The worst selections and non-selections in Test history

[wpdavid]

Roland Butcher being picked to tour WI in 1981 after a breezy knock in the Gillette Cup Final. Just what we needed against Roberts, Holding, Garner & Croft.

Emburey being recalled in 1993. And again in 1995, by when he hadn't actually turned a ball for about 10 years.

 

[grecian]

Gavin Hamilton for the SA away series on the back of being a minnow teams least bad player in a 50 over WC just prior.

Good shout especially for a first post.

Welcome

 

[wpdavid]

An England team which reflects the crippling fixation with the desire to find "the next Ian Botham". I've included Ian Botham from 1988 (arguably about 1986) onwards, on the basis that he was then consistently selected not on the basis of his crap performances but on the basis of what the old Ian Botham (1977-1985) used to be able to do.

1. Darren Maddy
2. John Stephenson
3. Usman Afzaal
4. Aftab Habib
5. Ian Botham
6. David Capel
7. Chris Cowdrey (captain)
8. Chris Lewis
9. Derek Bloody Pringle
10. Gavin Hamilton
11. Darren Pattinson

God making this list has been depressing.

EDIT: Just been reminded by others posts of the depths to which we sank with Blackwell and, especially, Schofield. They certainly make the 13-man squad.

Not that much will get past the bat, but there should be a keeper. Richard Blakey maybe?

 

[Scaly piscine]

I take it Rikki Clarke is one of those selections that's so bad it's almost good.

 

[zaremba]

I take it Rikki Clarke is one of those selections that's so bad it's almost good.

Sweet Jesus, I'd forgotten that he ever played Test cricket. Well he's a shoo-in for the All Time XI. I shall drop John Stephenson to make room for him.

I've also been considering a late call-up for Anthony McGrath. However he did average 40 with the bat and 14 with the ball in Tests so he just misses out.

 

[zaremba]

Not that much will get past the bat, but there should be a keeper. Richard Blakey maybe?

Oh bloody hell. Blakey or Steve Rhodes? We're spoilt for choice really.

 

[Goughy]

1. Darren Maddy
2. John Stephenson
3. Usman Afzaal
4. Aftab Habib
5. Ian Botham
6. David Capel
7. Chris Cowdrey (captain)
8. Chris Lewis
9. Derek Bloody Pringle
10. Gavin Hamilton
11. Darren Pattinson

God making this list has been depressing.

EDIT: Just been reminded by others posts of the depths to which we sank with Blackwell and, especially, Schofield. They certainly make the 13-man squad.

Your attack is lightyears ahead of the one I would choose from just the 90s

Joey Benjamin
Paul Taylor
Neil Williams
Ben Hollioake

 

[wpdavid]

Ian Greig being picked because his brother had been good. And as a 3rd allrounder in a side already containing Botham & Pringle.

 

[zaremba]

Your attack is lightyears ahead of the one I would choose from just the 90s

Joey Benjamin
Paul Taylor
Neil Williams
Ben Hollioake

I'm starting to panic now. How can I leave any of these out? Particularly Neil Williams.

 

[Goughy]

Oh bloody hell. Blakey or Steve Rhodes? We're spoilt for choice really.

Id pick Hegg as he was a 30 yr old journeyman at time of selection.

Blakey was young and a very promising batsman that could have been a long term keeper/bat solution.

He was the best batsman on the Mark Nicholas led 'A' team tour to Zimbabwe (which also included players like Atherton).

He was unlucky he hit bad form on a tough tour and it killed his career.

I wouldnt call it a terrible selection at he time.

 

[grecian]

Well, we've had "worst cricketers" before. I think this is more inexplicable call-ups married with rubbish performances. Blakey and Rhodes were decent in county cricket.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Emburey being recalled in 1993. And again in 1995, by when he hadn't actually turned a ball for about 10 years.

Made all the more depressing by the fact he was 67 by then & twice a rebel tourist. But if you play for Middlesex & your face fits...

It's all a southern conspiracy, you know.

 

[wpdavid]

Id pick Hegg as he was a 30 yr old journeyman at time of selection.

Blakey was young and a very promising batsman that could have been a long term keeper/bat solution.

He was the best batsman on the Mark Nicholas led 'A' team tour to Zimbabwe (which also included players like Atherton).

He was unlucky he hit bad form on a tough tour and it killed his career.

I wouldnt call it a terrible selection at he time.

Poor sod was sooo out of his depth though. But well argued in his defence. IIRC the fuss at the time was more about Russell's abence than Blakey per se, which kind of supports your last point.

 

[wpdavid]

Well, we've had "worst cricketers" before. I think this is more inexplicable call-ups married with rubbish performances. Blakey and Rhodes were decent in county cricket.

Fair point. I think that could be said about a couple of the batsmen mentioned, such as Maddy & Habib.

 

[Langeveldt]

South Africa
Selection - Thami Tsolekile/Robin Peterson/Justin Ontong
Non Selection - Lance Klusener

 

[zaremba]

Yes fair point about Blakey, and I remember at the time thinking he was a worthwhile selection. Not sure I agree with you about Hegg though - he was a very well respected keeper.

 

[Goughy]

Maybe one of the English players with the worst long term FC record seems to fit the bill according to cricinfo.

Id never rated him, and thats why I had a quick look

but his attacking instincts were never fully appreciated or properly utilised during his 13-match, 11-year Test career. In hindsight, he was invariably selected when he should have been ignored, and ignored when he should have been selected,

EDIT- Ned Larkins

 

[fredfertang]

Good old Ned - you could mortgage your house on him - if he hadn't beaten you to it

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Heath Te-Ihi-O-Te-Rangi Davis

 

[Dissector]

I thought the idea of picking Dinesh Karthik as a specialist opener was pure lunacy. He did well enough on the England tour that it seemed to be working for a while but it was never going to last.