Top 10 Australian Test cricketers of all time

#8. Dennis Lillee

Lillee was Australia's leading wicket taker during the time of his retirement

One of the greatest fast-bowlers of all-time, Dennis Lille did not have a very easy time with the Australian team at the start of his career as he had to deal with several back issues during the early 70s. However, Lillee’s fighting spirit brought him back to full fitness and he later became one of Australia’s most important entities during the 1970s and early 80s.

Lillee was an extremely fast bowler and was one of the most feared bowlers during his playing days. He overtook Richie Benaud in 1981 as the highest Australian wicket-taker in Tests before overtaking Lance Gibbs as the highest wicket-taker in Tests. Ironically, he bettered Gibbs’ record against West Indies.

Lillee formed a brilliant bowler/wicket-keeper and fielder partnership with Rodney Marsh with the instance of Marsh catching and Lillee dismissing occurring 95 times in 69 Tests, a record yet to be bettered.

Lillee had a very successful career with 355 wickets in 70 Tests that included 23 five-wicket hauls, the third highest by any Australian. Lillee also scored 905 runs with the bat with 73 against England at Lord’s being his highest score in Tests.

#7. Adam Gilchrist

Gilly had an unbelievable strike rate of 81.95 in Tests

Considered to be the greatest wicket-keeper batsman in the history of the sport, Gilchrist did not begin his Test career until he was 28 due to the presence of Ian Healy. Healy was dropped due to poor form and despite the selectors wanting to give him a farewell match against Pakistan at his home ground-Gabba, Gilly got the opportunity to make his Test debut.

The Gabba did not take this very well and Gilchrist had a cold reception at the ground but this did not prevent him from taking 6 dismissals (5 catches and a stumping) and scoring a brisk 81. Gilchrist produced another stellar performance in his second Test by scoring 149 as Australia recovered from 126/5 to chase down 369.

Gilchrist thus became a regular in Australia’s Test team and although he batted at No.7 opposed to opening the innings in ODIs, he still kept on scoring big for the Aussies.

Gilchrist’s aggressive batting helped Australia on numerous occasions and despite beginning in his late 20s, he still managed to pile up 5570 runs from 96 Tests (the highest by any keeper-batsman) at an average of 47.60 and at an astronomical strike rate of 81.95 which is the second highest strike rate for any Test batsman who has scored more than 5000 runs. Gilly is second behind Mark Boucher for the most number of Test dismissals with 416 (379 catches and 37 stumpings).