Queensland cricket’s great all-rounders: No.1-10
Who is Queensland’s greatest cricket all-rounder? Today we present No.1-10 after yesterday presenting No.11-30. From Ron Oxenham in the early 19th century to Shane Watson, Queensland cricket has produced some gun all-rounders. But who is the best?
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Who is Queensland’s greatest cricket all-rounder? Today we present No.1-10 after yesterday presenting No.11-30. From Ron Oxenham in the early 19th century to Shane Watson, Queensland cricket has produced some gun all-rounders. But who is the best?
RELATED LINKS
Family affair at the Dooley household
Jack Clayton reflects on brotherly rivalry
Jeh siblings blessed with beginners luck
No.1
KEN MACKAY
Mackay is a Queensland icon who entered Australian cricket folklore when he wore the final ball of the 1960-61 Adelaide Test on the rib cage. He choose to raise his arms high and be struck by Hall’s thunderbolt rather than risk getting an edge or a glove as the West Indies pushed for victory. Mackay’s deed that day ensured Australia drew the Test after a remarkable, extended last wicket partnership with Lindsay Kline. Mackay’s heroics perhaps gives an insight into why Aussie captain of the era, Richie Benaud, declared he would never enter a Test match without Mackay in his side. At Test level Mackay was a No.6 bat and support bowler, but for Queensland he was an opening batting strike weapon who amassed 6843 runs at 47.19 while also taking 132 wickets with his medium pace (average 35.93). Slasher Mackay, a true champion.
No.2.
RON OXENHAM
Oxenham was a member of Queensland’s first ever Sheffield Shield team in 1926-27 and almost 100 years later his record withstands the test of time. A medium pace swing bowler, the St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace old boy claimed 228 wickets for Queensland at an outstanding average of 22.90. But supplementing those deeds were 3082 runs at 27.27. Only the great Ken Mackay could have beaten him into the No.1 ranking.
No.3
ANDREW SYMONDS
Symonds rises into the top three because his batting and fielding could swing a match - and because he was also an outstanding fifth bowling option. Statistically Symonds scored 4843 runs at 35.09 in 90 Shield games, and took 113 at 30.98 with a mix of medium pace and off-spin. But those raw numbers tell only part of the story. Like champion mercurial all-rounders like Kapal Dev (India) and Ian Botham (England), Symonds could burst a game open while also tempering his attacking instincts if the situation demanded it. He was also a super cat in the field, an elite outfield or cover point fieldsman who saved countless runs and who grasped catches when most would struggle to lay a hand on them. He bowled a lot of off-spin, but I always thought he was a dar better medium-pace swing bowler. Symonds was also a great down to earth bloke who never changed despite his profile rising.
No.4
SHANE WATSON
Watson was an elite batting all-rounder who possessed such versatility, he could open or bat at No.4 or No.6 in Test cricket with ease. Ipswich raised, Watson was in a hurry to play first class cricket and as a young man moved to Tasmania where he effortlessly broke into the Sheffield Shield side. But he then returned to Queensland to play 24 matches, scoring 1678 runs at 43.04 and taking 45 at 25.88. He averaged 35.19 in Test cricket, but one felt he was even better than that average suggests. He could also go hard at an attack, or defend stoutly, such was his excellent technique. As a bowler he was accurate, moved the ball a little and was a perfect support bowler who maintained pressure.
No.5
JAMES HOPES
Hopes pips Ron Archer for a top five berth on the strength of his longevity. Hopes went the distance for Queensland and at various stages was both the best batsman and best bowler in the side. He amassed 5078 runs at 30.45, and at the peak of his powers he opened the batting for the Australian one-day side. He also claimed 296 wickets at 26.91 with his nagging medium pace, a magnificent achievement who was seriously considered for the No.1 ranking.
RELATED LINKS
Family affair at the Dooley household
Jack Clayton reflects on brotherly rivalry
Jeh siblings blessed with beginners luck
No.6
RON ARCHER
A little like Don Tallon, all the oldies rave about Ron Archer. Indeed Queensland stalwart John Maclean believed Archer was headed for the Australian captaincy until he was injured. Sadly Queensland only had him for 32 matches, but in that time he stamped himself as a class all-rounder with one century and eight 50s (batting average 31.81) which supplemented his world class bowling (85 wickets at 24.48). He replicated those deeds in 19 Tests before injury intervened.
No.7
DON TALLON
All the oldies say it. Bill Brown (three Ashes tours with Bradman) said it to me, Peter Burge (pre-Hayden, Queensland’s greatest born batsman) said it to me and earlier this week Jack McLaughlin (veteran opener) said it to me. Don Tallon is the best gloveman ever. “Bar none, bar none,’’ McLaughlin said. So if you are a better keeper than Ian Healy, and you averaged 30.79 (3594 Shield runs) for Queensland, then you are a world class all-rounder.
No.8
PHIL CARLSON
Carlson was a tremendous all-rounder who averaged 30.74 batting No.6 or No.7 across 81 matches in the 1970s, while also taking 110 wickets at 24.15 bowling medium-pace swing. Now that is a record. Together with Trevor Hohns and John Maclean (both No.11-30 choices), Carlson formed a magnificent middle and lower order combination which gave Queensland depth in bowling and batting. He played two Tests, the highlight of which was taking a sensational gully catch, but he will be forever remembered for taking 10 wickets in a match while also making 100 runs.
No. 9
IAN HEALY
When you are the wicketkeeper of the century and average 35.55 (Queensland Shield average), you are a world class all-rounder, believe me. The legendary Ian Healy could easily have been rated in the top 2 or 3, but such is the depth of this list we settled on a top 10 berth. The bloke is a legend.
No.10
CHRIS HARTLEY
Queenslanders have made it a sport being dudded at the national selection table in a variety of sports over the years, but Chris Hartley‘s failure to earn a Test cap at some stage during his career will sit very uncomfortably with those who love their sport. But to us Queenslanders, Hartley is a living treasure whose glovework was complemented by his rearguard batting which yielded an amazing 6138 runs at 34.48. There were times when Queensland were four wickets down for not many, but supporters would not worry because the team’s best batsmen, James Hopes and Hartley, so often rescued them in the middle order.
Originally published as Queensland cricket’s great all-rounders: No.1-10