Selecting the best Australian Test XI this century

Who makes the best Australian Test side this century?

Liam Pickering and Bryce McGain have had a crack at putting the XI together, and after naming their top 7 last week, they've now rounded out the side with four bowlers each.

The criteria is simply those who have played in the Aussie Test side since the year 2000.

Pickers and Bryce agreed on most spots in the batting order until 5 and 6, and that was largely similar to the bowling attack with three locks and one disagreement in their pace cartel.

See the full XI as selected on SEN’s Sportsday below:

Best Aussie Test XI

(Since 2000)

1 - Matthew Hayden

Pickering: “103 matches, 8625 runs at 50.7 with 30 100s and 29 50s, and that’s a great conversion.

“He picks himself for me.”

McGain: “Tick from me. We’re unanimous with that selection.”

2 - David Warner

Pickering: “I thought about Justin Langer but I went with Warner.

“112 matches, 8786 runs at 44.6 with 26 100s and 37 50s, and a triple century.

“I know it won’t be that popular because a lot would have gone he hung on too long and all that stuff, but he did win us matches and his numbers were great.”

McGain: “I’ve gone with Warner too.”

3 - Ricky Ponting

Pickering: “Ponting picks himself at 3.

“168 matches, 13,378 runs at 51.9 with 41 100s and 62 50s.”

McGain: “Without a doubt. He is my captain.”

4 - Steve Smith

Pickering: “120 matches and counting. 10,496 runs at 55.8 with 36 100s and 43 50s.

“He is in my team at 4. He’ll make the most runs in history.”

McGain: “He could end up being the best of all time.”

5 - Michael Clarke or Mike Hussey

Pickering: “115 matches, 8643 runs at 49.1 with 28 100s and 27 50s.

“Clarke is my captain, and Punter (Ponting) vice-captain.”

McGain: “He’s your captain? That didn’t work well in the end.”

Pickering: “I know, I just think he was tactically a brilliant captain.”

McGain: “I’ve got Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey.”

6 - Mike Hussey or Shane Watson

Pickering: “79 matches, 6235 runs at 51.5 with 19 100s and 29 50s.

“I’m taking Hussey at 6.”

McGain: “I’m going with Shane Watson at 6.

“I know he had to open the batting but why would you shoehorn one of our best all-rounders who could have been all-time? Why?

“For me it’s Watson.”

NOTE: Steve Waugh was not considered because he made the bulk of his 10,927 Test runs prior to 2000.

7 - Adam Gilchrist (wk)

Pickering: “Picks himself with 96 matches, 5570 runs at 47.6 with 17 100s and 26 50s.

“If he played like a few other blokes played his average would have been in the early 50s.”

McGain: “No doubt. He was out there many times to set up the declaration.”

8 - Shane Warne

Pickering: “Picks himself, he was also handy with the bat. He took 708 wickets, that'll do me, he's in the team.”

McGain: “I just wanted to know how many of the wickets were taken from 2000 to 2007, and it was truckloads.

“Nathan Lyon has gone well since, but he doesn't take Warnie out of the team. Warne's record from 2000 is phenomenal.”

9 - Pat Cummins

Pickering: “71 matches, 1500 runs and 309 wickets at average of 22.10, that is extraordinary.

“I've got him below Warne because I think Warne is a better batsman.”

McGain: “I'd probably have Cummins at eight and Warne at nine, but I can have him here too.”

8 - Mitchell Starc

Pickering: “I've got Mitchell Starc, I just think you have to pick him. 101 games, and he averages 20 with the bat, to go with 412 wickets.

“That will do me every day of the week.”

McGain: “I want a left-armer in here, and I put him and Mitch Johnson head-to-head.

“If we were picking just Ashes players, it's probably Johnson after that series. But, it's Starc with the overall record.”

11 - Glenn McGrath

Pickering: “563 wickets at 21.64, that tells you how good he was.”

McGain: “Yep. He has to be here.”