HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
It isn't? Blow me down sideways with a feather.
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CW Worst 15 Cricketers of All Time - The Results
- Thread starter HeathDavisSpeed
- Start date
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Number 15= Tony (ACS) Pigott
Highest Ranking 2
Total Points 10
Number of Votes Received 2/13
Anthony Pigott - a man whose had a middle name given after one of the most celebrated explorers of the 20th Century was a member of that specially exalted breed - the earnest County trier. Or at least that's how he should be remembered.
He plied his trade in County Cricket for not far shy of 20 years; firstly for Sussex where his right-arm seamers earned him 574 wickets at a shade under 32 between 1978 and 1993. A turncoat move to Surrey was shortlived and hampered by recurring back injuries.
The problem with back injuries probably doesn't come as a surprise given that he played some first class cricket in New Zealand for a couple of years - a country with a notorious record in crocked fast bowlers. Pigott, however enjoyed a particularly successful pair of seasons for Wellington.
It was during his time in Wellington that he 15 minutes of fame arose. Pigott, dropping the plans that he had of actually getting married that same weekend, was drafted into the touring England team for the 2nd Test of their 83/84 tour due to a late injury to Graham Dilley. The match was to be played on a suspicious looking batting surface at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. Even having Pigott parachuted into the team, an attack of Willis - Botham - Cowans - Pigott didn't look as abysmal on paper as it performed on the pitch against one of New Zealand's best ever line ups.
A decent opening salvo from Willis and Cowans saw the Kiwis struggle to come to terms with the surface and Pigott had some early success; removing the dour Bruce Edgar for a score of 1 off 33 balls, caught by Derek Randall. The wheels quickly came off the wagon for Pigott, who only 24 hours earlier had been taking part in a Plunket Shield match for Wellington up in Palmerston North. Coming off a workload of 35 overs (for little reward) and a night watchman cameo for the Wellingtonians, perhaps it was little surprise that Pigott soon tired and started to dish up an embarassing array of half volleys for the New Zealanders to feast on. Pigott was particularly friendly to Richard Hadlee who scored no less than 18 fours in a score of 99. The fact that Hadlee scored more boundaries than the England team achieved in both innings combined was no doubt partly due to this smorgasbord of pies which he was provided with. By no means was Pigott the only England bowler who had a bad day - Botham was equally culpable, but Botham at the time could not be so easily identified and used as a scapegoat for the test that Pigott could be. England capitulated for less than 100 runs in both innings and slipped to a horrendous innings defeat. Pigott again embarassed as he was dismissed Lbw to a Lance Cairns slower ball in the first dig.
Yes, a one test wonder, but one whose failings were so severe in that one appearance that it's earned him an entry into our countdown.
Pigott went on to fail as Chief Executive of Sussex where he was cited as struggling with the complexities of the role.
He has since gone on to be a pitch inspector for County Cricket, successfully deducting marks for a poor pitch. Something he may look back on and wish he'd been able to do to that infamous 1984 Lancaster Park wicket.
What they Said About Him
Highest Ranking 2
Total Points 10
Number of Votes Received 2/13
Anthony Pigott - a man whose had a middle name given after one of the most celebrated explorers of the 20th Century was a member of that specially exalted breed - the earnest County trier. Or at least that's how he should be remembered.
He plied his trade in County Cricket for not far shy of 20 years; firstly for Sussex where his right-arm seamers earned him 574 wickets at a shade under 32 between 1978 and 1993. A turncoat move to Surrey was shortlived and hampered by recurring back injuries.
The problem with back injuries probably doesn't come as a surprise given that he played some first class cricket in New Zealand for a couple of years - a country with a notorious record in crocked fast bowlers. Pigott, however enjoyed a particularly successful pair of seasons for Wellington.
It was during his time in Wellington that he 15 minutes of fame arose. Pigott, dropping the plans that he had of actually getting married that same weekend, was drafted into the touring England team for the 2nd Test of their 83/84 tour due to a late injury to Graham Dilley. The match was to be played on a suspicious looking batting surface at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. Even having Pigott parachuted into the team, an attack of Willis - Botham - Cowans - Pigott didn't look as abysmal on paper as it performed on the pitch against one of New Zealand's best ever line ups.
A decent opening salvo from Willis and Cowans saw the Kiwis struggle to come to terms with the surface and Pigott had some early success; removing the dour Bruce Edgar for a score of 1 off 33 balls, caught by Derek Randall. The wheels quickly came off the wagon for Pigott, who only 24 hours earlier had been taking part in a Plunket Shield match for Wellington up in Palmerston North. Coming off a workload of 35 overs (for little reward) and a night watchman cameo for the Wellingtonians, perhaps it was little surprise that Pigott soon tired and started to dish up an embarassing array of half volleys for the New Zealanders to feast on. Pigott was particularly friendly to Richard Hadlee who scored no less than 18 fours in a score of 99. The fact that Hadlee scored more boundaries than the England team achieved in both innings combined was no doubt partly due to this smorgasbord of pies which he was provided with. By no means was Pigott the only England bowler who had a bad day - Botham was equally culpable, but Botham at the time could not be so easily identified and used as a scapegoat for the test that Pigott could be. England capitulated for less than 100 runs in both innings and slipped to a horrendous innings defeat. Pigott again embarassed as he was dismissed Lbw to a Lance Cairns slower ball in the first dig.
Yes, a one test wonder, but one whose failings were so severe in that one appearance that it's earned him an entry into our countdown.
Pigott went on to fail as Chief Executive of Sussex where he was cited as struggling with the complexities of the role.
He has since gone on to be a pitch inspector for County Cricket, successfully deducting marks for a poor pitch. Something he may look back on and wish he'd been able to do to that infamous 1984 Lancaster Park wicket.
What they Said About Him
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Please Note: The person linked above who tried to defend Tony Pigott in fact awarded him 9 points of Creamy Goodness in this contest. Make of that what you will.
AndyZaltzHair
Hall of Fame Member
Where can I find 1-15 list? Anyone?
Hurricane
Hall of Fame Member
Vic Marks was one of the few spinners Lance Cairns couldn't hit for six if I recall correctly (been a long time).
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Thank you, Jager. I'm glad someone is following this thread.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Gimme some sugar, Heath!
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Number 15= Imrul Kayes
Highest Ranking 2
Total Points 10
Number of Votes Received 2/13
Imrul Kayes, the Bangladeshi opening batsman first ""burst"" onto the Test scene in 2008 with an incredible tour of South Africa.
However, before we get to that incredible tour, let us step back a little and analyse Kayes contribution to Bangladeshi cricket a little more. Born in Meherpur in 1987, by 2006, Kayes was playing first class cricket for Khulna Division. He played 10 first class games for them in 2007 and averaged a seemingly respectable 33.33 with the bat - 600 runs from 18 completed innings. However, this only put him in the 20s in the list of that season's batting averages, behind players like Ehsanul Haque and Nazimuddin who have never received the same number of opportunities as Kayes.
Worse was to follow as in advance of his Test debut touring South Africa he could only score 203 runs in 8 completed innings (25.38) in the next Bangladeshi first class season. On the back of such wonderful batting form, Kayes was drafted into the Bangladesh Test squad to tour one of the World's batting graveyards - South Africa on the back of some reasonable games for the Bangladeshi academy and some pretty atrocious ODIs against New Zealand and South Africa.
Armed with this secret recipe to success (so secret that very few people actually try what the Bangladeshis did and chuck a young unproven opener with a pretty unflattering record into Test cricket) Kayes took to the field in Bloemfontein with his new teammates. He stood and watched as Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla added 200+ for the 2nd wicket and then came out to bat on the 2nd day between lunch and tea.
Kayes fought for a while - heroically seeing off Steyn, Ntini and Morkel before being caught by Amla off the 'destructive' Harris bat-pad shortly before tea. After tea, Kayes found him like many Bangladeshi opening batsmen before and since, padding up again as the Bangladeshi's followed on before the close. This time Steyn cleaned him up off the inside edge as he found himself dismissed twice in less than half a day.
Things didn't get better for Kayes in the 2nd Test in Centurion as he was dismissed twice ct. Smith b. Ntini with tentative prods outside the offstump to be pouched in the slips cordon.
Ah well, a learning experience for the lad. Not good enough at this stage to face the South Africans in their own back yard, send him back to first class cricket and get some confidence back.
Nope, even better than that - let's take play him against the touring Sri Lankas and ensure that we completely **** up his International career. Maybe he'll do better on familiar wickets? Great thinking there, Bangladesh.
A reasonable 33 in the first innings at Mirpur was followed by a lazy run out in the 2nd innings and another pair of single digit scores at Chittagong.
Still, you have to appreciate the Bangladeshi's tenacity. Despite only occasionally showing the temperament required for Test cricket (most notably in two fighting innings at Lord's whilst touring England in 2010), Kayes still gets selected.
His current record of 16 test, 579 runs at 17.15 really does put him amongst the exalted company of this countdown.
Career Highlight
vs. India at Mirpur, Kayes was dismissed 1st ball in the first innings caught down the leg side wafting at an Ishant Sharma loosener, and followed this up in the 2nd innings by being intimidated by Zaheer Khan's express pace and being caught in the covers.
What they said about him
Highest Ranking 2
Total Points 10
Number of Votes Received 2/13
Imrul Kayes, the Bangladeshi opening batsman first ""burst"" onto the Test scene in 2008 with an incredible tour of South Africa.
However, before we get to that incredible tour, let us step back a little and analyse Kayes contribution to Bangladeshi cricket a little more. Born in Meherpur in 1987, by 2006, Kayes was playing first class cricket for Khulna Division. He played 10 first class games for them in 2007 and averaged a seemingly respectable 33.33 with the bat - 600 runs from 18 completed innings. However, this only put him in the 20s in the list of that season's batting averages, behind players like Ehsanul Haque and Nazimuddin who have never received the same number of opportunities as Kayes.
Worse was to follow as in advance of his Test debut touring South Africa he could only score 203 runs in 8 completed innings (25.38) in the next Bangladeshi first class season. On the back of such wonderful batting form, Kayes was drafted into the Bangladesh Test squad to tour one of the World's batting graveyards - South Africa on the back of some reasonable games for the Bangladeshi academy and some pretty atrocious ODIs against New Zealand and South Africa.
Armed with this secret recipe to success (so secret that very few people actually try what the Bangladeshis did and chuck a young unproven opener with a pretty unflattering record into Test cricket) Kayes took to the field in Bloemfontein with his new teammates. He stood and watched as Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla added 200+ for the 2nd wicket and then came out to bat on the 2nd day between lunch and tea.
Kayes fought for a while - heroically seeing off Steyn, Ntini and Morkel before being caught by Amla off the 'destructive' Harris bat-pad shortly before tea. After tea, Kayes found him like many Bangladeshi opening batsmen before and since, padding up again as the Bangladeshi's followed on before the close. This time Steyn cleaned him up off the inside edge as he found himself dismissed twice in less than half a day.
Things didn't get better for Kayes in the 2nd Test in Centurion as he was dismissed twice ct. Smith b. Ntini with tentative prods outside the offstump to be pouched in the slips cordon.
Ah well, a learning experience for the lad. Not good enough at this stage to face the South Africans in their own back yard, send him back to first class cricket and get some confidence back.
Nope, even better than that - let's take play him against the touring Sri Lankas and ensure that we completely **** up his International career. Maybe he'll do better on familiar wickets? Great thinking there, Bangladesh.
A reasonable 33 in the first innings at Mirpur was followed by a lazy run out in the 2nd innings and another pair of single digit scores at Chittagong.
Still, you have to appreciate the Bangladeshi's tenacity. Despite only occasionally showing the temperament required for Test cricket (most notably in two fighting innings at Lord's whilst touring England in 2010), Kayes still gets selected.
His current record of 16 test, 579 runs at 17.15 really does put him amongst the exalted company of this countdown.
Career Highlight
vs. India at Mirpur, Kayes was dismissed 1st ball in the first innings caught down the leg side wafting at an Ishant Sharma loosener, and followed this up in the 2nd innings by being intimidated by Zaheer Khan's express pace and being caught in the covers.
What they said about him
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Well spotted. Doesn't make a difference to the top 16 though. One of the votes was a single point. Gives him a total of 8 and places him outside the top 16.
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Did I get the Pigott write-up spot on? Given you were the guy that got him into this tier of ineptitude.
True. Powell was more of a **** than any of those guys too. Remember that random chuck at Brendan McCullum?
HeathDavisSpeed
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
That was my mistake. They both only received one vote in 10th place each. I used a pivot table to collate the results, found a couple of mistakes and re-ran the pivot, knocking 2 from the list, when I copied & paste special over the original list, it left the two bottom guys from the original list (Raina & Afzaal) in again.