Australia AT BIG MAC XI

No, not another Cozzie tribute thread.


1. Rick McCosker
2. Percy McDonnell *
3. Charlie Macartney
4. Stan McCabe
5. Ken Mackay
6. Colin McDonald +
7. Colin McCool
8. Ted McDonald
9. Craig McDermott
10. Graham McKenzie
11. Glenn McGrath
12. Martin McCague

Ernie McCormick can be on stand-by.

Possible bowling order: McDonald, McGrath, Garth, McDermott (@ second change!), McCool (LBG), Macartney (SLA), McCabe (RM - v useful off cutters), Mackay (RM)

I couldn't find a likely candidate for regular keeper, so a normal opener had to do stand-in duties.

What I like about the team above is not only its decent balance of quality (keeper apart), but that it charts almost the whole history of Aussie national cricket in 11 names. Though I couldn't find a place for (A.) McDonald, (C.) McKay, McGain (or indeed, MacGill). The Macs since Pidge don't really match up to the tradition. Or haven't so far.

CONCLUSION: There are a lot of "Macs", big and small, in the history of Oz cricket. 'The Governor General' being one of the smallest, but at the same time one of the biggest of them all.


Any better suggestions? ~ Woody? Marty? Lardy? JGK? Skully?

Ian McLachlan is the 12th man

Peter McConnell and Albert Mackley are the umps

Allan McGilvray would be the commentator

I reckon Stuart MacGill (208 Test wkts at 29) would definitely be picked in front of McCool (36 wkts at 27).

Banjo John Maclean would probably slip in as keeper.

McCosker and McDonald to open with McCabe as skipper.

Marty McCague would not get near ANY Australian side of any sort.

skully wrote:

Marty McCague would not get near ANY Australian side of any sort.

Not true. He stood on the same field as them once. Think it was a Make-a-Wish charity thing or something. Brave little fella.

Well, apparently McCague was going to smash Boonie's cans record until the management got involved, so he went up 10 notes in my estimation. Not that it was difficult, because he was -15 notes at the time.

I've always had a theory that if you want to play tests for Australia as a fast bowler, you improve your chances greatly if you are a Mc___, a ______son or a _____man.

McGrath, McKenzie, McDermott, McDonald, McCormick, McKay, McIf

Davidson, Thomson (J or A), Pattinson, Johnson (M or L), Lawson, Misson, Nicholson, Wilson, maybe even Watson

Alderman, Rackemann, Freeman

And if you're a spinner it pays to be a -cock.

Sincock, Stuart Macgill...

Good point

JGK wrote:And if you're a spinner it pays to be a -cock.

Sincock, Stuart Macgill...

[snorfle]

No-one's going to mention John McIlwraith?? Peter McIntyre??? Faarrrkkkk me.

Ian McKiff?

Do you recall
Some years ago
Up in the mountains
That were white with snow
Inside a cavern
McDougall, he was plannin' .........................

Brass Monkey wrote:Ian McKiff?

Already meantioned

Oh blimey - I should've picked that for crying out loud! It's not even late here.

Wally has explained Tony Mann's selection.

WideWally wrote:Do you recall
Some years ago
Up in the mountains
That were white with snow
Inside a cavern
McDougall, he was plannin' .........................

Hmmm...Hotpants

Sally Carr's legs - a pleasant memory from my childhood.

WideWally wrote:I've always had a theory that if you want to play tests for Australia as a fast bowler, you improve your chances greatly if you are a Mc___, a ______son or a _____man.

McGrath, McKenzie, McDermott, McDonald, McCormick, McKay, McIf

Davidson, Thomson (J or A), Pattinson, Johnson (M or L), Lawson, Misson, Nicholson, Wilson, maybe even Watson

Alderman, Rackemann, Freeman

Sage observation.

They are building a Bazza McManson as we speak. Will surpass all others in pickability.

skully wrote:I reckon Stuart MacGill (208 Test wkts at 29) would definitely be picked in front of McCool (36 wkts at 27).

Banjo John Maclean would probably slip in as keeper.

McCosker and McDonald to open with McCabe as skipper.

Marty McCague would not get near ANY Australian side of any sort.

Re Glyndwr: I'm not sure accuracy is your watchword there. Plus think of the effect on team spirit ffs. ~ Added to which, with Dilly MacGilly in, the tail would drag as long as a monitor lizard's (Compare Test batting avs: 35+ / 10- )

Maclean might do the job.

But I'd be reluctant also to lose Percy, as opener or skipper. "Greatheart" (note the name) may seem at first sight to have a dismal Test average, under 30. But all his matches were back in the 1880s, when the wickets were below bog standard (it's hard to find that many batting averages above his in those days - Grace himself - @ 32 - at least had the advantage of playing for a further decade).

Here's Martin Williamson @ cricinfo.

Almost certainly the only Greek scholar to captain Australia. Percy "Greatheart" McDonnell was a brilliant attacking batsman whose outstanding footwork and hand-eye co-ordination helped him excel on wet wickets. His best innings probably came in the third Test against England at Sydney in 1881-82. McDonnell made 147, adding 199 with Charles Bannerman, who made 70. The rest of the batsmen mustered only 29 between them. He died in Brisbane in 1896 after a long illness, aged only 35.

An inspiring leader from the front - Big Mac XI would surely look up to him, a stalwart GOM at the helm (and not only because he would be about 100 years old to Pidge).