SCG Announce Best Ever Australian and World XI Teams

SCG Trust select the best ever Australian and World XI teams based on performances at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

A panel comprising Jim Maxwell, Mike Coward, Phil Derriman, Gideon Haigh, Phil Wilkins, Malcolm Conn, Warwick Franks, Andrew Leeming, Malcolm Knox, and the SCG Trust chairman Rodney Cavalier, selected Australia and World teams.

Australia’s Ricky Ponting and India’s Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman have been named in the SCG’s best ever Australian and World XI teams.

Ponting has enjoyed a masterly career at the SCG scoring the most Test runs ever at the famous ground with 1,346 runs at an average of 64.10. His five Test centuries are the most ever by any batsman in Tests at the SCG.

Tendulkar has scored 664 Test runs at the SCG at an average of phenomenal 221.33 from seven innings, while Laxman (481 runs at 96.20) has scored a century in all three Test appearances at the SCG.

The only Australian player to poll a maximum nine votes was Greg Chappell (1150 runs at 63.89) while Don Bradman (703 runs at 58.58) recorded least votes of six from the five specialist batsmen.

Victor Trumper (809 runs at 47.59) and David Boon (1127 runs at 62.61) form a formidable opening partnership.

Keith Miller was rewarded for his splendid all-round performances and joins Glen McGrath (50 wickets at 23.44), CTB Turner (45 wickets at 13.38) and Ray Lindwall (42 wickets at 17.29) in the fast bowling attack.

Shane Warne (64 wickets at 28.13), the SCG’s highest ever Test wicket-taker, is the spinner.

Three World XI players, Wally Hammond (808 runs at 161.60), Herbert Sutcliffe (458 runs at 65.43) and Tendulkar all polled a maximum of nine votes while gifted West Indian all-rounder Garfield Sobers and wicket-keeper Alan Knott each polled seven votes.

The World XI attack is spearheaded by Englishmen George Lohmann (35 wickets at 9.46) and SF Barnes (28 wickets at 26.96) plus New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee (13 wickets at 13.23) and Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble (20 wickets at 32.95).

Australia: Victor Trumper (NSW), David Boon (Tas), Don Bradman (NSW/SA), Ricky Ponting (Tas), Greg Chappell (SA/Qld), Keith Miller (NSW/Vic), Adam Gilchrist (WA/NSW), Shane Warne (Vic), Ray Lindwall (NSW/Qld), CTB Turner (NSW), Glenn McGrath (NSW). Fred Spofforth (NSW) 12^th man. Coach: Bill O’Reilly. Coach: Richie Benaud.

World XI: Herbert Sutcliffe (Eng), Jack Hobbs (Eng), VVS Laxman (India), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Wally Hammond (Eng), Garfield Sobers (WI), Richard Hadlee (NZ), Alan Knott (Eng), Anil Kumble (India), George Lohmann (Eng), SF Barnes (Eng). Harold Larwood (Eng) 12^th man. Coach: WG Grace.