Supreme batsmen and superb spinners to test Australian stars
Despite Australia's dominance as the finest side in the international game and its array of match-winning players, the ICC World XI Test squad contains no fewer than six batsmen who boast a career average of more than 50 when playing against Australia.
Jon Long
16-May-2005
Despite Australia's dominance as the finest side in the international game and its array of match-winning players, the ICC World XI Test squad contains no fewer than six batsmen who boast a career average of more than 50 when playing against Australia.
Michael Vaughan (63.29 in 5 Tests), Sachin Tendulkar (53.11 in 21), VVS Laxman (52.03 in 16), Brian Lara (51.45 in 27), Rahul Dravid (51.03 in 18) and Virender Sehwag (50.86 in 8) have all scored big runs at impressive averages against McGrath, Warne, Gillespie and partners over the past decade.
And the selection of a clutch of world class spinners in the Test squad is also significant, given the reputation of the Sydney Cricket Ground as a venue which favours slow bowlers. Between them, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Daniel Vettori and Muttiah Muralitharan have taken 245 wickets in just 45 Tests against Australia. That outstanding haul includes 27 returns of five wickets in an innings and seven of 10 or more in a match.