THE difficulty about selecting/nominating a best-ever Australian team over a 128-year period, is that you are aware while you are doing so, you could have chosen two or three other Australian teams who may well be just as good.

Anyway, as I have said last week these are personal choices, at best and open to amiable debate, discussion, criticism and scrutiny.

In selecting the following team (and baring in mind that Australia has given the great game, many, many outstanding players), the question to ask is, would this combination play good cricket, be a delight to watch and enthuse those in the audience/stadium wherever?

The answer is a big fat -- yes!

My All-Time Australian XI (128 years)

1. ARTHUR MORRIS:

Along with fellow countryman Neil Harvey, arguably the best left-handed batsmen of the time.

Morris was a key member of his country’s Test make-up for nearly a decade after World War II.

As an opening batsman, he possessed an excellent technique, enabling him to adapt to all conditions; he attacked forcefully and was an imperious hooker.

He also batted Australia out of many a crisis and set up many victories along the way.

Charming, philosophical, respectable -- he scored heavily against England, including 696 runs (average 87.00) in the 1948 series.

Test record: Matches - 46; Runs - 3,533;
Average - 46.86; 100s - 12; HS - 206.
F.C. record: Matches - 162; Runs - 12,614; Average - 53.67; 100s - 46; HS - 290.

2. MATTHEW HAYDEN:

Amongst world openers in and over the past three years or so, none has come close to this big mountain of a man in terms of sheer consistency, hunger, fitness levels and skill and a determination to achieve his goals, that many doubted in his early years of development.

A century every three Tests is amazing by any standard -- modern/pre or post War years.

Holder for the highest score in a Test by an Australian, Hayden has scored his runs in all conditions and on the difficult Indian-sub continent.

Test record: Matches - 73; Runs - 6,277;
Average - 53.19; 100s - 22; HS - 380.
ODI record: Matches - 119; Runs - 4,122;
Average - 40.01; 100s - 5; HS - 146.

3. DONALD BRADMAN:

Although he made all his runs in Australia and England, he is still recognised as the greatest batsman who has ever walked onto a cricket field.

An average of a century every 2.8 innings must tell some story.

So, too, his Test and first class career averages.

Physically compact, with good shoulders, he was extremely nimble on his feet and in mind; and seemed to see and assess bowling exceedingly early.

The only batsman to score 100 centuries without ever playing county cricket in England.

Test record: Matches - 52; Runs - 6,996;
Average - 99.94; 100s - 29; HS - 334.
F.C. record: Matches - 234; Runs - 28,067; Average - 95.14; 100s - 117; HS - 452 not out.

4. NEIL HARVEY:

One of the best players of top-class spin bowling in history and one of the greatest left-handers.

His foot-work and power of placement were incredible for a small player.

Against both pace and spin, he unleashed an impressive array of attacking shots to all corners of the field.

At home or away, Harvey scored prolifically and attractively and is still the youngest Australian to hit a Test century -- 19 years and 121 days.

Test record: Matches - 79; Runs - 6,149;
Average - 48.41; 100s - 21; HS - 205.
F.C. record: Matches - 308; Runs - 21,699; Average - 50.93; 100s - 67; HS - 231 not out.

5. STEVE WAUGH:

The most successful captain in the history of Test cricket, as well as being one of the toughest and greatest batsmen of any generation.

Holder of the record for most runs by an Australian in Test.

A brilliant analytical mind and cricket academic.

His recent autobiography “Out of my comfort zone” has been appreciated all over the world.

It attracted an up-front fee of 1.1 million Australian dollars.

Waugh batted gallantly, heroically and splendidly all over the world and in 168 Tests (world record) scored 150 against all nine Test opponents.

Test record: Matches - 168; Runs - 10,927; Average - 51.06; 100s - 32; HS - 200; Wkts. - 92; Average - 37.44.
ODI record: Matches - 325; Runs - 7,569;
Average - 32.90; 100s - 3; HS - 120 not out;
Wkts. - 195; Average - 34.68.

6. KEITH MILLER:

Arguably Australia’s finest all-round cricketer, he saw cricket as a game to be enjoyed.

A magnificent batsman who relished attacking the bowlers for long periods; and a one-of-a-kind fast bowler.

He produced some of the biggest hits ever seen on the world’s major grounds.

His fast-bowling could be as devastating as it was unpredictable; a blistering bouncer could be followed by a “wrong on”, and even if he were a player of moods, he remained very consistent.

With drop-dead good looks, he captivated audiences with his effervescent style of play for a decade all over the world.

Test record: Matches - 55; Runs - 2,958;
Average - 36.97; 100s - 7; HS - 147; Wkts. - 170;
Average - 22.97.
F.C. record: Matches - 226; Runs - 14,183; Average - 48.90; 100s - 41; HS - 281 not out; Wkts. - 497; Average - 22.30.

7. ADAM GILCHRIST:

Widely-acclaimed by his team-mates, peers and his opponents as the best wicket-keeper/batsman in all Test history, bar none -- (Clyde Walcott including).

A devastating, shot-making left-hander at both Test and ODI levels and an absolute master wicket-keeper with 300 dismissals in both strands of the game.

His catching off both pace and spin is simply amazing.

Gilchrist is the best No. 7 batsman I have seen in cricket.

Test record: Matches - 74; Runs - 4,728;
Average - 52.53; 100s - 15; HS - 204 not out; Catches - 283; Stumpings - 29.
ODI record: Matches - 222; Runs - 7,542;
Average - 36.43; 100s - 12; HS - 172;
Catches - 321; Stumpings - 43.

8. RAY LINDWALL:

Though he lost a number of seasons to the Second World War, Lindwall remains for what the observers have said, Lillee’s only serious rival as Australia’s finest-ever fast bowler.

He bowled with great speed and pace cunningly and variedly.

With a silky smooth action, he maintained his place until 38 years old.

In addition to his outstanding fast bowling, Lindwall was a very talented and capable batsman late or tail-end, scoring brilliant Test hundreds against England and West Indies.

Test record: Matches - 61; Runs - 1,502;
Average - 21.15; 100s - 2; HS - 118; Wkts. - 228; Average - 23.03.
F.C. record: Matches - 228; Runs - 5,042;
Average - 21.82; 100s - 5; HS - 134 not out;
Wkts. - 794; Average - 21.35.

9. SHANE WARNE:

The “Earl of Twirl” is, in my humble opinion, simply the greatest spin bowler I have ever had the fortune of seeing live or on film.

Warne is one candidate for any sane person’s all-time Test eleven -- his feats, his style, his credentials and his accomplishments all over the world need no mention.

With his all-too-familiar walk-up run to the crease and that big twirl of the arms generating venomous side spin and over spin, his balls to Gatting, Strauss and Laxman are worth engraving in gold.

He is better on his own than the great Indian spin quartet of the 60s/70s and a very, very good batsman in his own way.

Test record: Matches - 129; Runs - 2,779; Average - 16.84; HS - 99; Wkts. - 629;
Average - 25.09.
ODI record: Matches - 193; Runs - 1,016;
Average - 13.02; Wkts. - 291; Average - 25.82.

10. DENNIS LILLEE:

He came back from the cricketing dead with real speed and hostility and fire in the eyes, to rival and surpass all that came before and anyone who dared to challenge him.

Rated by world experts as one of the all-time greatest out-and-out fast bowlers -- five wickets a Test speaks volumes of his character and determination.

Adding subtlety and variation to blistering 97 m.p.h. speed -- to me, having grown up in his time and era.

This master bowler had a flowing 25-pace run-up, copy-book flow and action and a steel-like determination to extract the smallest vestige of life from the most benign of tracks and remove any batsman unfortunate enough to get in his way.

He was dubbed “Dracula of Pace.”

Test record: Matches - 70; Runs - 905;
Average - 13.71; HS - 73 not out; Wkts. - 355; Average - 23.92.
ODI record: Matches - 63; Wkts. - 103;
Average - 20.82.

11. GLENN Mc GRATH:

Mechanical man Mc Grath is Australia and the world’s all-time most successful fast bowler.

A perfectionist to the hilt and a dangerous adversary to any opposition.

A supremely destructive new-ball bowler, Mc Grath possesses the ability to quickly sum up an opponent and hone in on the weaklink with the deadly precision of a top-flight marksman.

Once he senses a kill, he’s round your neck in a flash, going for the jugular to administer the fatal blow.

In addition, he remains one of the most economical bowlers in history.

Test record: Matches - 113; Wkts. - 521;
Average - 21.25.
ODI record: Matches - 216; Wkts. - 327;
Average - 23.33.