No can do.
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A New Zealand XI Who Never Played Tests
- Thread starter tony p
- Start date
TheJediBrah
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I would say "you guys used to be cool" but I'd be lying
I didn't realise there were so many NZers who forfeited chances of tests to play county cricket. Ces Dacre was another.
From the 70's onwards :
Greg Hay
Barry Hadlee
Scott Briasco
Mark Douglas
Bruce Blair
Jeff Wilson
Ervin McSweeney *
Stuart Duff
Alex Tait
Greg Aldridge
Warren McSkimming
I'm stretching a bit here in a couple of positions. As a one-time CD fan I always felt if Evan Gray could get 10 tests, (and Mark Priest a couple) then Stu Duff deserved a go...
Would like some more pace, but all I can think of are Stu Roberts and Sean Tracy.
From the 70's onwards :
Greg Hay
Barry Hadlee
Scott Briasco
Mark Douglas
Bruce Blair
Jeff Wilson
Ervin McSweeney *
Stuart Duff
Alex Tait
Greg Aldridge
Warren McSkimming
I'm stretching a bit here in a couple of positions. As a one-time CD fan I always felt if Evan Gray could get 10 tests, (and Mark Priest a couple) then Stu Duff deserved a go...
Would like some more pace, but all I can think of are Stu Roberts and Sean Tracy.
Flem274*
123/5
bowling is tricky because a lot of unlucky bowlers have a test or two under their belts. pre-2014 or so lockie ferguson has 10 or so tests to his name by now but he might never play another test thanks to kyle jamieson and more competition from below. hamish bennett was very unlucky to get blacklisted for his injury on debut.
a lot of guys who demanded selection but bowled 135kph were given one or two tests before nz got insecure about how they looked and dropped them after one poor showing (michael mason, brent arnel) or just because (andre adams).
a lot of guys who demanded selection but bowled 135kph were given one or two tests before nz got insecure about how they looked and dropped them after one poor showing (michael mason, brent arnel) or just because (andre adams).
Adam Milne for pace, anyone who debuts at 18 (T20) bowling 145+ is a disappointment that he's clearly not going to play Test cricket.
Not sure that Graeme Alridge counts, if not only for the fact he wasn't prominent enough to ensure you didn't call him Greg.
Julian87
State Captain
Don't know enough about historical players but from what I've seen and who I've liked post 80s Hay and Nevin are the only ones I could come up with. And Nevin's keeping was always patchy from memory so when he didn't dominate in ODI that probably killed his chances.The only other bloke I can think of who seemed talented but fizzled out before he ever aimed up and had a shot was Canning.
Hah, actually confused him with Greg Loveridge in my head....
Flem274*
123/5
only hay and cleaver in that list are unlucky. hay for meme reasons, cleaver for playing at the same time as watling, ronchi, latham and blundell.
the others have their destiny in their own hands and have been outplayed by others. youngs had some bad luck with the terror attack, his shoulder and covid 19 but he also spent 5 years throwing away starts domestically.
the others have their destiny in their own hands and have been outplayed by others. youngs had some bad luck with the terror attack, his shoulder and covid 19 but he also spent 5 years throwing away starts domestically.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Milne has had bad luck with injury after injury after injury and playing at the same time as our best ever pace trio (or quartet if CDG is included).
_Ed_
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I've always been an Auckland supporter, but I never quite bought into the hype with Tama.
Adridge yes and no. Needed a yard more pace to be in test consideration (see also, Alex Tait). But he subbed for injured Southee and Kyle Mills on a tour to Zimbabwe, when the selectors wanted a replacement swing bowler. IIRC the pre-game press story named Aldridge in the playing XI for the only test, but on match day they picked a 2nd spinner (Jeets) instead of a 3rd seamer.
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Interesting thread. I think there needs to be two teams, one for any NZ non-test players, and another excluding players who played before 1930, when NZ played their 1st test.
For the all players team, the list in 1st post is good start, but I would add Greg Hay (best non-test opener across the last 7 seasons), Syd Smith and Bert Kortlang (eligibility controversy!), a better keeper, and a 2nd specialist seamer.
Smith had a long career in WI then England, but played 9 successful seasons in NZ (1890 runs @ 39, 149 runs @ 22) and was selected for NZ teams from 20-21 to 23-24, so I am picking him here.
Kortlang is Australian, pre WW1 had 19 games 1395 runs @ 49, then moved to Wellington aged 42 and had 4 good FC seasons (1293 runs @ 49.73, 4 x 100s). He was picked for a NZ team in 1923-24 so I am picking him here.
Nevin could bat but I want a specialist keeper, as there is enough batting depth with all-rounders Smith, Reese and Alabaster. Three obvious options are Dick Rowntree (Auckland, 1st choice NZ keeper into his 40s), George Mills (Otago, unlucky not to be picked to 1949 Eng tour) and Len Kent (Auckland, amazing stumpings stats, 49c 32s in career).
My team has 3 specialist seamers (2 in the starting XI). Pritchard is an obvious choice (pre war in NZ 89 wickets @ 16.78), and the stamina of Stan Brice wins him the spot as his opening partner. The 3rd seamer would come into the playing XI on a green pitch. Options are Dan McBeath (Cant + Otago, LFM swing), Cyril Parsloe (Wgtn, added to NZ team in Aust at end of 1937 Eng tour, 69 wickets @ 22), Don Clarke (Auck and ND when not playing for All Blacks, 117 wickets @ 21.14), Bob Sutton (Auck opening LFM, 156 wickets @ 22.41), Andrew Penn (252 wickets @ 23.03) and Adam Milne (FC record 88 wickets @ 32.63 not great, but has extra pace to make him useful at "test" level).
So XII is:
Lancelot Hemus, 2916 @ 36.00, 8 cent.
Greg Hay, 5569 runs @ 43.17, 13 cent.
Syd Smith, 10920 runs @ 31.28, 14 cent, 955 wkts @ 18.08
Syd Hiddleston, 3818 @ 39.77, 8 cent. 86 wts @ 26.88
Bert Kortlang, 2688 @ 49.77, 6 cent.
Ces Dacre, 12223 @ 29.17, 24 cent.
Dan Reese (c), 3182 @ 25.25, 4 cent, 196 wkts @ 19.86
Gren Alabaster, 3200 @ 23.88, 3 cent, 275 wkts @ 23.22
George Mills, 2056 runs @ 19.96, 2 cent, 88c 34s
Stan Brice, 1575 runs @ 17.11, 247 wickets @ 21.29
Tom Pritchard, 818 wkts @ 23.30
12th man
Dan McBeath, 170 wickets @ 20.83
Post 1930 team needs more thought.
For the all players team, the list in 1st post is good start, but I would add Greg Hay (best non-test opener across the last 7 seasons), Syd Smith and Bert Kortlang (eligibility controversy!), a better keeper, and a 2nd specialist seamer.
Smith had a long career in WI then England, but played 9 successful seasons in NZ (1890 runs @ 39, 149 runs @ 22) and was selected for NZ teams from 20-21 to 23-24, so I am picking him here.
Kortlang is Australian, pre WW1 had 19 games 1395 runs @ 49, then moved to Wellington aged 42 and had 4 good FC seasons (1293 runs @ 49.73, 4 x 100s). He was picked for a NZ team in 1923-24 so I am picking him here.
Nevin could bat but I want a specialist keeper, as there is enough batting depth with all-rounders Smith, Reese and Alabaster. Three obvious options are Dick Rowntree (Auckland, 1st choice NZ keeper into his 40s), George Mills (Otago, unlucky not to be picked to 1949 Eng tour) and Len Kent (Auckland, amazing stumpings stats, 49c 32s in career).
My team has 3 specialist seamers (2 in the starting XI). Pritchard is an obvious choice (pre war in NZ 89 wickets @ 16.78), and the stamina of Stan Brice wins him the spot as his opening partner. The 3rd seamer would come into the playing XI on a green pitch. Options are Dan McBeath (Cant + Otago, LFM swing), Cyril Parsloe (Wgtn, added to NZ team in Aust at end of 1937 Eng tour, 69 wickets @ 22), Don Clarke (Auck and ND when not playing for All Blacks, 117 wickets @ 21.14), Bob Sutton (Auck opening LFM, 156 wickets @ 22.41), Andrew Penn (252 wickets @ 23.03) and Adam Milne (FC record 88 wickets @ 32.63 not great, but has extra pace to make him useful at "test" level).
So XII is:
Lancelot Hemus, 2916 @ 36.00, 8 cent.
Greg Hay, 5569 runs @ 43.17, 13 cent.
Syd Smith, 10920 runs @ 31.28, 14 cent, 955 wkts @ 18.08
Syd Hiddleston, 3818 @ 39.77, 8 cent. 86 wts @ 26.88
Bert Kortlang, 2688 @ 49.77, 6 cent.
Ces Dacre, 12223 @ 29.17, 24 cent.
Dan Reese (c), 3182 @ 25.25, 4 cent, 196 wkts @ 19.86
Gren Alabaster, 3200 @ 23.88, 3 cent, 275 wkts @ 23.22
George Mills, 2056 runs @ 19.96, 2 cent, 88c 34s
Stan Brice, 1575 runs @ 17.11, 247 wickets @ 21.29
Tom Pritchard, 818 wkts @ 23.30
12th man
Dan McBeath, 170 wickets @ 20.83
Post 1930 team needs more thought.
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RossTaylorsBox
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
You can't just put Game of Thrones characters in your team.
1930+ team (players active after NZ's 1st test 1930).
I have excluded Ces Dacre as he only played 2 games in NZ (32-33) after NZ gained test status.
Coman edges out Canty team mate Barry Hadlee due to entertainment value.
Barry Cooper is an outside choice in the middle order, but Cooper + Dacre add counter-attacking flair, and make for a great off-side fielding combination.
Andrew Ellis heads off Ossie Cleal for the all-rounder spot.
I only saw Andrew Penn bowl a couple of games of white ball cricket, but with 135+ bounce and out-swing was a mystery to me that he didn't crack the test side.
Alex Tait takes the steady 3rd seamer spot. Bob Sutton (156 wkts @ 22.41) and Lance Hamilton (212 wkts @ 25.42) unlucky to miss out, but an inconsistent middle order means Tait's useful lower order hitting was more important than having a left armer in the attack.
DB Clarke a reliable 12th man and specialist autograph signer. The other option was a 2nd spinner, either John McIntyre (336 wkts @ 23.56) or Tarun Nethula (245 wkts @ 36.89, but could be a match winner in 3rd / 4th innings).
There may be murmurs about some ND / Northland bias in the selection. Guilty. But I sadly had to leave out Brian Dunning, would have meant too many sub 30 avergae batsman.
Greg Hay, 5569 runs @ 43.17, 13 cent.
Peter Coman, 2635 runs @ 33.78, 2 cent.
Will Young, 4745 runs @ 42.36, 8 cent.
Barry Cooper, 2982 runs @ 28.13, 4 cent, 26 wickets @ 30.50
Cec Dacre, 12223 @ 29.17, 24 cent.
Andrew Ellis, 5221 runs @ 35.27, 9 cent, 249 wkts @ 29.78
Gren Alabaster, 3200 @ 23.88, 3 cent, 275 wkts @ 23.22
George Mills, 2056 runs @ 19.96, 2 cent, 88c 34s
Alex Tait, 888 runs @ 26.11, 134 wickets @ 20.14
Tom Pritchard, 818 wkts @ 23.30
Andrew Penn, 252 wkts @ 23.03
12th man
Don Clarke, 117 wickets @ 21.14
I have excluded Ces Dacre as he only played 2 games in NZ (32-33) after NZ gained test status.
Coman edges out Canty team mate Barry Hadlee due to entertainment value.
Barry Cooper is an outside choice in the middle order, but Cooper + Dacre add counter-attacking flair, and make for a great off-side fielding combination.
Andrew Ellis heads off Ossie Cleal for the all-rounder spot.
I only saw Andrew Penn bowl a couple of games of white ball cricket, but with 135+ bounce and out-swing was a mystery to me that he didn't crack the test side.
Alex Tait takes the steady 3rd seamer spot. Bob Sutton (156 wkts @ 22.41) and Lance Hamilton (212 wkts @ 25.42) unlucky to miss out, but an inconsistent middle order means Tait's useful lower order hitting was more important than having a left armer in the attack.
DB Clarke a reliable 12th man and specialist autograph signer. The other option was a 2nd spinner, either John McIntyre (336 wkts @ 23.56) or Tarun Nethula (245 wkts @ 36.89, but could be a match winner in 3rd / 4th innings).
There may be murmurs about some ND / Northland bias in the selection. Guilty. But I sadly had to leave out Brian Dunning, would have meant too many sub 30 avergae batsman.
Greg Hay, 5569 runs @ 43.17, 13 cent.
Peter Coman, 2635 runs @ 33.78, 2 cent.
Will Young, 4745 runs @ 42.36, 8 cent.
Barry Cooper, 2982 runs @ 28.13, 4 cent, 26 wickets @ 30.50
Cec Dacre, 12223 @ 29.17, 24 cent.
Andrew Ellis, 5221 runs @ 35.27, 9 cent, 249 wkts @ 29.78
Gren Alabaster, 3200 @ 23.88, 3 cent, 275 wkts @ 23.22
George Mills, 2056 runs @ 19.96, 2 cent, 88c 34s
Alex Tait, 888 runs @ 26.11, 134 wickets @ 20.14
Tom Pritchard, 818 wkts @ 23.30
Andrew Penn, 252 wkts @ 23.03
12th man
Don Clarke, 117 wickets @ 21.14
The Hutt Rec
International Vice-Captain
He excluded Ces but included Cec.