Barry Richards played 339 FC games, averaged 55, and compiled 80 centuries. This is about 5 times more than Jackson who played only 70 FC games, averaged 46, and compiled 11 centuries. And then the debate goes on from there..........
(Haven't we been down this road before Monk?)
Overall 3 pace bowlers with O'Reilly / Warne is probably the best option for Australia. Both had excellent first innings bowling averages, and both would be dangerous on the first day of the Test. Most off-spinners (left / right arm) tend to struggle in the first innings.
Another option (possibly belongs in the romantic 11) might be to replace one of the Spinners with Bill Johston as he bowled both pace an spin. Gives you 4 pace bowlers or 2 spinners as required + the left hand variation.
Wisden - Bill Johnston
Johnston is probably the most underrated and overlooked great Aussie bowler.
I've gushed over him many times on CW - a wonderful bowler.
And consider this. Below is a list of Australians who have averaged more than 100 with the bat on a First Class tour of England:
Bradman, DG
Johnston, WA
WAG.
According to the Wisden article, the 100+ average was a little contrived, but a lot of fun for those involved.
Just seamed to me an attack of
Pace: Lillee, McGrath, Miller, Johnston WA
Spin: Warne, Johnston WA
is a bit better balanced than the alternatives
So which player was the best combination of Batsman/ All Rounder and Slip Fielder:
Garry Sobers
Greg Chappell
Wally Hammond
Brian Lara
Rickey Ponting
Viv Richards
Jacques Kallis
Neil Harvey
Everton Weekes
Bobby Simpson
Sunil Gavaskar
Clive Lloyd
Bruce Mitchell
Allan Border
Matthew Hayden
Graeme Pollock
All Rounders
Ian Botham
Keith Miller
Tony Greig
Andrew Flintoff
Last edited by kyear2; 31-01-2013 at 05:47 AM.
Aus. XI
Simpson^ | Hayden | Bradman | Chappell^ | Ponting | Border* | Gilchrist+ | Davidson3 | Warne4^ | Lillee1 | McGrath2
W.I. XI
Greenidge | Hunte | Richards^ | Headley* | Lara^ | Sobers5^ | Walcott+ | Marshall1 | Ambrose2 | Holding3 | Garner4
S.A. XI
Richards^ | Smith*^ | Amla | Pollock | Kallis5^ | Nourse | Cameron+ | Procter3 | Steyn1 | Tayfield4 | Donald2
Eng. XI
Hobbs | Hutton*^ | Hammond^ | Compton | Barrington | Botham5^ | Knott | Trueman1 | Laker4 | Larwood2 | Barnes3
He was also exceptional at second slip, his slip fielding is greatly under rated and was equally important as his bowling.
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