Draft: The Alphabet Draft 2 - Rise of the Vowels

[qpeedore]

After messaging @ahmedleo414 concerning the unavailability of an eligible U at number 1, I managed to get an A as a replacement. But I'll leave my opener pick until the end. Got some bowlers to sort out.

People said that his debut was a fluke. They point out the fact that he only ever played a further 5 Tests after that debut and think that's the be-all end-all of it. But he had a very good FC record and played quite a few unofficial Tests where he was always among the wickets. Did he fall away? Yes, that can be a valid argument. But when you take 16 out of 20 wickets on your Test debut, that shadow hangs over you for your entire career. And that's just not fair. What makes it harder is that your bowling partner is Dennis Lillee. So now you've got to live up to both your stunning debut, and the skill of the guy at the other end. It's no wonder people think he was just a one-off fluke. Continuing health and fitness problems didn't help matters either, and a bright star fizzled out all too soon, back to the bank that was his day job.

And yet...the ability to swing the ball late and both ways. The hard work it required to bowl into the wind for long stretches of time (in that famous match he bowled 27.2 overs consecutively). When things were right, they were damn right. And I'll take that.

You can call him Bob. His name is Robert. But I know him as RAL Massie. A very good number 10.

Bowling​

Format	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
Test	6	11	1739	647	31	8/53	16/137	20.87		56.00	2	2	1
ODI	3	3	183	129	3	2/35	2/35	43.00	4.22	61.00	0	0	0
FC	52		10629	4446	179	8/53		24.83		59.30		6	2
List A	15		883	429	17	3/22	3/22	25.23		51.90	0	0	0

I see that @Murtaza96 will be picking at some point later, so I will assume it's @Yash. to go next.

 

[Yash.]

I'll take Neil Adcock for no. 11

Format	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	SR	4w	5w	10w
Test	26	46	6391	2195	104	6/43	8/87	21.10	61.40	5	5	0
FC	99		19708	6989	405	8/39		17.25	48.60		19	4

He batted at no. 11 for 35 innings, so he qualifies for my team.

He was the first bowling superstar from South Africa, the first South African to 100 test wickets. Even though he didn't have good support from the other ends, he ended up becoming one of the most feared fast bowlers of his time. He was also awarded the Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1961.

@Neptune

 

[Ashutosh.]

Steve O'Keefe

 

[Neptune]

Lance Gibbs will bat at 11 for me. He was the first spinner, and second bowler to 300 wickets. What makes this stat even more insane is that he played the role of the holding spinner in a team full of All Time Great pace bowlers. He was very accurate and had a ridiculous economy of 1.99. He generally pairs well with aggressive pacers, bowling long and economical spells to give nothing away to the opposing batsmen, and makes me think that he would synergize well with Allan Donald.

@qpeedore

 

[qpeedore]

Number 5...an extremely important spot in a batting order. You'd often find one of your best batsmen in that slot. And the name that immediately sprang to mind was Shiv Chanderpaul. I mean, he'd be an awesome pick, considering that Clive Lloyd isn't eligible this time around. But then I went through the list again. And as much as it hurts me to not pick Shiv, I'm going to have to pass on him.

I'll take Michael Clarke at 5 instead. Why him over Shiv? The first is captaincy. Shiv was never that great as captain. Second is the carry-on ability. As many centuries as Shiv had, he never really went on. He only ever crossed 150 all of 5 times, whereas Clarke (with less centuries) passed 150 ten times. Then there's the addition of Clarke's occasional left-arm spin when you need a partnership broken. It's a tight race, but Clarke just edges out in front, so I'm going with him,

@ddrap14

 

[ddrap14]

Imrul Kayes as unfortunately none of the Ians meet my requirement.

@ahmedleo414

 

[ahmedleo414]

My next pick will be Lee Irvine

Stats	Matches	Runs	HS	Batting Ave	100s/50s	Catches/Stumps
First Class	157	9,919	193	40.48	21/?	240/7
Test	4	353	102	50.42	1/2	2/0

Eligibility: Played 3 innings out of 7 at position 5 = 42.86%

Bio from cricinfo:

Because of the political situation in South Africa, Lee Irvine played only four Tests - but what a quartet it was. He played in South Africa's 4-0 demolition of Australia in 1969-70, their last series for 22 years. Irvine, the son of a Natal baseballer, was a punishing left-hander - he hit 26 sixes in his first season with Essex, in 1968 - who was just coming into his prime when he and South Africa were cut off: he made 102 in his last Test innings on his 26th birthday.

Even though Lee was a wicket keeper, I will have him play as a specialist batsman and let Brenden Taylor keep the gloves

My team so far:

1. Herbie Collins
2. Owen Wynne
3. Neil Harvey
4. Brenden Taylor
5. Lee Irvine
6. N
7. G
8. E
9. Sarfraz Nawaz
10. C
11. Umesh Yadav

@Murtaza96 is next, however he said he will be making his picks later as such @Ashutosh. you can continue

 

[ahmedleo414]

@Ashutosh. Has just over an hour to make his pick

After that @mohsin7827 can make his pick

 

[Ashutosh.]

Tinu Yohannan

 

[mohsin7827]

4. John Richard Reid

@Mittal2002

 

[ddrap14]

4. John Reid

@Mittal2002

Which one? There's two

 

[mohsin7827]

Which one? There's two

Unfortunately JF does not have 30% criteria.
JR it is.

 

[ahmedleo414]

Tagging @Mittal2002 again because last post was edited

 

[Mittal2002]

6) JOCK EDWARDS (GRAHAM NEIL EDWARDS)​

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Batting & Fielding​

Format	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
Test	8	15	0	377	55	25.13	646	58.35	0	3	52	3	7	0
ODI	6	6	0	138	41	23.00	191	72.25	0	0			5	0
FC	92	164	8	4589	177*	29.41			5	25			126	16
List A	31	30	1	588	49	20.27			0	0			19	0

Jock Edwards was a short, stocky wicketkeeper who was a good enough batsman to make his Test debut (against Australia in 1976-77) as a specialist. He was brought back in 1977-78 as a wicketkeeper-bat and made 55 and 54 on his comeback against England at Auckland. That won him selection for the England tour in 1978. A more than handy keeper batsman, though didn't play many international matches but has a decent average in FC cricket. He usually chipped in with handy runs when team needed them the most.
But his most important trait that brings him to my team is that his name starts with E.

He has played 9 out of 15 innings at no.6 (60%).

 

[Mittal2002]

@Ashutosh. is next