O'Reilly and Warne in India

[Waltzing Woof Biscuit]

I see that The Don didn't include ol' Warney in his best ever test team. Bill O' Reilly got the nod instead. Didn't obviously see O'Reilly, but Warne has got to be stiff. Do you think that Warney's lack of success on the sub-continent has made a difference? I've always felt this to be a great shame, and blo*dy infuriating too. Does a great leggy need to conquer the heartland of spin and clean up the Indians on their own turf? It's great to see Shane bowling well again in England, but I'd probably trade it for him shallacking India in India. Then again, I don't know whether O'Reilly ever bowled there. Could someone clear this up, ie. O'Reilly's test playing record overseas?

 

[Fat Red]

WWB, I don't know the answer to any of that, but the DOn was always going to include O'Reilly, he rated him the greatest bowler he ever faced.

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by Fat Red
WWB, I don't know the answer to any of that, but the DOn was always going to include O'Reilly, he rated him the greatest bowler he ever faced.

It would also have been a decision not based on sentiment. Bradman hated O'Reilly's guts, but always acknowledged him as the best spinner (or best overall bowler) he played with or against.

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by Waltzing Woof Biscuit
I see that The Don didn't include ol' Warney in his best ever test team. Bill O' Reilly got the nod instead. Didn't obviously see O'Reilly, but Warne has got to be stiff. Do you think that Warney's lack of success on the sub-continent has made a difference? I've always felt this to be a great shame, and blo*dy infuriating too. Does a great leggy need to conquer the heartland of spin and clean up the Indians on their own turf? It's great to see Shane bowling well again in England, but I'd probably trade it for him shallacking India in India. Then again, I don't know whether O'Reilly ever bowled there. Could someone clear this up, ie. O'Reilly's test playing record overseas?

I've done some research and found the following with a search on www.baggygreen.com.au :

Bill O'Reilly in all Tests :
27 Tests, 144 wickets @ 22.59, 1.94 RPO (adjusted to six-ball overs)

In Tests at home :
vs South Africa 1931/32 - 2 Tests, 7 wickets @ 24.85
vs England 1932/33 - 5 Tests, 27 wickets @ 26.81
vs England 1936/37 - 5 Tests, 25 wickets @22.20
TOTAL TESTS IN AUSTRALIA - 12 Tests, 59 wickets @ 24.62

In Tests abroad :
vs England 1934 - 5 Tests, 28 wickets @ 24.92
vs South Africa 1935/36 - 5 Tests, 27 wickets @ 17.03
vs England 1938 - 4 Tests, 22 wickets @ 27.72
vs South Africa 1945/46 - 1 Test, 8 wickets @ 4.12
TOTAL TESTS ABROAD - 15 Tests, 85 wickets @ 21.18

 

[Waltzing Woof Biscuit]

Thanks Darky Them's impressive stats. Interesting to see that his Test career spanned 15 years, but that there are 7 years between his second last & his last match. Wonder what the story is there - especially given an 8 wicket haul in his one test in the 1945/46 series.

Presumably O'Reilly had an impressive domestic record too. It'd probably be just as, if not more revealing to see how his regular combatants handled him on a yearly basis in Australia. One thing that today's players must contend with is the extreme exposure they receive on the world stage. Consider the amount of time that opposing teams would spend scrutinizing Warne - the hours of video footage compiled on him, and the huge itinery he's had to contend with over his career. Not that it has ever paid off for the Poms

 

[Darky]

The break can be attributed to WW2 - Australia didn't play any international cricket between 1938 and 1945/46.

O'Reilly played 54 matches for New South Wales and took 325 wickets @ 16.52, over an interrupted (international commitments and war restrictions) career spanning 19 seasons.

One thing that is often forgotten, though, is that until about 20-25 years ago, wides and no balls were not debited to the bowlers' figures as they are now, which flatters past players' averages a little compared to today's mob. At any rate, O'Reilly's record is phenomenal, averaging over five wickets per test and roughly six per first-class match.

 

[Waltzing Woof Biscuit]

Don't mention the war. Must have been half asleep not to make that deduction

 

[Dipper]

It's strange because not only does Bradman pick O'Reilly over Warne he also picks Grimmet-now personally I can't believe that they were both better than Warne (who in Richie Benaud's opinion is the best spin bowler ever).It's interesting to note that one of Bradman's first acts as Australian captain was to drop Grimmet so he can't have rated him that highly.

Call me cynical but Bradman's side smacks of picking bowlers that the Don faced himself but only 1 batsman from his era as if to say that he had to face all these great bowlers but none of his contemporary batsman were as good as more modern day players.
I think his side is a pretty average attempt at getting the best side ever & I don't understand why he had to have a right/left handed opening partnership for example but considering that the Don has had first pick of 12 players here's my team(the 2nd best in the world!) & I reckon we'd smash his (as long as we got Bradman out cheaply-hehe)

Gavaskar
Hobbs
Richards Viv
Pollock
Waugh Steve
Miller
Gilchrist
Hadlee
Warne
Ambrose
Murilitharan

I've got 2 solid openers who can both bat all day,Richards & Pollock could have a competition to see who hits the ball harder (& furthur) (Richards furthur)(Pollock harder) Waugh to tighten things up if there's a collpase,Miller,Gilchrist & Hadlee can all go animal & smash the bowling to all corners of the ground.
Then bowling Ambrose balls short & quick gives em nothing to hit, Hadlee knows how to take wickets, Miller can do the unexpected & could you imagine Warne & Murali bowling in tandem?

What do think?Any one else fancy a go picking a world's best side not including any of Bradman's picks.