Battle of the Australians
 

Well the battle of the Englishmen is over i guess we could do one for the Australians now. Here is a list of 32 players i have chosen:

1. Monty Noble
2. Frederick Spofforth
3. Victor Trumper
4. Sir Donald Bradman
5. Bill O'Reilly
6. Clarrie Grimmett
7. Stan McCabe
8. Arthur Morris
9. Ray Lindwall
10. Keith Miller
11. Allan Davidson
12. Jack Gregory
13. Richie Benaud
14. Bobby Simpson
15. Lindsay Hassett
16. Garth McKenzie
17. Greg Chappell
18. Ashley Mallett
19. Rodney Marsh
20. Doug Walters
21. Neil Harvey
22. Dennis Lillee
23. Jeff Thompson
24. Craig McDermott
25. Allan Border
26. Steve Waugh
27. Ian Healy
28. Shane Warne
29. Glenn McGrath
30. Ricky Ponting
31. Adam Gilchrist
32. Matthew Hayden

Not sure how to get these pics big like how brumby did with the Battle of the Englishmen but if anyone else feels like doing it here, be my guest..

Only 32? Surely there could be more.

If you can compile the final list of players, I can post pictures and stats and even run the battle if you want.

It's kind of pointless doing a battle of the Australians anyway, because everyone's just going to vote for Bradman whoever he comes up against. Maybe if you did a battle to find the 2nd best Australian it would be more interesting.

Yeah that's a good point. Barr an upset, Bradman would win the whole thing.

yea that would probably work better to battle for the 2nd best Australian.

Who replaces Bradman so you can keep it a battle of 32?

Good well to add to the 32 i already posted i'll make it 50 so:

33. Mark Waugh
34. Justin Langer
35. Bill Ponsford
36. Colin McDonald
37. Bert Oldfield
38. John Blackman
39. Jason Gillespie
40. Norman O'Neil
41. Brett Lee
42. Mark Taylor
43. Bill Lawry
44. Bill Woodfull
45. Warwick Armstrong
46. Hugh Trumble
47. Clem Hill
48. Bob Cowper
49. Bill Johnston
50. Ian Johnson

Ian Chappel ?? Mark Taylor ??

EDIT: Taylor was just listed...so how about Chappel ?

Well i added 18 more, if you take out Bradman its 49, so you can add either Ian Chappell or Stuart MacGill.

Right then. Here's the list of top 50. I'll wait a few hours before starting, any objections please make your case. I will pick players at random and put them up against each other.

1. Monty Noble
2. Frederick Spofforth
3. Victor Trumper
4. Ian Chappell
5. Bill O'Reilly
6. Clarrie Grimmett
7. Stan McCabe
8. Arthur Morris
9. Ray Lindwall
10. Keith Miller
11. Allan Davidson
12. Jack Gregory
13. Richie Benaud
14. Bobby Simpson
15. Lindsay Hassett
16. Garth McKenzie
17. Greg Chappell
18. Ashley Mallett
19. Rodney Marsh
20. Doug Walters
21. Neil Harvey
22. Dennis Lillee
23. Jeff Thompson
24. Craig McDermott
25. Allan Border
26. Steve Waugh
27. Ian Healy
28. Shane Warne
29. Glenn McGrath
30. Ricky Ponting
31. Adam Gilchrist
32. Matthew Hayden
33. Mark Waugh
34. Justin Langer
35. Bill Ponsford
36. Colin McDonald
37. Bert Oldfield
38. John Blackman
39. Jason Gillespie
40. Norman O'Neil
41. Brett Lee
42. Mark Taylor
43. Bill Lawry
44. Bill Woodfull
45. Warwick Armstrong
46. Hugh Trumble
47. Clem Hill
48. Bob Cowper
49. Bill Johnston
50. Ian Johnson

I reckon Stuart MacGill has to be in Australia's top 50 players ever. Not sure who to leave out though.

I figure this is kinda obvious, but 50 doesn't work in a bracket system.:wacko:

Oh, and MacGill hasn't played enough Test cricket to be considered for top 50 IMHO.

Say what. Not sure on the exact figure, but he'd be close to 50 tests now, and he was the fastest spinner to 100 wickets I think and has the best s/r of all Australian leg spinners.

err...yeah. I say we stick with the original 32 barr Bradman.