Hunt for a genuine Aussie all-rounder

Ready for a trivia question? I'll throw this at you and you need to field it cleanly and accurately, like a swift slips catch.

Name the last world-class Australian all-round Test cricketer.

Struggling with your answer? Relax, you're not the only one. I tossed this question at some of my work colleagues and immediately there was collective scratching of some very wise heads.

I reckon you have to go all the way back to Richie Benaud and Keith Miller if you're truly looking for someone who was world-class. Yes, I know Steve Waugh used to bowl in the early stages of his career and I know Gary Gilmour was a reliable performer.

Yes, Merv Hughes, I can hear you too, pushing your argument to be included. Yes, you took more than 200 Test wickets and yes, you were a gutsy (in more ways than one) competitor. And yes, I remember your 70-odd against the West Indies. But no, mate, I have to say you don't count.

Benaud played 63 Tests, took 248 wickets and scored three tons and nine fifties, with a highest score of 122. Miller played 55 Tests, took 170 wickets and scored seven hundreds and thirteen fifties, with a highest score of 147.

In the golden age of international all-rounders, India had Kapil Dev, Pakistan had Imran Khan, England had Ian Botham, New Zealand had Richard Hadlee and Australia, er, quite honestly had no one to match them.

But watch Mitchell Johnson. He's 27 and even though he only made his debut in November 2007, he has 94 wickets from 21 Tests, with a man of the series award in South Africa, a heroic 96 in the first Test and 123 in the last Test.

Gotta run. Here comes Merv, keen to get me in a headlock.

The writer is a sports commentator and specialist based in Australia.