Best Test batting line-ups

[chasingthedon]

Interested to know what people think are the best batting line-ups ever fielded in Tests. The obvious choices would be 2000s Australia and mid-80s West Indies, but of course there have been other great line-ups going back to early England line-ups featuring the likes of Ranji, Maclaren, Stoddart, Grace, FS Jackson and Abel and early Australia with Hill, Trumper, Armstrong, Duff, Macartney etc. Some great Indian line-ups recently also, South Africa 1960s, etc.

One of my favourites was the 1960s England line-up when I first got into cricket (Boycott, Edrich, Barrington, Cowdrey, Graveney)

Anyone have any others to nominate?

[Satyanash89]

2000s Australia are the best ever in my opinion... astonishing lineup... all the way down to 7 you had people who could single-handedly turn the match around. Gilchritst was the one to make the difference, which is why I think the lineup was better than 80s Windies, otherwise it's pretty close

Obviously as an Indian, our late 2000s lineup is one I think was extremely special. The fact that Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Dhoni all hit prime batting form in 2007-2010 was simply amazing to watch and completely compensated for us having a **** attack, apart from Zaheer. To reach number 1 in the test rankings with such a mediocre attack was a testament to how amazingly consistent those guys were.

Also, Bradman's Australia of the 30's and 40's had Morris, Hassett, Don, McCabe, Harvey, Miller... pretty great

[Spark]

Australia at Brisbane/Adelaide 06, with a slight modification to the batting order:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Clarke
Hussey
Gilchrist

Have fun bowling to that if each player is in good nick.

[doesitmatter]

Windies....Haynes/ Greenidge/Richards/Kallicharan/Rowe/Llyod..ooph some line up..1979-80..Look at the bowlers as well..Great Team overall

2nd Test: Australia v West Indies at Melbourne, Dec 29, 1979 - Jan 1, 1980 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

[Monk]

- Morris
- Barnes
- Bradman
- Hassett
- Miller
- Harvey


- Hayden
- Langer
- Ponting
- M. Waugh
- S. Waugh
- Lehmann
- Gilchrist

[Coronis]

SA's current lineup looks pretty decent

Smith
Peterson
Amla
Kallis
de Villiers
du Plessis

[kyear2]

1966 W.I

Hunte
McMorris
Kanhai
Butcher
Nurse
Sobers

Only weakness was at number two, which was a problem through out Hunte's career.

[watson]

Don't know about being the best batting line-ups, but the respective sides of the 1930 Ashes series in England were both something special. As far as sheer aesthetics is concerned, I don't think there have been a better match-up in the history of cricket. Or at least I can't think of any other;

2nd Test: England v Australia at Lord's, Jun 27-Jul 1, 1930 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Australia
01. Woodfull
02. Ponsford
03. Bradman
04. Kippax
05. McCabe
06. Richardson

England
01. Hobbs
02. Woolley
03. Hammond
04. Duleepsinjhi
05. Hendren
06. Chapman

[Coronis]

I really wish I had been alive in the 30's... when you think of the players Aus/Eng had, and the sides they could have put together. Woodfull, Ponsford, Jackson, Brown, Bradman, Kippax, McCabe, Richardson, Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Woolley, Duleepsinjhi, Hammond, Hendren, Jardine, Hutton. Not to mention the bowlers..

[Monk]

Originally Posted by watson

2nd Test: England v Australia at Lord's, Jun 27-Jul 1, 1930 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Pretty decent strike rates there.

[archie mac]

England team circa 1928/29 was a fine side, as was the team of 1902

[benchmark00]

Originally Posted by Monk

Pretty decent strike rates there.

Over rates*

[NUFAN]

One of the strongest Tests lineups ever:

1 Smith
2 Sehwag
3 Dravid
4 Lara
5 Kallis
6 Inzamam
7 Flintoff

[benchmark00]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

One of the strongest Tests lineups ever:

1 Smith
2 Sehwag
3 Dravid
4 Lara
5 Kallis
6 Inzamam
7 Flintoff

Probably the second best line up during that match itbt.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

Probably the second best line up during that match itbt.

Yeah I wouldn't have swapped our lineup for there's but individually this world XI is gun and could perform if given more chances together.