A Lawry-load of top players makes Bill’s best team

IF CHOOSING just five specialist batsmen in his greatest team was good enough for Don Bradman, then Bill Lawry reckons it will do him as well.

Hence Adam Gilchrist being elevated from his customary seven slot to bat at six in Lawry’s greatest Australian side since he first played for Victoria as an 18-year-old in 1955/56.

For Lawry, batsmen help win matches but bowlers actually win them, and having five bowlers ensures the balance in case one is having an off day. As for his five specialist batsmen, given Gilchrist qualifies as an allrounder, Greg Chappell was a non-negotiable, or in Lawry’s eyes, an “artist with a bat”.

Then it became more competitive

‘‘ IAN WAS A TRADESMAN, GREG WAS AN ARTIST. BUT IAN ENSURED HE BATTED AT THREE.

BILL LAWRY (RIGHT)

as he tried to decide between Mark Taylor and Matthew Hayden for an opening slot, or Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Neil Harvey, Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh.

“Taylor was a good enough player, don’t worry, and a better player in England than Hayden.

“As for Ponting, well people will have their own opinion and I’ve got mine. I asked myself, was he better than Harvey? Because he certainly wasn’t better than Greg Chappell. Ponting was a brilliant fieldsman, but so was Harvey. I doubt that he was better than Allan Border.

“Ian Chappell was the other option for three and don’t forget he averaged 50 in that position at Test level, compared with his overall average of 42.

“Ian at three and Greg at four was probably one of the best batting combinations ever. Fancy being born to a brother like Greg and batting at the other end?

“Ian was a tradesman, Greg was an artist. But Ian ensured he batted at three which I really admired. Mind you, he had some good openers ahead of him (laughter).

“With Border, I just wonder how many could have stood up to the pace attacks he faced in the 1980s. Mark Waugh is someone I would like to have in there but you can’t have them all.

“And anyway, leave as many New South Welshman out as possible (laughter).”