Australia Cricket Players – Modern Day Greats

Australia have historically been the heavyweights of the Cricketing world. They are the most successful team in ODI history, as well as in the ICC World Cup history, having lifted the trophy a record 5 different times, including 3 consecutive titles between 1999-2007. There have been several legends who have played for this glorious national team over the decades, but they have a very formidable squad right now as well. Let’s take a look at the most famous Australia Cricket players list in the current set-up. 

Australia Famous Cricket Players List

David Warner

David Warner is one of Australia’s greatest ever batsmen, and arguably one of the best batsmen in the world in every format between 2013 and 2018. The diminutive southpaw has blasted bowlers all over the pitch in all 3 formats of the game. In ODI’s, he has scored 5455 runs in just 126 innings, at a brilliant average of 45.08 and even more impressive strike rate of over 95. He has scored 18 tons and 23 half centuries, studded with 85 sixes and 571 fours, highlighting his aggressive playing style. 

Warner was absolutely brilliant in back to back World Cups for Australia, as he was their second highest scorer in the 2015 edition, and then the highest scorer in the 2019 edition, where he scored more than 500 runs, with 3 stunning centuries. He also became the only player to boast 2 different 150+ scores in World Cup cricket, again staking claim to be among the best ODI batsmen in the world. 

Warner also averages more than 48 in test cricket and more than 41 in the IPL, proving that he is one of the finest batsmen of our generation, and has undoubtedly made it to the Australia famous cricket players list, in no small part due to his brilliant social media account, where he often posts hilarious TikTok videos with his family. 

Shane Watson

One of the greatest all-rounders of the modern era, Shane Watson is a true freak of nature. In 190 ODI matches, Watson scored 5757 runs at a brilliant average of 40.5 and an incredible strike-rate of more than 90. He also took 168 wickets, highlighting his importance to the side. However, it was in the IPL where Watson truly made his mark, and ended up becoming one of  the key members of the Australia famous cricket players list. 

Watson has been a class apart in the IPL ever since the inaugural season and he is definitely one of the top 10 Australians to play in the IPL. His longevity is unbelievable, as he won the MVP award back in 2008 and then almost led CSK to the title with a blinding knock in the final 11 years later. Picked up by Rajasthan Royals in 2008, Watson went on to score 472 runs in 15 innings, and also took 17 wickets to emerge as the biggest reason behind the Royals’ title-winning campaign. He deservedly won the first ever MVP award also.

In the 2013 season he crossed the 500 mark for the first time, before a disappointing spell with the Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, he quickly got back to his best after moving to CSK at the age of 37. In the 2018 season he scored a career-best 555 runs, with 2 centuries to show that age is just a number. His best season with the ball came for RCB in 2016, when he picked up 20 wickets, though he struggled massively with the bat. In the 2018 as well as 2019 final, Watson top scored for CSK. 

He has an amazing fan-following in the cricket crazy Indian subcontinent for his IPL exploits, and has firmly earned a spot in the Australia famous cricket players list. 

Steven Smith

The undisputed best test batsman in the world of cricket over the last 2 years, Steve Smith is a true modern marvel. A late bloomer who had actually joined the team as a leg-spinner who could bat a bit, Smith has gone from strength to strength, especially after the tragic death of his best friend Phil Hughes on the pitch. 

In just 131 innings, Smith has managed to score 7227 runs at an extraordinary average of 62.84. He has hit 26 centuries and 29 half-centuries over the years, and has a highest score of 239. Smith crossed the 1000 run barrier four years in a row between 2014-2017, becoming the only batsmen to ever do that. In 2018 he got banned for 12 months for that infamous ball-tampering scandal along with David Warner and Bancroft.

He was dearly missed by Australia during that time, and came back as strong as ever to have a magical series in England, as Australia retained the Ashes with a brilliant performance across all 4 tests. Smith scored 774 runs in just 7 innings, including back to back centuries in both innings of the first test match. His average during the series was an unreal 110, firmly placing him top of the Test batting rankings and eventually led to him being considered as the best batsman in the world in Tests. 

Smith is a very unorthodox batsman, who is very entertaining to watch with his quirky batting stance and even quirkier leaves. He can play some amazing attacking shots with incredible movement of his feet, and at the same time block some of the best bowlers in the world with impeccable defensive technique as well, highlighting his versatility. He is currently ranked 1 in the ICC Test rankings, confirming his status as the best batsman in the world in the longest format of the game, and also as one of the most famous Australian cricket players of the modern era. 

Marnus Labuschane 

The newest kid on the block, who has well and truly barged into the erstwhile Big 4 of Root, Kohli, Smith and Williamson. Labuschane made his debut in 2018 against Pakistan in Dubai, however it was the legendary 2019 Ashes series where the next Aussie test star was born. Handed the very daunting task of replacing an in-form but injured Steven Smith in the crucial series, 25 year old Marnus Labuschane stepped up and assumed the responsibility better than anyone would have expected.

He became the first ever concussion substitute in Test Cricket, and walked onto the Lord’s pitch amid an array of lethal bouncers from the English pacers. Against all odds and expectations he played a very gutsy knock of 59 to keep Australia in the game, and then went from strength to strength in the series, ending up with 353 runs at an average of 50.43. 

He followed that brilliant form with back to back centuries against Pakistan, and scored a third consecutive century in the first test against New Zealand, ending the year 1104 runs, the only batsman in the world with more than 1000 test runs in 2019. He started 2020 with a band, with a brilliant double century against New Zealand, and within 2 years of his test career, has already scored 1459 runs in just 14 tests, at an amazing average of 63.43, below only Sir Donald Bradman. 

He has hit 4 centuries and 8 half-centuries, and also has 12 wickets to his name, making him a handy emergency bowler. Marnus has everything it takes to be the undisputed best batsman in the world in the coming years. His quirky batting style reminds everyone of Steve Smith, and he is quickly becoming part of the Australia famous cricket players list of the modern era.

Aaron Finch 

The current Australian ODI captain is a pint-sized dynamite just like his opening partner David Warner. Finch has become even better with the bat ever since he was chosen as Australia’s captain after the infamous ball tampering incident which got Steve Smith and David Warner banned from the sport for 2 years. 

Finch has scored 5232 runs in 128 innings, at an impressive average of 41.86. He has a solid strike rate of 88.41 and as struck 17 centuries and 29 half-centuries, with a stunning highest score of 153. Finch is a fairly attacking batsman who loves dealing in boundaries, having hit 126 sixes and 519 fours in his ODI career. 

At the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, Finch struck a brilliant 135 against England in the opening match, before struggling for the rest of the tournament, as Australia won their record 5th WC title. In the 2019 ICC World Cup, Finch led from the front as he scored more than 500 runs in just 10 innings, with 2 stunning match-winning centuries against Sri Lanka and England. Though Australia had a disappointing campaign, Finch was widely regarded as one of the best captains of the tournament, and has been among the best batsmen in the world over the last 2 years in ODIs. He is also the top run scorer of 2020 with 673 runs in 13 innings. As captain of the limited overs side, Finch is firmly part of the Australia famous cricket players list as of 2021. 

Glenn Maxwell 

Probably the biggest hitter in the current Australian line-up, Maxwell, appropriately nicknamed “The Big Show”, is definitely a huge entertainer and a firm crowd-favourite in India as well. The all-rounder’s talent in unquestionable, but he has suffered from a lack of consistency throughout his career. 

A mighty slogger of the white ball, Maxwell’s best areas are over mid-wicket and over long-on, however he has also innovated a few of the latest trending shots, including all kinds of scoops over the keeper as well as his trademark reverse-hit / reverse sweep, which he hits with such power that more often than not the ball clears the rope! Maxwell is also one of the best fielders in the world and has taken some absolutely blinding catches in the IPL over the last 8 years. Overall, Maxwell has scored 1505 in 79 innings, with a. strike rate of over 150 and a highest score of 95. His international T20 record for Australia is even better, with 1687 runs in just 60 innings, studded with 3 centuries. 

He has had issues with consistency, but when he gets going he is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the world to watch, and his big six hitting capabilities have ensured he is definitely part of the current Australia famous cricket players list. 

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc has been Australia’s pace bowling spearhead since making his ODI debut back in 2010. He was one of the biggest reasons the men in yellow won the 2015 World Cup on home soil, emerging as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament and firmly establishing his status in the Australia famous cricket players list.  

The fiery left-arm pacer has a mean toe-crushing yorker up his sleeve, and has rattled many top batsmen in the world over the years. In just 59 tests, Starc has managed to pick up an impressive 252 wickets, while he has picked up 184 wickets in just 96 ODIs, highlighting his importance in both the main formats of the game. Starc can also be a handy option with the bat lower down the order, with 10 test half-centuries to his name, including a heart-breaking highest score of 99. 

Nathan Lyon

Lyon is arguably Australia’s greatest spin bowler in the modern era after the legendary Shane Warne. The wily off-spinner has troubled some of the best batsmen in the world with his brilliant variations, and has had an incredibly successful test career. 

In 98 test matches, Lyon has taken a staggering 394 wickets, taking 5 wickets in a match a whopping 18 times and 10 wickets in a match 3 different times. His best bowling figures are 13/154 for the whole match, and 8/50 for 1 inning. Lyon was Australia’s highest wicket taker in the brilliant 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar series against India as well as the legendary 2019 Ashes test series, firmly establishing himself as a dressing-room favourite as well firmly a part of the Australia famous cricket players list of the last decade. 

Pat Cummins 

The most expensive player at the 2020 IPL auction, Pat Cummins is a Rolls Royce of a cricketer. Purchased for a whopping Rs 15.50 crores by the Kolkata Knight Riders, Cummins is of the finest pace bowlers of our generation and he is also a very handy lower order batsman who uses his mighty frame to strike some massive blows. 

In 32 test matches, Cummins has taken an impressive 153 wickets and is the bowling spearhead for the Aussies in all 3 formats of the game. In 69 ODI’s he has picked up 111 wickets, with a further 37 wickets in T20 internationals. Cummins is famous for destroying top-orders in test cricket, with his fiery pace and lethal bouncers.