The search for an all rounder

[JLC]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8522189-23212,00.html

Who do people think is the best all rounder at present for Australia ??

[Donny]

It's quite apparent it's your mate, JLC, Andrew Symonds.

He's a much more responsible batsman - during and since the WC - and he's regularly taking wickets.

Harvey, although he's put in some good bowling stints, continues to disappoint and Hoggy's an honest tryer but not really up to it.

Watson is on his way back, claiming Love and Law in a short (11 overs, 2/23) return to the bowling crease, last week, but that's down the track a bit.

It would be handy to have a Razzaq/Kallis/Cairns type in our team but with nearly all teams utilising 2 or 3 of their top six batsmen as the '5th. bowler', it's less important than it used to be.

After all, Australia has become the best at both Tests and ODIs without one.

[JLC]

Technically the definition of an all rounder is a player who could be picked in the team on their batting or bowling strength alone

eg Kallis and Cairns out of the modern day players

That being the definition i dont think Australia has a true all rounder at present.

jlc

[Johnson#26]

If you asked me this question a year ago, I would have said Harvey or Blewett (who gets no recognition as an all-rounder) but now I say Symonds. Although, if Harvey could play a few long & gritty innings with the bat, then you never know...

[Donny]

Symonds rises from the ranks

By Alex Brown - Cricinfo


According to a member of the Australian one-day side - a group renowned for rallying around teammates struggling for form - Andrew Symonds didn't belong at international level. The player kept those thoughts to himself, largely, though he was aware statistics supported his case.

Symonds, after all, had never raised a century, averaged a mere 23.81 and scored just 762 runs from 61 limited-overs matches at the end of last season's one-day finals series. And with the Australians set to depart for the World Cup tournament, sections of the media and fans were sure the Queenslander was a lucky inclusion in Ricky Ponting's squad.

The player in question also held that belief. His name? Andrew Symonds.

Standing at the MCG yesterday, eyes peering towards the scoreboard, Symonds recalled feeling like a "rabbit in the headlights" as he walked to the crease during last year's first final against England. He was nervous, uncertain, troubled.

How times have changed. Now a pivotal member of Australia's batting line-up, Symonds has amassed 995 runs in the 26 one-day internationals since the 2002-03 finals, averaging 47.38 with a top score of 143 not out.

He's also become a regular wicket taker, bowling either medium pace or off spinners.