Could have had a lot to do with the era that Cairns played in. When you are playing with Akram, Younis, Vaas, McGrath, Warne, Murali, Saqlain, C&C, Donald, Pollock and others, you wouldn't get too many chances to be on the top of the table.
Jack Cowie. Chris Cairns. Richard Collinge. Bruce Taylor.
)
Border was a genuine slip of mind. He will be ahead of Ponting in my list. Miller, however, wouldn't make Australia's best 8 or so bowlers (or, 25 or so batsmen) - he's their best allrounder for sure though IMO.
Yeah if Cairnsy was playing today he would probably be in the top five bowlers, and then there is his batting...
Bowlers
Richard Hadlee
Shane Bond
Clarrie Grimmett (Bugger off Aussies
....
I take it that Always Proteas is only ordering the players he's seen. Still weird to leave out Shaun Pollock.Others have talked about the all-rounders list, so I wouldn't go there.
But Morne Morkel and Ntini find a place in your bowlers' list? Considering that the Pollocks - Shaun and Peter, Hugh Tayfield, Peter Heine, Neil Adcock and Mike Procter aren't there.
He's included Richards and Graeme Pollock, both contemporaries of Rice and Procter.
He's picked him as an all-rounder though, which is fair enough.
Lance Gibbs a better choice as spinner. Hall and Griffiths for quicks. Why not Kanhai,Kallicharan or Lloyd in the batsmen?
MacLean for Healy
Still not sold on Morne Morkel ahead of Shaun Pollock, even if only their bowling skills are considered. Never mind the ATG bowlers that we mentioned from a different era.
I don't agree with that. Lindwall was a devastating bowler for 11 years (1942-53). Of course, 4 of them were lost due to war but he took 158 wickets @ 20 in test cricket in the next 7 years, and was clearly the spearhead of the Aussie attack. There were no two words about it. He was the first real great bowler after the war. Of course, with age and injuries his form waned - but remaining the best bowler in the world for 11 years is no mean feat.
I think he's chosen not to select any one player in more than one category, which I can understand. I can't imagine anyone in their right mind thinking Morkel is a better bowler than Procter, never mind the Pollocks.
Kallis is there in his list as a batsman as well as an all-rounder. And that's fair, but for consistency, the same consideration ought to have been extended to pace bowling all-rounders as well.
I’ve often seen people rate the 2 W’s ahead of Imran, though I strongly disagree, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him ranked behind Qadir. Place Imran to the top of your list and I’d agree with the rest of your order.
