TOPIC:

I thought I would put up a thread where people could discuss whom they think has been ffortunate with test selection and others whom have been unlucky by state.

WA
Unlucky
Mckenzie -- only picked him because Walcott ratted him and than dopped him when he neared Benaud's record
Brayshaw -- ridiculous non selection
Shepherd
Macclay -- considerring they played O'Donnell in a test mach -- Kenny should have also played
Meuleman
Mike Hussey


Lucky

Bromley -- his average in first-class cricket was ordianry, but he will always be rememberred as a first test cap
Rutherford
Slater
Craig Sarjeant
Bruce Laird
Mitch Marsh

NSW

Unlucky

McCosker -- his test record was much better than Dyson' Wood's or Lairds'
Whitney
Pascoe
Taber

Lucky

Simpson
Hole
Beard
Dyson
Watson
Maddinson
Steve Waugh at the start of his career
Mak Waugh -- in the middle and end of his career
Peter Toohey
\Dave Colley
Bruce Francis
Robertson
Gilbert
Bennet

SA

unlucky

Phillips
Ferguson
Siddons

lucky

Jeff Hammond
Gary Cosier
Darran Lehmann
Greg Blewett

Victoria

unlucky

Yallop
Ellioi
Hodge
Graf
Stackpole

lucky

davis
Weiner
Moss Whatmore
Robinson
Higgs

QLD

unlucky

Love
Law

lucky

Kent
Kerr
Carlson
Oglivie
Mackay
Symonds

Tasmania has had reperesentation in the test side totally out of proportion to its population and cricket ability. Dene Hills and J Cox were a little bit unlucky.

Nitpicking - but I think you'll find Gary Cosier & Jamie Siddons were both originally from Victoria before moving elsewhere for opportunities
Siddons was a glaring non-selection but he had a few rivals for a spot that never came
Mark Waugh had to wait years ironically for his brother to get dropped for his famous debut 137 against England
Trevor Laughlin QLD got a game somehow from memory but Brayshaw got nothing
Ray Bright somehow got test matches

Only early and I'm sure there will be many contributions -
WA Unlucky
McKenzie absolutely, Brayshaw there is a valid argument. Of the others Hussey ended up with a fair go.

Lucky for WA

Chris Matthews/Jo Angel/Brendon Julian/Tom Moody (at a test level), Mitch Marsh (same argument against him is the one used against Shane Watson, exception being Shane Watson actually scored more runs and took wickets at a better average)

Don't see how Bruce Laird was lucky

NSW

Agree about McCosker, Whitney and Pascoe being lucky

NSW Unlucky

Maddinson lucky? OK he got a debut , not much luck after that, Steve Waugh had a great early ride no doubt. Don't agree his brother got the same preferential treatment but hey that's a viewpoint.
Shane Watson isn't from NSW and finished his career there and is much QLD/TAS as he is NSW when it comes to a discussion such as this.

SA
Can't see how Phillips was unlucky (presume for mean the keeper/batsman). Siddons absolutely, all Ferguson has needed to do is score runs like Siddons, Hodge, Love and Law repeatedly did and he would be in.
I'm baffled that Lehmann was lucky, as with Blewett.

Vic lucky

Brad Hodge absoluteley, Shaun Graf unlucky?? Very. very lucky and should thank this lucky stars for every game he got.

Hodge, Law, Siddons and Love are in my view (do need to think this through more) probably some of the unluckiest in terms of Australian selection.

There will no doubt be further debate/discussion.

Sorry McCosker, Whitney and Pascoe were unlucky.

Darren Lehmann lucky to get test selection? I think he is the record holder for career shield runs

Coming think of it David Hussey could be a bit unlucky he didn't get a gig

Here's a few more lucky players to get Test caps AR-

NSW- Greg Dyer, Phil Emery, Steve Rixon, Peter Nevill, Ian Davis, John Watkins, Dirk Wellham, Bob Holland, Beau Casson

VIC- BRYCE McGAIN, Ken Eastwood, Brad Williams, Simon Cook, Matthew Wade, John Hastings, John Holland

QLD- John MacClean, Nathan Hauritz, Phil Carlson, Scott Muller,

SA- Rick Darling, Peter McIntyre, Daniel Cullen, Graham Manou, Joe Mennie

TAS- Roger Woolley, Alex Doolan, Shaun Young, Greg Campbell, James Faulkner

WA- Michael Beer, Matthew Nicholson, Chris Matthews, Tom Hogan, Kevin Wright

Scott Mueller! As "joe the camera man" said "he can't bowl and he can't throw!"

Big Jo Angel - I remember him bowling bouncers to Richie Richardson at the WACA batting in his customary wide brimmed hat, the best hooker in world cricket, and being dispatched over the fence every time!

there are same great posts on here lads thanks.

BH -- yes to all of those
TT -- Lehmann was not a better player than some of the players whom they left out
ool -- Yep, just putting up for discussion -- Laird never made a century.

I'll never forget poor old Chris Matthews shocker first test - he just couldn't get it on the pitch , don't think I can recall a bowler ever spraying it so badly not in a test anyway