Exciting all-rounder Andrew Symonds was announced in Australia’s one-day international dream team at Cricket Australia’s celebration of the short game’s history in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Steve Waugh was named captain of the 12-man team, which includes four members of the squad which will fly to the Caribbean on Wednesday in an attempt to win the World Cup for a third straight time.
Ricky Ponting (named vice-captain), Adam Gilchrist, Symonds and Glenn McGrath were all included, plus the injured Brett Lee, who will not travel to the Caribbean.
They were named alongside Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Dean Jones, Michael Bevan and Dennis Lillee with Greg Chappell 12th man in a fairly straightforward team.
But record breaking captain Allan Border, who skippered the country’s first World Cup victory in 1987, was a surprise omission from the team. Border captained Australia a record 178 times and his 273 overall one-day appearances are second only to Steve Waugh (325).
The side was voted on by all 163 players to have represented Australia since one-day cricket’s inception in 1971.
Modern day players dominated the votes, with Adam Gilchrist heading the list in front of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
“There’s some great players who have missed out on the side and that’s always going to be the case,” Steve Waugh said.
"Going across different eras, it’s almost impossible to pick the side.
"I think everyone here feels very privileged to be picked, especially myself being captain.
“There’s a number of players that could have been sitting here in the side, Allan Border, a number of other players.”
The team includes Australia’s two highest wicket-takers in McGrath (354) and Warne (291).
Team: Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting (vc), Dean Jones, Steve Waugh (c), Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath, Greg Chappell (12th man).
http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200702/s1858793.htm
Border who led Australia to victory over England in the 1987 final was n’t that great a one-day player so his omission does n’t come to me as a great surprise but no Greg Chappell (averaged 40.18 in 74 ODIs with 2331 runs http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4558.html), Hayden (averages 41.72 in 134 ODIs with 4840 runs, highest ever score (181* http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5616.html) by an Australian) or** Hussey** (averages 66.88 in 61 ODIs with 1739 runs http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5939.html)…interesting
That said can’t really argue with the original XI selected.
Australia’s greatest ODI team:
A Gilchrist
256 matches, 8561 runs, Batting Ave: 35.72, 376 catches, 37 stumpings
M Waugh
244 matches, 8,500 runs, Batting Ave: 39.35, 85 wickets
R Ponting (v/c)
268 matches, 9,741 runs, Batting Average: 42.48, 3 wickets
D Jones
164 matches, 6,068 runs, Batting Average: 44.61, 3 wickets
S Waugh (capt)
325 matches, 7569 runs, Batting Average 32.90, 195 wickets
M Bevan
232 matches, 6,912 runs, Batting Average: 53.58, 36 wickets
A Symonds
161 matches, 4,037 runs, Batting Ave: 38.81, 121 wkts, Ave: 37.38
**S Warne **
194 matches, 1,018 runs, 293 wkts, Ave: 25.73, SR: 36.3, R/O: 4.25
B Lee
150 matches, 739 runs, 267 wickets, Ave: 22.65, SR: 28.9, R/O: 4.69
D Lillee
63 matches, 240 runs, 103 wickets, Ave: 20.82, SR: 34.88, R/O: 3.58
G McGrath
239 matches, 115 runs, 354 wickets, Ave: 22.63, SR: 35.1, R/O: 3.86