There was probably a thread for this a few months ago, but if there wasn't...
The Australian team was asked, this year, to rank the best international bowler and batter they've played against in their opinion. They were asked who they felt was the best players in their team based on their experience playing against them in domestics and in the nets. And who their best domestic player was. The results were interesting and the runners-up were given.
Best International Batsman: Brain Lara (Tendulkar was runner-up)
Best International Bowler Andrew Flintoff (Murali was runner up)
Best Australian Batsman: Ricky Ponting (Gilchrist was runner up)
Best Australian Bowler: Shane Warne (McGrath was runner up)
Best Australian Domestic Player: Andy Bichel
Lara over Tendulkar suprised me. No doubt Warne would've voted for Tendulkar. McGrath would've voted for Lara though. Looking at what Lara did in 1999 to the Aussies, I imagine they felt helpless. Flintoff is rated incredibly highly by the Aussies. Some of the stuff Justin Langer said about him would have him as the best cricketer in the world if you believe it. Then again, Langer did say once Murali was the best he faced. Looking at Flintoff and the pressure he put on the Aussies in the Ashes, it's probably not a suprise. Ponting's no big suprise. Gilchrist is highly rated though. Warne over McGrath is probably right. McGrath, being in Warne's league since 1998 and above him for periods since, really would've been a close contender I imagine. From what I've been reading over at cricinfo, Andy Bichel was having a tremendous domestic season. It begs questions of the Aussie selectors when they got rid of Bevan and Bichel after the world cup when apparently they've done great things in Australian domestic comps.
Your thoughts
The Australian team was asked, this year, to rank the best international bowler and batter they've played against in their opinion. They were asked who they felt was the best players in their team based on their experience playing against them in domestics and in the nets. And who their best domestic player was. The results were interesting and the runners-up were given.
Best International Batsman: Brain Lara (Tendulkar was runner-up)
Best International Bowler Andrew Flintoff (Murali was runner up)
Best Australian Batsman: Ricky Ponting (Gilchrist was runner up)
Best Australian Bowler: Shane Warne (McGrath was runner up)
Best Australian Domestic Player: Andy Bichel
Lara over Tendulkar suprised me. No doubt Warne would've voted for Tendulkar. McGrath would've voted for Lara though. Looking at what Lara did in 1999 to the Aussies, I imagine they felt helpless. Flintoff is rated incredibly highly by the Aussies. Some of the stuff Justin Langer said about him would have him as the best cricketer in the world if you believe it. Then again, Langer did say once Murali was the best he faced. Looking at Flintoff and the pressure he put on the Aussies in the Ashes, it's probably not a suprise. Ponting's no big suprise. Gilchrist is highly rated though. Warne over McGrath is probably right. McGrath, being in Warne's league since 1998 and above him for periods since, really would've been a close contender I imagine. From what I've been reading over at cricinfo, Andy Bichel was having a tremendous domestic season. It begs questions of the Aussie selectors when they got rid of Bevan and Bichel after the world cup when apparently they've done great things in Australian domestic comps.
Your thoughts