The Best Never...

vic_orthdox · 29-03-2005, 09:05 PM

I'm sure that this has probably been discussed before, and apologies for that, but I can't really be bothered digging it up if it does exist.

Hearing a few grade cricketers recently talk about Jamie Siddons, it got me thinking about that age old topic of who is the best player never to play Test (or ODI) cricket. Happy to include those who played less than 5 matches and did little to deserve a demotion, and never got another chance.

Siddons is the one that rings loudest and most true to me, with one ODI in his whole career. Ken Meuleman, grandfather of Scott who currently plays for WA, strikes me as another one to be a bit stiff. One test innings for 0 runs, despite 184 innings @ 47.

Paul Nobes, James Brayshaw, Greg Shippherd, among others all have very good first class records over a long time and never played for their country. Preferably not include those still playing, as that is a bit of a variable.

Blaze · 29-03-2005, 09:19 PM

Stuart Law springs to mind immediatly ( 1 test )

Mr Mxyzptlk · 29-03-2005, 09:25 PM

Technically cheating, but I feel Robert Samuels deserves a small mention.

Representing more of the West Indian contingent...

(Cheating again) Kerry Jeremy. Played 6 ODIs, but should have played Tests too.

And of course... Carl Tuckett. 74 wickets < 20 and a batting average over 30. Not the worst player at all. No Tests.

vic_orthdox · 29-03-2005, 09:32 PM

i didn't realise robert samuels played so few tests...its not on the cricinfo website, but i thought he was marlon's brother?

benchmark00 · 29-03-2005, 09:38 PM

I always thought Jimmy Maher was good enough to play test matches, not just 26 ODI's...

Mr Mxyzptlk · 29-03-2005, 09:40 PM

He is. IMO Marlon is the more talented though. Stuart Williams made the bold statement that, after Brian Lara, Marlon Samuels is the best player in the West Indies team. I'm certain he mean "potentially", in which case I tend to agree.

Mr Casson · 29-03-2005, 09:47 PM

Scott Meuleman plays for WA!

Prince EWS · 29-03-2005, 09:50 PM

Richard Sims.

vic_orthdox · 29-03-2005, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Casson

Scott Meuleman plays for WA!

woah, i didn't even realise i'd written SA. i think i still had siddons on my mind. apologies. especially considering i was on the aus domestic thread talking about scott meuleman two days ago.

Top_Cat · 29-03-2005, 10:26 PM

In some ways I agree about Siddons as he had every shot but against the shot ball he was a bit suspect (especially after having hiw jaw broken by Merv Hughes in Adelaide). I wonder how he would have gone against a full-strength 80's WI side and what I'm thinking is that it wouldn't have been much fun for him.

tassietiger · 29-03-2005, 10:36 PM

Whoever said Stuart Law, have to agree there. One Test and didn't get out, so he's left without an average from memory.

vic_orthdox · 29-03-2005, 10:46 PM

seeing tassietiger post got me thinking about someone else...jamie cox. a little bit of out of sight, out of mind being in tassie?

BoyBrumby · 30-03-2005, 12:01 AM

It's probably down to non-cricketing reasons that he didn't play a test, but Clive Rice was the first name I thought of.

IIRC he played two or three ODIs for SA when in his early 40s just after their readmission.

Marius · 30-03-2005, 02:41 AM

Boy Brumby's right, Ricey was very good, and he was SA's first captain on readmission.
Some others who would definitley played Test cricket but missed out because of isolation:
Vince van der Bijl
Denys Hobson
Alan Kourie
Kevin McKenzie
Ray Jennings
Garth le Roux
Stephen Jeffries
Rupert Hanley
Kenny McEwan
Roy Pienaar
Henry Fotheringham

C_C · 30-03-2005, 02:51 AM

a lotta saffies would qualify but i wold say best cricketer never to play test cricket is probably Mike Procter ( going by the criteria that the player played very little)...if not him, i would go for Vince Van der Bijl and Garth LeRoux.

29-03-2005, 09:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
vic_orthdox Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24,370	The Best Never... I'm sure that this has probably been discussed before, and apologies for that, but I can't really be bothered digging it up if it does exist. Hearing a few grade cricketers recently talk about Jamie Siddons, it got me thinking about that age old topic of who is the best player never to play Test (or ODI) cricket. Happy to include those who played less than 5 matches and did little to deserve a demotion, and never got another chance. Siddons is the one that rings loudest and most true to me, with one ODI in his whole career. Ken Meuleman, grandfather of Scott who currently plays for WA, strikes me as another one to be a bit stiff. One test innings for 0 runs, despite 184 innings @ 47. Paul Nobes, James Brayshaw, Greg Shippherd, among others all have very good first class records over a long time and never played for their country. Preferably not include those still playing, as that is a bit of a variable. Last edited by vic_orthdox; 29-03-2005 at 09:54 PM.

29-03-2005, 09:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr Mxyzptlk Request Your Custom Title Now! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad) Posts: 36,795	Technically cheating, but I feel Robert Samuels deserves a small mention. Representing more of the West Indian contingent... (Cheating again) Kerry Jeremy. Played 6 ODIs, but should have played Tests too. And of course... Carl Tuckett. 74 wickets < 20 and a batting average over 30. Not the worst player at all. No Tests. __________________ Sreesanth said, "Next ball he was beaten and I said, 'is this the King Charles Lara? Who is this impostor, moving around nervously? I should have kept my mouth shut for the next ball - mind you, it was a length ball - Lara just pulled it over the church beyond the boundary! He is a true legend." The Blog The Portfolio The...er...Twitter

29-03-2005, 09:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mr Casson Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 9,653	Scott Meuleman plays for WA! __________________ 'Copperfield,' said Mr. Micawber, 'farewell! Every happiness and prosperity! If, in the progress of revolving years, I could persuade myself that my blighted destiny had been a warning to you, I should feel that I had not occupied another man's place in existence altogether in vain. - Wilkins Micawber

29-03-2005, 09:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Prince EWS Global Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New South Wales Posts: 37,780	Richard Sims. __________________ ~ Cribbage

29-03-2005, 10:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Top_Cat Cricket Web: All-Time Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 21,197	In some ways I agree about Siddons as he had every shot but against the shot ball he was a bit suspect (especially after having hiw jaw broken by Merv Hughes in Adelaide). I wonder how he would have gone against a full-strength 80's WI side and what I'm thinking is that it wouldn't have been much fun for him. __________________ Check out my bands! The Colourphonics http://www.youtube.com/user/TheColourphonics http://twitter.com/colourphonics Candice and The Arcade Villains http://triplejunearthed.com.au/Candi...ArcadeVillains

29-03-2005, 09:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Blaze Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NZ Posts: 5,124	Stuart Law springs to mind immediatly ( 1 test )

29-03-2005, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
vic_orthdox Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24,370	i didn't realise robert samuels played so few tests...its not on the cricinfo website, but i thought he was marlon's brother?

29-03-2005, 09:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr Mxyzptlk Request Your Custom Title Now! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad) Posts: 36,795	He is. IMO Marlon is the more talented though. Stuart Williams made the bold statement that, after Brian Lara, Marlon Samuels is the best player in the West Indies team. I'm certain he mean "potentially", in which case I tend to agree.

29-03-2005, 10:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
tassietiger U19 Debutant Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tasmania Posts: 345	Whoever said Stuart Law, have to agree there. One Test and didn't get out, so he's left without an average from memory.

29-03-2005, 10:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
vic_orthdox Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24,370	seeing tassietiger post got me thinking about someone else...jamie cox. a little bit of out of sight, out of mind being in tassie?

30-03-2005, 12:01 AM	#13 (permalink)
BoyBrumby Englishman Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Doing the stance Posts: 42,646	It's probably down to non-cricketing reasons that he didn't play a test, but Clive Rice was the first name I thought of. IIRC he played two or three ODIs for SA when in his early 40s just after their readmission. __________________ *- As featured in The Independent.* "This is not the time for namby-pamby promising youngsters who might just do something; not the time for building for the future. Pragmatism rules and they don't come more pragmatic than Rogers." - Victor Marks makes the case for stiff-legged and stiff-armed 35 year old left-handers in Ashes squads

30-03-2005, 02:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
Marius U19 Debutant Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Africa Posts: 321	Boy Brumby's right, Ricey was very good, and he was SA's first captain on readmission. Some others who would definitley played Test cricket but missed out because of isolation: Vince van der Bijl Denys Hobson Alan Kourie Kevin McKenzie Ray Jennings Garth le Roux Stephen Jeffries Rupert Hanley Kenny McEwan Roy Pienaar Henry Fotheringham

30-03-2005, 02:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
C_C International Captain Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: World Posts: 6,990	a lotta saffies would qualify but i wold say best cricketer never to play test cricket is probably Mike Procter ( going by the criteria that the player played very little)...if not him, i would go for Vince Van der Bijl and Garth LeRoux.

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