Shane Warne reveals the greatest Australian XI he played alongside
In 2015, Shane Warne refused to allocate a spot for former captain Steve Waugh in his Australian XI. However, the pair seemed to have buried the hatchet.
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Cricket legend Shane Warne has revealed the best eleven Test cricketers he ever played alongside, the starting XI featuring a few controversial calls.
Five years ago, Warne was asked to select the best eleven Test cricketers he ever played with, and contentiously omitted former captain Steve Waugh, opting instead for Michael Clarke.
Waugh played 168 Tests for Australia, plundering 32 centuries during a stellar international career.
In fact, for the duration of Warne’s 15-year Test career, only Ricky Ponting scored more runs for Australia.
However, during an Instagram live video on Monday, Warne backflipped on the decision and named both Waugh twins in his Australian XI.
SHANE WARNE’S AUSTRALIAN XI (1992-2007)
Matthew Hayden – 8625 runs @ 50.73
Michael Slater – 5312 runs @ 42.83
Ricky Ponting – 13,378 runs @ 51.85
Mark Waugh – 8029 runs @ 41.81
Allan Border (c) – 11,174 runs @ 50.56
Steve Waugh – 10,927 runs @ 51.06
Adam Gilchrist – 5570 runs @ 47.60
Tim May – 75 wickets @ 34.74
Jason Gillespie – 259 wickets @ 26.13
Bruce Reid – 113 wickets @ 24.63
Glenn McGrath – 563 wickets @ 21.64
Warne and Waugh have regularly voiced their dislike for one another in the past – the spin bowler labelled former his former skipper the most selfish cricketer he ever played with in his 2018 autobiography.
Perhaps Warne including Waugh in his Australian XI could be the start of the pair mending old wounds.
However, the 50-year-old couldn’t resist adding one sly dig at the Waugh twin, claiming “Steve was more of a match saver than a matchwinner” on Monday.
One notable omission from Warne’s team was fellow tweaker Stuart MacGill, who is arguably Australia’s second-best ever spin bowler.
MacGill claimed 208 Test wickets in 44 Tests, and undeniably would have taken hundreds more if Warne didn’t keep him waiting on the sidelines.
Regardless, Warne opted for lesser-known spin bowler Tim May, who only managed 50 Test wickets after 1992.
Warne argued MacGill’s success at international level was due to him only being selected for matches on turning wickets.
“MacGill obviously was fantastic … but he played really as a second-choice spinner for most of his career,” Warne explained on Instagram.
“He would’ve played more if it wasn’t for me, but he always bowled on turning pitches.”
Paceman Brett Lee was also not selected in the team, Warne choosing left-handed Bruce Reid instead. The Western Australian may not have taken as many Test scalps as Lee, but did so at a better average and lower economy rate.
Australian coach Justin Langer could also be considered unlucky to miss out on the team – the former opening batsman scored 2384 more runs at a higher average than Slater during Warne’s Test career.
Warne explained he would discuss several other teams over the coming days while in self-isolation. Next, he will reveal his greatest Ashes XI at 5:45pm on Tuesday via Instagram Live.
Originally published as Shane Warne reveals the greatest Australian XI he played alongside