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| GLENN McGRATH |
RICKY PONTING
l Born: December 19, 1974. Right-hand batsman. Brilliant batsman and fielder who took over the one-day side from Steve Waugh and is now being groomed for the Test captaincy.
ODI debut: Vs South Africa, Wellington; Feb. 1995; 157 matches; 5,580 runs; Avg. 41.33; 3 wkts at 34.66; 64 Tests.
F Ponting made his first-class debut at 17 and scored 96 in his first Test against Sri Lanka three years later. Started batting at number six but has since moved up to three.
MICHAEL BEVAN
l Born: May 8, 1970. Left-hand batsman, left-arm unorthodox spin bowler. Generally regarded as the world’s best one-day batsman, a left-hander of lightning speed between the wickets with an uncanny ability to find gaps in the field.
ODI debut: Vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah; Apr. 1994; 196 matches; 6,028 runs; Avg. 54.80; 36 wkts at 45.97; 18 Tests.
F One of the most effective one-dayer in history, Bevan has become a limited overs specialist after he was dropped from the Test team five years ago. His one-day average is the highest by any player who has played a minimum of 20 matches. His greatest moment come in 1996 when he single-handedly took his team to a last-ball victory over West Indies in Sydney. Injured his groin playing against England on January 25 and could miss the first two games of the World Cup.
ANDY BICHEL
l Born: August 27, 1970. Right-arm fast-medium bowler. Tough, determined character whose stock ball is the out-swinger.
ODI debut: Vs West Indies, Brisbane, Jan. 1997; 38 matches; 230 runs; Avg. 15.33, 44 wkts at 33.59; 11 Tests.
F A late developer, Bichel made his Test and ODI debuts at 26 but has been restricted because of the depth in Australian fast bowling ranks. He is also a handy lower-order batsman with a first-class century to his credit.
ADAM GILCHRIST
l Born: November 14, 1971. Left-hand batsman, wicketkeeper. An explosive player who opens the batting with such effect that his Test captain Steve Waugh believes he could be the first player to score a double century in one-day Internationals.
ODI debut: Vs South Africa, Faridabad, October 1996; 152 matches; 4,817 runs; Avg 34.16; 212 catches; 37 stumpings; 39 Tests.
F The regular Australian Test and one-day vice-captain, Gilchrist has also captained Australia in both forms of the game. A free-scoring batsman who goes in at seven in Tests and opens in one-dayers, Gilchrist boasts the second highest score by an Australian in an ODI (154), the second-fastest century by an Australian in Test history and the second fastest double century by any player in the Test arena. He also currently shares the world record for the most number of dismissals (six) in a one-dayers, a feat he has achieved twice.
JASON GILLESPIE
l Born: April 19, 1975. Right-arm fast bowler. An elastic, athletic fast bowler who generates genuine pace from a modest run-up.
ODI debut: Vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah, August 1996; 46 matches; 160 runs; Avg. 10.00; 71 wkts at 25.80; 39 Tests.
F Career has been repeatedly stalled by injuries, most spectacularly when he collided with Steve Waugh in 1999 and broke his leg, missing the World Cup later that year. Took career-best figures of 5/22 against Pakistan in Nairobi last year.
IAN HARVEY
l Born: April 10, 1972. Right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler. Reliable allrounder called into the squad at the last hour when Shane Watson pulled out with injury.
ODI debut: Vs South Africa, Sydney, December, 1997; 43 matches; 429 runs; Avg 17.87; 47 wkts at 34.59.
A deceptive medium-pace bowler with an uncanny knack of getting vital wickets.
MATTHEW HAYDEN
l Born: October 29, 1971. Left-hand opening batsman. Currently the world’s leading batsman who can dominate any attack from the opening ball with his blend of strength, aggression and confidence.
ODI debut: Vs England, Manchester, May 1993; 54 matches; 1,958 runs; Avg 45.53; 38 Tests.
F Hayden has established himself as one of the best opening batsman in the world. He was dropped in 1994 and again in 1997 but has made it third time lucky, cementing his place in both the Test and one-day sides.
BRAD HOGG
l Born: February 2, 1971. Left-arm unorthodox spin bowler, left-hand batsman. After starting off a specialist batsman, Hogg has developed into an aggressive wrist-spinner.
ODI debut: Vs Zimbabwe, Colombo, August 1996; 15 matches; 127 runs; Avg 31.75; 15 wkts at 37.26; 1 Test.
F Played seven ODIs in late 1996 but was not recalled to the side for six years and was a surprise choice for the World Cup squad. He is a magnificent fielder either side of the wicket.
BRETT LEE
l Born: November 8, 1976. Right-arm fast bowler. Consistently the world’s fastest bowler and now a match-winner in one-day cricket as he proved in the recent triangular series one-day finals against England.
ODI debut: Vs Pakistan, Brisbane, January 2000; 55 matches; 272 runs; Avg. 16.00; 100 wkts at 22.48; 27 Tests.
F Brett Lee has been carefully groomed as Australia’s latest lethal weapon. He captured five wickets in an innings on his Test debut during the 1999-2000 season.
DARREN LEHMANN
l Born: February 5, 1970. Left-hand batsman, left-arm slow orthodox spinner. Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer in domestic first-class cricket, partly because he has been unable to force his way into the Test side.
ODI debut: Vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah, August 1996; 85 matches; 2,285 runs; Avg 37.45; 27 wkts at 31.40; 8 Tests.
F A left-hander who bats in the middle order, Lehmann hit the winning runs in the 1999 World Cup final. He was recalled to the Test team for the Ashes series, prompting Mark Waugh to announce his retirement, and captained Australia in a one-dayer against Sri Lanka in December, celebrating the achievement by scoring a century.
JIMMY MAHER
l Born: February 27, 1974. Left-hand batsman. Opens the batting for his state Queensland but bats down the order for the national team.
ODI debut: Vs New Zealand, Sydney, January 1998; 19 matches; 343 runs; Avg; 31.18.
F Captain of Australia’s domestic champions and interstate player of the year for 2001-02. Made his international debut in 1998 but played just two games. Recalled to the side last year. An excellent slip fielder.
DAMIEN MARTYN
l Born: October 21, 1971. Right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler.
ODI debut: Vs West Indies, Sydney, December 1992; 113 matches; 2,609 runs; Avg 40.13; 12 wkts at 56.91; 33 Tests.
F Martyn made his Test debut and one-day debuts at age 21 but lost his place within 14 months. He got another chance in 1998 and has not looked back since. An attractive, wristy stroke-player, he showed his versatility when he carried his bat through the innings when asked to open in a one-dayer with New Zealand in April 1998.
GLENN MCGRATH
l Born: February 9, 1970. Right-arm fast bowler. Combines pace with remarkable control and a relentlessly competitive approach which have made him one of the best strike bowlers in history.
ODI debut: Vs Sri Lanka, Melbourne, December 1993; 168 matches; 88 runs; Avg 3.82; 256 wkts at 22.85; 91 Tests.
F The spearhead of the bowling attack, McGrath is the most prolific fast bowler Australia has produced. He is not the quickest bowler in the game but his unerring accuracy makes him one of the most dangerous. His best Test figures are 8/38, he has a Test hattrick to his credit.
ANDREW SYMONDS
l Born: June 9, 1975. Right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-pace or off-spinner.
ODI debut: Vs Pakistan, Lahore, November 1998; 54 matches; 762 runs; Avg 23.81; 44 wkts at 32.13.
F Born in England but raised in Australia. Was offered the chance to play for England A but turned it down to try his luck and make the Australian team. A handy dual-pace bowler and dynamic fielder, Symonds is better known as a massive hitter of the ball after hitting a world record 20 sixes, including 16 in one innings, while playing for Gloucestershire in 1995. Yet to play a Test.
SHANE WARNE
l Born: Sept 13, 1969. Right-arm leg-spin bowler, right-hand batsman. One of Wisden’s five greatest players of the 20th century, Warne ranks as the best leg-spinner the game has produced and has been credited with saving the art of spin bowling at a time when pace was taking over.
ODI debut: Vs New Zealand, Wellington, March 1993; 193 matches; 1,016 runs; Avg 13.02; 291 wkts at 25.82; 107 Tests.
F Warne is Australia’s greatest wicket-taker in Tests and one-dayers. Man-of-the-match in Australia’s 1999 World Cup final win, Warne is also a skilled slip fielder and a handy lower-order batsman with a highest Test score of 99. Has also attracted his fair share of controversy, notably when he was fined for accepting money from an Indian bookmaker in 1994. He announced in January he will retire from one-dayers after the World Cup.
