradman right off. Miller had the same trouble with the man from all reports, notably over being left out of the tour to South Africa.

ArkRoyal wrote: gtr: good team. It is very hard to pick. Lawry is very under-ratted even by cricket historians; as for Morriss, Bradman would always pick him come what may. The 84-5, WI as you say would be close to the best team ever to take the field.

Ark you picked Knott like myself.He was as tough as nails that bloke.