Was dropped by Campbell to allow him to play it TBF............... and what's Mike Watkinson doing in such a list - surely that matchsaving innings against the WIndies disqualifies him?
There is no way he's remotely close to being the worst. Good batsman who may or may not have been Test-standard but was never given the slightest chance to show either way (if you said someone was a no-hoper after 3 Test innings' you wouldn't have many Test-class batsmen).Where's Aftab Habib?
Munton for me, like Steve Watkin, Martin Bicknell, Phil Newport, Martin McCague, Peter Martin, Mike Smith, Kabir Ali and Jonathan Lewis, got a ridiculously raw deal. There can of course be no certainty that any of those bowlers would have been Test-class and in fact in the cases of some I'd be fairly confident they wouldn't be. But all were a damn sight more likely to be than the Neil Williamses, Ben Hollioakes, Chris Schofields, Richard Dawsons, Gareth Battys, Liam Plunketts, Ian Blackwells, Sajid Mahmoods, Darren Pattinsons and Amjad Khans. And in fact also than the David Lawrences, Paul Taylors, Alan Igglesdens, Joey Benjamins, Min Patels, Mark Ealhams, Simon Browns, Chris Silverwoods, Ed Giddinses, James Kirtleys, Martin Saggerses, Shaun Udals and Chris Tremletts. It's an example of how woeful England selection typically is that some of those within the latter lot played ahead of some of those within the former lot - ever.In 1992 the distinctly ordinary Tim Munton and Neil Mallender both got called up against Pakistan - in fairness to Mallender he had a good game at Headingley but Munton looked totally unremarkable
Disagree with a number of your targets there. Ealham, Silverwood, Giddins and Tremlett were all good bowlers and weren't necessarily any worse than, say, McCague or Newport.Munton for me, like Steve Watkin, Martin Bicknell, Phil Newport, Martin McCague, Peter Martin, Mike Smith, Kabir Ali and Jonathan Lewis, got a ridiculously raw deal. There can of course be no certainty that any of those bowlers would have been Test-class and in fact in the cases of some I'd be fairly confident they wouldn't be. But all were a damn sight more likely to be than the Neil Williamses, Ben Hollioakes, Chris Schofields, Richard Dawsons, Gareth Battys, Liam Plunketts, Ian Blackwells, Sajid Mahmoods, Darren Pattinsons and Amjad Khans. And in fact also than the David Lawrences, Paul Taylors, Alan Igglesdens, Joey Benjamins, Min Patels, Mark Ealhams, Simon Browns, Chris Silverwoods, Ed Giddinses, James Kirtleys, Martin Saggerses, Shaun Udals and Chris Tremletts.
It's fair to say that Watki did look like a sitting duck prior to his let off but once he settled down he batted bloody well with the tail in a high pressure situation - I agree his selection for England at 34 looked odd but he was having a fine season and had been taking wickets for two or three seasons with that somewhat unconventional off spin of his - some of the gloss has gone since his unsuccessful stint as coach but as a player he was enormously popular in Lancashire - it is said we have short arms and deep pockets but in 95, which just happened to be his benefit year, Watki netted 209k - all tax free of course - so I don't suppose he cares too much how history judges his test careerWas dropped by Campbell to allow him to play it TBF.
Seriously, surely even the most delighted Lancastrian cannot claim they honestly believed Watkinson had it in him to play the post-dropped-catch part of that knock? His even appearing at Test level was quite extraordinary; his playing an important part in a series which had a pretty good outcome for England was even more so.
Yes, was taking wickets at an astonishing rate a few years ago but has been bogged down by injuries, it would seem.Can't believe Kabir Ali hasn't gotten another Test, considering how good is FC record is, when considering there have been randoms picked (Amjad Khan) and guys nobody had ever heard of (Darren Pattinson). Obviously I don't watch County Cricket (since I don't live in England), but as an outsider, his record looks pretty good.
Those would probably be my top three, though my top four would be them + Amjad Khan and in all honesty it would be fair to pick any order from the four.I'd probably say Dawson followed by Sajid Mahmood and Chris Schofiled.
I'd argue that Silverwood, Giddins and Tremlett were all potentially as good as McCague, Newport and the rest (Ealham not quite so TBH, much as I loved him as a OD bowler), but McCague et al performed better for longer than they did. Tremlett especially has in my view never really come close to realising his potential, and time is fast running-out. I reckon it's next year or never for him.Disagree with a number of your targets there. Ealham, Silverwood, Giddins and Tremlett were all good bowlers and weren't necessarily any worse than, say, McCague or Newport.
Yeah, had a ridiculous 2008 season. 59 wickets @ 18.74 and a SR of 31.67. As has been said though, injuries are a fairly big part of his non-selection.Can't believe Kabir Ali hasn't gotten another Test, considering how good is FC record is, when considering there have been randoms picked (Amjad Khan) and guys nobody had ever heard of (Darren Pattinson). Obviously I don't watch County Cricket (since I don't live in England), but as an outsider, his record looks pretty good.
Given he's not and Botham, Gatting & Embers are, I think that's a fair call.maybe Ronnie Irani should also be on that list
Nope Ronnie Irani may have been well below Test-standard and in a stronger time would not have played at all but there's absolutely no way he's anywhere near as bad as anyone on that list. Yes, better even than the ageing Botham who played in the 1990s.maybe Ronnie Irani should also be on that list