Mitchell Johnson’s combined AUS, SA Test XI

MITCHELL JOHNSON: Combined Australia-South Africa Test XI from players who played Test cricket from 1981

For a bit of fun this week, I’ve picked a combined Australia-South Africa Test XI from players who played Test cricket from 1981, the year I was born, through to today.

For a bit of fun this week, I’ve picked a combined Australia-South Africa Test XI from players who played Test cricket from 1981, the year I was born, through to today.

They are players I’ve watched live, played alongside or against, or seen through replays of older footage.

I’ve never particularly enjoyed picking these teams. You put one name down and immediately think of another three who deserve the spot.

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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.We all have favourites. Sometimes it’s their skills. Sometimes it’s how they got into the contest or stood up when their team needed them. Opportunity, injuries and the strength of the side around them can shape careers too.

Then there’s balance. Eleven outstanding individuals won’t necessarily make the best team. Their skills and personalities need to complement each other.

My XI to play alongside would be Graeme Smith, Simon Katich, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Pollock, Shane Warne, Allan Donald and Glenn McGrath.

Waugh is captain, Smith vice-captain. That’s six South Africans and five Australians.

I’ve gone back and forth with these selections. Normally, I’d have Ricky Ponting in every side. But I played with him, and this time I wanted Amla, a great competitor who was always difficult to bowl to.

Smith was another opponent I enjoyed battling. I went hard at him, but when he batted with a broken hand in Sydney in 2009, he showed what he would do for his team. Courage and determination through pain.

Katich would have your back in any situation in the middle. His style made him tough to bowl to, he was willing to dig in, and he had a desire to win wearing the baggy green.

Pollock was another South African I enjoyed watching on television. Relentless and skilful with the ball, then an extra frustration with the bat. He seemed like someone I’d enjoy playing alongside.

Allan Donald grabbed my attention watching cricket in my younger years. I loved Donald charging in off that long run and bowling fast. The stare, a few words to keep the batsman honest. Great theatre.

I was around for the end of McGrath’s and Warne’s careers and would have loved more time alongside them and the chance to play Test cricket with them. With Pollock, Donald and Kallis, there’s plenty of bowling variety.

Kallis at four, AB at five and Waugh at six works for me. You could shuffle them around without weakening this side.

Yet I’m still second-guessing myself. How do I leave out Matthew Hayden? Pat Cummins’ record is elite. Kagiso Rabada bowls with venom. Vernon Philander troubled us by putting it on a dime, moving it both ways. Stuart Clark dominated his three Tests against South Africa, another great player to play alongside.

The list goes on. Agree or disagree, that’s the beauty of picking these teams. To be honest, my mind could change in a week’s time. This is why I struggle picking these sides.

For what it’s worth, here’s the best team statistically, picked using their records against each other, with minimum appearances required to keep small sample sizes from taking over: Matthew Hayden, David Warner, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Damien Martyn, AB de Villiers, Adam Gilchrist, Vernon Philander, Shane Warne, Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada.

Eight Australians, three South Africans, and plenty of firepower.

But no Dale Steyn, Kallis or McGrath, among many others? Those omissions alone show why statistics don’t tell the whole story.

Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since 2018 starts in Durban on Friday. I expect emotion and vocal crowds. Australia should be prepared.

I’m looking forward to the battles. Characters, some fire, Rabada getting fired up if fit, and Australia being relentless with ball, using the sometimes spicy and unpredictable Kingsmead pitch.

Let’s hope for a great series, played tough but in good spirit.