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Best ever? Waugh's Australia stands comparison with the great sides
LONDON (Reuters) -- Steve Waugh, the ultimate professional, willingly answered all questions bar one during the Australians' triumphant tour of England this summer. Asked yet again Monday whether his side were the best in history, the Australian captain groaned. "Oh no, not that question again," he said. "No comment on that one." Waugh still has unfinished business in his drive to take Australian cricket to new levels. But, with 16 test victories in a row followed by a 4-1 series victory over England, he now ranks with four other captains who, since World War Two, have led sides demonstrably better than their peers. Don Bradman (Australia) 1946-48 Bradman, the greatest cricketer of the 20th century, always maintained his unbeaten 1948 side in England was the best he played in. Strengths: Opening batsmen Arthur Morris and Sid Barnes, an ideal left and right-handed combination, set the stage for Bradman himself, Lindsay Hassett and the teenage Neil Harvey. Keith Miller was a tremendous all-rounder, good enough as a batsman to play for Australia. He also formed with Ray Lindwall a feared fast bowling combination. Bill Johnston provided left-arm pace or quickish spin, Don Tallon was a prehensile wicketkeeper. Weaknesses: Leg-spinners Colin McCool and Doug Ring failed to make their mark in England and the spin bowling was provided by Ian Johnson's flighty off-spin. But in those days, with a new ball every 55 overs, Bradman did not need spin. Instead he used Ernie Toshack with his restrictive left-arm medium pace to close the game down before unleashing Lindwall, Miller and Johnston again. Peter May (England) 1955-58 Strengths: May inherited a staggering array of world-class bowlers from Len Hutton, making England unbeatable at home during the mid to late 1950s. Frank Tyson, briefly the fastest bowler in the world, was backed up by Fred Trueman, Brian Statham and the medium pace of Trevor Bailey with Jim Laker, Tony Lock, Johnny Wardle and Bob Appleyard supplying the spin. In an era of uncovered pitches and low scores, May was the best batsman in the world with his fellow amateur Colin Cowdrey not far behind. Godfrey Evans continued to inspire the bowlers and fielders from behind the stumps. Weaknesses: Despite their strength on paper, England managed only a drawn away series against South Africa and a team acclaimed as the best to leave English shores was thrashed by Richie Benaud's Australians in 1958-59. May, increasingly troubled by ill health, played only occasionally for England after that tour. Ian Chappell (Australia) 1971-76 Strengths: The batting of the Chappell brothers, Ian and Greg, the fierce fast bowling of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson with outstanding wicketkeeping by Rodney Marsh and useful contributions from opener Ian Redpath and the big-hearted medium-pacer Max Walker helped Australia rule the world in the mid-1970s. The fielding was also brilliant and Chappell proved an inspirational, if abrasive, captain. Weaknesses: When either Lillee or Thomson was injured or unavailable, the attack lost much of its menace. Clive Lloyd (West Indies) 1975-85 Strengths: Fast bowling in depth, with genuinely great pace bowlers in Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner working in rotation. Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes were highly skilled openers and Viv Richards was the best batsmen of his time, who could destroy any attack in a couple of hours. Jeff Dujon was a skilled wicketkeeper-batsmen and Roger Harper, before his action fell apart, provided off-spin when necessary. The fielding, rigorously drilled, was flawless. Weaknesses: A destructive batting lineup could lose its way against spin but such was the strength of the fast bowling that this rarely mattered. Steve Waugh (Australia) 1999- Strengths: The batting of the Waugh twins, Steve and Mark, who are both still going strong at the age of 36, Waugh's innovative captaincy and the exciting stroke play of wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, with pace and spin respectively, are the two best bowlers in the world. The fielding is usually superb and the ethos of non-stop attack makes the modern Australians thrilling to watch. Weaknesses: A series loss in India this year showed they are not yet the finished article. Brett Lee, the back-up to McGrath and Jason Gillespie, had a disappointing tour of England although Waugh maintained faith in his young fast bowler.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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