While winter is coming and footy season is in full swing, it doesn’t mean we cannot still deliver a cricketing list like no other.
We all know about those show ponies, running around the field scoring centuries and taking five-wicket hauls willy-nilly.
But how about some recognition for the honest toilers, who never quite reach those dizzy heights, but somehow still make themselves useful enough to get picked time and again?
Or the shooting stars that look for all the world to be the next big thing, but never quite crack the test match code.
Set out below is an Australian and a Rest of the World XI of the best batsmen who never scored a test century and the greatest bowlers to never take five wickets in an innings. See how many names you recognise.
Some basic criteria: these players must have played test cricket (sorry Bart King) and let’s say a minimum of 5 tests (sorry Stuart Law). They must not have reached the milestone for their primary skill.
Australian XI
Well, the first thing I noticed was that the top two run scorers for Australia to never scored a century are SK Warne and MA Starc, so we will have to dig a little further to come up with our batting lineup.
- Bruce Laird: Top score 92 – 21 Tests- batting average 35.2. A brave opener facing the best opening attacks of all time.
2. Rick Darling: Top score 91 – 14 Tests – batting average 26.8. Establishment lamb to the slaughter during the World Series cricket years.
3. Michael Bevan: Top score 91 – 18 Tests – batting average 29.1. A tremendously unfulfilled talent at Test level, but he’s banned from bowling in this side.
4. Barry Shepherd: Top score 96 – 9 Tests – batting average 41.8. Unlucky to play during a strong batting era.
5. Ken ‘Slasher’ Mackay: Top score 89 – 37 Tests – batting average 33.5. Reliable and slow. Also banned from bowling.
6. Alan Fairfax: Top score 65 – 10 Tests – batting average 51.25, best bowling 4/31, bowling average 30.7. The poster boy for this side. Brilliant stats without ever taking a game by the throat.
7. Tim Paine: Top score 92 – 35 Tests – batting average 32.6 (captain). Better than his top score suggests.
8. Eric ‘Tich’ Freeman: Best bowling 4/52 – 11 Tests – bowling average 33.2. Batting and bowling are both nearly good enough.
9. Brendan Julian: Best bowling 4/36 – seven Tests – bowling average 39.9. In the team for charm and calm.
10. Ernie McCormick: Best bowling 4/101 – 12 Tests – bowling average 30. Very quick and very injury-prone. Took a wicket with his first Ashes ball and also dismissed Wally Hammond for a duck.
11. Wayne Clark: Best bowling 4/46 – 10 Tests – bowling average 28.8. Excellent bowler, slightly suspect action. Got his chance with the big boys away at World Series cricket.
12th man. Tom Veivers: Best bowling 4/68 – 21 Tests – bowling average 41.7, top score 88, batting average 31.3. The classic bits and pieces all-rounder.
World XI
1. Chaten Chauhan (India): Top score 97 – 40 tests – batting average 31.6
2. Will Young (NZ): Top score 89 – 20 tests and counting – batting average 31.3
3. Ali Bacher (South Africa): Top score 73 – 12 tests – batting average 33.0 (captain)
4. Asim Kamal (Pakistan): Top score 99 – 12 tests – batting average 37.7
5. Graham Roope (England): Top score 77 – 21 tests – batting average – 30.7
6. Joe Denly (England): (top score 94 – 15 tests – batting average 29.5
7. Niroshan Dickwella (Sri Lanka): Top score 96 – 54 tests and counting – batting average 32.0
8. Mike Hendrick (England): (best bowling 4/28 – 30 tests – bowling average 25.8. His 87 wickets is the most without ever taking a five-wicket haul.
9. Winston Benjamin (West Indies): Best bowling 4/46 – 21 tests – bowling average 27.0
10. Tony Gray (West Indies): Best bowling 4/39 – 5 tests – bowling average 17.1
11. Simon Harmer (South Africa): Best bowling 4/61 – 10 tests – bowling average 27.6
12th man. Eldine Baptiste (West Indies): Best bowling 3/31 – 10 tests– bowling average 35.2, top score 87 not out, batting average 23.3
