Harsh Thakor
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This is my selection of the best teams of all time to play test cricket chosen in order of merit. I have attempted to strike a balance between the statistical performances achieved and level of strength or talent within a side.
1.Australia from 1999-2004
No team has been on rampage with such intensity or dominated the cricket world in such realms. Registered a record 16 consecutive test match wins in 2001, pulverising powerful South African teams’ home and away, as well as teams like England and Pakistan on their soil. In 2001 won 5 consecutive tests against South Africa, a phenomenal feat.
Losing a series in India in 2001 was a blot or scar on their record. Players like Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne and Glen Mcgrath made this team defining myth of invincibility in realms arguably unparalleled. Adam Gilchrist, Glen Mcgrath and Shane Warne were ultimate match-winners, Steve Waugh the epitome of tenacity, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh class acts and Hayden and Langer giving the most impetuous of starts.
Arguably no team has ever escalated professionalism to such levels or as intensely expressed a desire to win. It surpassed the bating strike rates of all previous teams, had the best pace-spin bowler combination ever. In my view more professional, with higher killer instinct than even the West Indies teams led by Clive Lloyd.
2.West Indies from 1977-1985
This all-powerful team led by Clive Lloyd scaled invincibility in mythical realms, sweeping or rolling over opposing teams, ruling the cricket world for an unmatched tenure in cricket history.. It pulled the wool out of the eyes of the most powerful opponents, in every part of the world, be it the seaming tops of England, bouncy tracks of Australia or the turning pitches on the subcontinent. The presence of the most lethal or potent pace bowling attacks ever of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Andy Roberts fortified with great batsmen like Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd made this Calypso team arguably the best ever team in cricket history. In 1984, won then record 11 consecutive test matches in a row.
3.South Africa of 1966-1970
No team ever had as many genuine allrounders or demolished a powerful team like Australia by a 4-0 margin .as the South African team of this era. It contained the likes of specialist batsmen like Barry Richards, and Graeme Pollock, talented all-rounders like Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Trevor Goddard and a fine wicketkeeper batsman Le Ervine. Debarred from official cricket from the 1970’s due to apartheid, thus denying the cricket world from witnessing arguably the most talented side ever.
4.Australia from 1974-1976
In this period Australia gave a comprehensive thrashing to a strong English side in 1974-75 by a 4-1 margin and a multi-talented West Indies team in 1975-76.by margin of 5-1. It also won an Ashes series in England in 1975. This team possessed the most lethal pace duo of all in Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, an all-conquering batting line up in likes of Ian Chappell, Greg Chappel, Doug Walters, Keith Stackpole, Ian Redpath supported by allrounder Gary Gilmour. It had the cutting edge of being led by arguably the best of al captains, Ian Chappell.
5.Australia in 1948
This team led by Bradman swept aside a strong English team transcending invincibility at it’s zenith. In Bradman it contained two great batsmen into one, which was it’s trump card, in addition to possessing the ultimate match-winner as an allrounder in Keith Miller, arguably the best ever pace bowling duo till then in Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller. And till then perhaps the best left-handed middle order batsmen the world ever knew, in Neil Harvey.
I have placed Australia of 1999-2004 at the top when scrutinising level of professionalism, match-winners, organisation and balance, edging Clive Lloyd’s poweful West Indies team by a whisker. Lloyd’s men may have overall posseed more talent or destructive potential with their relentless pace battery but in my view did noy equal the sheer balance of Australia to adapt to different conditions. On fast surface,I would back West Indies. However on flat track, seaming top, or turning pitch, I would give Australia an edge.
With a gun on my head, I would have backed South African team of the 1970’s to have turned into the best ever team to have played test cricket, but for being curtailed by apartheid and bared from playing international cricket. I still feel man to man The South African team of 1969-70 was arguably the strongest team ever when you weigh the quality and number of genuine allrounders and batting strength.
Australian team of mid 1970’s man to man may well have outpowered the best teams later of West Indies and Australia, when you measure batting quality and lethality of bowling attack. In my view both these sides for a short tenure at their best, could well have been the best ever teams to have played test cricket., overpowering the best teams led of West Indies by Clive Lloyd and Australia by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
6. West Indies of 1966-70
With Gary Sobers possessed arguably the greatest cricketer let alone all-rounder ever, in addition to having batting stalwarts like Rohan Kanhai, Seymour Nurse, Basil Butcher, and class fast bowlers like Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths. Demolished England in 1966, but did not overpower Australia down under in 1968-69.
I have placed Australia of 1999-2004 at the top when scrutinizing level of professionalism, match-winners, organisation and balance, edging Clive Lloyd’s poweful West Indies team by a whisker. Lloyd’s men may have overall posseed more talent or destructive potential with their relentless pace battery but in my view did noy equal the sheer balance of Australia to adapt to different conditions. On fast surface,I would back West Indies. However on flat track, seaming top, or turning pitch, I would give Australia an edge.
With a gun on my head, I would have backed South African team of the 1970’s to have turned into the best ever team to have played test cricket, but for being curtailed by apartheid and bared from playing international cricket. I still feel man to man The South African team of 1969-70 was arguably the strongest team ever when you weigh the quality and number of genuine allrounders and batting strength.
Australian team of mid 1970’s man to man may well have outpowered the best teams later of West Indies and Australia, when you measure batting quality and lethality of bowling attack. In my view both these sides for a short tenure at their best, could well have been the best ever teams to have played test cricket., overpowering the best teams led of West Indies by Clive Lloyd and Australia by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
1.Australia from 1999-2004
No team has been on rampage with such intensity or dominated the cricket world in such realms. Registered a record 16 consecutive test match wins in 2001, pulverising powerful South African teams’ home and away, as well as teams like England and Pakistan on their soil. In 2001 won 5 consecutive tests against South Africa, a phenomenal feat.
Losing a series in India in 2001 was a blot or scar on their record. Players like Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne and Glen Mcgrath made this team defining myth of invincibility in realms arguably unparalleled. Adam Gilchrist, Glen Mcgrath and Shane Warne were ultimate match-winners, Steve Waugh the epitome of tenacity, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh class acts and Hayden and Langer giving the most impetuous of starts.
Arguably no team has ever escalated professionalism to such levels or as intensely expressed a desire to win. It surpassed the bating strike rates of all previous teams, had the best pace-spin bowler combination ever. In my view more professional, with higher killer instinct than even the West Indies teams led by Clive Lloyd.
2.West Indies from 1977-1985
This all-powerful team led by Clive Lloyd scaled invincibility in mythical realms, sweeping or rolling over opposing teams, ruling the cricket world for an unmatched tenure in cricket history.. It pulled the wool out of the eyes of the most powerful opponents, in every part of the world, be it the seaming tops of England, bouncy tracks of Australia or the turning pitches on the subcontinent. The presence of the most lethal or potent pace bowling attacks ever of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Andy Roberts fortified with great batsmen like Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and Clive Lloyd made this Calypso team arguably the best ever team in cricket history. In 1984, won then record 11 consecutive test matches in a row.
3.South Africa of 1966-1970
No team ever had as many genuine allrounders or demolished a powerful team like Australia by a 4-0 margin .as the South African team of this era. It contained the likes of specialist batsmen like Barry Richards, and Graeme Pollock, talented all-rounders like Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow, Trevor Goddard and a fine wicketkeeper batsman Le Ervine. Debarred from official cricket from the 1970’s due to apartheid, thus denying the cricket world from witnessing arguably the most talented side ever.
4.Australia from 1974-1976
In this period Australia gave a comprehensive thrashing to a strong English side in 1974-75 by a 4-1 margin and a multi-talented West Indies team in 1975-76.by margin of 5-1. It also won an Ashes series in England in 1975. This team possessed the most lethal pace duo of all in Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, an all-conquering batting line up in likes of Ian Chappell, Greg Chappel, Doug Walters, Keith Stackpole, Ian Redpath supported by allrounder Gary Gilmour. It had the cutting edge of being led by arguably the best of al captains, Ian Chappell.
5.Australia in 1948
This team led by Bradman swept aside a strong English team transcending invincibility at it’s zenith. In Bradman it contained two great batsmen into one, which was it’s trump card, in addition to possessing the ultimate match-winner as an allrounder in Keith Miller, arguably the best ever pace bowling duo till then in Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller. And till then perhaps the best left-handed middle order batsmen the world ever knew, in Neil Harvey.
I have placed Australia of 1999-2004 at the top when scrutinising level of professionalism, match-winners, organisation and balance, edging Clive Lloyd’s poweful West Indies team by a whisker. Lloyd’s men may have overall posseed more talent or destructive potential with their relentless pace battery but in my view did noy equal the sheer balance of Australia to adapt to different conditions. On fast surface,I would back West Indies. However on flat track, seaming top, or turning pitch, I would give Australia an edge.
With a gun on my head, I would have backed South African team of the 1970’s to have turned into the best ever team to have played test cricket, but for being curtailed by apartheid and bared from playing international cricket. I still feel man to man The South African team of 1969-70 was arguably the strongest team ever when you weigh the quality and number of genuine allrounders and batting strength.
Australian team of mid 1970’s man to man may well have outpowered the best teams later of West Indies and Australia, when you measure batting quality and lethality of bowling attack. In my view both these sides for a short tenure at their best, could well have been the best ever teams to have played test cricket., overpowering the best teams led of West Indies by Clive Lloyd and Australia by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
6. West Indies of 1966-70
With Gary Sobers possessed arguably the greatest cricketer let alone all-rounder ever, in addition to having batting stalwarts like Rohan Kanhai, Seymour Nurse, Basil Butcher, and class fast bowlers like Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths. Demolished England in 1966, but did not overpower Australia down under in 1968-69.
I have placed Australia of 1999-2004 at the top when scrutinizing level of professionalism, match-winners, organisation and balance, edging Clive Lloyd’s poweful West Indies team by a whisker. Lloyd’s men may have overall posseed more talent or destructive potential with their relentless pace battery but in my view did noy equal the sheer balance of Australia to adapt to different conditions. On fast surface,I would back West Indies. However on flat track, seaming top, or turning pitch, I would give Australia an edge.
With a gun on my head, I would have backed South African team of the 1970’s to have turned into the best ever team to have played test cricket, but for being curtailed by apartheid and bared from playing international cricket. I still feel man to man The South African team of 1969-70 was arguably the strongest team ever when you weigh the quality and number of genuine allrounders and batting strength.
Australian team of mid 1970’s man to man may well have outpowered the best teams later of West Indies and Australia, when you measure batting quality and lethality of bowling attack. In my view both these sides for a short tenure at their best, could well have been the best ever teams to have played test cricket., overpowering the best teams led of West Indies by Clive Lloyd and Australia by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
