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Aust v World - The Tahs Challenge

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs) | August 23, 2024

The Tamworth chapter of the Tahs (well most of them), have played at being selector and would like to challenge other cricket tragic. We have selected the best Australian and World teams of our generation (last 65 years), plus others, to tour the cricket world and play in a five Test series.


AUSTRALIA

1. David Warner

2. Mark Taylor (c)

3. Ricky Ponting

4. Greg Chappell

5. Neil Harvey

6. Allan Border

7. Adam Gilchrist

8. Mitchell Johnson

9. Shane Warne

10. Dennis Lillee

11. Glen McGrath

Other tourists: Matthew Hayden, Steve Smith, Ian Healy, Alan Davidson, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins

Coach: Ian Chappell


WORLD (chosen with form v Aust in mind)

1. Alistair Cook

2. Gordon Greenidge

3. Viral Kohli

4. Sachin Tendulkar

5. Viv Richards

6. Gary Sobers (c)

7. Ian Botham

8. Alan Knott

9. Wasim Akram

10. Richard Hadlee

11. Curtly Ambrose

Other tourists: Kumar Sangakkara, Brian Lara, Graham Pollock, Ravi Jadeja, Malcolm Marshall, Ravi Ashwin

Coach: David Gower


Tests to be played at: Centurion, Lords, Mumbai, Trinidad, Melbourne

Players to be chosen to suit conditions for each match.


There was much discussion among the selectors on two main points: the openers and which two to pick between Harvey, Steve Waugh and Border. All agreed that Taylor had to be picked - all be it in the English tradition of picking the captain first - which led to argument over Warner. Others considered were Michael Slater, Bob Simpson, Bill Lawry and even Michael Hussey. None of us could pick the FTB Hayden. In the end Chairman of selectors Langston got to keep Warner in exchange for Border going ahead of Waugh but lost his argument for Healy to the other selectors, Sattler and Browne. Davo was selected over others because he was the second best left arm new ball bowler.

In the World side, Jacques Kallis was considered unlucky, but Sangakkara got the tour spot by dint of being the reserve keeper. Botham was considered lucky to be selected. The astute among you will be aghast at the non-selection of Muralitharan, the leading wicket taker in Test cricket. Two of the selectors pointed to his record against Australia, whilst a third chose the Darryl Hair defence.

The selection of coaches - done post meeting by the Chairman - was done on the basis of choosing someone who would make sure the players had a good time because there would be nothing they could teach the teams about playing and because both believed that coaches were only useful in transporting players to the ground.

The Chairman did consult another Tamworth Tahs member - wife Sue - but beyond chanting “Lillee, Lillee” and repeatedly saying “bowled Warney” and then having to sit down, flustered, at the thought of Greg Chappell, her input was limited.

Over to you. What would your tour squads be and who would be in the first Test at Centurion.

Even in our dotage, the importance of spending some time together, chewing the fat and talking about cricket - all a gigantic metaphor for “how are you mate” - has never been more important.


Selectors pictured from left: Roger Sattler, Peter Langston & Terry Browne.







About Me

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs)

Founder
Waratahs CC of Armidale; The Tahs Inc
www.thetahs.com.au
Armidale, Australia
The history of a proud club which grew men from boys through the simple act of trusting them with something very precious.

Favourite players: Life members: Alan Gray, Harry Deiderick, Graham Johnson, Ian Campbell, Syd Philp, Graham Patterson & Albert Hofkamp.

Favourite grounds: Wicklow Oval (Rologas Fields), Harris Park, West Armidale Park (Lambert Park), The Armidale Sportsground

All-time cricket hero: Any bloke in the Royal Blue cap.

Favourite bat: The one that scored the most.

Most memorable moment in cricket:
1952-53 A grade Final, beating Easts 2 outright after our worst A/1st grade total in the sixty year history of the club. Beat the very strong Uralla in the last round to just scrape into the semis and then Easts 1 in the Semi. Played one player short on the first day after a mix up with team sheets and made 163 in the sunshine, Ross Ridley 59. Easts 0-57 at stumps after four dropped catches. Didn't play the second day for two weeks because of the Armidale Show and then after four days of heavy rain. Wicket now a sticky and impossible to bat on. Easts all out for 95, Don Paul 6-24. Batting a second time, Waratahs still one short and Ridley now out injured, all out for 21. Easts needing 90 don't make it to halfway, all out for 43, Don Paul 7-20. Waratahs win their first premiership in only their third season.

What’s the best cricket advice you’ve ever received:
Join the new Waratahs! The Tahs memberships available by contacting https://forms.gle/oY26v79kETLzYxqH7