Readers awaiting the announcement of my M XI of test cricketers should fret not. It will appear. And soon. In the meantime the estimable Norm has challenged me to a game of fantasy cricket. As he explains, the idea is that we shall each select a side, playground style and then see how the XIs may match up against one another in a subsequent, enjoyably imaginary, series.
You can follow - as I imagine you'll want to - the game here and at Norm's place.
First up is the West Indies and it's not likely to surprise you that with the first pick of the West Indian draft Norm has selected Gary Sobers.
With my first pick, the second of the draft, I select Lance Gibbs.
Norm now takes Clyde Walcott with the third pick.
With the fourth pick, I choose Vivian Richards.
Norm continues to take the players I would have chosen if I were picking first and claims Everton Weekes. He's two thirds of the way to having all the W's...
Picking sixth, I select Brian Lara.
Next up: Norm takes my favourite West Indian fast-bowler, Malcolm Marshall.
So, my next selection has to be an opening batsman: Gordon Greenidge. (Chosen here partly because I know of Norm's admiration for GG and thus felt the need to snare him quickly.)
As if that weren't enough, Norm then selects one of my childhood heroes, Somerset's Joel Garner.
I retaliate by choosing Rohan Kanhai.
Norm adds to his bowling strength, selecting Curtly Ambrose
With my sixth pick I choose Michael Holding.
Norm has, I regret to say, outfoxed me, selecting George Headley. I had forgotten that though well past his prime "The Black Bradman" played three tests after the war. Advantage Mr Geras!
My seventh selection: Courtney Walsh.
With his eighth pick, Norm chooses Clive Lloyd .
Determined not to permit him all the W's, and also to reduce my disadvantage in the cricketing knights stakes, I choose Frank Worrell who will also, of course, skipper my side.
Norm needs an opening batsman and so picks Conrad Hunte.
I also require an additional opening batsman and so select Roy Fredericks to partner Greenidge at the top of the order.
Norm's penultimate selection is, as I thought it might be, Desmond Haynes
Meanwhile, I need another fast bowler: how to choose between Hall, Griffith, Roberts, Croft, Clarke, Bishop etc etc? In the end, I'm taking Andy Roberts...
Norm's final selection? Not Alf Valentine but that other little friend of mine, Sonny Ramadhin .
Which leaves me to pick a wicket-keeper: Jeffrey Dujon.
Teams, in order of selection:
Norm - Sobers, Walcott, Weekes, Marshall, Garner, Ambrose, Headley, Lloyd, Hunte, Haynes, Ramadhin.
Alex - Gibbs, Richards, Lara, Greenidge, Kanhai, Holding, Walsh, Worrell (Capt), Fredericks, Roberts, Dujon (Wkt)
Recent Comments