Steve Rhodes
An odd (read: Raymond Illingworth inspired) selection as England's test keeper in 1994 whose 11 match tenure was a bit of an interregnum between the Jack Russell and the Alec Stewart eras. Although the noble Gloucestershire eccentric master gloveman was recalled to the colours periodically thereafter, the gaffer was mostly saddled with keeping for the next decade.
Anyhoo, Raymondo had some strongly held ideas about selection (essentially Yorkshire and allrounders: good; Gus Fraser and specialists: bad) and dear old Bumpy (Bumpy Rhodes, you see?) was the beneficiary/victim of this.
Although a Worcestershire stalwart by the time of his selection, Rhodes had started his career with God's Own County and was a native son of France, hailing from Bradford as he did.
Illingworth wanted to use another Frenchman (albeit one with an Ocker accent) in Craig White at #6 to give his test XI a fifth bowling option and let it be known his keeper needed to score runs from #7, tacitly admitting he didn't much fancy Jack's batting by calling up Bumpy for the first time.
Started pretty well against NZ in the first series of the summer, 49 on debut & batting out the final day at Lord's to secure a draw with 8 wickets down, but then looked less at home against RSA's bowlers in the second rubber of 94, despite an average boosting 65* on a uncharacteristically flat Headingley, which was to remain his only test 50, in fact.
It was felt (by Illingworth) that Rhodes had done enough for the winter's Ashes where, with admirably selectorial consistency, he was given all five tests, got into double figures twice, averaged 9 for the series, was generally thoroughly cornholed by McDermott & never played for his country again.
