Greatest Australian Test XI of all time

#2 Bowlers

Dennis Lillee is held in reverence by numerous legendary fast bowlers

If ever there was a cricketing equivalent of the 'Wizard of Oz', it would have to be Shane Warne. The magical leg-spinner relied on his assortment of tricks and unmatched tactical nous to make novices out of accomplished handlers of the turning ball. The second highest wicket-taker in Test history scooped 708 scalps from 145 matches with a whopping 37 five-wicket hauls.

Representing Australia at a time when professionalism was beginning to get ingrained in cricket, Ray Lindwall's robust bowling captivated aficionados of the game across the globe. He generated stifling pace from a smooth run-up and ended up with 228 scalps from 61 matches with 12 five-wicket hauls. A strike-rate of 59.8 compares favourably with the prominent seam bowlers of his era.

Back in the 1970s, the extremely vocal Australian crowd chanting 'Lillee, Lillee' was so thunderous that it sent shivers down the spines of Clive Lloyd's West Indies team. From Sir Richard Hadlee to Imran Khan, plenty of eminent fast bowlers took inspiration from the deeds of Dennis Lillee. The menacing pacer picked 355 wickets from 70 Tests at an impressive average of 23.92.

With 563 scalps from 124 matches at a remarkable average of 21.64, Glenn McGrath is the leading wicket-taker among all fast bowlers in Test history. Possessing immaculate control, the metronome relentlessly examined the technique and temperament of almost every opposition batsman.