Drayton All Time Greatest Eleven by Philip Wright
Having compiled a record of Drayton Cricket Club through the last 38 seasons, I felt it may be interesting if pulling together the statistics gathered and my knowledge of the clubs players from over 20 years, I compiled a Drayton All Time Greatest Eleven.
It is extremely subjective, and purely MY opinions. I have used the basis that players must have made an impact over many seasons, not on a purely short term basis. The side may lack balance, but there would be no shortage of bowling options available and the batting would go right down the order.
The first choice to be made is that of captain, and there can only be one choice. Billy Hunter was a stalwart of the club for many years, as both first team captain and club secretary until his retirement in 1986. It is uncertain how many games he appeared in for the club, but an estimate would put it not far short of 1000. Billy was an extremely capable batsman, often forced to carry weak batting sides in the 50s and 60s, and in his earlier years an effective opening bowler. His place in the batting order for this side would be number four, from where he made the majority of his runs.
The second automatic pick would be Basil Tubby. As a bowler his record is not far short of being staggering. Bowling at a brisk medium pace he picked up well over one thousand wickets, taking four wickets in an innings an exceptional 184 times. While his primary role in the side would be as an opening bowler, his explosive middle order batting would be most vaulable. A style best described as "six or out", proved tremendously effective over the years, as 194 sixes goes to show.
As a batsman, Mike Sutton has a record which is second to none. Ten centuries, forty nine fifties and a career average of over 30, show him to be unquestionably the best batsman the club has ever had. Since his return to the club following his professional football career, he has proved himself one of the finest opening batsman in the Norfolk League.
The role of wicketkeeper and second opening batsman would go to Alan Wright. His club record of 186 stumpings is unlikely to be surpassed, a testimony to his speed and agility standing up, particularly against the quicker bowlers. As a steady opening batsman, he would be the ideal foil for the quicker scoring Sutton. Indeed, their opening partnerships produced many fine stands in the late 1980's.
In the pivotal number three position would be Tony Gregory. Though known primarily as an opening batsman in his Drayton career, he has proved equally effective in the middle order. His aggressive and unorthodox approach to batting would be ideal for any required increase in the scoring rate, as has been proved throughout the seasons.
Trevor Parke may not have the best career statistics, but being second in the all time career appearance list and twenty nine fifties are just enough for him to scrape into the side. In the second half of his Drayton career he also became a reliable medium pace bowler, though the strength of the bowling attack in this team mean he would be unlikely to be called upon.
In order the provide the side with a semblance of balance a spinner would be required. The choice would be Andy Denny, even though he has been known mainly as a batsman for the club. Combining the ability of his batting and the variation of his bowling make Denny a definite choice for this side.
Gary Smith is the second highest wicket taker in the clubs history, and as such his place in the side is guaranteed. The other bonuses he provides are the variation his left arm seamers provide and his more than useful batting, usually at its best in times of crisis.
The third highest wicket taker for the club, medium pacer Kenny Breame would also make the team, though probably only as fourth or fifth seamer. Most of his wickets were taken in the 1970s before concentrating in the latter stages of his career on his batting.
The final two spots in the bowling attack are the hardest to pick as there are probably four or five player with genuine claims. The choices in the end are Gordon Rush and Keith Robertson. Rush is chosen mainly due to his steadiness and his superior batting to any of the other candidates. Robertson is chosen as Tubby's new ball partner primarily due to his effervescent personality which so enlivened the Drayton dressing room for over 20 years.
The choice of twelth man could have gone to any of the players who just failed to make the final eleven including Saul Simpson, Maurice Houldsworth and Michael George, but in the end it goes to the long serving Keith Saunders not least because of his outstanding fielding ability.
So the final side in likely scorecard order would be:
If anyone else would like to contribute a different eleven I would be delighted to receive and post it on this site.