The worst selections and non-selections in Test history

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Was he a bowler only? No! He was a top class batsmen as well. Made several centuries in above seasons.

Judging from his career numbers, you seem to be a bit loose with the phrase "top class" there.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Possibly the worst attack chosen for England in "modern"ish times was against Pakistan at Lords in 1982. The four specialist bowlers where Derek Pringle, Ian Greig, Robin Jackman and Eddie Hemmings. (Admittedly bolstered considerably by all-rounder Ian Botham - but still fairly inept for an international attack.)

 

[wpdavid]

Possibly the worst attack chosen for England in "modern"ish times was against Pakistan at Lords in 1982. The four specialist bowlers where Derek Pringle, Ian Greig, Robin Jackman and Eddie Hemmings. (Admittedly bolstered considerably by all-rounder Ian Botham - but still fairly inept for an international attack.)

The joke at the time was that Hemmings was the quickest bowler on view, Botham beginning to pick up the weight problems that would fully surface in Aus 5 months later.

 

[stumpski]

Glamorgan's Jim McConnon preferred to Jim Laker for the 1954-55 Ashes tour. And Middlesex and CU's John Warr selected for Freddie Brown's tour four years earlier, ahead of several more deserving candidates - Derbyshire's Les Jackson in particular. Warr took 1 for 281 and never played another Test.

 

[Burgey]

Not in terms of numbers but BJ just oozed talent in the early days. I've still got one of those old WWoS cricket annuals they put out every year and even in 1989/90, he was featured as a star of the future. Just a failed experiment, hoping he'd come good given the right opportunities. Much like Shane Lee (who I thought was a better batsman at least).



They had their favourites and Steve Waugh was the beneficiary of a lot of faith himself. Holdsworth just wasn't 'in' in the same way BJ was from what I heard, similarly Haydos at that time. Was no coincidence his opportunities were limited to ODI's in the early days when Simmo was coach who was often accused of preferential treatment to the equivalent NSW player (Slater over Haydos in 1993, Taylor over Moody in 1989).

BJ wasn't up to it in 93 IMO, but kudos for his efforts in 95 int eh WI. He bowled some really good spells there and was pretty effective on occasions, especially given McDermott and Fleming were both injured early in the tour.

BJ, Reiffel and McGrath were the quicks and they did a superb job, especially in the first test, which laid the platform for a series win.

 

[Michaelf7777777]

- Albert Trott not being picked for Aus in 1896
- Bradman being dropped after his test debut
- Archie Jackson not being picked before the 5th test of the 1928/29 ashes series
- Eddie Gilbert never being picked for Australia
- NZ 1937 squad to tour England (Arguably the worse piece of selectorship in cricket history)
- Chipperfield, Walker, Ward and Waite being picked for the 1938 Ashes tour ahead of Ross Gregory, Tallon, Grimmett and Gilbert respectably
- Ian Craig being picked for the 1953 Ashes tour
- Ian Johnson being picked as Aus captain ahead of Keith Miller
- Jack Alabaster not being chosen for NZ tour of the subcontinent and England in 1965

 

[Flem274*]

- Albert Trott not being picked for Aus in 1896
- Bradman being dropped after his test debut
- Archie Jackson not being picked before the 5th test of the 1928/29 ashes series
- Eddie Gilbert never being picked for Australia
- NZ 1937 squad to tour England (Arguably the worse piece of selectorship in cricket history)- Chipperfield, Walker, Ward and Waite being picked for the 1938 Ashes tour ahead of Ross Gregory, Tallon, Grimmett and Gilbert respectably
- Ian Craig being picked for the 1953 Ashes tour
- Ian Johnson being picked as Aus captain ahead of Keith Miller
- Jack Alabaster not being chosen for NZ tour of the subcontinent and England in 1965

Pretty sure I wrote up a thread on that. Our no-county players policy was the work of retards imo. It ensured we had no Dempster for a start, and he'd walk into an NZ all time XI, especially because he can open.

 

[nightprowler10]

Mohammad Sami and Asim Kamal. Work it out.

 

[SJS]

Possibly the worst attack chosen for England in "modern"ish times was against Pakistan at Lords in 1982. The four specialist bowlers where Derek Pringle, Ian Greig, Robin Jackman and Eddie Hemmings. (Admittedly bolstered considerably by all-rounder Ian Botham - but still fairly inept for an international attack.)

They did have better choices I believe.

- Underwood was still playing (he played his last Test for England less than a year ago and was to go an to play another five years of FC cricket.
- Edmonds was available.
- Emburey was available
- As far as the new ball is concerned there was John Lever, still bowling very well for Essex.
- There was Les Taylor of Leicestershire. They couldn't have found him too old to make a debut at 28 because they chose him to play for England three years later.​

 

[Lillian Thomson]

They did have better choices I believe.

- Underwood was still playing (he played his last Test for England less than a year ago and was to go an to play another five years of FC cricket.
- Edmonds was available.
- Emburey was available
- As far as the new ball is concerned there was John Lever, still bowling very well for Essex.
- There was Les Taylor of Leicestershire. They couldn't have found him too old to make a debut at 28 because they chose him to play for England three years later.​

Underwood, Emburey and Lever were serving three year suspensions for going on the Rebel Tour to South Africa.
When Bob Willis was injured just before the match they choose Robin Jackman as a replacement so I don't think age came into their thinking as he was 37.

 

[SJS]

Underwood, Emburey and Lever were serving three year suspensions for going on the Rebel Tour to South Africa.
When Bob Willis was injured just before the match they choose Robin Jackman as a replacement so I don't think age came into their thinking as he was 37.

Oh yes indeed.

 

[wpdavid]

Underwood, Emburey and Lever were serving three year suspensions for going on the Rebel Tour to South Africa.
When Bob Willis was injured just before the match they choose Robin Jackman as a replacement so I don't think age came into their thinking as he was 37.

I think Les Taylor may also have been banned for going on the 1982 SA trip.

The oddest omission for the whole of that summer, given the loss of 3 or 4 guys for SA-related bans, was Graham Dilley. Unless he was injured or so out of form that even Kent weren't playing him.

EDIT
Just checked, and yes Taylor did go to SA in 1982.

 

[Goughy]

I think Les Taylor may also have been banned for going on the 1982 SA trip.

The oddest omission for the whole of that summer, given the loss of 3 or 4 guys for SA-related bans, was Graham Dilley. Unless he was injured or so out of form that even Kent weren't playing him.

What about Mike Hendick. Did he have a SA ban?

Even if he did he may have been worth a mention here as some others have been.

Its possible he was injured. I love watching old tape of Hendrick bowl.

 

[wpdavid]

What about Mike Hendick. Did he have a SA ban?

Even if he did he may have been worth a mention here as some others have been.

Its possible he was injured. I love watching old tape of Hendrick bowl.

Yup, Hendrick had been part of the 1982 SA trip as well. One of the reasons we had such a dire attack in 1982 was the unexpected loss of Old, Hendrick, Lever, Underwood & Emburey (plus Taylor). Even though the first 3 were past their best, they were still a league or two above the likes of Pringle, Greig & Jackman.

The guy who was unlucky to completely miss out in 1982 was probably Paul Allott, since his omission was based on failing to run though India on completely unhelpful pitches the previous winter.

 

[Goughy]

1982 was thin picking for English bowlers.

With a min of 20 wickets, the leading English bowler in FC cricket was Mike Gatting

Averages dominated by foreign players and little available quality.

 

[GIMH]

Jeez that is a real shocker!

 

[wpdavid]

1982 was thin picking for English bowlers.

With a min of 20 wickets, the leading English bowler in FC cricket was Mike Gatting

Averages dominated by foreign players and little available quality.

Ugh.

However, I see that Dilley was playing and averaged under 30. Given some creditable test performances against Aus & WI before losing confidence during 1981, his complete omission during 1982 looks odder than ever. Not that May ever had the first idea what he was doing, of course.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, did he upset somebody?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Anyone know the story of this fella? 83 wickets @ 23.72 in the season in question, but hardly played again, only took 88 FC wickets in total. Clearly had ability.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

- Bradman being dropped after his test debut

In retrospect, yes, but he didn't exactly set the world alight on his debut.