To coincide with #AusvSA starting tomorrow
in the bustling metropolis of Hobart, this blog entry is a ranked list of every
current Australian first-class cricketer. I’m quietly confident this is the
best and most respected ranking of its type in the history of Earth.
This is the second edition. Last years edition is linked HERE.
PREAMBLE
There is a good chance every cricketer on this list will play for Australia at some stage this season, given that Cricket Australia is now scheduling Test Matches in India at virtually the same time as Twenty 20 internationals in Adelaide. It’s only a matter of time before the national team is run like Cirque de Soleil, with multiple squads touring simultaneously. That reference is the high cultural point of this list, by the way.
The first edition included an introduction about the ranking criteria. I won’t repeat it. In summary, the rankings comes down to a bunch of subjectiveness at the top, down to pretty much making shit up based on stats from Cricinfo and googling for media references at the bottom. Which to be honest is probably more homework than some of the state and national selectors do. I’m looking at you, Mark Waugh.
The list has every cricketer that has played first-class cricket this season, to the end of the first test. That is 84 players. There were 92 last year. 21 new players are in, and 29 old players are out. Previous years rankings are helpfully bracketed next to the players name, along with their current state team.
Notable absences from the rankings include:
- Injured players like Chris Lynn, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and John Hastings. The first three were injured this time last year too.
- Players out of form or out of favour like Fawad Ahmed and Tim Paine.
- A few retired players. Some of which are now controversial book authors, like Mitchell Johnson. And Rob Quiney.
I will also stress that everyone on this list is awesome at cricket and if I make a negative comment, it’s in the context of comparison to people slightly more awesome at cricket, and not because I’m some dickhead disparaging their awesome talent.
Now here is the list...
Category A: THE FOUR HORSEMAN OF THE AUSPOCALYPSE
Last year Category A was labelled The Test Team, because we’d just smashed New Zealand, the side would be unchanged for the next smashing, and there seemed little doubt that it was the comprised of the ten best players in the country, plus Mitchell Marsh.
One year on, the Australian team is in disarray and the selections seem very confused. So Category A has been shrunk to the only four players I’m confident will still be automatic selections by the end of the summer and renamed with an amazing pun.
Category A is also entirely players from New South Wales. Suck it, rest of the country.
1. Steve Smith (NSW, Last Year Rank: 1)
The national captain is arguably the best and definitely the most ungainly batsmen in the world.
2. David Warner (NSW, 2)
The Reverend might become an all-time great if he ever gets the stability of a regular opening batting partner. He also really loves his OLED TV.3. Mitchell Starc (NSW, 4)
A fantastic bowler that Australia desperately needs him to play all the time, yet I still question the wisdom of him playing a Test match with a gaping wound.
4. Josh Hazelwood (NSW, 7)
His big advantage is being the only Aussie quick bowler with any international experience who is also 100% fit. Go sports science!
Category B: INTERNATIONAL CLASS
But also a little bit flawed and not guaranteed a baggy green.
5. Nathan Lyon (NSW, 5)
He bowled terribly in the first test, but was also terribly bowled by his captain. I think he’s the best non-Asian spin bowler in the world. His record stacks up against any Australian finger spinner in history.6. Usman Khawaja (Qld, 9)
Fantastic player at home, and would rank higher if he had any idea against spin bowling. Every time he bats against spinners, it smashes tired stereotypes about players from Subcontinental backgrounds all having great footwork and wristy stroke play.
7. Joe Burns (Qld, 8)
Missed a selection for the First Test in a coin flip with Khawaja, but will play in Hobart due to injury. Struggled in the recent series in Sri Lanka – but so did everyone else. He’s otherwise been good at Test level.
8. Chadd Sayers (SA, 36)
I think selectors these days would rather pick a bowler that is very fast rather than very good, or the player that made all the age level rep sides and went to the national cricket academy. This might explain how Sayers, career bowling average of 23, has no international appearances and one tour to New Zealand to his name. He just took 11 wickets in the last Sheffield Shield game too. Now he might be a yard too slow for the very best international batsmen, but it would be nice to find out for sure instead of speculating.
9. Adam Voges (WA, 6)
Old man Voges averages 67 in Tests, but it is falling faster than an anvil in a Road Runner cartoon. It says a lot about the current state of Aussie cricket that young man Voges could never get a spot in the team.
10. Peter Siddle (Vic, 12)
Probably the best vegan bowler of all time.
11. Joe Mennie (SA, 59)
A surprise 12th man for the First Test, because nobody pays attention to Sheffield Shield cricket anymore, so his 51 wickets last season went unnoticed. He will make his Test debut in Hobart.
12. Jackson Bird (Tas, 31)
Very good bowler not considered in Perth because he doesn’t score enough runs, instead of the selectors looking to address batting problems by looking at the ten players ahead of him in the batting order. Then he scored 39 for Tassie anyway.
13. Shaun Marsh (WA, 18)
The Marsh brothers cop a lot of grief, but I think Shaun has been pretty good over the last twelve months. He doesn’t always look comfortable at Test level, but has runs on the board, and also seems like one of the few Aussies that is comfortable batting in overseas conditions. Just broke his finger though.
14. Peter Nevill (NSW, 10)
I think he’s a very tidy wicketkeeper, but he needs to translate his batting ability into runs soon. In fairness, has had limited top order support, and his best efforts have been blocking to try to save Test matches rather than looking to score.
15. Travis Head (SA, 43)
About one year ago he was a 21-year-old with no centuries tasked with leading the worst state team in the country. Now he’s a 22-year old with three Sheffield Shield hundreds, a one-day double hundred, the best BBL innings ever, Australian caps in both limited overs formats, and his state team made the Sheffield Shield final under his inspired leadership. Oh yeah, and he also bowls improving off-spin. Selectors could do (are doing) much worse at #6 in the test team.
16. Callum Ferguson (SA, 28)
His last ODI was in 2011 but has become a more consistent batsman of late to earn a Test debut for for Hobart.
17. Steven O’Keefe (NSW, 24)
A left-arm spinner with a great record for NSW, he played as the second spinner in the recent Test series in Sri Lanka.
Category C: NEARLY MEN
The dominant players in the Sheffield Shield, and Mitchell Marsh.
18. Daniel Worrall (SA, 81)
He made his ODI debut recently after taking 44 Sheffield Shield wickets last season. Yet I will always remember his as the dude who drew a penis on the wicket.
19. Cameron Bancroft (WA, 13)
This time last year, just missed Test selection in a head-to-head battle with Joe Burns. Given the form and injury concerns amongst the batsmen, is still in the mix.
20. Scott Boland (Vic, 62)
21. Chris Tremain (Vic, 75)
Key new ball bowlers when Victoria won the Sheffield Shield last season, then both played the recent ODIs in South Africa.
22. Glenn Maxwell (Vic, 26)
Can be a laughing stock with his outrageous shot selection, but has played some great innings at state level, and for Australia in limited overs. Has the talent to be a legitimate top six Test batsmen. Off-spin bowling is handy.
23. Michael Klinger (WA, 16)
He’s about 75 years old and will never get picked for Australia, but on review of performances across all three versions of the game in recent seasons, there aren’t many better all-round batsmen in the country.
24. Peter Handscomb (Vic, 21)
Really good batsmen at Sheffield Shield level and also a wicketkeeper, but doesn’t do it often enough to push for a Test spot.
25. Matthew Wade (Vic, 20)
Wicketkeeping was found out at Test level first time picked, but if he can improve behind the stumps then his batting is still way above average.
26. George Bailey (Tas, 22)
27. Ed Cowan (NSW, 17)
These batsmen are both 34 with inconsistent results for Australia, but are still amongst the most reliable at state level.
28. Ashton Agar (WA, 55)
I’m on the Agar bandwagon. Big time. His bowling will never be world-class but he still just took 10 wickets in a match. He’s now also batting in the top six for WA – the game before he scored a century.
29. James Faulkner (Tas, 14)
It appears injury may have ended his Test chances, although he remains one of the most dynamic limited overs cricketers in the world.
30. Mitchell Marsh (WA, 11)
If you listen to the Channel 9
Category D: COULD BREAKTHROUGH
These guys are probably one hot streak of form or solid consistent season away from international consideration.
31. Jason Behrendorff (WA, 34)
Left-arm quick who was domestic player of the year two seasons ago, outstanding in the BBL last season, and then got injured. Early season form is promising.
32. Jake Lehmann (SA)
Is the highest ranked new entry to the list. Early days, but his FC average is 50. His dad being the national coach can’t hurt his chances marsh.
33. Nic Maddinson (NSW, 41)
34. Kurtis Patterson (NSW, 58)
The next generation of NSW star batsmen. Both have made centuries to start the Sheffield Shield season.
35. Moises Henriques (NSW, 48)
Could be the main beneficiary of Mitch Marsh’s unfulfilled game-changing potential combined with the current Australian team obsession of an all-rounder providing balance. Batting has improved. Bowling is becoming less used.
36. Ben Dunk (Tas, 51)
He was the leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season. Previously a leader run scorer in BBL.
37. Jon Holland (Vic)
Called up as the third choice spinner I Sri Lanka, which was interesting as he’d been behind Fawad Ahmed for Victoria and used very sparingly. But has done well with limited opportunities and was man of the match in the last Sheffield Shield game.
38. Travis Dean (Vic, 56)
The only player to make two centuries on Sheffield Shield debut, he then scored a third in the Sheffield Shield final.
39. Kane Richardson (SA, 46)
His first-class record is a bit disappointing, but has an X-factor, and is highly regarded in international Twenty 20 leagues.
40. Hilton Cartwright (WA, 82)
The rapid rise of Cartwright raises the question as to whether Mitch Marsh is even the best all-rounder in his state.
Category E: RELIABLE SHIELD PLAYERS
Will all get the job done. Reliably.
41. Travis Copeland (NSW)
42. Doug Bollinger (NSW, 23)
Both too old to be seriously considered, but I feel both would go okay with the new ball at Test level in a crisis.43. Andrew Fekete (Tas, 19)
Just over one year ago, was a shock inclusion in the national squad to tour Bangladesh. Followed that up with a decent summer but is currently struggling with injury.
44. Cameron White (Vic, 53)
Hardly gets a game for Victoria these days, but a century last week batting down at #7 is a reminder of his class.
45. Luke Feldman (Qld)
46. Peter George (Qld, 40)
These two comprise the possibly underrated new ball combination for Queensland. Most amazing stat: Feldman became a fast bowler after growing 35cms in three months. How is that possible? Second most amazing stat: George played one test match and nobody remembers it!
47. Ryan Carters (NSW, 42)
A dependable batsman anywhere in the order, who also plays wicketkeeper then Nevill is on Australian duty. He has also raised thousands of dollars for charity to build educational facilities in India and Nepal.
48. Chris Hartley (Qld, 45)
Wicketkeeper for Queensland so long he was once backup to Adam Gilchrist.
49. Sam Whiteman (WA, 27)
The Australia ‘A’ wicketkeeper for the last two years, he hasn’t quite raised his batting to challenge for a Test spot.
50. Marcus Stoinis (Vic, 44)
He bats #3 for Victoria and bowls handy medium pace, but needs to score more runs for higher honours. Or take more wickets to be the next Mitch Marsh.
51. Dan Christian (Vic, 50)
The other Victorian all-rounder, probably pigeonholed as a limited overs player with national selectors.
52. Alex Doolan (Tas, 38)
His form seems to have fallen away a bit since his brief Test call-up three seasons ago.
Category F: THE ENIGMAS
Seem better than The Rest, but missing a piece of the puzzle.
53. Marcus Labuschagne (Qld, 77)
54. Sam Heazlett (Qld, 69)
Two good young Queensland batsmen you’ve never heard of that need to back it up in their second full season.
55. Marcus Harris (Vic, 72)
Seemed like a journeyman opener when at WA, but the move to Melbourne has suited him – has two 50s and one century to start the season and lead the run scorers.
56. Aaron Finch (Vic, 57)
The biggest discord between first-class and limited overs ability I’ve seen. I think he needs to move states, just to get regular Sheffield Shield games.
The biggest discord between first-class and limited overs ability I’ve seen. I think he needs to move states, just to get regular Sheffield Shield games.
57. Jake Doran (Tas, 76)
Played last season as a middle-order batsman, now has replaced Tim Paine as wicketkeeper, and is still a teenager.
Played last season as a middle-order batsman, now has replaced Tim Paine as wicketkeeper, and is still a teenager.
58. Mitchell Swepson (Qld, 83)
59. Adam Zampa (SA, 67)
60. Cameron Boyce (Tas, 65)
Three leg-spinners. Swepson has the best FC stats but the least experience. The other two have played for Australia in limited over formats but don’t look like potential Test players.
Category G: THE REST
61. Tom Cooper (SA, 54)
Netherlands best batsman.
Netherlands best batsman.
62. Nathan Rimmington (WA)
Experienced quick bowler for WA.
Experienced quick bowler for WA.
63. Jack Wildermuth (Qld, 78)
Handy all-rounder from Queensland with a cool last name that bowls leggies.
Handy all-rounder from Queensland with a cool last name that bowls leggies.
64. Ben Webster (Tas)
Handy all-rounder for Tasmania with a boring last name that bowls offies.
Handy all-rounder for Tasmania with a boring last name that bowls offies.
65. Charlie Hemphrey (Qld)
The unusual case of a discarded player from the 18-team England county system moving to Australia and breaking into the six-team Sheffield Shield competition. He has two centuries opening the batting for his adopted state.
The unusual case of a discarded player from the 18-team England county system moving to Australia and breaking into the six-team Sheffield Shield competition. He has two centuries opening the batting for his adopted state.
66. Jake Weatherald (SA)
67. Kelvin Smith (SA, 88)
South Australia’s young opening batting partnership.
68. David Moody (WA)
Fast bowler viewed as a next big thing based on call-ups to Cricket Australia XI’s and the like. He’s the nephew of one of my personal favourites Tom Moody.
Fast bowler viewed as a next big thing based on call-ups to Cricket Australia XI’s and the like. He’s the nephew of one of my personal favourites Tom Moody.
69. Daniel Hughes (NSW)
He made history in the recent Matador BBQ Cup by become the first cricketer to be subbed off due to concussion.
He made history in the recent Matador BBQ Cup by become the first cricketer to be subbed off due to concussion.
70. Will Somerville (NSW)
Another in the long production line of quality spinners from NSW. In the last Shield game, took on the very rare nightwatchman that opens the batting.
Another in the long production line of quality spinners from NSW. In the last Shield game, took on the very rare nightwatchman that opens the batting.
71. Jordan Silk (Tas)
The next big thing a few seasons ago, but hasn’t really kicked on. Also a great fielder.
The next big thing a few seasons ago, but hasn’t really kicked on. Also a great fielder.
72. Michael Neser (Qld)
Fast bowler and decent hitter, he’s more proven in the limited overs formats.
Fast bowler and decent hitter, he’s more proven in the limited overs formats.
73. Ryan Duffield (WA)
74. Simon Milenko (Tas)
75. Cameron Stevenson (Tas)
A few more fast bowlers.
76. Peter Forrest (Qld)
Veteran batsman who will be aiming to steady Queensland’s inexperienced batting lineup.
Veteran batsman who will be aiming to steady Queensland’s inexperienced batting lineup.
77. Wayne Bosisto (WA, 79)
78. Ashton Turner (WA, 84)
Both are batsmen (and handy bowlers) who have come through the elite junior pathways. To date, both have struggled to break into the state team.
79. Alex Carey (SA)
The new first-choice wicketkeeper for SA.
The new first-choice wicketkeeper for SA.
80. Jonathan Wells (WA)
An experienced opener, originally from Tasmania, who will get chances if the Marsh brothers keep making Australian teams.
An experienced opener, originally from Tasmania, who will get chances if the Marsh brothers keep making Australian teams.
81. Dom Michael (Tas, 90)
Batsman and part-time bowler originally from Queensland. He has performed better in one-day cricket so far.
Batsman and part-time bowler originally from Queensland. He has performed better in one-day cricket so far.
82. Jason Floros (Qld, 89)
Useful batsmen and off-spinner that seems more suited to one-day and BBL.
Useful batsmen and off-spinner that seems more suited to one-day and BBL.
83. Ryan Gibson (NSW)
Batsman that made his debut for NSW last week.
Batsman that made his debut for NSW last week.
84. Caleb Jewell (Tas)
19-year-old opener with limited opportunities so far.
19-year-old opener with limited opportunities so far.
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