Biographer names Bradman's Ashes dream teams

The late Don Bradman chose six members of Australia's 1948 "Invincibles" in his Ashes dream team for a new book which is set to be launched by his biographer, shunning Steve Waugh's all-conquering side of recent years.

Bradman biographer Roland Perry's new book "Bradman's Best Ashes Teams" is to be launched in Australia on Monday and the dream teams were listed in an extract in Sunday's Sun-Herald newspaper.

The Australian XI includes Bradman, Arthur Morris, Neil Harvey, Keith Miller, Don Tallon and Ray Lindwall from the 1948 team which beat England 4-0.

England's team features Jack Hobbs and Len Hutton as the openers, middle-order batsmen Wally Hammond and WG Grace and wicketkeeper Godfrey Evans. All-rounder Ian Botham is the 12th man.

The dream teams were compiled in 1998 and confirmed in 2000, but Perry suggests Adam Gilchrist may have replaced Tallon as Australia's wicketkeeper "had Bradman lived to the middle of 2002".

Bradman, considered the game's premier batsman, died aged 92 in February 2001.

Steve Waugh, the third highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket who also led Australia to a world record 16 consecutive Test victories, is missing from Bradman's dream team.

Shane Warne, voted one of Wisden's five cricketers of the 20th century, also lost out to spinners Clarrie Grimmett and Bill O'Reilly.

Teams:

Australia:
Bill Ponsford, Arthur Morris, Don Bradman, Neil Harvey, Charlie Macartney, Keith Miller, Don Tallon, Ray Lindwall, Dennis Lillee, Bill O'Reilly, Clarrie Grimmett, Richie Benaud (12th man).

England:
Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton, Denis Compton, Peter May, Wally Hammond, WG Grace, Godfrey Evans, Fred Trueman, Alec Bedser, SF Barnes, Hedley Verity, Ian Botham (12th man).

Mail Cricket Editor