India and Australia rivalry is the another best thing in cricket to have ever happened. From ICC Tournaments to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy these two teams have produced some of the most nail-biting matches in the history of cricket which will be remembered for a long time. Throughout the Cricketing History of both the countries many world-class players have been produced which have leave the impact on the world like no other. If Australia cricketing history had a legend like Sir Don Bradman then Indian Cricket History has one of the greatest batsman in the history of cricket “Rahul Dravid”. The bowling seems to be a strong factor for Australia as they have the history of one of the greatest bowling pairs like Dennis Lillie and Jeff Thomson which legacy later followed by the players like Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson.
In the Indian Cricket History which has been dominated by one of the best spinners of all-time like Erapali Prashanna, BS Chandrasekhar and Anil Kumble. Australia's team has only one spinner in the form of Shane Warne who had played in the late 90s era with his contemporaries like Anil Kumble and Muttiah Muralitharan. Fast bowling is always the problem with India cricket. There was hardly a fast bowler who was the torch bearer of Indian bowling line-up except Javagal Srinath who was “The Trendsetter of the 90s era”. By the end of another decade when these two teams have one of the best sides in world cricket.
Chase your sport brings the edition of combined all-time test XI of India and Australia.
SIR SUNIL GAVASKAR:
The first opening batsman of this line-up would be Sunil Gavaskar without any doubt. The first batsman in the history of cricket to touch the milestone of 10000 runs in red-ball cricket (Test cricket). One of the greatest opening batsmen the world cricket has ever witnessed. The role of an opening batsman is to build up the momentum for the other players to score runs in that case there is no other batsman better than Sunil Gavaskar to play either the anchor role or play the long hour innings according to situation. The batsman who had faced bowlers like Dennis Lillie, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee in his prime and scored runs against them was definitely the special talent in many ways.
An interesting read | Virender Sehwag And Sunil Gavaskar – Who Was Better Batsman?
In a career spanning for 16 years from 1971-1987, Sunil Gavaskar had scored 10122 runs at an average of 51.12 in 125 Tests for team India which featured 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries. Gavaskar in his debut series scored 771 runs against West Indies and also 13 centuries in his career against the same team who had the likes of Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner. Even the stroke making ability of Sunil Gavaskar was very good but his extra cover drives and straight drives are unmatched.
SIR DON BRADMAN (Captain):
The second opening batsman of this line-up would be none other than Don Bradman. Although he usually batted at number three but player like him would be complete nightmare for the opposition when he would be open the innings with Sunil Gavaskar. Two dangerous opening batsman at the top order not only destroy the opposition but also sets the momentum for big score in any conditions. Apart from the opening batsman of this line-up Don Bradman was a genius captain and under his leadership Australia never lost the test series in his era.
Bradman was very ahead of his time in terms of captaincy skills and his decision to change the batting order of players makes him one of the smartest captains in the history of cricket. Many of his records are still under his name like 12 double hundreds, 99.94 test average and scored 270 runs while batting at number seven (highest individual runs by any player in the history). In 52 tests Bradman scored 6997 runs which featured 29 centuries and 13 half-centuries. Check more on last innings of Don Bradman
RAHUL DRAVID:
There will be no better batsman than Rahul Dravid at number three in red-ball cricket. The most complete cricketer to have ever graced this game of cricket and one of the strongest pillars in the Indian Cricket History during overseas tours and victories. With the early breakthroughs Rahul Dravid will stop the further collapse or in case of flying start he will set the tone for a big score with his long innings which was witnessed many times in his career.
Check here the Top 7 best Test innings of Rahul Dravid
With over 13000 runs in test cricket at a brilliant average of 52.88 in 164 tests which featured 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries. In his career Dravid has scored 5 double hundreds out of which 3 of them came on the alien conditions. Rahul Dravid is only after Kumar Sangarkara to score 10000 runs in test cricket while batting at number three and was the only player of his era to score century against every test playing nation. An excellent slip fielder who also holds the record of most number of catches at slip position (210).
RICKY PONTING:
An obvious pick, Ricky Ponting deserves to be in every playing XI. Although he was an extraordinary captain he would be given the batting role to destroy the opposition with his unmatched pull and hook shots in this line-up. A player like him easily puts the opposition into the back foot. Ricky Ponting's art of playing aggressive cricket makes him the most dangerous batsman in the middle order especially in the red-ball cricket and the ability to play the innings at brutal pace on the fast pitches makes him Once-In-a-lifetime Player.
In 168 tests Ricky Ponting has scored 13378 runs at an average of 51.85 which featured 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries with a career best score of 257. Many of his batting knocks defined his batting strengths but his 156 against England at Old Trafford in 2005 clearly cuts the line among the contemporaries of his era who was Ricky Ponting and what talent he had in his arsenal.
GUNDAPPA VISWANATH:
Another greatest middle order batsman who played for India in the 70s to 80s. Gundappa Viswanath alongside Sunil Gavaskar were two one of the greatest produced by India. At times Gundappa Viswanath was rated the most complete and best batsman ahead of Sunil Gavaskar which even Gavaskar had said that Gundappa Viswanath was better than me in the playing days of Cricket career.
To know more about Gundappa Viswanath: Gundappa Viswanath – An Artist Of Epitome Greatness
In 91 tests Vishwanth had scored 6080 runs at an average of 41.35 which featured 14 centuries and 35 half-centuries. A batsman of bowling-friendly era who had scored runs against someone like Dennis Lillie and Michael Holding don’t need the argument for his inclusion in this line-up. When he scored a hundred the team had never lost the match and alongside Ponting and Dravid he would be one to give batting into this line-up.
STEVE WAUGH:
Another most smartest brains in cricket ever produced by cricket Australia. In a career spanning 19 years from 1985-2004 Steve Waugh was the captain of the team and scored runs as the leader. Just imagine how dangerous he could have been as a only if he had played. With over 10000 runs in 168 tests at an average of 51.26 which featured 32 centuries and 50 half-centuries.
A proven match-winner who had contributed with bowl also which added advantage for inclusion in the line-up. Steve Waugh's ability to remain calm in the difficult times before he took the bail of the team and put them back into the driver seat was one of the best things about him.
ADAM GILCHRIST:
In red-ball cricket there was no one or will be ever better wicket keeper batsman than Adam Gilchrist. Although Gilchrist has won many accolades for his whirlwind batting apart from his wicket-keeping skills. But his skills behind the wickets are unmatched or unparalleled.
In 96 tests Gilchrist has scored 5570 runs at an average of 47.60 which featured 17 centuries and 26 half-centuries with career best score of 204*. Apart from the runs Gilchrist has 379 catches and 37 stumpings. Adam Gilchrist would be another batsman to provide depth into this line-up who can score runs in quick fashion too.
Check more on his career: Adam Gilchrist - The Era of Flamboyant Wicket-keeper and Entertainer to remember
DENNIS LILLEE:
An Artist of genuine fast bowling. Dennis Lillie would be the first frontline bowler of this line-up. If Australia has been most famous for his bowling into the 70s or 80s then Dennis Lillie was the big reason behind it. Batsman of his era didn’t like to go against Dennis Lillie who's action had combined with pace, accuracy and perfect line and lengths to make him the complete unplayable bowler of his era.
355 wickets in 70 tests at an average of 23.92 and the time he retired in 1984 he was the record holder for most wickets in test cricket and these numbers could have been more insane if his career was not cut short by injuries. His “Never-say-die' attitude Dennis Lillie was destined to be a fast bowler in every sense.
JAVAGAL SRINATH:
Javagal Srinath - The Trendsetter of the 90s era for team India. Dennis Lillie once considered him as “Genuine fast bowler from India". With these words from former Srinath gets the advantage for his selection into this team. The second frontline bowler of this line-up who on his day puts the opposition into the back foot with his Inswinger combined with his pace. On the pitches of the subcontinent where fast bowlers have least probability of getting success. Srinath had turned into a nightmare for the opposition team. Had he played for countries like Australia and South Africa he could have been the best fast bowler after Dennis Lillie in the history of cricket.
236 wickets in 67 tests at an average of 30.49 which featured ten five-wicket haul and one ten-wickets haul. Srinath was very effective against the A-list teams but against South Africa he was completely unplayable with 60 Wickets at an average of 24.48 which defined his bowling strengths. Apart from bowling Srinath was an effective lower order batsman too.
ERAPALLI PRASANNA:
The first spinner of this line-up would be Erapali Prashanna. Although he didn’t play Cricket for five years to complete his studies and returned to cricket in 1967. Into the early 60s to late 70s Prasanna was the most successful spinner who made the batsman run for money and often confused them with his variations.
189 wickets in 49 tests at an average of 30.38 during the times of 1962-1978 if he couldn't miss out those five years of his career he could have ended near 400 wickets.
BS CHANDRASEKHAR:
Alongside Prasanna if there was the spinner who had dominated the cricket in the 70s or 80s then it was none other than BS Chandrasekhar. Another greatest spinner in the history of cricket who 242 wickets in 58 tests at an average of 29.74 and many great players of his era like Viv Richards was a fan of his bowling and said the most difficult bowler I have come across in my career was one of the BS Chandrasekhar.
BS Chandrasekhar was having very accurate bowling action which he combined with his pace to make it completely unplayable for a batsman on any surface in the world. He would be the second spinner in this line-up to bowl alongside Erapalli Prasanna.
PLAYING XI - Sunil Gavaskar, Don Bradman (C), Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Gundappa Viswanth, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist (WK), Dennis Lillie, Javagal Srinath, Erapalli Prasanna and BS Chandrasekhar.
BACK-UPS – Virender Sehwag, Steve Smith, Anil Kumble, MS Dhoni, Jeff Thomson, Gautam Gambhir, Kapil Dev
