Of course, overseas players have long been a part of Border cricket, with West Indian Clayton Lambert's exploits in the early 90s still held in awe.

East Albury currently has a West Indian in Romario Greaves, while English, Zimbabwean and Indian players are spread around the association.

Two imports have forced their way into the team in Tallangatta's Indian all-rounder Sahib Malhotra and Englishman James Weighell, who also starred for the Bushies.

The criteria for selection was a player needed to play two seasons and because CAW has been playing 12 per side for around a decade, The Border Mail has gone with a non-batsman (Byron Hales) and non-bowler (David Farrell), so there's no 12^th man as such.

Also, T20 matches were not included in the statistics.

ASH BORELLA: 4876 RUNS, AV 36.66. Destructive left-hand batsman who would take a game away from the opposition in an hour. Led the run-scorers four times in the last six completed seasons, including three straight from 2015-16. Quite remarkably, hit 674, 670 and 672 respectively. And if you're only as good as your last game, Borella has never been better after pounding 54 from only 33 balls in last week's win over New City. He also deserves enormous credit for guiding North to last season's premiership. Lavington was the red-hot favourite and hammered the Hoppers in the first grand final. However, the underdogs bounced back to win games two and three with the skipper blasting a quickfire 44 in the decider.

DAVID FARRELL: 4152 RUNS, AV 36.10. Struck nine of his 11 centuries in the era, including the majestic 208 not out against Dederang in early 2010. One of the most talented batsmen in the association's 161-year history, it's surprising his average isn't higher. Played NSW under 17s with former Test batsman Nic Maddinson alongside him at the top of the order. When he is 'on', no player can match his awesome power. If you get a chance to watch Farrell in full flight, do yourself a favour and watch him go, it's genuinely exciting. Traditionalists might not like the left-handed combination at the top, but when you can destroy a bowling attack like this pair can, does it really matter?

BOB JACKSON: 5689 RUNS, AV 51.72. The first player selected. In the first eight seasons of the decade finished no lower than seventh on the run-scorers. Remarkable consistency. In a field of strong contenders, Jackson is CAW's Mr Cricket. Team-mates tell the story of the time he got a duck at the Bulldogs' Les Cheesley Oval, walked off, put on his running gear and proceeded to run five k's as punishment, a la Steve Smith against Pakistan. Wodonga won four premierships and Jackson was the central figure. Also smashed the association's long-standing single season run-scorer record, blasting 1032 at 79.38 in 2013-14. Has represented Australia, NSW and Victoria Country in his long career, which could be a first. Known as Robbie for the bulk of his time, the 44-year-old now prefers to be called Bob, but while that's changed, the name Jackson will forever be remembered in CAW.

LUKE RESTALL: 4821 RUNS, AV 40.51. The best technician of the decade. Lacked the power of some others, but more than made up for it by being CAW's version of Rahul Dravid - 'The Wall' - you just couldn't get past him. In 2011-12, posted 815 runs at 74.09 with four centuries, including his highest at St Patrick's with 194. In the grand final that year, Wodonga posted an imposing 7-267. Restall arrived at 2-69 and then hit the most majestic 131 not out of the team's 191 runs from that point to fall just eight runs short of an unlikely victory. A Wodonga player said recently he had never come across a player in the zone like that where you just knew you couldn't get him. Patties' stalwart Kane Arendarcikas recently said people would come down and watch him bat and not be concerned with the result, they just wanted to watch Restall's technique.

SAHIB MALHOTRA: 1141 RUNS, AV 71.31. 43 WICKETS AT 21.30. Took CAW by storm, hitting 114 on debut against a Lavington attack which included Ryan and Nathan Brown, plus ex-NSW Country rep Brett Davies in 2016-17. In his 22 innings (80 or 50-over), struck three tons and nine half-centuries, so every second time he bats, he makes 50 or better. That is a remarkable record. Also claimed 43 wickets at 21.30, starting with pace before turning to leg-spin due to a back issue. Superb Albury all-rounder Kade Brown labelled him the best spinner he had ever faced. Is shaping as the greatest danger to Wodonga claiming the first premiership of the next decade in March.

ANDREW LADE: 2700 RUNS, AV 47.36. 120 WICKETS AT 19.31. The Michael Bevan of CAW. And just like Bevan, put an enormous price on his wicket. Knew his strengths and weaknesses and didn't go outside those areas. Was an accumulator as opposed to explosive. It was hard to split his batting and bowling as he was so adept at both, with his left-arm orthodox much like his batting, clever and crafty. The fact he would have almost certainly been in the previous Team of the Decade and maybe even the one before says everything about not only his longevity, but his sheer class and determination.

JAMES MCNEIL: 1226 RUNS, AV 47.15. 50 WICKETS AT 18.22. Only played two seasons, but the former Sydney Premier all-rounder made a monster impact. Led East Albury to the 2014-15 grand final, but a James Weighell-inspired Tallangatta proved too strong in a thriller. Topped the run-scorers that season with 687 at 52.85, hitting a ton and five half-centuries. Also the best fielder of the decade and was rated alongside another Albury export Dominic Thornely and Jordan Silk as the best in Sydney's powerful grade competition. Once dismissed Usman Khawaja at grade level in Sydney, so it shows how clever he was with the ball as a spinner.

GREG DANIEL (CAPT): 3073 RUNS AT 42.68. 206 WICKETS AT 17.51. He's the Cameron Smith (rugby league, not golf) of CAW. If a game needs to be won, he's the man. Just look at last season's preliminary final. St Patrick's posted 8-162 and the favourites were in trouble at 6-90. Daniel shared a 55-run stand with Haydyn Roberts and eased the team over the line by two wickets, posting an unbeaten 75 from 122 balls. Can still remember the day he deliberately lofted the ball over slips when CAW played the powerhouse Merewether attack, including ex-NSW quick Mark Cameron. Club opponents talk about his cricket 'brain' and how he can sum up a strength and weakness of an opponent in a few balls. The captaincy could have gone to a number of players, but Daniel's nous was and is first class.

JAMES WEIGHELL: 1201 RUNS, AV 36.39. 59 WICKETS AT 20.75. Highly respected Albury-based Cricket NSW official Robbie Mackinlay says he looked the most like a first-class player in his coaching stint at Lavington. Won Tallangatta the 2014-15 grand final against East Albury. Posted 68 at No. 6 and then took 5-65 from 24 overs as the Bushies claimed an exciting 23-run win. East captain James McNeil, who had played a number of years at first grade level in Sydney, said he had never seen anything like it. It was sublime. Could bowl over 135kmh and smash an attack. Averages 24 with the bat and 28 with the ball at first-class level. What a player and it will be interesting to see if he can go to the next level in England.

NAT SARIMAN: 3632 RUNS AT 35.61. The best gloveman of the decade. Has quick hands, fast feet and was terrific with both pace and spin. In seven of the innings behind the stumps this season, Sariman has conceded only six byes. Made five tons, including a cracking 180 not out against East Albury in 2014-15 and also boasts 20 half-centuries. Not the type to rip an attack apart, but could find the gaps and build steadily, rather than spectacularly. It says everything about the team when Sariman is forced to bat at No. 10, with an average over 35, when he bats anywhere between opener and No. 5.

MATT JAENSCH: 93 WICKETS AT 12.90. The most miserly quick bowler. In 2015-16, he took 6-44 from 33 overs to destroy the powerful Wodonga in the grand final and in that season his economy rate was just 1.92 per over, the only player in the top 10 below 2.2. If the batsman got two bad balls in a spell, he was lucky. Just so difficult to get away and a great cricket brain, he too, like Daniel, could sum up a batsman's weakness in a few balls.

BYRON HALES: 244 WICKETS AT 16.02. The surprise packet, but you can't argue with his statistics. Only Belvoir's Matt Jaensch has a better average. Doesn't boast the profile of others (Jaensch ex-Riverina captain) and Ryan Brown (NSW Country), but has almost 250 scalps. Can swing the ball away which is his major weapon. Wodonga dubbed him the "finals specialist" after he destroyed Lavington with 5-29 from 28 overs in the 2016-17 grand final win. He maintained that form the following season, topping the wicket-takers with 48. Can also nip the ball about. A three-time premiership player