All Time Sussex XI

[a massive zebra]

CB Fry
Murray Goodwin
Javed Miandad
KS Ranjitsinhji
Ted Dexter
Imran Khan (cpt)
Tony Greig
Jim Parks (wk)
Maurice Tate
Mushtaq Ahmed
John Snow

12th Man: KS Duleepsinhji

I have tried to limit myself to three overseas players. Ranji, Greig & Goodwin are eligible as domestic players as the former two played for England while the latter qualifies by residence.

 

[zaremba]

Duleepsinji in for Javed I think - he played more for Sussex and also averaged 58 for England. Also it doesn't hurt to have another Maharaja in the team along with his uncle and Lord Ted and The Man Who Wouldn't be King of Albania. And perhaps we could squeeze a bishop in there too - David Sheppard to replace Murray Goodwin? It would be interesting to see how Imran Khan coped with not being the most lordly member of the team.

 

[stumpski]

Three overseas players too many for an all-time county team though, IMO. Really should be able to get by with Mushy. Less of a need for Imran with Snow in the attack.

And no point in playing Jim Parks if he's going to bat at eight - he was a proper batsman who could keep wicket, like Alec Stewart. I would be interested to know who Zaremba rates as the best specialist keepers to have played for the county - I've read good things about Street and Cornford.

 

[fredfertang]

I would be interested to know who Zaremba rates as the best specialist keepers to have played for the county

My money is on Matt Prior

 

[zaremba]

Three overseas players too many for an all-time county team though, IMO. Really should be able to get by with Mushy. Less of a need for Imran with Snow in the attack.

And no point in playing Jim Parks if he's going to bat at eight - he was a proper batsman who could keep wicket, like Alec Stewart. I would be interested to know who Zaremba rates as the best specialist keepers to have played for the county - I've read good things about Street and Cornford.

I know shamefully little about Sussex wicketkeeping history. Something for me to read up on. I'm also generally happy with a batsman / wicketkeeper. So I'd be happy with Parks.

As for overseas players, if we had to keep just one, it would be Imran rather than Mushy. I know, I know, I know. But Imran, Snow, Tate makes a pretty good seam attack. It leaves the spin department a bit exposed but I just couldn't leave out Imran.

 

[stumpski]

Still a bit top-heavy though isn't it? How about Garth Le Roux for Miandad, and numbers 4 to 9 all move up one?

There is a tendency for people to pack these teams with batting, but there's not much point having players like Greig and Parks bat lower than they did during their career.

 

[fredfertang]

Can't really have a Sussex all time XI without some family connection so I'd suggest Jim Parks snr in place of Goodwin

 

[Lillian Thomson]

John Barclay for Murray Goodwin.

 

[zaremba]

Le Roux would be a hot contender for any all-time Sussex XI. Another o/s player though obviously. And a vicious lower-order hitter when the mood took him IIRC.

An outside bet for another Sussex man in the fast bowling stakes is Ian Thomson. Nearly 1600 FC wickets @ 20.

However with Imran, Snow, Tate, Grieg and Dexter there may not be a need for another seamer.

If we can have only one o/s player, and I choose Imran, then I'd be tempted to go with James Langridge to offer some SLA stuff while also holding a competent bat. 1,530 FC wickets @ 22 and 31,000 FC runs @ 35.

 

[stumpski]

I thought of suggesting Thomson, but perhaps too similar to Maurice Tate? I would imagine he bowled at around the same pace. George Cox was a better batsman than Barclay I think. So was Paul Parker for that matter.

 

[zaremba]

Just looked up Big Garth and am shocked to discover that he's currently serving 4 years for 48 counts of fraud.

 

[stumpski]

And didn't John Langridge score the most runs or hundreds of any player not capped by England? Obviously unlucky to be a contemporary of Hutton and Washbrook, as well as losing vital years to the war.

 

[fredfertang]

Just looked up Big Garth and am shocked to discover that he's currently serving 4 years for 48 counts of fraud.

Happen he was a mate of Wayne Larkins?

 

[zaremba]

Parker 12th man maybe?

 

[stumpski]

Just looked up Big Garth and am shocked to discover that he's currently serving 4 years for 48 counts of fraud.

I'd be interested to see the link to that actually.

 

[zaremba]

Yes Jno Langridge had that distinction. His brother Jas did play Tests, although a less famous name. Jas' attraction for my team is his bowling.

The Langridges are top of the list for the Sussex Stalwarts XI. Along with Ken Suttle, Ian Thomson et al. Actually that might be a more rewarding team to pick.

Speaking of which I have a friend whose username on the Sussex messageboard used to be The_Paul_Phillipson_Appreciation_Society. A prize for anyone who knows anything about Paul Phillipson (including the reason why he was ever picked to play in the team).

 

[zaremba]

I'd be interested to see the link to that actually.

cricinfo and wikipedia I'm afraid...

 

[fredfertang]

Speaking of which I have a friend whose username on the Sussex messageboard used to be The_Paul_Phillipson_Appreciation_Society. A prize for anyone who knows anything about Paul Phillipson (including the reason why he was ever picked to play in the team).

What's the prize Mr Z?

Is it worth me going upstairs to dig out his benefit brochure?

 

[stumpski]

Was Phillipson picked mainly for his fielding? He used to bat at 6 or 7 and bowl but rarely IIRC ... and his first name was 'Christopher' I think!


Think he came from a coastal town as well, Chichester or Wittering somewhere like that - I'm not looking this up, honest!

 

[Lillian Thomson]

A prize for anyone who knows anything about Paul Phillipson (including the reason why he was ever picked to play in the team).

I'm not sure if this counts but I once called him a **** when he dismissed Viv Richards cheaply and ruined everyone's day at Taunton.