CW Reserve League Draft - VOTING

[Dan]

To start with, the rules of the draft were as follows:

• The player drafted must not have played ODI cricket;
• Their domestic career must have been completed by 1980 (exc. South Africans, for whom the date is 1991); and
• Sir Donald Bradman is NOT eligible for selection, given the randomised draft order.

Please note that these XIs are for One Day International Cricket.


Charter 77 (Michael7777777)
W.G. Grace | Barry Richards | Graeme Pollock | K.S. Ranjisinhji | John R. Reid | Jack Gregory | Warwick Armstrong [c] | Dennis Lindsay [+] | Learie Constantine | Clarrie Grimmett | Fred Spofforth
(12th man: George Giffen)

Abbott's ODI XI Who Never Played an ODI (Monk)
Victor Trumper | Clyde Walcott [+] | Patsy Hendren | Archie Jackson | Colin Bland | Frank Woolley | Monty Noble | Richie Benaud [c] | Ray Lindwall | Alan Davidson | C.T.B. Turner
(12th man: Unaarrimin aka Johnny Mullagh)

Valer's XI
Les Ames [+] | Arthur Morris | Wally Hammond | George Headley | Frank Worrell [c] | Eddie Paynter | Aubrey Faulkner | Eddie Barlow | Bill Lockwood | Fred Trueman| Bill O'Reilly
(12th man: Bill Johnston)

morgieb's XI
Jack Hobbs | Len Hutton | Dudley Nourse | Stan McCabe | Gilbert Jessop | Trevor Goddard | John Waite [+] | Hedley Verity | Hugh Tayfield | George Lohmann | Sydney Barnes
(12th man: Johnny Wardle)

Dan's XI (rvd619323)
C.B. Fry | Denis Compton | Charlie Macartney | Everton Weekes | Keith Miller [c] | Neil Harvey | Mike Procter | Don Tallon [+] | J.B. 'Bart' King | Wilfred Rhodes | Harold Larwood
(12th man: Subhash Gupte)

[AndyZaltzHair]

Very tough choice between Monk and Dan; wish I could vote two teams. Gone for Monk

[kingkallis]

Liked both Morgieb's and Valer's XI but went with Morgeib as he has traditional openers ( Probably the best pair ever ) + finely balanced bowling unit...

[Dan]

Dan’s Pre-ODI ODI XI have been transported through time into 2012, to play a series of One Day Internationals against the very best. How would they fare?

The opening partnership of C.B. Fry and Denis Compton would be a worrying sight for any opening bowler. Fry was the county batsman of his generation, averaging 50 when such scores were near-immortal, given the state of pitches. Compton, on the other hand, was a dasher – a hitter, an entertainer. He has been promoted to the opening slot to act in the role of a Shane Watson, allowing him to play aggressively and take advantage of the PowerPlay field, while dulling the effect of his less-than-stellar running between the wickets. Fry, also, would presumably prefer to deal in boundaries and entertain the crowd, but could also drop back into rotating the strike when need be.

If Compton falls after 12 or 13 overs, having made a very attractive 40, it brings in Charlie Macartney. While Fry would continue to rotate the strike in the non-PowerPlay over’s, Macartney would immediately start playing unorthodox shots, buzzing along at a run a ball, and splitting whatever field an opposition captain put in place. Doubtless, he would become a master of the reverse sweep and scoop, and, given the pitches he made his finest innings on, would have no trouble playing strokes to any delivery. His cuts off middle stump, and an ability to play aggressive shots all around the ground would be a bowler’s nightmare.

Around the 20th over, Fry would doubtless attempt one stroke too many and fall to a catch in the deep. This brings to the crease one of the best batsmen in history – Sir Everton Weekes. Weekes would slot in exactly where Fry left off, rotating the strike well and placing the ball to the boundary, beating any field set for him. Weekes and Macartney would be an incredible middle-order pairing, never letting the game stagnate, and always being able to score that pressure-relieving boundary.

By the 36th or 37th over, both Weekes and Macartney would have fallen, bringing in a pair of fantastic finishing batsmen – Keith Miller and Neil Harvey. Miller has both the technique and power to race along at a strike rate of 120+ in the last 10-12 overs, while Harvey can play an innings reminiscent of Michael Hussey – running Miller hard to turn ones into twos, picking gaps with precision and judging every stroke carefully - never wasting a ball or looking like getting out. Harvey also has the ability to hit big, lofting the ball over the infield to gain either two, four or six runs on each occasion.

Should the bowling attack prove lucky and dismiss one of these men, Mike Procter has a strong batting pedigree, with over 54 First Class hundreds scored in an aggressive manner. Don Tallon can work the field from the word go, as well as hitting the big shots; Bart King was good enough to score numerous triple tons in America's premier competition, and centuries in the First Class game; and the tail does not resemble a tail – Wilfred Rhodes and Harold Larwood each have First Class centuries to their names.

When this XI comes out to bowl, Bart King and Harold Larwood form a fearsome opening partnership. King is renowned for ‘discovering’ swing; his infamous ‘angler’ causing difficulties for even the very best batsmen. His bowling lead the Philadelphians to an innings win over a touring Australian side including the likes of Giffen and Blackham – with the wicketkeeper describing King as being up there with England’s very best. Larwood, as we all know, was quick, dangerous and deadly. Between King’s inswing and Larwood’s combination of good length balls and rib-ticklers at serious pace, it would be a difficult proposition for any batsman.

There’s no let up in this XI either, with Keith Miller and Mike Procter coming on as ‘change’ bowlers. Procter was scarily quick, accurate and prolific – his first class bowling average is under 20, and his Test average, from a short career, is one of the best of all time. Miller was a shock weapon, fast, accurate and deadly. His destructive bowling matched anyone in the world.

Backing up the fast men is a spinner of unparalleled prolificness, Wilfred Rhodes. 4000 FC wickets at 14 speak for themselves. He doesn’t dart the ball in, instead preferring to toss it up – his somewhat exaggerated statement of never being pulled or cut holds some weight; he did not pitch short often. With an ability to turn the ball and restrict scoring, Rhodes is the perfect spinner to complement the 4 pacemen.

Should someone get hit around, however, there is no shortage of back-up options to race through overs. Charles Macartney was a very good left-arm spinner pre-war, but developed primarily into a batsmen after the conflict; C.B. Fry averaged under 30 in First Class cricket, and is a strong medium pace option to turn to; while Denis Compton bowled that most rare of deliveries – the left arm unorthodox, or ‘Chinaman’. And he did it well, over 600 First Class victims to his name at a shade over 32. Getting 50 overs out of this side would be no issue.

Miller’s inventive captaincy, alongside the fielding skill of Harvey in the covers add the intangibles that can make or break a great side. There is not a ‘weak’ fieldsman on the team.

But, apart from skillsets, how would each player react to One Day cricket? Well, Fry was always an entertainer, wowing dinner guests with hyperbolic stories of being offered the throne of Albania, equaling the long-jump world record and basically doing everything anyone could ever want to do, and being good at it. The entertainment theme continues through the flamboyant Compton, who would be more than accepting of limited overs cricket. Miller, additionally, would take to it like a duck to water. The idea of knocking over a game in a single day, and the more even match-ups it creates would doubtless appeal to him. Macartney, Weekes and Harvey would doubtless accept it – Macartney seeing it as a medium for dangerous, unorthodox strokeplay, while Weekes and Harvey both loved to bat. Surely a ten-over day would appeal to both King and Larwood, taking into account the amount of overs they both bowled each and every season. Procter played limited overs cricket with success. That just leaves Wilfred Rhodes, the most traditional of traditionalists; the archetypal Yorkshireman. Should he object, Subhash Gupte can doubtless fill the void with his big-turning leg breaks and googlies.

[watson]

Tempted by Valers team but the tail was a bit long for ODIs; even though Lockwood was a 'handy' batsman in his time.

In the end Dan's middle order (5, 6, & 7 especially), plus Larwood coming in at No.11 no less, proved the difference. Benefit of the doubt given to Fry and King.

Very close, but Dan.

[AndyZaltzHair]

Nice entertaining read Dan

[Valer]

Tempted by Valers team but the tail was a bit long for ODIs; even though Lockwood was a 'handy' batsman in his time.

To be honest I'm a touch worried about the tail as well and as I mentioned in the other thread the following lineup would hit the park as often as not.

1. Les Ames (rhb)
2. Arthur Morris (lhb)
3. Wally Hammond
4. Frank Worrell
5..Eddie Paynter
6 George Headley
7. Aubrey Faulkner
8. Eddie Barlow
9. Bill Lockwood
10. Freddy Trueman
11. Bill O' Reilly

12 .Bill Johnston

[Himannv]

Put the list of teams in the OP. Makes it a bit easier to compare the sides.

I reckon this might be hard to judge on the whole.

[Jager]

Went for Dan's team, I can't imagine them losing.

[Dan]

To be honest I'm a touch worried about the tail as well and as I mentioned in the other thread the following lineup would hit the park as often as not.

1. Les Ames (rhb)
2. Arthur Morris (lhb)
3. Wally Hammond
4. Frank Worrell
5..Eddie Paynter
6 George Headley
7. Aubrey Faulkner
8. Eddie Barlow
9. Bill Lockwood
10. Freddy Trueman
11. Bill O' Reilly

12 .Bill Johnston

I'm amending the OP now.

[Jager]

Monk's team is godly too! Davidson

[Jager]

Disagree with a lot of what you said about the oldies taking to ODI's though Dan

[Eds]

Valer's side just edges Dan's, for me. Just has everything.

Michael's being shafted with 0 votes, thus far, btw. He'd be 3rd, I feel. The likes of Pollock, Richards. Grace, Armstrong. Would be incredible in ODIs.

[MrPrez]

Valer just edges Dan.

[watson]

To be honest I'm a touch worried about the tail as well and as I mentioned in the other thread the following lineup would hit the park as often as not.

1. Les Ames (rhb)
2. Arthur Morris (lhb)
3. Wally Hammond
4. Frank Worrell
5..Eddie Paynter
6 George Headley
7. Aubrey Faulkner
8. Eddie Barlow
9. Bill Lockwood
10. Freddy Trueman
11. Bill O' Reilly

12 .Bill Johnston

Sorry Valer, I'm not too familiar with the 'other thread'. Bit preoccupied with the other draft going on.

Both variations of your team are excellent. I assume that Hammond and Barlow will be bowling 10 overs between them? With Worrell chipping in if necessary. Yes, that would probably work with (perhaps) Hammond bowling in tandem with Trueman, and Barlow bowling in tandem with O'Reilly.

I'd also imagine that Faulkner and Lockwood would bowl the final overs for your side. Faulkner because of his faster yorker, and Lockwood because of his clever change of pace.