One of Australia's all-time great cricketers picks his greatest ODI side
Warne names his all-time Aussie ODI XI
Spin great Shane Warne has named his all-time Australian one-day international XI during the tea break of the fourth day of the fourth Test at the SCG, with former teammates, cricket legends and the Sheik of Tweak himself getting the nod.
Australia’s greatest-ever Test wicket taker picked three 1999 ICC World Cup teammates at the top of the order in Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting, while former captains Greg Chappell and Allan Border were slotted in either side of injured skipper Michael Clarke.
Despite the majority of Warne’s 11 receiving the full support of his fellow Wide World of Sports commentators, Mark Taylor did chide the leg-spinner for selecting himself in the side.
“Warnie,” Taylor started, with tongue placed firmly in cheek, “being the shy, retiring type, would probably have left himself out of his own team and picked Peter Taylor – the off-spinner.”
“A very good one-day bowler, handy bat...“
“You guys told me to put myself in,” Warne laughed, “don’t try and turn it around.”
Always controversial, Warne opted to exclude ODI legend Michael Bevan, widely regarded as Australia's greatest-ever finisher after averaging 53.58 across 232 matches.
Shane Warne All-Time Australia XI: M Waugh, A Gilchrist, R Ponting, G Chappell, M Clarke, A Border, A Symonds, M Johnson, S Warne, D Lillee, G McGrath. Reserves: M Hayden, D Jones, M Hussey, G Gilmour, B Lee.