Test cricket remains the highest level of cricket played among the best cricketers throughout their careers. Over the years many series have been played in red-ball cricket which in the end defined why test cricket is the ultimate test of any player.
Throughout the long cricketing history of Cricket Australia, many great players have been witnessed by world cricket who have proved their authority as the greatest batsman in history. Since it's first test match in 1877, Australia's team has won their 50% of test matches which proves their authority at world cricket of the most dominating sides in cricket.
Having said, let us take a look at the greatest test XI of Australia of all-time:
Mathew Hayden:
Nickname ‘Robocop’ the man who has defined the term called fear in cricket like no other. Although Hayden has been a late bloomer once he has connected the dots he has been the name of destruction in world cricket.
Since his debut in 1994 Hayden has had a rough start in the first phase of his career but in the second phase from 1999, he was the different player who likes to play anchor roles across the formats in the same fashion.
The southpaw has amassed 8625 runs at an average of 50.73 in 103 tests with a career-best score of 380 runs. Hayden had been the vital cog of Australia throughout his career. Without any doubt, he would be the first opener of this playing XI.
Sir Don Bradman (Captain):
The second opener of this team would be none other than Sir Don Bradman who needs no introduction as his numbers are enough to be another opener and captain of this side.
52 tests 6996 runs 99.94 average these stats are more than enough to know the calibre of this once in a generation player. Although he was the No 3 batsman and two destructive openers at the top would destroy every bowling line-up in the world in any conditions.
He was the captain ahead of its time whose decision to shuffle the batting order was a quite successful move which we have seen in these days of cricket the original trend of experiment with the batting order was started by Don Bradman and under his captaincy, the Australia team never lost a series.
Ricky Ponting:
13378 runs 168 tests 51 average the greatest number 3 test batsman and just behind Sachin Tendulkar in terms of runs scored. Ricky Ponting would be an obvious choice for this place. Ponting was the part of the golden era of cricket Australia from 1999-2009 including three world winning campaigns
Ricky Ponting was an aggressive batsman who had the habit of playing big knocks under any conditions and against any team which makes him the most dangerous batsman of his era.
However he was the captain but in this side, he would prefer to have batting priority at first then any other role. Although he had the great captaincy record in the history but his batting was what makes him the player of a greatest player of modern day era.
Steve Smith:
73 tests 7227 runs 62.84 average, Steve Smith has started his leg spinner and what he has done in the last one decade makes him greatest batsman of this era. These numbers easily define the strengths of this unorthodox batsman and often compared to the greats of the past decades.
But Ashes Series 2019 was complete Steve Smith exhibition with 4 hundred and one double hundred at an average of 110.57 to enter the club of Sir Don Bradman record of 974 runs in series back in the 1930s.
However, he has missed the cricket for one year due to ban but with the return to cricket, he has proved wrong every cricketing manual with his way of batting techniques. He has been phenomenal in the recent few years and deserved the place in this playing XI.
Steve Waugh:
Nickname ‘Iceman’ Probably the best captain in the history in terms of captaincy record who has the career-spanning for 19 years since 1985-2004 for Cricket Australia and was the first-ever Australia captain to formed the team of world beaters.
168 tests 10297 runs 51.26 average with 32 hundreds these numbers are from the era which has been dominated by pacers like Imran Khan, Curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akram and Courtney Walsh and scoring runs against them define the batting strengths of his player.
The most smartest ever player in the cricket Australia history deserved the place in this side.
Adam Gilchrist (Wicket-Keeper):
The term called flamboyance in cricket has been started by this southpaw since his debut for Australia. The first-ever original wicket-keeper who has been more famous whirlwind batting over his wicket keeping skills. However he has also redefined the wicket keeping role in cricket which can be defined in two phases – pre Gilchrist era and post Gilchrist era.
A proven match-winner and an effective lower batsman to score in a quick fashion. Gilchrist also holds the record of 57-ball century in red-ball cricket and scored 5570 runs in 96 tests at an average of 47 which makes him the ideal choice for this place in this team.
Dennis Lillee:
The man behind many batting collapses in the 70s and 80s. Lillee was the bowler of rare breed who could bowl very quick and makes the batsman run for money most of the times. If Australia had been successful in 70s to 80s the reason was Dennis Lillee who single-handily destroy the opposition with his accuracy and perfect lengths with quick pace.
70 wickets 355 wickets 23.92 average numbers perhaps could've been more insane if he had played longer apart from dealing with injuries problem in his career.
1972 Ashes series was statement from the Dennis Lillee with 31 wickets at an average of 17.67 – best has been arrived. Dennis Lillee would be first fast bowler of this team.
Jeff Thomson:
The second best fast bowler in the cricket Australia history. Jeff Thomson alongside Dennis Lillee was the most fearsome bowling pairs in the history. Jeff Thomson took 200 wickets in 51 tests which defines the abilities of this bowler.
However Jeff Thomson had the issues with injuries like other fast bowlers in his career which was the reason of small cricketing career otherwise he could've been set the bar where it will be difficult to go close in terms of wickets. He would be second fast front-line bowler of this side alongside Dennis Lillee to make batsmen dance on his tune.
Mitchell Johnson:
Mitchell Johnson will find place in this playing XI with his impact over others. The best left-arm fast bowler in the cricket Australia history and in the last two decades. Mitchell Johnson has been into this team quite easily over its impact on the game. Johnson has been frontline bowler for Australia after McGrath retirement.
313 wickets 73 tests 28.41 average Johnson has the rough start in the initial days of his career with some good and bad performances before Ashes Series 2013. Although Johnson had the great IPL season before Ashes series and expectations have been high from the left-arm fast bowler. The Ashes series 2013 was also named as ‘Johnson Series’.
With the start of Ashes Series Johnson was back in his career best form and what he had did after will be remember for the decades. 37 wickets 5 tests it was complete Mitchell Johnson show in the series. Many players have been injured while few of them took the shocking retirement because of the extreme pace of Mitchell Johnson as he had make every ball do whatever he wanted to either it was reverse swing, yorkers and brutal bouncers batsmen had no answer to class of Johnson.
Shane Warne:
In every test XI he will be having his name with the sort of records he has on his name. Shane Warne was the magician of spin bowling and probably the best leg spinner of his era.
708 wickets 145 tests 25.41 average there is no second thought after such numbers of a player to not include him in the team. Apart from bowling Warne was handy lower batsman which has added advantage over others and scored 12 half-centuries with the career best score of 99.
These numbers are more special as many great batsman of his era had no answers to the class of this leg spinner which defined how great this spin wizard was in his time.
Glenn McGrath:
Nickname Pigeon it will be a complete disrespect to not have a player such class in the team who has been the most difficult bowler of his era. McGrath's ability to bowl in the one area with accuracy and length makes him the rare bowler in history. Not having the pace but with accurate line and lengths he was next to unplayable in his career for even the best of batsman in the world.
563 wickets 124 tests a right arm fast and medium pace bowler with more than 500 wickets puts him above others and define his bowling strengths easily. McGrath ended as the fifth highest wicket taker in history of test cricket and his valuable contributions with bat and bowl for cricket Australia had never been in vain.
