As promised:
Eddie Barlow
List A stats - 2,983 runs @ 31.73 (SR: n/a, 3 centuries, best 186) and 161 wickets @ 18.08 (econ: 3.48, 2 5WI, best 6/33) in 99 matches
Eddie Barlow isn't really the outstanding opener available, but he was most certainly better than his List A batting average of just under 32. We already have his oft-teammate Graeme Pollock in the teammate; Pollock was notable for his long-standing world record innings of 222 not out, but the innings he beat was Eddie Barlow's 186, made against the "Graeme Pollock XI" in South Africa's inaugural Gillette Cup in April 1970. In Tests, he averaged over 45, which is indicative of his quality. Although he isn't going to be my chief run-scorer, he is definitely a more than capable anchor for my team.
Not only that, but Barlow was a bowler. Sporting a stunning bowling average of 18, the explosive Barlow bowled far quicker than the "right arm medium" listed on his Cricinfo page. To get a feel for his quality, one need only
look at his performances for the Rest of the World against England in 1970. He's the last piece of my bowling attack, and one I arguably didn't need to include (so please
somebody pick Nathan Bracken so that I can balance my team the way I plan to rather than picking eight proper bowlers).
Aislabie's XI so far
1.
2.
Eddie Barlow (anchor accumulator, attacking seam bowler)
3.
Graeme Hick (top-order hitter, part-time spin bowler)
4.
Graeme Pollock (top-order hitter)
5.
Darren Lehmann (dynamic accumulator, stock spin bowler)
6.
Andrew Symonds (middle-order hitter, stock bowler)
7.
Mike Procter (death bowler, middle-order hitter)
8.
Keith Boyce (attacking seam bowler, lower-order hitter)
9.
Mitchell Johnson (express pace bowler, lower-order hitter)
10.
Sydney Barnes (attacking spin bowler)
11.
I really hope Murtaza comes online before I make another pick in the morning, but I intend to give him every opportunity to do so before he joins the skip pile.