I ranked all of them in 2015-16 and 2016-17, then kept it to a more sensible 20 (plus 10 honourable mentions) in 2017-18. For season 2018-19, I've decided to stick with thirty players again.
This is a ranking favouring "red ball" cricket - Test matches and Sheffield Shield. I may (or may not) do a Big Bash League listing later in the summer.
Eligibility is all cricketers that have played Sheffield Shield through the opening four rounds, or have been unavailable for Sheffield Shield in that period due to Australia T20 committments.
That means pretty much everyone was considered, except these three guys, for some reason:
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| Put your OLED's out. |
30 (tied). Ashton Agar (WA, Last Year Rank: honourable mention)
30 (tied). Jon Holland (Vic, Last Year Rank: n/a)
So I'm expanding to 31 players, immediately breaking my own rules. This column is like a team under extreme pressure in an away series in South Africa...
(Okay, I'll stop now.)
It's hard to get a read on Agar, because from not playing when part of the Test squad to play Pakistan in the UAE, to not playing when part of the limited over squads at home against South Africa and India, he's not playing much cricket.
Holland on the other hand seems firmly entrenched as Australia's second spinner, at least until God appoints a new Pope.
29. Brendan Doggett (Qld, n/a)
28. Michael Neser (Qld, n/a)
27. Marnus Labuschagne (Qld, n/a)
Queensland won the Sheffield Shield, so a chunk of their team got an all-expenses paid holiday to the UAE. Then because of injury, Labuschagne ended up playing two Tests, and he will always be remembered for this embarrassing runout. I'd call it the worst ever, except 24 hours later, Pakistan somehow topped it, which is the most Pakistan thing ever.
26. Mitchell Marsh (WA, honourable mention)
The Australian Test vice-captain, everyone!
25. Alex Carey (SA, n/a)
The Australia ODI and T20 vice-captain, everyone!
But seriously, Carey is the best limited overs 'keeper-batsmen in the country, and it's not even close.
24. Joe Mennie (SA, 18)
Fair to say Joe Mennie's test career was poorly managed - he was picked because of another bowlers weakness (as a batsmen), witness to all out for 85, then rested from the next Sheffield Shield round even though he was about to be dropped anyway (as a bowler, after a batting collapse). But he's still taking wickets.
23. Chris Lynn (n/a, honourable mention)
I don't know how to rate Chris Lynn. He has spent time without a Sheffield Shield contract, electing to be available for various T20 tournaments across the world instead, and he might not be fit enough for first-class cricket anyway. But his average of 43.5 probably means he's one of the best batsmen in the country in all formats.
22. Nathan Coulter-Nile (WA, honourable mention)
21. Jason Behrendorff (WA, honourable mention)
Two super talented quicks, but like Lynn, I'm not either will be fit enough to play first-class cricket again.
Cricket has become confusing.
20. Peter Handscomb (Vic, 10)
I predicted his 'interesting' back-foot technique might get found out in last years rankings, and so it came to pass. Yet he's still around the Test squad.
19. Peter Siddle (Vic, 17)
A great trier, but it was kind of weird seeing Victoria's third best seamer picked as Australia's second fast bowler in the recent Pakistan series.
18. Travis Head (SA, 19)
I'm still backing him to succeed at Test level - I just think he's got something about him that can't be measured in averages.
17. Tim Paine (Tas, n/a)
Paine actually broke my rankings last year - I could legitimately not work out how to rank all the cricketers anymore, when a guy who had barely played state cricket for two years was suddenly the Australian test wicketkeeper.
And now he's the captain!
Did you know Tim Paine has scored one career first-class century, and it wasn't in a match where he kept wicket?
Did you know that the Australian coach has scored a first-class century more recently than the Australian captain? By three years, 2009 to 2006!
What is going on?
16. Matthew Wade (Tas, n/a)
Hot take - Wade is only a marginally worse 'keeper than Paine, and so obviously a much, much better batsmen.
He should probably be captaining Australia.
15. Shaun Marsh (WA, 16)
Look, I am also sick of Shaun Marsh being in the Australian test team. But the harsh reality is, there is nobody else better. He's scored more runs in two Shield games this season, than all but four batsmen have scored in four.
14. Marcus Harris (Vic, n/a)
His 1st Test selection has been backed by the fact that he is leading run scorer in State cricket over the last two years. Let's hope the numbers don't lie.
13. Chadd Sayers (SA, 8)
12. Jackson Bird (Tas, 12)
My favourite cricketers are medium-fast seamers, because in my dreams, with a bit of hard work I could've risen from 6th grade district cricket to bowling out elite batsmen with nothing but my wits and natural seam variation.
11. Aaron Finch (Vic, n/a)
I can't believe this is happening. Last year, Finch was unranked, and the two years before, he was outside the top fifty. But in these uncertain times, an experienced player who backs himself and knows his limits is a good bet. Even if his first-class batting record sucks.
10. Matt Renshaw (Qld, 13)
A recap: two years ago Renshaw was picked on a hunch about his technique and temperment. And he delivered!
Then he was dropped anyway, because he hadn't scored runs at state level.
Since then he topped the Shield runs tally in 2017-18, and scored three centuries in six county cricket matches for Somerset, but still can't get a game.
9. Joe Burns (Qld, 14)
Seems finished as a Test player, and yet, Burns' test average is higher than the first-class averages of most batsmen being picked ahead of him.
8. Scott Boland (Vic, n/a)
7. Chris Tremain (Vic, n/a)
I think both are legit, first and third on last seasons wicket tally. Tremain will probably carry the drinks in the 1st Test.
6. Glenn Maxwell (Vic, 6)
This sums it up nicely, but if you don't want to click the link:
3. Mitchell Starc (NSW, 2)
2. Pat Cummins (NSW, 7)
I think Cummins just edges it as a Test bowler, as he seems more threatening in unfavourable conditions. Also, Starc is not even the best player in his household.
1. Nathan Lyon (NSW, 4)
Well, he's not called the GOAT because he enjoys climbing mountains and eating tin cans...
(Okay, I'll stop now.)
It's hard to get a read on Agar, because from not playing when part of the Test squad to play Pakistan in the UAE, to not playing when part of the limited over squads at home against South Africa and India, he's not playing much cricket.
Holland on the other hand seems firmly entrenched as Australia's second spinner, at least until God appoints a new Pope.
29. Brendan Doggett (Qld, n/a)
28. Michael Neser (Qld, n/a)
27. Marnus Labuschagne (Qld, n/a)
Queensland won the Sheffield Shield, so a chunk of their team got an all-expenses paid holiday to the UAE. Then because of injury, Labuschagne ended up playing two Tests, and he will always be remembered for this embarrassing runout. I'd call it the worst ever, except 24 hours later, Pakistan somehow topped it, which is the most Pakistan thing ever.
26. Mitchell Marsh (WA, honourable mention)
The Australian Test vice-captain, everyone!
25. Alex Carey (SA, n/a)
The Australia ODI and T20 vice-captain, everyone!
But seriously, Carey is the best limited overs 'keeper-batsmen in the country, and it's not even close.
24. Joe Mennie (SA, 18)
Fair to say Joe Mennie's test career was poorly managed - he was picked because of another bowlers weakness (as a batsmen), witness to all out for 85, then rested from the next Sheffield Shield round even though he was about to be dropped anyway (as a bowler, after a batting collapse). But he's still taking wickets.
23. Chris Lynn (n/a, honourable mention)
I don't know how to rate Chris Lynn. He has spent time without a Sheffield Shield contract, electing to be available for various T20 tournaments across the world instead, and he might not be fit enough for first-class cricket anyway. But his average of 43.5 probably means he's one of the best batsmen in the country in all formats.
22. Nathan Coulter-Nile (WA, honourable mention)
21. Jason Behrendorff (WA, honourable mention)
Two super talented quicks, but like Lynn, I'm not either will be fit enough to play first-class cricket again.
Cricket has become confusing.
20. Peter Handscomb (Vic, 10)
I predicted his 'interesting' back-foot technique might get found out in last years rankings, and so it came to pass. Yet he's still around the Test squad.
19. Peter Siddle (Vic, 17)
A great trier, but it was kind of weird seeing Victoria's third best seamer picked as Australia's second fast bowler in the recent Pakistan series.
18. Travis Head (SA, 19)
I'm still backing him to succeed at Test level - I just think he's got something about him that can't be measured in averages.
17. Tim Paine (Tas, n/a)
Paine actually broke my rankings last year - I could legitimately not work out how to rank all the cricketers anymore, when a guy who had barely played state cricket for two years was suddenly the Australian test wicketkeeper.
And now he's the captain!
Did you know Tim Paine has scored one career first-class century, and it wasn't in a match where he kept wicket?
Did you know that the Australian coach has scored a first-class century more recently than the Australian captain? By three years, 2009 to 2006!
What is going on?
16. Matthew Wade (Tas, n/a)
Hot take - Wade is only a marginally worse 'keeper than Paine, and so obviously a much, much better batsmen.
He should probably be captaining Australia.
15. Shaun Marsh (WA, 16)
Look, I am also sick of Shaun Marsh being in the Australian test team. But the harsh reality is, there is nobody else better. He's scored more runs in two Shield games this season, than all but four batsmen have scored in four.
14. Marcus Harris (Vic, n/a)
His 1st Test selection has been backed by the fact that he is leading run scorer in State cricket over the last two years. Let's hope the numbers don't lie.
13. Chadd Sayers (SA, 8)
12. Jackson Bird (Tas, 12)
My favourite cricketers are medium-fast seamers, because in my dreams, with a bit of hard work I could've risen from 6th grade district cricket to bowling out elite batsmen with nothing but my wits and natural seam variation.
11. Aaron Finch (Vic, n/a)
I can't believe this is happening. Last year, Finch was unranked, and the two years before, he was outside the top fifty. But in these uncertain times, an experienced player who backs himself and knows his limits is a good bet. Even if his first-class batting record sucks.
10. Matt Renshaw (Qld, 13)
A recap: two years ago Renshaw was picked on a hunch about his technique and temperment. And he delivered!
Then he was dropped anyway, because he hadn't scored runs at state level.
Since then he topped the Shield runs tally in 2017-18, and scored three centuries in six county cricket matches for Somerset, but still can't get a game.
9. Joe Burns (Qld, 14)
Seems finished as a Test player, and yet, Burns' test average is higher than the first-class averages of most batsmen being picked ahead of him.
8. Scott Boland (Vic, n/a)
7. Chris Tremain (Vic, n/a)
I think both are legit, first and third on last seasons wicket tally. Tremain will probably carry the drinks in the 1st Test.
6. Glenn Maxwell (Vic, 6)
This sums it up nicely, but if you don't want to click the link:
- Maxwell scored a brilliant Test hundred in super tough conditions in India.
- Then he was dropped for the home Test Ashes series, where everyone made a gajillion runs, and was asked to score consistent Shield runs in harder conditions. He did.
- Cricket Australia blocked his opportunities to play county cricket (and make money), so he could play for Australia 'A' against India 'A' in India.
- Cricket Australia didn't pick him for the 'A' tour, because they "know what he can do".
- These last two things suggest resting for an upcoming Test series
- Maxwell was not picked in the Test squad. A reason given was lack of hundreds (the same number as Head, Finch; more than Labuschagne).
I don't even know if Maxwell is that good, but I feel he's entered wronged folk hero territory now, and ranking him any lower would be a massive disservice.
5. Josh Hazelwood (NSW, 5)
I stand by my assessment last year: good, but also the least interesting bowler in Australia.
4. Usman Khawaja (Qld, 9)
Khawaja has always scored in Australia, but finally broke through as a reliable Test batsmen overseas, with two brilliant innings away against Pakistan in Dubai. Unfortunately he got injured in the next Test, and comes into the 1st Test against India having not played since.3. Mitchell Starc (NSW, 2)
2. Pat Cummins (NSW, 7)
I think Cummins just edges it as a Test bowler, as he seems more threatening in unfavourable conditions. Also, Starc is not even the best player in his household.
1. Nathan Lyon (NSW, 4)
Well, he's not called the GOAT because he enjoys climbing mountains and eating tin cans...
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