Roar Guru
Joined April 2020
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Interested in stadium politics, competition programming, sporting administration, cricket history and trivia
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Its best three bowlers, as well as its wicketkeeper, are among the very best of all time.
This month’s side is good, with an impressive middle-order trio. However it could spend some long days in the field chasing leather, and be…
This team is a seriously good one, and ranks among the strongest in the entire series, as it contains seven great batsmen, and four superb bowlers.
January's team is well balanced with the potential to bat deep in the line-up and some swing and spin options for the bowlers.
Many of the world's top cricketers were born in December: Two were born on Christmas Day, and another on New Year’s Eve.
This is the most watchable team in the entire series, and one of the strongest. I’d travel far, and pay a lot, to see…
This team is stronger than the one for September, and arguably one of the best in the entire series. Whether batting or fielding, the…
While this month’s team might lack the batting strength of the August-born team of the month, a superb five-man bowling attack and outstanding captain…
Keen cricket followers will already know what this article is about, simply by its title. Seventy-five years ago, on Saturday 14 August 1948, the…
Following on from last month’s July-born World Cricket XI we move on to August. While arguably not as strong asJuly, it does boast one…
Another month, another team. This one is arguably stronger than the June-born Team of the month. Some all-time greats have again missed out on…
A few years ago I named twelve pairs of Australian and English teams, with each player eligible only for the side representing the month…
"He was relentless, a chill wind of antagonism blew from him on the sunniest day." Neville Cardus Sydney Francis Barnes was born 150 years…
Next week will mark the 50th anniversary of a memorable Ashes series. A soon-to-be-great Australian team was led by one their best ever captains,…
We armchair historians love picking fantasy teams. The best pre-WWI side, the greatest post-2000 eleven, and everything in between. The eras that we nominate…
Each player listed below has earned his place in this composite Australian team, with an outstanding Ashes performance at the Sydney Cricket Ground during…
Australia’s Colosseum has hosted many wonderful games against England. Each player listed below has earned his place in this composite Australian team, with an…
Adelaide Oval has hosted many wonderful Ashes matches - from 'Amazing Adelaide' in the 2006-07 series, all the way back to spinner Chuck Fleetwood-Smith's…
Adelaide Oval has hosted many wonderful Ashes matches - from 'Amazing Adelaide' in the 2006-07 series, all the way back to spinner Chuck Fleetwood-Smith's…
The Gabba has been Australia’s happy hunting ground since 1946, including 12 wins in Ashes contests. It has also been the location for four…
Agreed, Wikipetia.
One whole page per Shield game, and per Currie Cup match as well. In winter, one page per County club. Kersi’s articles on cricketing families. And a centrefold of a famous player.
RIP, David Lord: Australian sports journalism icon was 'always thoughtful and thought-provoking'
Thanks Ace, I appreciate it.
I do intend to submit the series’ 12th article on 1 May, for publication hopefully during the following few days. Then later in May, submit an article ranking all 12 sides, as well as one on a significant anniversary worth acknowledging.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
I hope that being named in one of these sides, isn’t proving to be a curse.
Sadly, Derek Underwood passed away earlier this week. He followed Mike Procter in Feb, and Bishen Bedi last Oct.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Bernard Lance Cairns
Graham Anthony Richard Lock
Plus lots of Sri Lankans but they may have different naming conventions from Anglicised ones.
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor
Robert Neil Harvey
Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott
Wessel Johannes Cronje
Pinnaduwage Aravinda de Silva
Balapuwaduge Kusal Gimhan Mendis
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Hi Pierro,
You’ve just named 3 members of my May-born side. I’ll be submitting it in 2-3 weeks’ time for publication.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Hi Targa,
Was Ramdin that good a batsman ? Averaged 25.87 in the highest-scoring era of all time. And scored just 4 tons in 74 games. Admittedly got to fifty 19 times in 126 innings.
Team of the Month: a March-born World Cricket XI
I’ll be interested to see how much interest the regular Roarers take in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The IPL doesn’t seem to be making an impact on them. Out of sight, out of mind ?
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
I might play both McDermott and Gillespie ahead of Murali, in Aus, SA and even NZ ?
Marshall-Barnes-Gillespie-McDermott on a fast bowler’s pitch would be a handful.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Cheers matth, looking forward to the next ones. It was your A-Z series in the early-2020 first lockdown that prompted me to start. And the page is looking pretty sparse, could use some content.
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Wow. Last year I had one rejected for being too long.
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Gerry Alexander (WI) to keep then !
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Brian Bolus (Eng)
Graeme Watson (Aus)
William Storer (Eng, wk)
Jeff Dujon (WI)
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Kevin Walters answers to Dougie
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Peter Matthew Siddle
Simon Mathew Katich
Joe Matthew Mennie
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Austin Matthews (Eng, 1937)
Craig Matthews (SA, 1992-1995)
Matt, Mat or Matthew... The Best XI that shares the popular great name to play top-level cricket
Hi Mike,
Not as strange as it sounds-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokers_v_Non-Smokers#:~:text=Two%20first%2Dclass%20cricket%20matches,by%20the%20other%27s%20national%20team.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Hi Choppy,
Do you want an April-born WA side ?
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Thanks JN,
And currently trying to come up with a theme for my next one.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Agreed, Mike.
And in ranking these 12 sides, I’ve tended to mark down those without a wrist-spinner. As you’ll see in a month’s time.
O’Reilly, Grimmett, Benaud, Mailey and Warne, as well as all-rounders Sobers, Armstrong, Steel and Simpson, made the cut.
But plenty of other high-quality ones were born in a month with better options. Including Faulkner, Vogler, Chandra, MacGill, Qadir and Yasir.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
I reckon this 11 plus Mankad and Gillespie, would make a great 13-man squad for all conditions.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Hi BG,
I also toyed briefly with Charlie Kellaway, to get that extra bowler in without unduly weakening the batting. But ultimately, I went with what I perceived as class, ahead of role. The strength of most sides in this series, means that any mere bits-and-pieces player would quickly be found out.
I was reluctant to drop Knott for Mankad, just to create a fifth genuine bowling option. Doing so would really upset Barnes, if it both reduced his workload, and led to a few chances going down.
Team of the Month: an April-born World Cricket XI
Did Hadlee and also Murali, have it easier or harder often being his side’s only decent bowler ?
Didn’t have to share the spoils, and got the choice of ends and favourable conditions, and the chance to clean up the tail. But also could get over-bowled.
Reliving the Eighties and a great era for fast bowlers
Thanks Gibbo,
Articles like this are the silver lining, to the cloud that is a winter without Test cricket.
Steve Bucknor to umpire
Steve Tikolo (the greatest-ever Kenyan cricketer)
Stephen Jefferies (Sth Af, Lancs and Hants, left-arm fast, 478 first-class wickets during isolation)
Steve O’Shaughnessy (Lancs and Worcs, scorer of a first-class ton in 35 minutes)
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/rewind-to-1983-the-fastest-hundred-that-never-was-675205
What’s in a name? The all-time great Steve XI