When Shane Warne retired from test cricket in 2007 as the greatest ever wicket taker (has since been overtaken by Murali) Australians had no idea how much we would miss him. His brilliance was underappreciated.
Shane Warn’s cricketing brain and aptitude for sheer sneak hasn’t been matched since. He was quite simply the greatest bowler of all time. The spin wizard never enjoyed the spinning home pitches that Murali and Kumble did, instead made the most of the hard fast pitches that Australia is known for. He Finally walked away from the game with 708 test scalps at an average of 25.41.
Cricket Australia has spent the last 11 years trying to replace the master spinner, but he still seems irreplaceable.
Without further ado, here are the 3 worst and 3 best Australian spinners since Warne.
The 3 Worst (1. Being the Worst)
3. Michael Beer
Beer was thrown into the Australian Test team at the end of the disastrous 2010/11 Ashes series. It was a desperate attempt to breathe some life into a dysfunctional and toothless attack. At the time Beer averaged over 40 in first-class cricket, nothing to write home about. Unfortunately for the poor man, the gamble didn’t pay off and he could play only 2 tests for 3 wickets at the average of 59.33.
It’s not all Bad for Beer, and he has since found his calling and gone on to be a successful T20 bowler for the Melbourne Stars.
2. Beau Casson
I was a big advocate for Casson before his test career began as he seemed like a tidy bowler that might come good one day. He played just one test in the West Indies in 2008 for 3 wickets at the average of 43.00. The New Sout Wales man definitely deserved at least one more test even if his poor FC average of 43.04 says otherwise. He was a handy lower order batsman too. Maybe he would have got another chance if he was playing today.
1. Bryce Mcgain
Bryce McGain didn’t deserve another bite of the cherry. He bowled 18 overs in his test career for 149 runs and no wickets. You have to feel for the guy. Running the gauntlet against a South African side which was at the height of its powers in 2009. McGain never stood a chance.
The 3 Best (1. Being the Best)
3.Stuart MacGill
If Shane Warne never existed, MacGill might have been Australia’s greatest ever leg-spinner. He played 44 tests and took 208 wickets at an average of 29.02. Anyone who Saw MacGill bowl couldn’t deny his excellence and talent. He would be higher on this list, but he only played a handful of games after Warne retired and never found his rhythm eventually retiring in 2008.
2. Nathan Hauritz
Nathan Hauritz played 17 tests for 63 wickets at 34.98. On his day he was an excellent Off spin bowler, his most notable performance was bowling Australia to an unlikely victory against Pakistan at Sydney in 2010. He Was more than handy with the bat with 2 test 50s at an average a touch above 25. Perhaps he deserved more of a chance.
1. Nathan Lyon
Lyon is probably Australia’s most prominent cult hero. By far the most successful spinner since Shane Warne and our greatest ever off-spinner. The Man we call Gary has taken 269 test wickets at an average of 31.83 through his 69 tests. It is quite likely he will reach 400 test wickets before his time is up. Lyon has really come into his own over the past year. He will turn 30 three days before this Ashes series kicks off, of which he will play a vital role.
Do you agree with us? Let us know your thoughts below
 Australians had){kind=link}