GuyFromLancs
State Vice-Captain
I while ago I picked my England team from 1990 to today. Now, with one or two alterations, I propose to send it to War with the best Aussie team of the last 23 years.
England
1. Gooch
2. Trescothick
3. Atherton (C)
4. Pieterson
5. Thorpe
6. Stewart +
7. Flintoff
8. Swann
9. Gough
10. Caddick
11. Fraser
Now, I know this offends a degree of wisdom. But Warne, in his “100 of my best mates and some cricketers” book, said Athers would have made a great number 3 , had he been in a better team. Well here is that team!
I am a little bit conscious of the fact that Stewart batted better when not keeping. But I can't quite get around it. I like the feel of a Gooch-Tresco opening pair. And obviously I like the option of a 4-man pace attack (and a good one at that) to stick it up em. Flintoff and Gough providing the balls; Caddick and Fraser the not-balls-but-still-a-useful-body-part. And Swann is England’s best spinner of the era by a mile. I like the look of the strength in that top 4.
Aussies
1. Taylor (C)
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. S. Waugh
6. Clarke
7. Gilchrist +
8. Warne
9. Gillespie
10. Hughes
11. McGrath
Not being an Aussie, I’m leaving myself open to abuse on this, but I really do think Martyn was better than Waugh Jnr, and Gilchrist edging out the purists’ choice of keeper - Healy.
Taylor gets the nod above Langer and Slater, Clarke for his last 3 years gets in above a few other options. Hughes, I felt I’d be leaving myself open to a bashing if I left out. Gillespie, despite ending his career (202 aside) like a soggy firework, gets the nod.
Punter, Waugh Snr, Warne and McGrath select themselves.
Predictions??
England
1. Gooch
2. Trescothick
3. Atherton (C)
4. Pieterson
5. Thorpe
6. Stewart +
7. Flintoff
8. Swann
9. Gough
10. Caddick
11. Fraser
Now, I know this offends a degree of wisdom. But Warne, in his “100 of my best mates and some cricketers” book, said Athers would have made a great number 3 , had he been in a better team. Well here is that team!
I am a little bit conscious of the fact that Stewart batted better when not keeping. But I can't quite get around it. I like the feel of a Gooch-Tresco opening pair. And obviously I like the option of a 4-man pace attack (and a good one at that) to stick it up em. Flintoff and Gough providing the balls; Caddick and Fraser the not-balls-but-still-a-useful-body-part. And Swann is England’s best spinner of the era by a mile. I like the look of the strength in that top 4.
Aussies
1. Taylor (C)
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. S. Waugh
6. Clarke
7. Gilchrist +
8. Warne
9. Gillespie
10. Hughes
11. McGrath
Not being an Aussie, I’m leaving myself open to abuse on this, but I really do think Martyn was better than Waugh Jnr, and Gilchrist edging out the purists’ choice of keeper - Healy.
Taylor gets the nod above Langer and Slater, Clarke for his last 3 years gets in above a few other options. Hughes, I felt I’d be leaving myself open to a bashing if I left out. Gillespie, despite ending his career (202 aside) like a soggy firework, gets the nod.
Punter, Waugh Snr, Warne and McGrath select themselves.
Predictions??