We have done the Best Xl's of Countries who never played Test cricket, and also One Test wonders.
So i thought it would be interesting to pick a team of players who played 10 Tests or less and see how it would look. ( i have plenty of time on my hands)
If you have played 10 matches you have been given enough opportunities to show if you are good enough.
The following team would give any Test side a great game and probably win most of them. Nearly all players could consider themselves unfortunate not to play more Tests, things out of their control meant most played less than they deserved.
BARRY RICHARDS, S.A. 4 TESTS, 508@72.57, 2 CENT
JACK RUSSELL, ENG, 10 TESTS, 910@56.87, 5 CENT
STEWIE DEMPSTER, N.Z., 10 TESTS, 723@65.72, 2 CENT
MARTIN DONNELLY, N.Z., 7 TESTS, 582@52.90, 1 CENT
MIKE PROCTOR, S.A., 7 TESTS, 226@25.11, 41 WKTS@15.02
VIJAY MERCHANT, IND.,10 TESTS, 859@47.72, 3 CENT
JAMES FOSTER, ENG, 7 TESTS, 226@25.11, 17 CATCHES, 1 STUMPING
BOB APPLEYARD, ENG, 9 TESTS, 31 WKTS@17.87
DAVID LARTER, ENG, 10 TESTS, 37 WKTS@25.43
WAYNE DANIEL, W.I., 10 TESTS, 36 WKTS@25.27
JACK COWIE, N.Z., 9 TESTS, 45 WKTS@21.53
We know why Richards and Proctor didn't play more
Both Dempster and Donnelly are regarded as two of N.Z.'s finest early batsman, Dempster hitting N.Z's first test century, but moved to England in 1933. Donnelly's 7 Tests spanned 12 Years, (1937-49).
Russell's last 3 Test innings were 96, 140+111,v S.A. Durban in 1922/23. He became ill and when England next played Test Cricket in 1924, Herbert Sutcliffe was on the scene with Hobbs.
Merchant's Test career spanned 18 years, (1933-51). He also suffered ill health and missed Tours of Australia and West Indies, all his Tests were against England.
Foster was highly regarded, but his batting was not, despite averaging 36 in first class cricket.
Appleyard suffered from Tuberculosis. He took 200 wkts in 1951, but only played 1 match in the next two seasons, but never let England down when he played. Stephen Chalke wrote a great book about him, called " No Coward Soul", well worth finding if you can, a great read.
Larter was quite injury prone.He was 6ft 7in.
Daniel was competing with just so many bowlers, he did well to get 10 Tests. He would have played 100 in this era.
Cowie was affected by N.Z.'s lack of tests in his era. He played all his tests consecutively, just 9, between 1937-49.
This side i think would perform well. Other players are welcome.
I have not picked current players who have played 10 Tests or less, as they still have a chance to play more.
So i thought it would be interesting to pick a team of players who played 10 Tests or less and see how it would look. ( i have plenty of time on my hands)
If you have played 10 matches you have been given enough opportunities to show if you are good enough.
The following team would give any Test side a great game and probably win most of them. Nearly all players could consider themselves unfortunate not to play more Tests, things out of their control meant most played less than they deserved.
BARRY RICHARDS, S.A. 4 TESTS, 508@72.57, 2 CENT
JACK RUSSELL, ENG, 10 TESTS, 910@56.87, 5 CENT
STEWIE DEMPSTER, N.Z., 10 TESTS, 723@65.72, 2 CENT
MARTIN DONNELLY, N.Z., 7 TESTS, 582@52.90, 1 CENT
MIKE PROCTOR, S.A., 7 TESTS, 226@25.11, 41 WKTS@15.02
VIJAY MERCHANT, IND.,10 TESTS, 859@47.72, 3 CENT
JAMES FOSTER, ENG, 7 TESTS, 226@25.11, 17 CATCHES, 1 STUMPING
BOB APPLEYARD, ENG, 9 TESTS, 31 WKTS@17.87
DAVID LARTER, ENG, 10 TESTS, 37 WKTS@25.43
WAYNE DANIEL, W.I., 10 TESTS, 36 WKTS@25.27
JACK COWIE, N.Z., 9 TESTS, 45 WKTS@21.53
We know why Richards and Proctor didn't play more
Both Dempster and Donnelly are regarded as two of N.Z.'s finest early batsman, Dempster hitting N.Z's first test century, but moved to England in 1933. Donnelly's 7 Tests spanned 12 Years, (1937-49).
Russell's last 3 Test innings were 96, 140+111,v S.A. Durban in 1922/23. He became ill and when England next played Test Cricket in 1924, Herbert Sutcliffe was on the scene with Hobbs.
Merchant's Test career spanned 18 years, (1933-51). He also suffered ill health and missed Tours of Australia and West Indies, all his Tests were against England.
Foster was highly regarded, but his batting was not, despite averaging 36 in first class cricket.
Appleyard suffered from Tuberculosis. He took 200 wkts in 1951, but only played 1 match in the next two seasons, but never let England down when he played. Stephen Chalke wrote a great book about him, called " No Coward Soul", well worth finding if you can, a great read.
Larter was quite injury prone.He was 6ft 7in.
Daniel was competing with just so many bowlers, he did well to get 10 Tests. He would have played 100 in this era.
Cowie was affected by N.Z.'s lack of tests in his era. He played all his tests consecutively, just 9, between 1937-49.
This side i think would perform well. Other players are welcome.
I have not picked current players who have played 10 Tests or less, as they still have a chance to play more.
