Australia's top 50 cricketers: The final 10

After much debate in the BigPond Sport offices, we've decided on the best 10 cricketers in the country right now.

This top 50 list takes into account many factors – ability, history, potential, form, and a player's contribution to Test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket.

In the end, our choice as the number one cricketer in the country was unanimous. With one or two exceptions there was broad agreement about the rest of the top 10, although it should still stir plenty of debate.

Before you read on, check out the rest of our top 50 list – grouped by players ranked 50-41, 40-31, 30-21 and 20-11.

Now without further ado...

The top 10 cricketers in Australia

10. Patrick Cummins (promising NSW teen fast bowling sensation)

9. James Pattinson (Victoria paceman with two  five-wicket hauls in as many Tests)

8. Brad Haddin (aggressive NSW wicketkeeper-batsman)

7. Simon Katich (veteran NSW batsman and former Test opener)

6. Shaun Marsh (top-order Western Australia batsman, now a Test and ODI regular)

5. Ryan Harris (late-blooming, injury-prone Queensland fast bowler who has excelled since his Test call-up in 2010)

4. Mike Hussey (champion Western Australia batsman)

3. Ricky Ponting (four-time Allan Border Medal winner, former Test captain and Australia's best batsman since Bradman)

2. Michael Clarke (two-time Allan Border Medal winner, NSW batsman and Australian Test captain)

1. Shane Watson (Australia's most reliable batsman in recent seasons, a more than handy swing bowler and Allan Border Medal winner for the past two years)

For the record, the list consisted of 17 New South Wales-contracted players, 10 Victorians, seven players from each of Tasmania and Western Australia, six South Australians and three Queensland players. (And before you start sprouting claims of NSW bias, half the votes came from Victorians.)

Twenty-one of the top 50 are batsmen, 17 are bowlers, nine are all-rounders and three are wicket-keepers.

Based on our list, Australia's ideal lineup (featuring six batsmen, a wicketkeeper, three fast bowlers and a spinner) is: Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin, James Pattinson, Patrick Cummins, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon.

What the top 50 will look like at the end of the summer is another question...

Leave a comment