Matthew Hayden opens with David Boon, then Ricky Pointing at No.3, Greg Chappell at 4, Allan Border at 5 and Steve Waugh at 6. Easy.

Throw in Adam Gilchrist at 7 and good luck to whoever they're playing.

And then Steve Smith came along and threw a major spanner in the works.

Forget his "sandpaper scandal" for now - that's another story - but on sheer batting talent, does he make it? His record suggests he has to. But who misses?

The discussion came up over a flat white at Burke's - and like always, I was struggling to get a word in.

He had his own opinions of course - and he could remember a generation of players before me - truth be told he could probably remember three generations before me, but I digress.

For me, the only question mark, the only grey area, was who would open with Hayden. I went for Boon because he opened in the early stages of his career and he was just so tough. But any one of Mark Taylor, Bill Lawry, Michael Slater, Justin Langer or David Warner could have a claim.

What do their records tell us?

Only part of the story. It suggests Allan Border could be the man to miss - but consider this: the 15 years or so when the great West Indies fast bowlers were at their deadliest coincided with Border's career. Boon's too for that matter.

They were our front line defence. It meant they saw more of them than any batsmen - Holding, Garner, Marshall, Daniel, Ambrose, Walsh, Croft ...

But for what's it's worth, here are the records.

Hayden: 103 Tests, highest score 380, average 50.7, 30 centuries, 29 fifties;

Boon: 107 Tests, HS 200, average 43.6, 21 centuries, 32 fifties;

Ponting: 168 Tests, HS 257, average 51.9, 41 centuries, 62 fifties;

Chappell: 87 Tests, HS 247 not out, average 53.9, 24 centuries, 31 fifties.

Border: 156 Tests, HS 205, average 50.6, 27 centuries, 63 fifties.

Waugh: 168 Tests, HS 200, average 51.1, 32 centuries, 50 fifties.

Smith: 68 Tests, HS 239, average 64.6, 26 centuries, 27 fifties.

So for me, I think with an average well into the 60s, Smith has to make it.

Who to leave out? I'd go Steve Waugh - not really sure why. And I'd also point out that in his younger days Waugh was easily the best bowler among them.

As for our coffee shop man Burke, he had other ideas. I quote: "My best Australian batting team of the last 50 years is Hayden, Warner, Ponting, Smith, Greg Chappell, Border, then Gilchrist at 7. Where do I put Ian Chappell and Steve Waugh?"

Interesting discussion. If you have any thoughts write to us at lowerhunter@austcommunitymedia.com.au