'England fanboys' - Veteran commentator fumes over brutal Aussie cricket snub

‘England fanboys’ – Veteran commentator fumes over brutal Aussie cricket snub

Posted by author January 22, 2025 Cricket

A veteran commentator has let rip after no Australian cricketers were named in Wisden’s men’s Test team of the year for 2024.

Wisden, an English publication often referred to as ‘the Bible of Cricket’, announced their chosen line-up in its January edition.

Despite winning seven of nine Tests in 2024, no Australian made Wisden’s Team of the year

However, the eleven names selected sparked outrage down under as none of their national heroes made the cut.

What makes the snubs even more remarkable is the fact Australia are the No. 1 Test team in the ICC rankings and are the defending World Test Championship kings.

Australia also secured the right to defend their World Test Championship crown in the final against South Africa after they beat India to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In total, the Aussies won seven and lost two of the nine Tests they played in 2024.

Yet Wisden’s selection panel of 41 cricket commentators could not find room to squeeze in just one Australian player.

It is in stark contrast to Wisden’s Test team of the year in 2023 and 2022, which both featured four Australians.

Australian captain Pat Cummins had perhaps the strongest case of his teammates for inclusion.

In 2024, Cummins snared 37 wickets at an average of 24.2 and chipped in with 306 runs at the crease.

The 31-year-old was even named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World last April.

Even World Test Championship finalist South Africa, who lost two of ten Tests last year, did not have a single representative in Wisden’s Test team of the year.

Cummins continues to lead Australia to series wins but it's not enough to break into Wisden's Test team of the year — Cummins continues to lead Australia to series wins but it’s not enough to break into Wisden’s Test team of the yearCredit: AFP

In comparison, five English players made the cut: Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson.

England also played in 17 Tests and finished with a record of nine wins and eight losses, including a 2-1 defeat in Pakistan and a 4-1 loss in India.

Given the vast difference in the respective nations’ records, Aussie fans vented their fury on social media.

One X user sensationally labelled Wisden as ‘English cricket fanboys who are loath to celebrate anything Australian.’

Australian cricket commentator Jim Maxwell responded to the post and said: “They (Wisden) are bazbull*******.

“Need to play hard cricket in Oz v this aus team. Need (Ben) Stokes fit and focused.”

Root and Brook averaged 55.87 and 55.00 respectively in 2024Credit: Getty

Maxwell added: “Cummins had a pretty good year, 37 wkts, 306 runs, captain. McGilvray medallist, third time as ABC test cricket of the year and Aus still champs. What a TEAM.”

Another fan replied to the post from Wisden’s official account on X and said: “This team wouldn’t beat current Australian XI, some ridiculous selections.”

Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah was named the captain of Wisden’s Test team of the year.

Bumrah’s accolade arrives after a sensational year in which the Indian seamer snared 71 Test wickets at a measly 14.92.

Although Australia may have been left empty-handed when it comes to representatives in Wisden’s Test team of the year, they certainly have plenty of silverware otherwise and none more famous than The Ashes.

However, England will look to reclaim cricket’s most iconic prize when they travel down under for the next iteration of the famous series, with the first Test to begin in Perth on November 21.