Aust v World - The Tahs Challenge

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.