Booted up my old version of ICC2005, and found my Australian career. I don't believe I have played this version in three or four years.
I will share the details of this career, as I believe it to be my best ICC save. I was going to post screenshots, but it has become too messy.
Year: 2021
World Rankings:
Test:
Australia
Pakistan
India
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
England
New Zealand
South Africa
West Indies
Zimbabwe
In typical ICC fashion, the Asian teams are all very strong. Somewhat of a surprise though it is not spin bowlers that dominate the game. The success of teams like India and Bangladesh are actually built on fantastic pace attacks.
ODI:
Australia
West Indies
Sri Lanka
India
England
Pakistan
New Zealand
Bangladesh
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Australian Team
Barry Popplewell
59 Tests, 6164 Runs @ 70.05, 19 x 100's, 23 x 50's
94 ODI, 3916 Runs @ 45.05, 8 x 100's, 21 x 50's
Amazingly only the third or fourth strongest batsman in my side
Geoffrey Jefferson
156 Tests, 19511 Runs @ 84.46, 68 x 100's, 65 x 50's
231 ODI, 10489 Runs @ 50.92, 28 x 100's, 58 x 50's
The Bradman of my side. Easily the greatest player I have ever had in any ICC career.
Robert Forrest
7 Tests, 576 Runs @ 72.00, 3 x 100's, 1 x 50's
1 ODI, 40 Runs @ 40.00
A player for the future.
Dean May
146 Tests, 14793 Runs @ 69.45, 55 x 100's, 51 x 50's, 275 Wickets @ 37.47, 8 x 5i
183 ODI, 6419 Runs @ 44.58, 9 x 100's, 43 x 50's, 155 Wickets @ 31.01, 1 x 5i
The Sobers of my side. Funnily enough he isn't classed as an all-rounder, he is an opening batsman. Spent the majority of his career opening with Jefferson, and often playing as the sole specialist spinner. May bowls very useful off-spinners, and when he has form will slip into the Top 10 bowlers in the world.
Greg Fish
59 Tests, 4301 Runs @ 67.20, 12 x 100's, 25 x 50's
78 ODI, 2291 Runs @ 47.73, 2 x 100's, 14 x 50's
Dependable middle-order batsman. Overshadowed by the heavy run-scorers above him in the order.
Tom Gratrix
83 Tests, 5297 Runs @ 53.50, 19 x 100's, 20 x 50's
157 ODI, 4120 Runs @ 30.98, 3 x 100's, 21 x 50's
One of my favourite batsmen. He never deserved to debut when first selected, Gratrix had a low 30's first class batting average and I only wanted him as he was the only decent batsman with a 'very aggressive' approach. He has turned into a wonderful counter-attacking batsman at 6. The perfect player to have bat after Jefferson, May, Popplewell and Fish have piled on the runs. Always scores close to a run a ball.
Tim Danvers
98 Tests, 3460 Runs @ 38.88, 6 x 100's, 14 x 50's, 225 Catches, 17 Stumpings
154 ODI, 2262 Runs @ 30.57, 10 x 50's, 151 Catches, 4 Stumpings
Reliable wicketkeeper. He has filled this role since the retirement of Haddin close to a decade ago.
Jim Hemp
178 Tests, 2333 Runs @ 17.41, 2 x 50's, 990 Wickets @ 25.79, 71 x 5i's, 11 x 10m's
274 ODI, 1041 Runs @ 18.09, 508 Wickets @ 22.36, 15 x 5i's
The leader of my bowling attack for close to 15 years. I have always struggled for decent bowlers, and Hemp has always been the one bowler to turn to for wickets. Bowls RFM.
Michael Pollard
67 Tests, 1900 Runs @ 33.93, 2 x 100's, 9 x 50's, 217 Wickets @ 36.47, 5 x 5i's, 2 x 10m's
106 ODI, 791 Runs @ 20.28, 2 x 50's, 198 Wickets @ 24.14, 5 x 5i's
The record of Pollard highlights just how important Hemp is to Australia. A poor RMF bowler, but lack of a better option over the past decade means he keeps getting selected. I consider him the Mitch Johnson of my side, on his day will take a good haul, otherwise he will leak runs at over 4 an over and not look penetrative. Very useful batsman when in form too.
Len Fry
10 Tests, 141 Runs @ 15.67, 1 x 50's, 67 Wickets @ 24.67, 6 x 5i's, 1 x 10m
12 ODI, 125 Runs @ 20.83, 30 Wickets @ 18.33, 3 x 5i's
Only 22 years of age, and likely to be the first decent spin-bowler I have unearthed for Australia since the retirement of Warne. Bowls tight off-spin, and can also bat.
Michael Bent
39 Tests, 204 Runs @ 8.87, 125 Wickets @ 31.36, 4 x 5i's
87 ODI, 24 Runs @ 2.18, 139 Wickets @ 22.56, 3 x 5i's
Australia's best bowler in ODI's, and a useful option in Test cricket. Still only 26 years of age so may improve.
Bench Warmers
These are the players who are close to the main-squad.
Richard Corbett
67 Tests, 922 Runs @ 18.82, 244 Wickets @ 32.54
67 ODI, 188 Runs @ 13.43, 82 Wickets @ 33.15
Corbett has long been the first choice spinner until Fry unearthed himself. Bowls tidy leg-spin, but takes most of his wickets through weight of overs.
Norman Deedes
49 Tests, 690 Runs @ 18.65, 128 Wickets @ 39.50
81 ODI, 349 Runs @ 13.96, 110 Wickets @ 28.55
The worst bowler to play 49 Tests? This highlights my struggles for quality bowling talent. He has an economy rate close to 2.6, so I'm happy for him to play a supporting role when required.
Christopher Spencer
18 Tests, 763 Runs @ 40.16, 22 Wickets @ 67.41
95 ODI, 2018 Runs @ 30.58, 107 Wickets @ 34.07
The only true all-rounder in Australian cricket (the only decent one with an all-rounder icon at least). Spencer has a very aggressive approach which makes him useful in the ODI's. I have given him a number of Tests because I like him, and he is also one of the few decent Victorians.
Bill Robertson
41 Tests, 2253 Runs @ 44.18
28 ODI, 658 Runs @ 41.12
A decent batsman to have close to the squad. One of the better first-class batsmen so his name always stands out when selecting squads.
Ramond Birtles
18 Tests, 1342 Runs @ 58.35
13 ODI, 463 Runs @ 38.58
At 25 he will replace one of Jefferson or May upon retirement.
Alex Agee
70 Tests, 5481 Runs @ 63.00
121 ODI, 3578 Runs @ 36.89
One of my original regen's. Close to retirement, he spent most of his early career playing with the likes of Ponting, Hussey and White.
Joseph Broudie
45 Tests, 466 Runs @ 15.03, 183 Wickets @ 36.29
50 ODI, 170 Runs @ 18.89, 78 Wickets @ 30.04
Thankfully Broudie is now third choice in spin-bowling stocks. A very average off-spinner.
Records
Some of the records that have been logged:
Highest Total: 831 v Sth Africa 2020
Lowest Total: 115 v Sri Lanka 2008
Highest Innings: 332, D May v England, 2014
Best Bowling (inn): 9-58, J Gillespie v West Indies 2005
Best Bowling (match): 14-144, M Pollard v West Indies 2011
Tactics
I have always kept my tactics simple in the ICC series. For batsman in Test cricket they always started on 2 bars until roughly 1/3 settled, after which point they moved to 3 bars. As my squad suggests, the strength of my side has always rested with our batting. The plan is to always score 500 + in the first innings and then slowly work our way through the opposition with the ball. For the majority of my career, the best tactic to bowl teams out has been to bowl long spells with the spinners (Fry, Corbett, Broudie and May), and wait for Hemp to fully rest for another spell. I rarely bowl teams out in less than 80 overs, hence the high averages for the majority of my bowlers.
Current players still kicking
For Australia, Ricky Ponting played until the age of 40. I believe he played close to 200 Tests when he retired. Cameron White was the only other modern-day player who achieved a decent career at international level.
For England. Ian Bell is now 38 and has played 100 Tests to average 32.10. Matt Prior has 62 Tests with an average of 31.37.
For India, Gautam Gambhir still survives and has 102 Tests with an average of 43.06.
Jesse Ryder has 54 Tests for New Zealand, but not a great career with an average of 33.84.
Taufeeq Umar has managed to play 154 Tests for Pakistan and has made a decent career. Umar has 11419 Runs @ 40.21. Zulqarnain Haider retains the gloves and has 151 Tests with an average of 34.30. Umar Gul has a fantastic record at 36 years of age. 135 Tests with 714 wickets @ 26.38.
South Africa have not been a team to force players into retirement. The greatest career is Graeme Smith, who at 40 is still captain of South Africa. 233 Tests, 20228 Runs @ 46.39. Rudolph still manages to play for South Africa with 182 Tests, 15346 Runs @ 47.50. JP Duminy has 84 Tests at an average of 34.25. AB De Villiers has the terrible record of 54 Tests at an average of 24.79.
Sri Lanka have a team of new faces.
West Indies have retained the services of Devon Smith (why?). 8096 runs from 135 Tests at 31.38. Dwayne Bravo has 171 Tests, 6156 Runs @ 24.92. His bowling record is much better at 675 Wickets @ 32.35. Darren Sammy still plays too. 221 wickets @ 36.04.
Aftab Ahmed has forged a decent career with Bangladesh. From 109 Tests he has an average of 38.50. Manjural Islam (RIP) is still playing with 115 Tests and 444 wickets @ 27.00. Adbur Razzak has become a great Test bowler with 357 Wickets @ 26.52.
Zimbabwe has hardly changed. Mpofu, Rainsford, Panyangara, Utseya, Matsikenyeri, Sibanda, Strydom and Chibhabha still play. They are all rubbish.
Ryder got 167 off 345, while Williamson scored 142 off 279 in a record partnership worth 298. A great match, however unrealistic it is 
